Atlas Roofing Corporation announced that Ken Roberts had been named its new president following the retirement of Ken Farrish, who has served in the role for 20 years.

Farrish leaves behind a legacy of industry leadership, financial stewardship, and employee development, building an organization that embodies a culture of cultivating "Products with Purpose and People with Passion," the company said in a statement.

During his tenure, Farrish embraced the rise of technology, investing in capital projects that improved the customer experience. He also developed a management team that strives to put employee growth and team building above all else. Atlas experienced sustainable growth in each of its four divisions, establishing its position as a leader in the building materials industry.

With Farrish's departure, Atlas announced that Roberts would assume the role of president on July 31, 2023.

Roberts has had a successful 30-year career at Masco Corporation. He most recently served as president of Delta Faucet. Previously, he was president of Masco Canada, vice president of international sales, vice president of specifications and national accounts, vice president of Asian business, and numerous other roles in purchasing and manufacturing. Before Masco, Roberts worked at GE's Aircraft Engine Division.

Atlas characterizes Roberts as operating with intention and transparency. Roberts holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and a master's degree from Northwestern University in business administration and engineering management.

In addition to his U.S. experiences, Roberts and his family have lived in Canada and China while working in those countries. He and his wife Kate will relocate from Indianapolis to Atlas' corporate headquarters in Atlanta.

Photo courtesy of the Iowa Economic Development Corporation

The Insurance Institute of Business & Home Safety [IBHS] has released the second scheduled update of its Impact-Resistant Shingle Performance Ratings, showing how asphalt shingles in the market perform against hailstorm damage.

The performance ratings are determined using IBHS' hail science research and peer-reviewed hail impact test protocols. Instead of dropping or launching steel balls, the organization creates hailstones in the lab based on studies of thousands of samples taken from the field. These synthetic hailstones are launched at shingles with a CO₂-powered gun to simulate a hailstone striking shingles on a roof.

Shingles are tested in dents/ridges, tears and granule loss categories. Each category receives a rating of excellent, good, marginal, or poor. Based on these, the shingle brand is given an overall rating.

This year, eight of the nine products received a "good" overall rating from IBHS, but many received lesser scores in specific damage modes than in previous years. The testing is held every two years to capture changes in production quality, evaluate the durability of new products as they enter the market and ensure ratings reflect actual product performance.

"Though our tests reveal a few brands have received lower ratings, specifically in the dents and ridges damage category, we are seeing an increase in overall market performance," said IBHS Research Project Scientist Chris Sanders. "Together with manufacturers, we are working to identify the reasons for poor ratings [to increase] product quality."

The brands tested this year include (in alphabetical order):

• Atlas StormMaster Shake
• CertainTeed Landmark ClimateFlex
• CertainTeed NorthGate
• GAF Timberline Armorshield II
• IKO Nordic
• Malarkey Roofing Products Legacy
• Malarkey Roofing Products Vista
• Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration FLEX
• TAMKO Building Products StormFighter

View the updated rankings here.

The International Roofing Expo, one of the largest roofing events in the United States, announced its 2024 expo date and location as Feb. 6-8, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. IRE 2024 will host three education days, hands-on demos and live clinics, fueling discovery and connection in the booming roofing and exterior industries.

In partnership with the city of Las Vegas, IRE will provide a record number of 20 hotels available for the 2024 show at accessible pricing, more than any previous event to date, to accommodate all attending roofing and exterior professionals traveling to the “Entertainment Capital of the World.” IRE will offer a block arranged with the nearby Westgate Hotel to offer comparable rates for all attendees ahead of the Super Bowl, which will be in Las Vegas on Feb. 11, 2024.

Newly launched in 2023, IRE will expand the Exteriors Pavilion to increase in size and offerings at the 2024 event, catering to contractors and exhibitors in the industry's windows, siding and doors segments. Also returning to the upcoming expo, the Exteriors Education Stage will feature full expert sessions to discuss business development in roofing and exteriors and provide firsthand training providing the latest techniques and business solutions.

Supporting the significant Hispanic roofing communities, IRE will continue to grow the "Para Latinos Lounge" and offer educational and networking resources and on-site events in Spanish — celebrating unity with Latino roofing professionals.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, nearly 30% of roofing contractors identify as Latino and Hispanic, a large contributor to the market. IRE continues to focus its content and community events to highlight individuals, groups and celebrated leaders across the roofing industry.

“As the International Roofing Expo continues to grow, it continues to provide the best resources not only for the roofing and exteriors industry but also for the construction industry as a whole,” says Rich Russo, IRE’s show director.

“The evolving roofing trends reflect the industry's ongoing efforts to embrace innovation, sustainability and enhanced customer experiences,” Russo added. “The event offerings, including education and networking opportunities, will continue to adapt as the needs of the industry change and develop.”

Stay connected with the Roofing Expo to view hotel blocks to book ahead, register and receive more information on the 2024 event at theroofingexpo.com.

Mule-Hide Products Co. Inc., a manufacturer of low-slope roofing systems and products based in Beloit, Wis., announced it had promoted Derek Govan to West Region director.

A roofing industry veteran of more than 25 years, Govan had previously served as territory manager for the company’s Rocky Mountain territory since 2019, the company said in a news release. Mule-Hide’s West region includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

In his new role, the company said Govan would be responsible for achieving regional sales goals and leading the region’s territory managers, the company’s primary contacts for contractors, property managers, specifiers and roofing materials distributors.

Govan came to Mule-Hide Products from B.R. McCracken Co. in Arvada, Colo., selling low and steep roofing products. Before that, he was a superintendent with Pridemark Homes in Denver.

“When Derek joined Mule-Hide, he took over a well-established territory. Under his direction, it continued to grow every year,” said Mule-Hide Products Managing Director Dan Williams. “The key to that success was his ability to form strong partnerships with our contractors and distributors throughout the territory; we look forward to having him bring that leadership to the entire West region.”

SRS Distribution Inc. announced that it had acquired Washoe Building Supply Inc., a residential and commercial roofing product distributor; the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Sparks, Nev., Washoe was founded in 1981 and is owned and operated by Scott McGrath, Zach McGrath, and Christina McGrath. The McGrath family will continue to lead the company’s team under the Washoe banner, ensuring continuity and consistency for customers, suppliers, and employees.

“We are honored to welcome the McGraths and the rest of the Washoe team to the SRS family,” Dan Tinker, president and CEO of SRS, said in a news release announcing the purchase. “[Washoe] has earned an outstanding reputation in the market and will be an excellent complement to our existing Roof Line branch in Reno; [its] dedicated employees have been at the center of the company’s success, and we look forward to growing with them for years to come.”

The owners commented on the acquisition, saying the time was right for them to find a partner with the reach of a concern like SRS.

“After several decades of developing Washoe into one of Reno’s leading roofing distributors, we decided it was time to find a partner that could take our business to the next level,” the family statement read. “SRS has an exceptional track record of taking care of its people and being a loyal steward of its families’ legacies, which made the decision to join SRS incredibly easy.”