Rick Damato

MetalForming Inc. owner Geoff Stone shared the story of an epiphany turned solution on a recent visit by Roofing Contractor to the firm’s Peachtree City, Ga., headquarters. MetalForming, founded in 1997, sells a variety of computer-operated machines used in the factory and on the jobsite for the fabrication of metal roofing and other building components.

I was sitting at this very desk 10 years ago on September 11 when the news began to break about events at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania.

There have been times over the years that I have made reference to books and other periodicals. Do not ever recall writing a review of a book. It is appropriate that I am trying something new by reviewing Poke the Box by Seth Godin.

Publishing a periodical always brings with it the exhilaration and agony of deadlines so being pushed for time is nothing new. Working on two jobs in addition to my life with the wonderful Kay and the rest of the family always keeps me busy. But this was a particularly interesting and somewhat rewarding week for me.

Hearing the news of Standard & Poor’s downgrade of the U.S. debt was unsettling but not a bit surprising. It had been threatened for weeks and, to tell the truth, after the recent machinations between the legislative and executive branches of the government I would say we are lucky the other ratings agencies have not followed suit (yet).

  Recently former U.S. President Bill Clinton penned a list of “Fourteen Ways to Put America Back to Work” for Newsweek. Check it out here: http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/06/19/it-s-still-the-economy-stupid.print.html.   No. 8 on

It has been over a year since Arizona passed its immigration enforcement law. Now three other states - Utah, Alabama, and my home state of Georgia - have passed similar legislation.

I was blessed this past week to travel around the Southeast. In spite of the fact that my business requires that I hit the road regularly and that a lot of the travel is routine and pedestrian, this week’s trips are worthy of note.

GAF is celebrating 125 years in business and cites “innovation” as the hallmark of their success. I must agree. GAF boasts a long list of innovations that have continuously moved their position in the roofing industry forward.