Expert Conversations
It takes a team to succeed
By Emma Peterson. Austin Philips explains why strong relationships, mentorship and collaboration remain the foundation of every successful project. Austin Philips started as a high schooler working odd jobs for his uncle’s company. Now, over 15 years later, he’s the estimating manager at that same company – Kodiak Roofing and ...
Master the market with metal
By The Coffee Shops®. In hard times, customers don’t want more options; they want one solid option that can do it all. Here’s how to be that one. In a recent episode of the MetalCast™ podcast, host Karen Edwards sat down with Melissa Dunson, director of marketing and communications ...
Turning maintenance data into better decisions
By Jesse Sanchez. Connected maintenance and inspection tools can help contractors improve consistency, streamline service workflows and turn field data into stronger business insights. For commercial roofing contractors, managing service and maintenance can involve hundreds of visits, inspections, repairs and customer touch points. Keeping that activity organized is essential not ...
How much wood could a Woodchuck divert?
By Emma Peterson. Learn how Woodchuck AI is helping contractors turn construction waste, like lumber products, into savings and renewable energy. In a new episode of Contractor Outlook™ sponsored by SRS Distribution Inc., Heidi J. Ellsworth talks with Todd Thomas about how his company, Woodchuck AI, is helping contractors manage ...
Creating career pathways
By Emma Peterson. Learn how Rising Stars is uplifting young people and connecting them to job opportunities in the roofing industry. Recently, David Hutchinson stopped by The Coffee Shops® for an episode of the Roofing Road Trips® podcast. David, who is the executive director and founder of the ...
Employee classification 102: The who and how
By Emma Peterson. From branding and exclusivity to duration of work and advertising, discover the key factors that determine worker classification. With subcontractors, independent contractors and non-traditional employee roles, it can be hard to figure out how to properly classify your team. To get some clarity on employee classification, we ...
ARCA Expo puts relationships at the center
The Arizona Roofing Contractors Association’s annual Expo helps roofers build connections and gain industry knowledge. For roofing professionals looking to strengthen their networks and stay connected to regional industry issues, the Arizona Roofing Contractors Association (ARCA) annual Expo offers an experience built around community as much as business. In a ...
Building long-term roofing relationships
By Jesse Sanchez. How a responsive repair and maintenance department can strengthen customer trust and create future opportunities. On this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with Tracey Donels of Service First Solutions about the role service plays in a roofing contractor’s growth. Drawing on nearly 20 ...
Mobile showcase brings rooftop attachment solutions directly to the industry
By Jesse Sanchez. This traveling display is helping roofing professionals explore practical ways to secure equipment, safety systems and other components to rooftops. During this live episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Heidi J. Ellsworth joined Anchor Products founder Joel Stanley in Grapevine, Texas, for a tour of the company’s ...
Build a stronger business before it is time to sell
By Jesse Sanchez. Six business-building practices that can help roofing contractors strengthen operations, increase enterprise value and prepare for an eventual exit. For roofing contractors thinking about the future of their business, exit planning does not have to begin when they are ready to sell. On this episode of Roofing ...



