b'Presidents MessageStrong Roots 1949 Bright Future 2015Larry Marshall, MRCA PresidentFour years after World War II, six members of The Greatest Generation gathered in the Kansas Heartland to establish the Midwest Roofing Contractor Association (MRCA). America in 1949 was young againa bright future was ahead!The mission of MRCA is as relevant today as it was when it all started. MRCA remains committed to serving our members by providing a significant return on investment. Our members expect MRCA to help them work on their business by providing meaningful Information, Education and Training throughout the year, addressing Technical, Operational, Project Management, Administrative, Financial, Regulatory, Safety, Marketing, Insurance, Human Resource/Employment and Sales issues. My message as your 66th President is to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of the MRCA contractor. I will serve the interests of our membership by Preserving, Protecting and Promoting the values of the MRCA as I travel throughout the Midwest and country in 2015. In early January 2015, your Board of Directors will gather, at their own expense, as our forefathers did, to create our Strategic Plan 2020. Just as in 1949, the MRCA has great expectations for a Bright Future. Membership growth for both MRCA Contractors and Associates continues to expand, and we intend to grow exponentially by answering the increasing needs of our members. Our first formal Annual Report mailing to our members in 2015 will provide financial information on our Association and Foundation, as well as a perspective on MRCA membership services and value.MRCA will continue to carry on our tradition of providing Technical and Research Information to our membership, performed in a spirit of collaboration.Cultivating relationships among our Midwest Local, Regional and National Affiliates will be a priority for MRCA in 2015. Additionally, Government Affairs communication with our various local, state and federal regulatory and legislative representatives will be a focus for improving the flow of information to and from the contractor.MRCA leadership in 2015 is excited to witness the maturity of our Young Contractors Council (YCC) and its leadership impact within our Association. Three of our present board members are currently YCC members. Expect to witness continued 2015 MRCA growth as a result of the outreach your Board has initiated to encourage Young Professionals, Women in Roofing, and Cross-cultural Inclusion programs.We will also be developing more resources for Residential and Commercial Steep Slope Contractors and Architectural Sheet Metal Contractors to encourage more of them to become active participants in the MRCA.The 66th MRCA Conference and Expo will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, from November 10-13, 2015. We are returning to where it all started. We are also happy that our Exhibitors have sensed the collective Entrepreneurial Purchasing Power of MRCA Professionals, which has allowed MRCA to presell a record amount of Expo floor space. The 66th MRCA Conference and Expo will be an experience in which you will want to participate and witness for yourself.It is an exciting time to serve MRCA! Remember, because of you and our heritage of exceptional membership, we have Strong Roots and a Bright Future.Larry Marshall, L. Marshall Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc., Glenview, ILlpmarshall@lmarshallroofing.com4 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'