Category: <span>Announcements</span>

Category: Announcements

John Kenney Named COO and Technical Director of Cotney Construction Law

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Cotney Construction Law (CCL), the leading national law firm for the roofing industry is pleased to announce the appointment of John Kenney as Chief Operating Officer and Technical Director for CCL.  With over 45-years’ experience in the roofing industry working with some of the largest roofing contractors, Kenney brings a wealth of experience in construction that will help CCL continue to grow while providing the best service and support for roofing contractors across the country.

Kenney will oversee operations for CCL along with providing business and technical consulting for CCL customers.  “We are excited to have John join our team.  Not only is he a skilled operations professional but he also understands construction and can help our customers with technical questions, concerns and planning,” stated Trent Cotney, CEO of Cotney Construction Law.  “We believe there is a huge need in the industry for basic business consulting that can help contractors run a profitable and sustainable business.  It works hand-in-hand with the CCL subscription services that provide ongoing legal and risk management.  We are also looking forward to adding John to our list of skilled lobbyists in Florida.”

Kenney started his career by working as a roofing apprentice at a family business in the Northeast, quickly moving up to manage many successful projects in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania markets before continuing his executive career in Florida.  He has worked for multiple Top 100 roofing contractors running every aspect of a contracting business.  He is intimately familiar with all aspects of roofing production, estimating, and operations.

Kenney is well-known for his philanthropy and volunteerism.  He is president of the West Coast Roofing Contractors Association and has been involved with the organization for twenty years.

Kenney will support the CCL team who currently serves as General Counsel or affinity partner for National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association (FRSA) and several of its affiliates, Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA), Chicago Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA), Tennessee Association of Roofing Contractors (TARC), National Women in Roofing (NWIR), Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), Tile Roofing Institute (TRI), IIBEC Florida and the National Slate Association (NSA).  The firm is known for their industry advocacy, philanthropy and overall commitment to the roofing industry.

To learn more about Cotney Construction Law, please visit www.cotneycl.com or call (866) 303-5868.

About Cotney Construction Law

Cotney Construction Law is a national law firm that provides representation for the construction industry.  Experienced in the representation of businesses and professionals in construction disputes and transactions, Cotney is a well-known advisor and legal counsel in the construction industry.  The firm’s practice areas include construction law, litigation, arbitration, contract review & drafting, immigration, employment, OSHA defense, licensing defense, bid protests, lien law, bond law and alternative dispute resolution.  The firm has offices throughout Florida as well as locations in Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Grand Rapids, Houston, Nashville, and Portland, OR.  For more information, visit www.cotneycl.com.

RT3 member Harness launches free app to help contractors battle COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

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The App will help businesses keep workers informed, safe, & productive during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Harness Software announces the availability of a FREE Safety Meeting/Toolbox Talk App that will enable construction companies to disseminate virus-related information to their remote workforces and help them document employee meetings. This app is immediately available to all construction companies in North America

The app includes access to the latest content from reputable sources such as the Centers For Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and National Institutes of Health (NIH).  All information within the app will be organized into short talks with emphasis on points relevant to construction workers.

  • The app will be updated automatically as more information becomes available
  • All material will be available in English & Spanish
  • Foremen or Supervisors will be able to quickly capture names and signatures from the attendees of each safety meeting/toolbox talk
  • PDF records of each meeting can be automatically emailed back to the office
  • THE APP WORKS ON ALL MOBILE DEVICES

“Construction workers don’t have the option to work from home.  Companies need easy access to the information necessary to protect their employees and keep them as productive as possible during this crisis.  We are all in this together.  That’s why we’re launching this free resource,” said Tom Whitaker, CEO of Harness Software.  Existing Harness Software customers will also receive enhanced resources as part of this program to battle fear & the spread of the disease.

Find out more and access the app at www.harnessup.com/covid19

RT3 Members to attend and participate in Diversity & Inclusion Forum

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Having a strong record of diversity, equity, and inclusivity is critical to attract top talent, so make plans now to attend the inaugural Diversity + Inclusion Forum on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park.

Brought to you by the National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing and the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, the Diversity + Inclusion Forum 2020 will help you identify ways to engage underrepresented groups, develop resources to increase your cultural competency, and educate you on why supporting diversity and fostering a culture of inclusion is a business imperative to strengthen your workforce.

During the event, dynamic industry leaders and stakeholders will discuss sustainable strategies for advancing diversity and inclusion and share best practices on how to effectively lead in a diverse and inclusive culture. Throughout the day, you also will have the opportunity to meet and network with fellow roofing and industry professionals from across the U.S. who also are striving to achieve inclusive, culturally diverse and competent workforces.

9:30 a.m. -Registration/Networking Coffee

10 a.m. -Welcome and Overview of Day

  • National Roofing Contractors Association (Reid Ribble)
  • National Women in Roofing (Jennifer Stone)
  • California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (Julian Canete)

10:30 a.m. – Why Inclusion and Diversity are Essential to Foster High Performing Teams

High-performance teams that advocate for diversity and inclusive behaviors and include a diversity of age, gender, race and ethnicity, or geographic and national culture, allows the company to better serve its consumers. In addition to a mixture of age, gender, and cultural backgrounds, “cognitive” diversity, which is mixing people together with different thinking styles, habits and perspectives, often allows teams to achieve better outcomes and become much more multidisciplinary. Learn how collaboration becomes a tool to access your company’s ‘why’ in more distinctive and boundless ways, ultimately aligning you both internally and externally with your customers.

Presenter: Leah Maguire, Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity, Owens Corning, Toledo, Ohio

11 a.m. – Why Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Matter to Your Business’ Bottom Line

Diverse and inclusive workplaces ultimately impact the bottom line in numerous ways. Diversity supports business performance by helping companies generate unique ideas that can improve the quality of decision making. And, individual identities shape how people experience, learn, and perceive the world, which is then reflected in the different perspectives and skillsets they bring. Our speaker will share how this new source of insight and talent sparks creativity and leads to the formation of new ideas, which ultimately helps businesses progress.

Presenter: Julian Francis, President/CEO, Beacon Building Products, Herndon, Va.

11:30 a.m. – Eliminating Barriers: Building Diverse and Inclusive Organizations

In today’s extremely competitive yet socially conscious business environment, one of the best ways to sustain an innovative organization is to create an inclusive and diverse organization. When a company creates a culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion, they are often faced with barriers within and outside their organization. This session will discuss what some of those barriers can be, how to overcome them, and how to ensure that efforts are maximized.

Presenter: Julian Canete, CEO, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, Sacramento, CA

Noon – Luncheon/Keynote Speaker(s), Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) (invited)

1 p.m. – Leading in a Diverse and Inclusive Culture – Industry Panel

Leading in a diverse and inclusive culture gives you deeper insights into yourself, your team, and the benefits of inclusion at all levels in your organization. Panelists will share best practices, as well as insights and strategies to develop competencies and get tools to create an environment fueled by engagement and innovation.

Panelists:

Mardee Billingsley, Executive Vice President, Tremco Roofing & Building Maintenance, Beachwood, Ohio

Leo Ibarra, Vice President, Blue’s Roofing Co., Milpitas, Calif.

Sherri Miles, President, Miles Roofing Inc., Chesapeake, Va.

James Thomas, President/CEO, Topps Products, Canton, Miss.

Elizabeth Walters, Marketing & Business Operations Manager, Derbigum Americas Inc., Kansas City, Mo.

Heidi Ellsworth (moderator), President, HJE Consulting, Camp Sherman, Ore.

2 p.m. -Takeaways/Networking Mixer

2:30 p.m. -Register/Check-in—Roofing Day in D.C. 2020

3 p.m. – Opening Program—Roofing Day in D.C. 2020

Get more information or register online here.

Roofing Technology Think Tank Launches Podcast

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The RT3 Podcast highlights emerging and disruptive solutions that help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry.

Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, announced the launch of the RT3 Podcast, hosted by Ryan Groth RT3 board member and founder of Sales Transformation Group.

“The podcast was an idea brought to the table by the RT3 communications task team as one more way that we can provide education and promote the use of technology in the roofing industry,” explained Groth. “It is our hope that listeners will be able to learn from the guests and find solutions that they can implement into their own businesses.”

In the first episode, Ryan is joined by Curtis Sutton and Michelle Boykin, the CEO and COO of Rackley Roofing, respectively and winners of the RT3 2019 Innovator of the Year award. They discuss the kinds of employees to look for, brand innovation by becoming the official roofer of the Tennessee Titans, and investing with trainers to empower your employees. They conclude by going in-depth on the future of roofing and how to adopt and integrate software to help streamline everyday operations.

The second episode features Charles Antis, CEO of Antis Roofing & Waterproofing. Ryan and Charles go in depth as to what, and more importantly, why you should implement some of these innovative and adaptive strategies with your brand and positioning.

The podcast will release new episodes every month. Future episode releases will feature Ken Kelly of Kelly Roofing and Rast Bryant from Target Roofing and Sheet Metal. Listen on your favorite podcast platform or find us on Apple podcasts.

Stay up to date with all RT3 news and events by signing up for the RT3 SmartBrief Newsletter at www.rt3thinktank.com.

About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)
Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry. RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses. With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. Learn more at www.rt3thinktank.com.

RT3 member Kelly Roofing donates material and labor for new roof

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Protecting Naples roofs with care, consistency, innovation and using expertise for the good of hurricane survivors.

Kelly Roofing, a roofing contractor dedicated to serving their industry and state with care, consistency and communication, gives away a free roof to a local family in need every holiday season.

This holiday season, Gloria and her family were chosen because of her financial struggles after her husband abandoned her 12 years ago, leaving her with three mouths to feed. To provide for her family, Gloria engages in multiple activities to improve her income and cut down the costs of living. Overall, Gloria is a hardworking and dedicated single mother. More importantly, Gloria believes deeply in God and seeks His guidance in her life.

Other than Gloria’s financial troubles, there is a hole in her bedroom ceiling due to a consistent roof leak. Unfortunately, her insurance company declined her claim stating the roof only required repair and then dropped her because the deductible was more than a standard repair. With several attempts to repair the roof on her own, nothing seemed to work. When meeting her, it was found she had a tarp over the hole to prevent water from entering her bedroom.

Kelly Roofing partnered with Habitat for Humanity, ABC Supply, Owens Corning and many customers to provide a new roof for Gloria’s family. They are using shingles donated from Owens Corning, Woodgate and several other customers who share the same compassion. Donations from positive surveys given on Google and Facebook pages were also received to aid in the free roof replacement (https://www.kellyroofing.com/freeroof). Aside from the roof, they are working on funding a new bike for Gloria’s son to use to get back and forth to work.

Every year Kelly Roofing is blessed to be able to give a roof away. They always welcome partnerships from the local community, including satisfied customers through the Free Roof Project, Habitat for Humanity and other regional entities to provide free roof replacements to families in need. People wishing to help can also support this initiative by contacting Kelly Roofing.

Kelly Roofing is a family-owned company, serving Naples and the surrounding areas since 1972. Serving residential and commercial property owners with customer-forward thinking has been their goal from day one. All Kelly Roofing employees live by the core values of Care, Communicate and Consistency, allowing them to provide outstanding workmanship using the most advanced methods. To learn more about Kelly Roofing, go to http://www.kellyroofing.com.

Source: RoofersCoffeeShop. 

RT3 member AccuLynx named FrontRunner for construction project management software

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AccuLynx, the leading business management software for roofing contractors, announced today it was named a FrontRunner for Construction Project Management Software by Software Advice. FrontRunners is designed to help small businesses evaluate which software may be right for them.

“We’re proud to be a FrontRunner in our software category,” said Katie Badeusz, Director of Marketing at AccuLynx. “AccuLynx is trusted by many of the top residential roofing contractors in the U.S., and this recognition reflects our continued commitment to making our software the best choice for roofers looking to grow their businesses.”

FrontRunners is published on Software Advice, the leading online service for businesses navigating the software selection process. FrontRunners evaluates verified end-user reviews and product data, positioning the top scoring products based on Usability and Customer Satisfaction ratings for small businesses. FrontRunners for Construction Project Management Software can be viewed here.

About AccuLynx
AccuLynx is the leading cloud-based software application for roofing contractors. Since 2008, AccuLynx has helped thousands of contractors—from rapidly-growing start-ups to multi-location operations—streamline their processes and grow their businesses. AccuLynx’s all-in-one solution includes easy-to-use business management tools, such as estimating, production management, aerial measurements, material ordering, photo sharing, custom reporting, unlimited document storage, field applications, and more. AccuLynx is a preferred vendor of CertainTeed, GAF and Owens Corning, and has direct integrations with QuickBooks, ABC Supply, EagleView Technologies, SkyMeasure by CoreLogic and others. For more information, visit our website.

Disclaimer: FrontRunners constitute the subjective opinions of individual end-user reviews, ratings and data applied against a documented methodology; they neither represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Software Advice or its affiliates.

RT3 plans activities around the 2020 International Roofing Expo

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Activities include a rooftop technology tour and a contractor technology educational panel.

Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, announced activities scheduled for the International Roofing Expo (IRE) 2020.

Dallas, Texas-based RT3 member KPost Roofing & Waterproofing will host members of RT3 at their corporate headquarters. The meetup will allow members to tour the facility of the official roofing partner of the Dallas Cowboys where they will learn about the types of technology that KPost uses in their operations.

RT3 will also host an educational panel on Tuesday, February 4 at 7:45 a.m. The session is titled Contractor to Contractor: Technology Innovation Panel and features five contractors sharing their successes and challenges with implementing technology into sales and marketing, operations, back office, health and safety and recruiting.

The panel will be moderated by RT3 member Heidi Ellsworth, Partner at RoofersCoffeeShop® and attendees will be able to:

  • Evaluate what technologies progressive contractors are using to help their business.
  • Identify what challenges came with implementation of technology and how they overcame it.
  • Evaluate how technology can make their business more efficient, streamlined and more profitable.
  • Meet other contractors who you can reach out to after the presentation for support and guidance in selecting technologies to implement in your business.

The panel participants include RT3 contractor members Steve Little, President of KPOST Roofing and Waterproofing; Ken Kelly, President of Kelly Roofing; Gregg Wallick, Best Roofing; Michelle Boykin, COO of Rackley Roofing; and Josey Parks, CEO of J Wales Enterprises.

“The contractors on the panel are completely honest and open about how technology has impacted their businesses and what it took to get where they are today,” stated Karen Edwards, RT3 Director. “They are leading the way in using technology and want to educate and encourage other contractors to join them for the overall advancement of the roofing industry. They will discuss augmented reality, robotics, artificial intelligence, software stacks and more – all technologies that they are using daily in their own businesses.”

Stay up to date with all RT3 news and events by signing up for the RT3 SmartBrief Newsletter at www.rt3thinktank.com.

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About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)
Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry.  RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses.  With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. Learn more at www.rt3thinktank.com.

Roofing Technology Think Tank announces new board member Ryan Groth

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The board supports the RT3 mission working to successfully accomplish its objectives to educate and advance the adoption of technology within the roofing industry. 

Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, announced the addition of Ryan Groth to its board of directors.

“Ryan was one of the original members of RT3 and brings a passion for helping to advance the roofing industry,” said RT3 Director Karen Edwards. “When a board seat became available and Ryan was nominated to fill the seat, it was an easy decision for the rest of the board to approve.”

RT3 Board Member Tom Whitaker agreed saying, “Ryan is a passionate roofing industry member.  His communication skills and knowledge of how to build a high performing sales team are without question.”

Ryan worked for a leading roofing contractor in Florida and was key to implementing a sales software that the contractor created to contractors nationwide. His passion continued to grow, and he founded Sales Transformation Group to share his vision, strategy, structure, systems, and processes that help contractors succeed.

In addition to his service on the RT3 Board of Directors, Ryan chairs the RT3 Communications Task Team and is in the process of launching a technology focused RT3 podcast that is expected to go live in Q1 of 2020.

Ryan joins current board members Tom Whitaker, President of Harness Software, Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, Heidi J. Ellsworth, Partner, RoofersCoffeeShop®, Steve Little, Head Coach at KPost Roofing & Waterproofing and Ken Kelly, President of Kelly Roofing.

Stay up to date with all RT3 news and events by signing up for the RT3 SmartBrief Newsletter at www.rt3thinktank.com.

About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)
Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry.  RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses.  With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. Learn more at www.rt3thinktank.com.

RT3 member Trent Cotney named NRCA general counsel

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Cotney Construction Law (CCL) takes a lead position as the roofing industry advocate.

Cotney Construction Law, the leading national law firm for construction, specialty trades and OSHA law, is pleased to announce the appointment of Trent Cotney as General Counsel for the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). Cotney and the team at CCL will provide ongoing NRCA member benefits of legal consultation that will include a strong emphasis on proactive support surrounding construction, employment, immigration and OSHA law.

With the appointment of Trent Cotney as General Counsel, the roofing industry will benefit from Cotney Construction Law’s national reach since it is a law firm that employs almost 40 lawyers with 14 offices across the country, all focused on representing the construction industry. With over twenty years representing the roofing industry, Cotney’s passion and focus continues to be on roofing. He has built a law firm dedicated to giving back to the construction industries they serve. “Representing roofing contractors and helping their businesses both proactively and reactively is our focus,” said Trent Cotney. “We understand the law and we know construction so we can help contractors avoid getting into legal troubles in the first place.”

Most of what the Cotney team will do will be pro bono including consulting, articles, research and support of NRCA committees. ProCertification has been the prime focus for Cotney over the last 18 months, where he worked with NRCA committees offering legal advice and consultation that helped determine the structure of the certification and training processes at no charge to NRCA.

“Trent Cotney has been diligently working with NRCA on the ProCertification program which is our top priority,” stated McKay Daniels, NRCA Chief Operating Officer. “We look forward to working with Trent and Cotney Construction Law.”

The CCL team serves as General Counsel or as an affinity partner for Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association and several of its affiliates, Western States Roofing Contractors Association, Chicago Roofing Contractors Association, Tennessee Association of Roofing Contractors, National Women in Roofing, Roofing Technology Think Tank, Tile Roofing Institute, IIBEC Florida and the National Slate Association.  The firm is well known for their legal content, thought leadership, philanthropy and overall commitment to the roofing industry.

To learn more about Cotney Construction Law, please visit www.cotneycl.com or call (866) 303-5868.

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About Cotney Construction Law

Cotney Construction Law is a national law firm that provides representation for the construction industry. Experienced in the representation of businesses and professionals in construction disputes and transactions, Cotney is a well-known advisor and legal counsel. The firm’s practice areas include construction law, litigation, arbitration, contract review & drafting, immigration, employment, OSHA defense, licensing defense, bid protests, lien law, bond law and alternative dispute resolution. The firm has offices throughout Florida as well as locations in Birmingham, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Grand Rapids, Houston, Portland OR, Nashville, and Boston. For more information, visit www.cotneycl.com.