b'Presidents Message2019 Incoming Presidents MessageKevin Gwaltney, MRCA PresidentFresh off our recent convention in Omaha, I wanted to share our successes.The first days educational programming of Steep Slope University, Young Contractors Council Roundtable Session, and Software Driving You Nuts hosted by MRCA Women in Roofing were all well attended.The rooms were full and lively debates took place throughout.The Past Presidents Dinner was sponsored by Independent Roofing and there were over 20 past presidents of the MRCA in attendance.The Young Contractors Council Fundraiser Welcome Party was a show highlight, and raised over $6,000 dollars for Tom Osbornes Teammates Foundation.In fact, Tom Osborne, the legendary football coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, was the Keynote the following day.Attendees were coached in a lesson on styles of leadership.The tradeshow followed and booth space was sold out thanks to our Exhibitors and Sponsors, and the show floor was full of contractors and salesmen.The MRCA foundation hosted the annual Fundraiser Auction where we raised over $70,000.MRCA uses these funds to offer scholarships to employees of Member companies and their families, as well as to conduct research studies to improve our industry.Attendance was up this year, and the numbers nearly doubled from the 2017 convention. For those of you that attended our show, I hope you enjoyed the event and thank you for attending.For others, do not miss our 2019 MRCA convention to be held in Overland Park, Kansas on November 20-22nd.As the gavel was passed to me at our Membership Meeting at the convention, I shared a story about a young childhood memory where I was out checking an ongoing tear off on a local auditorium with my Dad.He knew he would be distracted, so he tied a rope around my waist and tied the rope to an air conditioning unit. Safety first! I decided to do the boy thing and pile up rocks and dirt and throw it in the air.I found out what pitch was that day!Fast forward 15 years: I went to a MRCA convention and I can remember being skeptical of what I was going to find, and what type of people I was going to meet.After all, I was pitch burnt when I was 5 years old.For the past 20 years, I have religiously attended the MRCA convention.I can tell you without a doubt that the people you meet at convention that make up the MRCA membership share similar experiences and have common struggles as I have faced during my career.In some cases, we are competitors, but more importantly we are Roofing Industry colleagues that are learning and understanding new materials, applications and tools.My observation is that we are an association of contractors and associates that are willing to support, educate, and mentor Roofing Professionals. My return on investment of my membership dues is exponential.I encourage all MRCA contractors and associates to take full advantage of their benefits of membership.And if you run across something that you are struggling with, use MRCA as a resource to help solve the problem.As the Contractors Advocate, MRCA is a prideful organization. It isnt the bullshit that we deal with that keeps us in the industry, but rather a sense of pride in our work that is passed from one generation to the next that keeps us united. During my term as President, we will celebrate this pride and recognize companies for their accomplishments, because thats the whole purpose of membership!I am honored and humbled to serve this organization as your President. I thank the past leaders of this organization for the firm foundation I find myself on.I pledge to the membership to lead based on the core values of MRCA, that we will remain the Contractors Advocate, will be relevant and provide exceptional benefits, and will be fiscally responsible.I look forward to the opportunity to serve this organization.MRCA is ready and available to take your call!Thank You,Kevin Gwaltney2019 MRCA PresidentDiamond Roofingkevin@diamond-rooofing.com6 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'