Day 1: Key insights and sessions at IRE 2025

By Jesse Sanchez. 

The first day of IRE is packed with industry expertise and innovation. 

Roofing professionals from across the country are gathering for a full day of insights, networking and forward-thinking strategies at the International Roofing Expo (IRE) 2025. With sessions covering everything from safety leadership to sustainable practices, this event promises to equip attendees with the tools they need to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. 

Before exploring the packed schedule of educational sessions, be sure to stop by The Coffee Shops booth in the lobby to say hi, check out our soundstage and get some fun swag. Then make your way onto the show floor to explore the latest tools, trends and insights from hundreds of vendors, including Roof Scout in booth #27116.  

Day one of IRE has a variety of sessions available. Make sure you plan ahead to find the sessions that best align with your interests and business goals. 

Featured sessions for Wednesday, February 19

• NRCA 2025 Safety Leadership Workshop | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Room 225D - An intensive workshop covering risk management, safety culture, legal updates and regulatory concerns for industry leaders presented by experts from the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal, Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese. 
• Best Practices and Solutions in Attic Ventilation | 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.| Room 206AB - Explore the importance of balanced attic ventilation and installation techniques to prevent callbacks with Paul Scelsi from Air Vent. 
• Is That Leak Really the Roof? | 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. | Room 214CD - Investigate common causes of water infiltration that are often mistaken for roofing issues with Glen Clapper from the NRCA. 
• So, you Want to Recycle a Roof? | 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. | Room 207AB - Join Robert Anderson from Elevate and Jules Endres and Sherrie MacWilliams from Holcim for a discussion on the challenges and solutions in roofing material recycling. 
• Up Your Game: Successfully Recruiting and Retaining Women in the Industry | 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. | Room 008AB - Krisin Case of Hi-Peak Staffing Solutions, Rae Fistonich of Chinook Building Envelope Services and Shelby Smith and Lindsey Switzer of Owens Corning share strategies to attract and retain women in roofing and address labor shortages. 
• Is the American Dream Dead? | 9:30 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. | Lila Cockrell Room - Former NRCA CEO Reid Ribble examines the state of the American dream and what it means for today’s professionals. 
• Leveraging Sustainability to Win Work | 11:00 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. | Booth #19060 - Jennifer Keegan of GAF shares case studies on how sustainable roofing solutions can be both cost-effective and competitive. 
• Don't Scrimp on Scrim | 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Booth #36115 - An in-depth look at PVC roofing membrane durability and performance standards with Chis Mahon of Holcim. 
• Shingle Recycling: Why we Should all Care | 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Booth #36090 - Owens Corning experts discuss efforts to reduce shingle waste and improve recycling processes. 
• In-home Sales, The Power of a Sales Process | 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. | Booth #19060 - Learn from Greg Bjornson of GAF how a structured sales process can enhance customer trust and drive business growth. 
• Top 5 Reasons Salespeople Lower Their Price | 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. | Booth #6077 - John DeRosa of SRS Distribution shares insights into pricing strategies and how to maintain profitability without unnecessary discounts. 
• Advanced Pricing Strategies to Drastically Improve Sales | 12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. | Booth #33096 - Learn from John DeRosa of SRS Distribution about how Roof Hub Estimator can streamline pricing and bidding processes. 
• Roof and Building Restoration is More Than Just Repairs | 1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. | Booth #36090 - Hear from a panel of experts from Polyglass about critical topics such as labor shortages, the decision-making process between restoration and new construction, and when restoration is the right choice for your project.
• Standing Seam Installation | 1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Booth #10141 - Best practices for standing seam metal roof installation from industry leaders at Sheffield Metals. 
• New Rules for New Roofs: The Evolving Landscape of Roofing Insurance Claims | 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. | Booth #19060 - Mike Thomas of GAF explains changes in homeowner insurance policies and their impact on roofing claims. 
• 5 Crucial Reasons Contractors Must use Roof Hub Estimator | 2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. | Booth #36115 - John DeRosa of SRS Distribution will share how the Roof Hub Estimator helps contractors maximize profitability, improve accuracy and reduce proposal turnaround time.
• Retrofit With Metal Systems | 3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Booth #10141 - Charlie Smith of McElroy Metal, Jason Kaiser of Vogler Sheet Metal and DJ Highnote of Roof Hugger share the nuances of retrofitting over various roofing systems and facilitating the installation of photovoltaic systems
• From Leaks to Likes: How Software Secrets Can Turn Your Roofing Business into a 5-star Experience | 3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. | Booth #36105 - Adam Keys of JobNimbus shares strategies for improving customer trust and enhancing business reputation.  
• Low-slope Roofing and Photovoltaics | 3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. | Booth #36115 - Rob Hughes of Johns Manville provides an introduction to rooftop PV systems.
• Find Your Value Proposition (presented in Spanish) | 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.| Booth #19060 - Learn how to position your company beyond price competition and highlight true value to clients from Alan Lopez of GAF. 

With such a diverse lineup of educational and technical sessions, IRE 2025 is shaping up to be an essential event for roofing professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve. Whether you're interested in safety leadership, sustainability, sales strategies or cutting-edge roofing innovations, there’s something for everyone. 

Don't forget to explore the exhibition hall and connect with leading industry vendors throughout the day. See you at the sessions! 

Looking to attend sessions on other days of the event? Check out what’s going on during day two and day three of IRE 2025!