More and more Latino roofers from 20 years ago are taking off their tool belt and looking to own and operate their own roofing business. The transition, as many roofing contractors know, is not an easy one.

From helping Roofing Contractor plan it editorial goals for 2023 to fostering a stronger relationship between NRCA and the next generation of skilled workers, RC Editorial Director Rick Damato embraces his new path in the roofing industry. 

The decade now passing was significant in many ways. Rick Damato looks back at how the 2010s impacted the roofing industry along with providing some predictions for the next decade.

Would it not be great if 50 years from now there were people working in the roofing trade who could proudly say they were national champion roofing competitors when they were in tech school?

We fly home from Beijing tomorrow. It is always good to visit our friends in China, but it will be good to be back home. 

Our meeting with the CEO of the China National Building Waterproofing Industry Association (CNBWIA), Mr. Zhu Dongqing, took place on the last day of China’s four-day long Workers Day (May Day) Holiday. 

As this is being written I am on a bullet train (300 km/h) from Xi’an to Suzhou with my wife, traveling partner, and editorial assistant, Micki. This is our second trip to China together and my fifth.