b'Presidents MessageFinally SpringKevin Gwaltney, MRCA PresidentA s I sit down to write the Spring Presidents column, the temperature is sixty degrees, the sun is out, with a slight breeze.Absolutely a beautiful day to be a roofer! I cannot speak for all contractors, but my patience was running very thin and my tolerance was approaching zero dealing with the downtime of cold winter weather.This past winter hit our company especially hard with lost days, non-productive hours dealing with cold weather applications, and a sense of being overly cautious making decisions about ongoing and future projects with the anticipation of more winter weather to come.At my company, our estimating staff has had a busy winter, as it feels like there is more opportunity and a higher volume of available work that we are proposing and bidding.I believe this statement is true with the other contractors that I have had discussions with in the past three months.It is my hope and wish for MRCA contractors that a busy estimating season, will turn in to a busy production season, that will result in a profitable year.In addition, my companys office staff was busy this past winter refining and improving policies and procedures, that will hopefully reduce future expenses.We have invested in human resources, software with added technology, and the good ole fashion way of trimming excess fat that busy years in the past created.MRCA staff has been at work planning a busy year of activities and developing new and improved resources for members and associates.These past several weeks, our staff has been particularly busy planning our Spring Board of Director and Committee Meetings being held in Overland Park, KS.It is customary for the Annual Spring Meetings for MRCA to be held at the fall convention site.By the way, if you have not heard, the MRCA is coming to Overland Park, KS this November 20-22, 2019.By the time you are reading this I will have also attended the Roofing Day in D.C. which is an NRCA political event that MRCA provided a $5,000 sponsorship in support of.Along with myself and MRCA staff representing the industry, MRCA members, associates and Kansas roofing contractors will also be in attendance.I attended this event in 2018 and had the chance to speak with a Kansas Senator and Representative.It truly was a learning experience for me, as it was my first time to visit our nations Capitol.We will be there to discuss workforce development and immigration issues that impact our industry every day.I hope this issue of the Midwest Roofer finds my fellow MRCA members and associates well. I trust you have used the winter to build your backlog of work, refine and improve your processes, and have laid the foundation for a successful 2019.Please know that MRCA is a resource you can call on and utilize at any point.Best of luck and stay safe!Kevin GwaltneyMRCA PresidentDiamond Roofingkevin@diamond-roofing.com4 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'