GAF reached its goal of repairing or replacing 500 rooftops for families impacted by severe weather throughout the Gulf Region.

The effort, first announced last fall in partnership with actor Anthony Mackie – Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next “Captain America” – is part of GAF Community Matters, a social impact initiative stated by the company to focus on building more resilient communities nationwide.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the country has already set records in 2023 for the most billion-dollar disasters in just the first seven months of any year since 1980. GAF noted that the road to rebuilding is “…long and expensive, often left incomplete, leaving families and communities overburdened and vulnerable to future weather events.”

In addition to delivering on roof repairs for these families and communities, GAF trains affected community members in essential roofing skills through the GAF Roofing Academy. The program is a pipeline for skilled labor currently in high demand and helps train a workforce to support future rebuilding efforts in communities hit by severe weather. Mackie joined the GAF Roofing Academy training in New Orleans, consisting of classroom and hands-on instruction.

“Born and raised in New Orleans, where I still live today, I know first-hand the devastating impact storm damage can have on families,” Mackie said. “The work that GAF has done here in the Gulf Region and across the country is helping make our community more resilient to severe weather in the future.”

On the Ground Training

As part of the training in New Orleans, GAF Roofing Academy students put their new skills to work, volunteering alongside Mackie and GAF team members to replace the roof of long-time resident Joe Capers, a U.S. Air Force veteran who has lived in New Orleans since the 1950s.

“As the son of a roofer, there is a sense of pride that comes with repairing a neighbor’s home,” Mackie added. “Helping to train people from this area in the roofing skills they need to not only earn a meaningful living but also help their neighbors when the next storm hits … means everything to me.”

This latest achievement is part of GAF’s $25 million commitment to help create more resilient communities nationwide in partnership with national and local nonprofit organizations, including Rebuilding Together, Habitat for Humanity, Team Rubicon, Good360 and St. Bernard Project. GAF Community Matters first launched in 2020 and, to date, has helped repair roofs on more than 3,500 homes.

“Completing 500 roofs in the Gulf Region is a milestone for GAF Community Matters; more importantly, this commitment has made a meaningful impact on hundreds of families, allowing them to return to their homes,” said John Altmeyer, CEO of GAF.

Photo courtesy of the Iowa Economic Development Corporation

Tecta America announced John Massarelli joined the company to lead its efforts in acquiring premier commercial roofing contractors throughout the United States. Massarelli comes to Tecta from Beacon Building Products, where he spent nearly 20 years in several direct and senior sales leadership roles.

In his time at Beacon, Massarelli developed strong industry relationships across many sectors and regions throughout the country and was also heavily involved in the integration process following numerous acquisitions.

Massarelli will report directly to Dave Reginelli, president and CEO, and will work alongside Mark Santacrose, Tecta's executive chairman, as the company continues its industry-leading efforts to attract the best contractors and people across the country to join forces with Tecta.

"John's years of experience in the industry and his professionalism are well known to contractors throughout the USA," said Reginelli. "His skills and demeanor match closely with Tecta's needs and culture of caring about our people. We are very excited to add John to our senior executive team and look forward to a long and productive relationship."

Santacrose said he is excited to add a roofing industry veteran like Massarelli to help lead acquisitions.

"John will do a terrific job differentiating Tecta's unique and proven business model compared to more recent financially led entrants in the industry," he said.

Massarelli said in a release that he has known the Tecta leadership team for many years and has "always been very impressed by their professionalism and expertise."

"They place a big emphasis on their people, and that comes across in everything from their focus on safety to the successful completion of projects," he said. "Tecta is the premier commercial roofing contractor in the nation, and I am proud to be part of its future growth."

McCurdy-Walden Inc. was recently acquired by Core Roofing Systems, a portfolio company of Shoreline Capital. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

McCurdy-Walden is a full-service roofing contractor that provides roof replacements, repair, and maintenance plans for commercial properties in Florida and Georgia. Founded in 1986, the company has more than 70 skilled employees and an arsenal of tools, including over 30 trucks, motorized roofing equipment, elastomeric coatings, spray rigs, cranes, and roll-off dumpsters.

Core Roofing Systems is a fully licensed and bonded commercial roofing contractor focusing primarily on projects primarily in the Southeast. Core is a portfolio company of Shoreline Equity Partners, a private equity firm headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., that invests in companies primarily in the Southeast.

The acquisition of McCurdy-Walden represents Core's first acquisition since partnering with Shoreline Equity Partners in November 2022.

According to a news release, the partnership with McCurdy-Walden expands Core's presence within Florida. It highlights the platform's aggressive growth strategy to continue building a commercial roofing service provider across the Southeast and nationally.

Heritage Capital Group served as the exclusive financial advisor and intermediary to McCurdy-Walden.

"The Heritage team was with us every step of the way," said Mark and Jon Walden, owners of McCurdy-Walden. "They advised us and helped us understand aspects of the transaction which were completely new to us. The sale of our family business, which had been an integral part of our lives for nearly four decades, held profound personal significance. The Heritage team not only grasped the deeply personal nature of our decision to sell, but also diligently secured the highest value and most favorable terms for us."

SRS Distribution recently acquired Sunniland Corporation, a distributor of residential and commercial roofing products and professional-grade fertilizers to the landscape supply market. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Sanford, Fla., Sunniland was founded in 1884, and its most recent owner was Tom Moore, with a network of 22 locations across Florida and South Georgia. SRS said Moore and his leadership team would continue leading the company and its employees under its existing brand, “…ensuring continuity and consistency for customers, suppliers, and employees.”

“We could not be more excited to welcome Tom and the Sunniland team to the SRS family,” Dan Tinker, president and CEO of SRS, said in a statement. “[Sunniland] is one of the most respected independents in the industry and will be an excellent fit within our existing branch network in the important Florida market.”

Moore said his family has spent over 40 years building Sunniland’s brand, reputation, and culture, and "always prided ourselves on being an independent distributor, so the decision to join forces with SRS was not taken lightly.”

“SRS’ employee-first mentality and familial atmosphere have created a truly unique platform where promoting exceptional customer service is at the heart of everything they do,” he added. “I firmly believe SRS is the best home for our people and the business we’ve built, and am confident that the future is bright for our two great companies.”

Mule-Hide Products Co. Inc., a manufacturer of low-slope roofing products and systems, promoted Mark Malin to national product manager.

In his new role, the company said in a news release that Malin has nationwide responsibility for the company’s portfolio of commercial roofing products, including single-ply membranes, modified bitumen, roof coatings, sealants, adhesives, insulation, underlayments, fasteners and accessories. He will also spearhead developing and implementing strategic opportunities for new and existing markets, products and systems.

Malin joined Mule-Hide Products in 2021 as territory manager for the Louisiana-Arkansas-Missouri district after nearly 17 years as an outside sales associate with ABC Supply Co. Inc. He started in roofing 28 years ago, working as a crew member for his grandfather’s commercial roofing business and then managing that firm.

“Mark grew up in the roofing industry and has worked in virtually every facet of it,” said Dan Williams, Mule-Hide Products’ managing director. “That breadth and depth of experience has given him the leadership skills, technical expertise and industry knowledge needed in this role, ensuring that Mule-Hide will remain at the forefront of commercial roofing and continue to offer industry-leading solutions for our contractors and their customers.”