Curtis Sutton, president of Rackley Roofing, lists “innovation” as one of the six core values his Tennessee-based company embraces.

“Think of Rackley Roofing as a family — what are your traditions, what do you pass on to the next generation, what do you want for your kids?” Sutton said. “What we have done at Rackley is apply these family values in our business. Innovation and technology are tools. Again, you want to give your kids tools to be successful, so we give our employees technology to be successful.”

In recognizing this, the Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) awarded Sutton with its first-ever Innovator of the Year Award. The award was presented during RC’s 2019 Best of Success conference in Miami.

RT3 is a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions in the roofing industry. The group provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully.

Charles Antis, founder and CEO of Antis Roofing & Waterproofing, along with Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, presented the award. Anderson, who serves as Award Task Team Leader and an RT3 board member, said it was difficult selecting the first recipient of the new award.

“We had many great nominations and it was very hard to narrow the field down to just one,” said Anderson. “We selected Rackley Roofing because they embrace technology and have demonstrated that they are early adopters when it comes to implementing new innovations.”

Sutton brings a respect for the traditional craftsmanship of a professional roofer and passion for the latest technological innovations. Under his leadership, Rackley has introduced industry-leading technologies like Rackley RoofCheck and Rackley RoofView. Rackley has implemented the use of virtual reality safety headsets that allow everyone to experience being on a roof and learn best safety practices. The company is beginning the use of in-ear translators that can translate speech into any language and dialect.

As a founding sponsor of National Women in Roofing and a member of RT3, the company is committed to innovating and learning about new technologies and solutions that will help advance the roofing industry overall. This business practice is among the many traits that has led Rackley Roofing to be among RC’s Top 100 Roofing Contractors.

“We are in total control of who we hire, but as far as technology, we have to seek outside the business doors, and at times, outside of the roofing industry to look at the world to see who does what best,” Sutton said.

Visit rt3thinktank.com for more information and how to become a member.