The news coming out of Las Vegas was a shocker: Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton will not be able to travel to the International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas to provide the Keynote Address on Feb. 3 due to complications from a back injury.

The news coming out of Las Vegas was a shocker: Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton will not be able to travel to the International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas to provide the Keynote Address on Feb. 3 due to complications from a back injury.

The IRE will instead go with a new Keynote called, “Power Panel: What You Need to Know to Survive and Thrive.”

I am sure Mr. Walton is devastated about the news his doctor gave him: no travel. After all, this is a man who had over 30 surgeries along on his feet and ankles. Still, the organizers of IRE - Hanley Wood - found a ‘Hall of Fame’ panel to conduct the Keynote Address.

A press release from IRE stated that in a changing economy, “knowledge is everything, so plan the future of your business by attending the Power Panel that brings together the key players and best forward-thinking minds in the industry.”

My 2-hour interview with Mr. Walton and the ensuing feature will still appear in Day 1 of the Show Daily that goes to IRE. So at least we have some words of wisdom by Mr. Walton to live by as we turn our attention to five accomplished industry executives who are now scheduled to share insights on the current state of the roofing industry, emerging roofing technologies, economic trends, issues facing the roofing industry, and future growth.

The IRE Keynote Address, which is free to attend, will be held 9:45 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the South Pacific Ballroom E on the lower level of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Vegas. Moderator Bill Good, Executive Vice President of NRCA, will lead the discussion with this distinguished group of experts, including: Bob Tafaro, President & CEO, GAF; Mike Vall, President, Firestone Building Products; Keith Rozolis, Senior VP Strategic Marketing & Planning, ABC Supply Co.; Marcelino Susas, Vice President and General Manager - Americas, Uni-Solar; and Fred Stephan, Vice President & General Manager, Roofing Systems, Johns Manville.

OK, we don’t have the greatness of Mr. Walton gracing our biggest show of the year, but our backup is as distinguished a panel as I have ever seen.