www.mrca.org  —  Midwest Roofer
12
HEALTH & SAFETY
I
n the roofing industry, safety 
awards are often viewed as 
recognition for work already 
done—a plaque on the wall, 
a line in a company profile, 
or a moment of celebration 
at a convention. But the MRCA SHARP Elite 
Safety Program is designed to be something 
more. At its core, the program is not just about 
recognition; it is about transformation.
What sets the SHARP Elite program apart is its 
comprehensive, third-party review process led by 
attorney Gary Auman. With more than 40 years 
of experience, Auman is a nationally recognized 
authority and a staunch management advocate 
in workers’ compensation and occupational 
safety and health law. His involvement elevates 
the program from a traditional award application 
to an in-depth evaluation of how a company’s 
safety culture actually functions—on paper and 
in the field.
For many companies, the SHARP Elite process 
becomes a turning point. Few stories illustrate 
that better than Zenith Roofing.
From Bronze to the First-Ever 100% Platinum
When Zenith Roofing first applied for the SHARP 
Elite program, they earned a Bronze award. For 
many organizations, that would have been a 
moment to celebrate and move on. But for Zenith, 
By: Kellie Paasch, Vice President of Independent Roofing Co.
BEYOND THE PLAQUE:
HOW THE MRCA SHARP ELITE SAFETY 
PROGRAM DRIVES REAL-WORLD CHANGE
“The biggest change was ownership. Safety 
stopped being viewed as a department or a 
program and became a shared responsibility 
across leadership, field teams, and supervisors,”

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