The Western States Roofing Contractor's Association (WSRCA) hosted their 43rd annual Western Roofing Expo, in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 11-13, 2017.  Once again, the convention and trade show had a tremendous turnout and the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino was buzzing with excitement and enthusiasm.  According to the WSRCA, more than 3,300 attendees came together for the Western Roofing Expo 2017, nearing record-breaking attendance levels from last year.  Roofing professionals from throughout the West were on hand to participate in golf and sporting clays, two days of seminars and demonstrations, and industry solidarity.

Scholarship and Fundraisers

Prior to the opening day of the convention, the Davis Memorial Foundation again hosted two fund-raising sporting tournaments.  On Sunday, June 11, the beautiful Revere Golf Club hosted the golf tournament, and attendees were able to enjoy the expansive views of the Las Vegas skyline and the majestic mountains beyond.  Top winners of the golf tournament were Chad Reid, Corey McGinty, Luke Jones, and Ted Crossman, all from GAF.  The Pro Gun Club hosted the sporting clays tournament that same morning, and attendees were given golf carts to traverse the desert terrain.  Twenty-one unique stations were situated along the course and competitors found the tournament challenging and exciting.  The top shooter of the day was Scott Glaze, Malarkey Roofing Products, who shot an 88.

Bill Baley and Chuck Chapman served as the auctioneers for the President's Reception Sunday night, and they were as entertaining as ever as they kicked off the Western Roofing Expo.  Total fundraising for the night was around $70,000, and the big-ticket item was the hunting trip that was donated by Eagle Roofing Products, which sold for $7,000 to Pete Schmautz of Star Roofing, Phoenix, Arizona.  All money raised by the other fundraising events will benefit educational scholarships.  The lively silent auction was sponsored by GAF.  National Women in Roofing hosted a luncheon and seminar on Sunday afternoon, and it was followed by a networking reception for women in roofing.

The Davis Memorial Foundation awarded $50,000 in scholarships to the following lucky recipients: Lauren Barker, Eagle, Idaho; Jared Daniel Grady, Phoenix, Arizona; Avery Janelle McFarlin, Abilene, Texas; Spencer Clay, Portland, Oregon; Molly Nelson, The Dalles, Oregon; Turner Gill, Atlanta, Georgia; Suezanne Hall, Spartanburg, South Carolina; Ashlyn Diana Clark, Provo, Utah; Christopher Kuhn, Uniontown, Ohio; and Paola Flores Gomez, Oakland, California.  Next year there will be 20 individual $5,000 scholarships to celebrate the Davis Memorial Foundation's 20th anniversary.

Trade Show

The trade show featured over 180 companies who used their booths for demonstrations, seminars, and exhibitions of products used in roofing, roof decks, urethane foam, waterproofing, and allied industries.  These companies included manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers of roof-related products, materials, equipment, and services.  The annual expo highlighted local, regional, and national companies displaying their newest products and services, many available only in the Western market.

Brad Baker, current president of the WSRCA, opened the 43rd annual trade show floor on behalf of the association.  Once open, the show floor was buzzing with activity until the final closing hours.

Seminars

Jim Carlson, the WSRCA's technical director, gave an impressive presentation on the WSRCA's low-rise foam adhesive testing and research project.  The well-attended seminar showcased the WSRCA Low-Slop Committee's findings when they tested five popular low-rise foam adhesives for uplift resistance and compared warm and cold weather application results.  Other seminars included: The Anatomy of a Construction Defect Case & Steps to Take to Avoid Them; Well-Installed Roofs That Aren't: Four Examples Where Common Practice Was Not Enough; Polyiso Surface Appearance & the Impact on Roofing Contractors; Roofing Insulation & Cover Boards; Roofing & Waterproofing Consultants Are Not the Enemy; Lose a Key Employee, What's Next?; Roof Warranties: Behind the Duration to Comprehend the Coverage; Design & Testing of Perimeter Edge Metal for Low-Slope Commercial Roofs; Leaky Exhaust Vents: Condensation; Moisture Infiltration: Causes & Cures; 50 Shades of Confused: Taking the Grey Out of Lien Waivers & Other Instruments of Profit; Metal Roofing: Specifying the Best Option; Stop Selling Products, Start Selling You; Fundamentals of Liquid Applied Roofing; and Top Ten Things That Will Get a Metal Roofer in Trouble.

The Roofing Games

The Roofing Games™ were hold on Tuesday, June 13, which included the steep-slope Nailing Competition, sponsored by Malarkey Roofing Products®.  Contestants competed in a timed event showcasing their individual asphalt-shingle nailing skills and a chance to win $100-$500.  The participants were judged on accuracy, aesthetics, speed, and workmanship.  The winner was John Miles of Wicks Roofing, San Luis Obispo, California, who completed the tasks in 2.29 seconds.

Annual Luncheons

The Legislative Luncheon was held on Monday with Craig Brightup, president of the Brightup Group, who returned for his 22nd year as guest speaker.  As a Washington insider, Brightup provided his views and inside information on how new legislation is affecting the roofing and waterproofing industries.

The WSRCA Expo Annual Luncheon was held on Tuesday, and ventriloquist Jay Johnson dazzled the crowd with his performance.  The WSRCA Hall of Fame Award went to our very own Marc Dodson, editor of Western Roofing, who has supported the WSRCA for over 30 years and has helped shape both the WSRCA and the roofing industry.  Greg Bloom of Allied® Building Products received the Outstanding Service Award, new WSRCA president Don Fry received the Board Member of the Year Award, and retiring director Darin Douglas was recognized for his many years of contributions to the WSRCA.

New Officers

The newly elected officers this year are as follows: president, Don Fry; senior vice president, Tom Asbury; vice president 2-years, Andy Clarke; vice president 1-year, Rob Winkle; vice president 1-year, Bruce Radenbaugh; and immediate former president, Brad Baker.

Western Roofing Expo 2018

Next year, the Western Roofing Expo Convention and Trade Show returns to the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, June 10-12, 2018.  For more information, contact the WSRCA at (800) 725-0333.