www.mrca.org  —  Midwest Roofer
15
HEALTH & SAFETY
participants find 
the greatest benefit 
in the review 
conducted by Gary 
Auman.
“Having Gary 
review our program 
elevated the 
process from 
recognition to real 
learning,” Zenith 
shared. “His 
experience and 
direct feedback 
helped us see our 
safety systems through an expert, unbiased lens.”
“He didn’t just evaluate compliance—he 
challenged our thinking, asked hard questions, 
and pushed us toward sustainability,” the 
company said. “That perspective added long-term 
value far beyond the award itself and helped 
ensure our improvements were durable, not 
temporary.”
This type of review is rare in most award 
programs. It provides companies with insights 
they might otherwise only gain through expensive 
legal reviews, litigation, regulatory action, or 
costly incidents—making the SHARP Elite 
process a proactive investment in safety and risk 
management.
Real Impact Where It Matters Most
For Zenith, the most meaningful results of the 
SHARP Elite process have not been the awards 
or recognition. They’ve been the changes seen on 
jobsites every day.
“The most tangible impact has been consistency,” 
the team explained. “Our crews are more engaged, 
expectations are clearer, and safety conversations 
happen proactively instead of reactively.”
They’ve seen improvements in jobsite planning, 
stronger communication between field teams and 
leadership, and increased confidence among 
employees that their safety is a genuine priority.
“The SHARP Elite process didn’t just change our 
documentation—it changed behaviors on the 
jobsite, which ultimately is what matters most.”
More Than an Award
The MRCA SHARP Elite Safety Program is 
unique because it combines recognition with a 
rigorous, expert-led evaluation. Companies that 
participate gain more than a certificate—they gain 
a clearer understanding of their strengths, their 
vulnerabilities, and the steps needed to build a 
sustainable safety culture.
Zenith Roofing’s journey from Bronze to the first-
ever 100% Platinum award demonstrates what is 
possible when a company treats the process not as 
a contest, but as an opportunity to improve.
In an industry where the stakes are high and 
the margins for error are small, that kind of 
transformation is worth far more than any plaque 
on the wall.

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