The 69^th Annual Midwest Roofing Contractors Association Conference was held last week in Omaha, Neb.

The event was held at the Omaha Convention Center (formerly the CenturyLink Center) that is considered the centerpiece of downtown Omaha’s $2 billion riverfront revitalization.

This year’s MRCA conference featured a new format while offering the excitement of the expo floor. The keynote speaker was Tom Osborne, longtime coach of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers.

The event is open to commercial and residential contractors, safety consultants, superintendents and foremen, project managers, facility managers, specifiers, code officials, insurance agents, manufacturers, engineers, suppliers, and architects.

According to the MRCA website at www.mrca.org, the 70^th Annual MRCA Conference and Expo will be held Nov. 20-22, 2019 in Overland Park, Kan. at the Overland Park Convention Center. 

Roofing contractors gathered in Columbus, Ohio last week for the 67th annual Midwest Roofing Contractors Association Expo. The event was held at the Hyatt Regency Columbus and the attached Columbus Convention Center, from Oct. 31 – Nov. 2.

Some highlights from this year’s convention included “Navigating the Future”, which focused on emerging technologies throughout the industry, as well as how to plan, implement and leverage those technologies in a way that benefits your business.

This year’s auction theme was Day of the Dead, and in addition to the in-person experience, folks also had the opportunity to bid online, allowing those who couldn’t physically attend, an opportunity to help out a great cause.

The event concluded with Chris Spielman’s keynote address. Spielman, a two-time All-American linebacker at The Ohio State University and a Lombardi Trophy winner, retired from the NFL following his wife Stefanie’s breast cancer diagnosis. His speech highlighted the struggles and triumphs faced throughout their journey, as well as the thriving charity he established in her honor, The Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.

Roofing contractors from throughout America’s heartland converged on Kansas City, Mo., last week for the 66^th annual Midwest Roofing Contractors Association Expo. Located in the center of downtown at the Kansas City Convention Center, the convention from Nov. 11-13 featured a variety of different events and speakers that appealed to a wide array of contractors, suppliers, manufacturers and everyone in between.

Attendees had several insightful educational sessions to choose from throughout the event, ranging from CERTA demonstrations to Cynthia Ryan’s presentation on the small mentoring groups she helped implement at Johns Manville. The show floor consisted of several dozens of exhibitors and special demonstrations of some of the latest products hitting the market.

Other highlights included: a community service day at the local Harvesters Community Food Network; a keynote address by former Kansas City Royal-turned roofing contractor Frank White, just a week after the city celebrated the 2015 World Series crown; and a “roaring 20’s” themed auction to benefit the MRCA Foundation’s professional development and industry research programs. 

The MRCA 65^th Annual Conference was held Dec. 10-12, 2014 at the Gaylord Texan Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. The event allowed roofing professionals, manufacturers and suppliers the opportunity to connect face to face with industry leaders. This year’s conference featured a community service event; a welcome reception and foundation auction; a keynote address; educational seminars; a Young Contractors Council learning lab and reception; an exhibit hall; product demonstrations; and the launch of Women in Roofing. For more information, visit www.mrca.org. 

The 2013 Midwest Roofing Contractors Association Annual Conference was held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., Oct. 23-25. Photos by Jill Bloom and Chris King.