Beacon announced that Brooke Laizure, Owner of Whirlwind Roofing & Construction in Bixby, Okla., is the winner of the 2024 North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year campaign, which highlights women in the roofing industry across North America.

Whirlwind specializes in residential roofing replacement, repair and restoration and is proudly family-owned and operated, Beacon said in a news release announcing the 2024 winner.

Laizure is a founding member of the National Women in Roofing and chairs the NWIR Oklahoma Council, which she co-founded in 2019. Through NWIR, she is involved in “Build My Future,” a one-day construction career day for high school students in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Okla., offering them hands-on exhibits from organizations in the skilled trades.

She also supports Women Accessing Non-Traditional Trades and is a member of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce. She has served as an Oklahoma Roofing Contractors Association board member and is passionate about her education, earning Xactimate Level 3 Certification. Whirlwind is also a FORTIFIED Home-designated roofing company.

"We launched this campaign to recognize females in roofing four years ago and were thrilled with the nearly 3,000 entries we received this year highlighting women throughout North America who are dedicated to their career, the industry, and their communities,” said Jennifer Lewis, Beacon’s vice president, Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility.

“It’s a privilege to acknowledge Brooke for her exceptional work ethic and commitment to empowering women. Her impressive achievements and dedication to uplifting other women led to her recognition as North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year,” Lewis added.

"I am incredibly grateful and humbled to accept this award from Beacon Building Products and thankful for the support I have received from my family, friends, and peers,” Laizure said upon hearing the news. “Being named the North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year goes beyond personal accomplishment; it’s a celebration of empowerment in an industry where women continue to break barriers and redefine what it means to be a professional roofing contractor. I hope my story inspires other women to pursue their passions and make a difference in the industry.”

From March 8 through April 10, Beacon solicited nominations of outstanding female roofing professionals and then opened voting to the public from May 15 through June 5.

The other top four finalists were:

• Millie Hindes – Watergate Roofing, Indianapolis, Ind.
• Sarah Lechowich – True North Roofing, Cottage Grove, Minn.
• Tomie Kay Morse – Morse Home Improvement, Dagsboro, Del.
• Melanie Knox – Restoration Builders, Round Rock, Texas

Photo courtesy of the Iowa Economic Development Corporation

GAF Energy, a Standard Industries company, announced plans to build a new state-of-the-art solar roofing testing facility and launch a new round of Building Integrated Solar (BIPV) testing, partly thanks to a U.S. Department of Energy investment.

In a news release, GAF said the project “aims to develop, test, and validate a combination of optical, thermal, and energy models for roof-integrated solar shingles to improve understanding of the benefits solar shingles provide in heating and air conditioning efficiency for the home.”

GAF Energy is partnering with Sandia National Laboratories and its network of regional test centers on the project. The facility will be equipped with weather, PV, and temperature monitoring. The company has conducted ongoing testing of solar roofing with Sandia National Labs since 2021.

"Solar roofing offers the opportunity for residential solar to reach the mainstream, and testing is critical to further innovation in this sector," said Martin DeBono, president of GAF Energy. "We're thankful to the Department of Energy for their ongoing commitment to supporting clean energy innovation, and we're looking forward to continuing our partnership with the experts at Sandia National Labs to verify the performance, durability, and benefits of solar roofing."

The Energy Department award was announced earlier this year as part of a broader $71 million investment, including $16 million from President Joe Biden's bipartisan Infrastructure Law that seeks to transform the U.S. energy sector by growing the network of domestic manufacturers across the U.S. solar energy supply chain.

GAF Energy is a leading solar roofing product design and development manufacturer. The company's award-winning Timberline Solar system features what the company describes as “the world's first nail-able solar shingle and is the only roof system to directly integrate solar technology into traditional roofing processes and materials.”

GAF Energy recently celebrated the completion of a new 450,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Georgetown, Texas. The company is conducting a search for the location of the new testing facility.

Peak Roofing Partners, an Exuma Capital Partners portfolio company, announced the acquisition of Action Roofing, a leading South Florida-based roofing company. This acquisition marks Peak Roofing’s first platform acquisition, laying the foundation for significant expansion and growth in the roofing industry.

Under the leadership of Managing Partner and Founder Anthony Perera, Exuma Capital Partners says it has "identified the roofing sector as a prime area for strategic investment." According to a news release from the portfolio company, the acquisition of Action Roofing represents a first step in building a "leading roofing services business" across Florida and the southeastern United States.

“This acquisition aligns perfectly with our vision to establish a strong presence in the roofing industry and provide top-notch services to our clients,” said Perera. “Action Roofing’s reputation for quality and customer satisfaction is a perfect fit for the Peak Roofing family and our growth strategy.”

Action Roofing, founded in 1986, has built a reputation for providing roofing solutions to residential and homebuilder clients throughout South Florida.

“This partnership will provide us with the resources and support needed to enhance our service offerings and reach new heights,” said Charlie DiFalco, president of Action Roofing. “Our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction remains our top priority, and we look forward to a bright future together.”

The acquisition of Action Roofing is expected to bring numerous benefits to both companies, including expanded resources, enhanced operational efficiencies, and a broader range of customer services. As Peak Roofing continues to grow, the company plans to leverage Action Roofing’s established market presence and expertise to drive further expansion in the roofing industry.

Formed in May 2024, Exuma Capital Partners is a private equity firm targeting investments in high-growth middle markets in the technology, real estate, food and beverage, and home services industries.

Photo courtesy of the Iowa Economic Development Corporation

Greenwood Industries, a custom building envelope solutions company in the Northeast and 2023 Commercial Contractor of the Year, announced a leadership transition and several key promotions within its executive team.

Effective immediately, David Klein will transition from his role as president to chief executive officer. Greenwood Industries says the move will enable Klein to step away from daily operations and focus on shaping the company's long-term strategies, providing clear leadership, and harnessing the collective strengths of Greenwood Industries' team to drive growth.

As part of this transition, the following leadership promotions have been announced:

• John D'Elia has been promoted to president of Greenwood's Massachusetts operations. D’Elia, who has been with Greenwood since its inception, brings over 30 years of experience in commercial and residential construction. As the former vice president of estimating and sales, he has been instrumental in developing strategies for new business, partnering with clients on budgeting and value engineering, and managing the company's efficient estimating department.
• Lucien Lanoue has been promoted to president of Greenwood's Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island operations. Lanoue, who joined Greenwood in 1994, has served in various roles, from roofer to foreman, sheet metal superintendent, and project manager, ultimately advancing to vice president of operations.
• Matthew Tessier has been promoted to vice president of private estimating for all locations. Tessier, currently the director of estimating for private construction at Greenwood, brings over 20 years of experience to his role. He is responsible for all privately funded projects in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. In his new role, Tessier will contribute to sustaining and expanding Greenwood's private projects department.
• Jay O'Toole has been promoted to vice president of public estimating for all locations. O’Toole, the director of public estimating, joined Greenwood in 2003 as an estimator. In addition to his core responsibilities, O’Toole is in charge of training new estimators and serving as the liaison between the project management and submittals departments. In his new role, O’Toole will help drive the growth and stability of Greenwood's public projects department.

ABC Supply Co., Inc. announced its fundraising effort for the nonprofit Homes For Our Troops raised more than $5.2 million, blowing well past the $4 million it set out to achieve.

During the campaign, which partnered with AJ Foyt Racing at the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, ABC Supply matched the first $1 million in donations. Ninety cents of every dollar HFOT spends goes directly toward the program of building homes for severely injured veterans.

ABC Supply has been a Platinum Level Partner of HFOT since 2020.

"We are so grateful and thrilled for the overwhelming support HFOT and our nation’s veterans received in May. At ABC Supply, giving back is a fundamental part of who we are, and we are proud to celebrate our country by honoring Veterans in such a remarkable way,” Mike Jost, chief operating officer at ABC Supply, said in a news release.

HFOT is an organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans, enabling them to rebuild their lives; since 2004, HFOT has built 380 specially adapted homes.

“We are beyond grateful for ABC Supply’s sponsorship and support during the 2024 Indy 500,” says HFOT President and CEO Brigadier General (Ret) Tom Landwermeyer. “Their generous $1 million match was key to raising over $5.2 million and gave incredible visibility to our mission of Building Homes and Rebuilding Lives.”

This is the third year ABC Supply has championed the month-long fundraiser and donated the design for AJ Foyt Racing’s No. 14 Chevy, driven this year by Santino Ferrucci, who finished in eighth place in the Indy 500 last week.

“What an achievement! We couldn’t be more proud to be part of this program with our friends at ABC Supply,” says Larry Foyt, president of A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Inc. “Santino and the entire team feel inspired having the Veterans in our garage and racing the beautiful, patriotic Homes For Our Troops car. Great job by all to surpass the goal!

Photo courtesy of the Iowa Economic Development Corporation