b'Investinsavvy marketing.Increase your market share byYCCers Set Sights on MRCA\'s Future offering new and unique services to customers. Emphasize serviceWhat can young roofing contractors offer IVlRCA, and viGe versa? Nearly 20 attendees, excellence and find areas of differentiation.mostly company employees, discussed what ttley I ike m0st about MRCA at !Fieir first Yoting Get your brand known in the marketplace,Contractors Council (YCC) meeting hel0 at the national annual c@nference. They said that especially if your competitors are not investingMRC:A offers in marketing, and ask eco-friendly roofing strong networking opportunites. Young contractors said tfiey, can easily lean aboutmanufacturers to assist you with marketing.new products on the Internet. What attracts them most about MRCA is the opportunity With a continuing flat economy, emphasizet0getting the most life out of existing roofs andmeet\' their peers face-to-face, to develop personal relati0nsHips, and to have s6meone topromote your maintenance products.call iflhey need help with a proolem.Learn how government regulations a positive image. Because MRCA and its Technical & f.tesearnh Committee haveaffect your business.Particularly for smalltakeri strong stances Gn issues such as ISO ins1:1lati6n, MrlCA "has guts" anm is "wellorganized," said atte!ildees. \'This trade association smokes all thether industry asbusinesses, rising heathcare costs are a hugeoconcern tomployers and employees,sociations and organizations," said orie participant. "Nor:ie is as strong as MPlCA."both ea lot of hear.I. YCCers said they feelride and bor:idiflg amongSeeley said. Do succession planning for allthe strnng sense of pall MRCA members. Several noted that they were touched bymotion shown byyour key personnel, just not for the companythe epresident or owner. Seeley stresses that, in gen mermbers at the Gonference awards presentalicri held earlier tnat day. ieral, contractors do a better job at succession lasting friendships. YCCers acknowledged that they see lifelong friendsfips formed planning than most other industries.tnro1:1gh MRCA membership. "P-e0p!e let their guard ciown and talk straight," said a Although "going green" isn\'t a cer YCCer. "Ygu can\'t nave honest talk without being friends." According to anotber tainty, keep abreast of green productspartieipant, "People aren\'t competit@rs here. They talk about strategic partnerships and and senices."Takealliances." a careful look at these products," Seeley said. "A lot of markets areInC:Cers can provide MRCA ana the ro@fing industry the f0llowing: tum, Ynot ready for solar or vegetative roofs,\'\' he said. p,ride in their work. "Many kids 00n\'t want to worl in the rnofing industn,t. They"Do your research before entering the market,think they can get a desk job and make more money," said an attendee. "Butotthere\'s a land don\'t be too early, or too late, getting intoof money to be made ir i the rnofirig industry if yau work harct." Discwssion among at\'green."\'tendees centered on raising prnfessional standards, imprnving tme il\'fla@eoofirigof the rWork with reputable green roofingindustry, and gaining the trust of Gustomers. $aid ari0ther attendee, \'Tm really, proud tolandscapers.Green roofs have been com be a rnofer. We take pride in whatG and weantelp tlie inustry. We do a greatwe d w to hmonplace inecades and they\'rething for people who don1 know how to put a roof on a building."Europe for dpopular here, especially in big cities. Green special skills. Tech-savvy YCG:ers know flow to wse sm;ial networkirig to promote thevegetative roofs are "real and they work,"industry and gain referrals. They IJAderstand the social culture that embraces clean enWhelan said, so bring in the right expettise.ergy and energy efficiem;y. It\'s no swrprise that they plan to @rganiie online via Facebook Team up with knowledgeable, trust and otber networking sites, and use these sites to sGhedule regional meetings.worthy solar-panel manufacturers. Solar panels are not a passing fad, Whelan said. There is not a one-fits-all solar system, so seekut expertise from knowledgeable solaropanel experts. Other suggestions?Look at solar companies\' financials becausemany of them are not making money. Take a close look at the warranties of solarpanel wires and cables, Whelan said. "Wehave roof and solar systems that last 20 to30 years. What good are cables and wires ifthey are only guararJ,teed o last 5 years?"t Become actively involved in trade organizations that support legislative efforts inthe use of solarnergy.eo g Sieve little, an MReA board member, moderates the first meeting of the Young @ontraGtors CouncilEducate and trin your workforcenreen (YCC), although he says he\'s stepping aside to allow YCCersto set1heir own agenda. initiatives. SafetyTechnical&ResearchCommitteeLegalAdvice9'