By Dani Sheehan. 

Discover authentic conversations, valuable education and a thriving community that connects professionals shaping the outdoor spaces we enjoy every day. 

The outdoor living industry is growing, evolving and connecting like never before – and now there’s a podcast dedicated to exploring it all. From the Ground Up is the official podcast of OutdoorCoffeeShop™, where hosts dive into the trends, tools and transformations shaping the outdoor living construction industry. In this kickoff episode, co-hosts Heidi J. Ellsworth and Karol Weyman, shared the story behind OutdoorCoffeeShop and their vision for elevating professionals by building an inclusive, informative and inspiring online community. 

Why OutdoorCoffeeShop? 

Heidi, who helped Vickie Sharples found RoofersCoffeeShop® back in 2002, explained how the idea for the newest Coffee Shop grew out of a deep respect for the trades and a long history of creating digital spaces where contractors can connect. “We are about celebrating our contractors, the tradespeople who are out there,” she shared. “We’ve really been watching and seeing how much is going on in the outdoor space and felt like it was time for us to come in and be a part of it.” 

OutdoorCoffeeShop joins The Coffee Shops™ platforms serving roofing, metal and coatings contractors, but this newest community is focused on bringing all outdoor living professionals under one roof. 

What you’ll find inside 

Karol explained that OutdoorCoffeeShop was built to provide tools, resources and community for every type of contractor working outdoors: “We are bringing an industry together, elevating them by giving them tools and all the different aspects that help your companies grow and your business grow,” she shared. “You can basically go to this site and find almost anything you need to help you get to the next level, whether it’s networking, collaborating, listening to webinars or understanding what’s trending in the industry.” 

With directories, training, associations, safety resources, event coverage and so much more, OutdoorCoffeeShop is designed to meet professionals where they are. 

What makes it different 

While other industry resources exist, Heidi and Karol see OutdoorCoffeeShop as the place where they all connect. “There are great resources out there within all of these markets,” Heidi explained. “But what makes us different is that we are really focused on that outdoor living space. We want to bring everybody together. When you hear each other’s stories, when you understand the challenges within the industry – that makes us stronger.” 

Listen to the full episode of From the Ground Up now and be part of the new OutdoorCoffeeShop community.

By Dani Sheehan.

Understand how the economy is impacting the roofing and construction sectors to remain resilient through the end of the year.

Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, the economic picture offers a mix of steady growth, shifting consumer sentiment and industry-specific slowdowns. Determined to understand how these changes will or will not affect the roofing industry, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Alex Chausovsky, director of analytics and consulting at the Bundy Group, in a recent Contractor Outlook to uncover his economic insights.

The Bundy Goup is a small boutique investment bank, and in Alex’s role, he provides direction to his clients on where the economy is headed, assists business leaders and owners in sales, acquisitions and capital financing. He shared, “My career has really been focused around one simple concept, which is how can I help people who are responsible for making business decisions, leverage data and an objective analysis in order to make the best quality decision?” From the macroeconomic environment and technological trends to labor market conditions and geopolitical developments, they all have an impact, and he helps people understand what they should be doing in response to the landscape.

Navigating slowing construction

In light of recent government decisions around the end of Q1 and moving into Q2 of this year, Alex described the construction industry as being “on the back side of the business cycle,” with most segments experiencing a slowdown since their peak in early to mid-2023. “The residential market has obviously been significantly affected by the interest rate environment,” he shared, with single-family housing particularly weak. “Multifamily was more robust, but that’s starting to slow pretty dramatically too.”

Non-residential construction, including metal buildings, is also slowing, especially in manufacturing and traditional office space. However, Alex highlighted two big areas of opportunity:

1. Data center construction: Driven by the demand for computing power and AI infrastructure, data centers are fueling both new construction and retrofits of vacant office space. Alex shared, “That opportunity is going to be very advantageous for the metal construction sector... regardless of what happens in the macro environment.”
2. Semiconductor manufacturing: Investment in U.S.-based semiconductor facilities continues, particularly in regions working to reduce reliance on imports.

Alex believes the economy is not in crisis, but it’s entering a more complex phase. While core construction segments may see a dip in momentum, savvy contractors can focus on resilient pockets of growth like tech-related construction and advanced manufacturing builds. “If we can contain the uncertainty, sentiment should bounce back and we should continue to see growth,” Alex noted.

In the meantime, staying informed, flexible and ready to pivot toward emerging markets will be the key to weathering the second half of 2025.

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about Alex Chausovsky’s outlook on recent economic trends.

By Karen Edwards.

A sustainable approach to waste management.

Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) members traveled to the Chicago area recently to visit with Mycocycle founder and CEO Joanne Rodriguez at her company headquarters to learn more about how they are harvesting the power of mushrooms to tackle the challenge of construction debris.  

Joanne shared that 11% of world greenhouse gas emissions derive from construction materials – from resource extraction to disposal. Traditional waste management methods often rely on disposal or recycling that can still be resource-intensive which is why Mycocycle is transforming the paradigm by employing nature's own recyclers — mushrooms.

“So why mushrooms?” asks Joanne. “There is a huge body of work around micro remediation as a form of bioremediation. We're not the first to do it, we're just the first to do it in an industrial application.”

Mushrooms are known for their remarkable ability to decompose organic matter, thanks to their network of mycelium — tiny thread-like structures that act as nature’s decomposers. Mycocycle taps into this biological power to upcycle debris that would otherwise be discarded.

How it started

After spending nearly 20 years in the commercial roofing industry and being tasked with leading a recycling program for the manufacturer, Joanne realized that recycling in the roofing industry was not even close. Once she turned 50, she realized she wanted to “do better” and do something about this issue so she set out on her own.  

“When I went independent, I went on a quest for knowledge, as well as to beef up my skills,” explained Joanne. “I took a course from Oregon State University, and I learned about fungi and their remediative qualities.”

“When I learned about the heavy hydrocarbons that they could cycle through, just like those we find in petrochemicals and bitumens that are going into our products, I connected with a mycologist, which is a specialist in fungi, and we put a handful of spores on some off-the-shelf asphalt roof shingles, and it grew within seven days.”  

Joanne formed a company and filed a patent for that process. After meeting our own Heidi J. Ellsworth in 2018, Joanne worked to secure funding and support from leading roofing industry players but was met with skepticism and doubt. Convinced that this process would work, Joanne incubated and accelerated the company in 2019 and launched through the National Renewable Energy Labs in March 2020. After receiving validation of the problem, the Covid pandemic shut everything down, slowing down her momentum.  

“I started to try to find people,” said Joanne. “I'm not a scientist, I'm just curious, trying to solve a problem.” Within a year of leasing her first space, they had outgrown it. “Today we're in over 10,000 square feet. We have another 10,000 square feet we’re expanding to in Georgia, and we have many installations via our Mycontainers. The whole goal for us is to upcycle waste from the built environment.”  

Upcycling old carpets  

The one industry where Mycocycle has gained traction is the carpet industry. “One thing I wanted to solve was how we could upcycle or reuse the waste more effectively and how we could get greener, cleaner chemicals to do that.”  

The carpet industry is seeing a lot of emerging regulations, says Joanne. “They haven't hit the roofing sector yet, but they are hitting the flooring sector very hard. Within the next three years. Things like commercial carpets must have at least 5% recycled content from their industry. It can't come from PET water bottles.”

“We're able to reduce the embodied carbon of materials by 98% for carpet specifically. We are coming from commercial carpet waste and producing a Nylon 6 replacement. Our products are competitively priced and outperform petrochemicals today. That's one of my very big points of pride that we're able to compete against virgin polymers and win. We are defining a new category of materials management.”

The process and result

The Mycocycle process begins with sorting and preparing construction waste. Materials are selected based on their compatibility with the fungi's decomposition capabilities. Once prepared, the debris is inoculated with specific strains of fungi that thrive on the chosen substrates. Over time, the fungi metabolize the waste, breaking it down into simpler compounds.

The end result is a transformed material that can be used for various applications, such as bio-based building materials, insulation or soil amendments. This innovative process not only reduces the need for landfill disposal but also creates sustainable products that can re-enter the construction cycle.

This summer an athletic field is being installed in South Carolina that will be the first carbon neutral athletic field. One of the largest suppliers of athletic turf is using MycoFILL, upcycled from old carpet, in the manufacture of their turf infill that not only keeps the field cooler and is safer for athletes, but eliminates the need for using rubber and microplastics in their manufacturing process.  

Implications for the future

Mycocycle's work represents a significant step forward in sustainable waste management. By harnessing the natural capabilities of mushrooms, the company is addressing one of the construction industry's most pressing problems in an innovative and environmentally responsible way. As the technology gains traction, it has the potential to revolutionize how waste is handled across multiple industries, setting a precedent for bio-based solutions to global challenges.

In a world where sustainability is increasingly critical, Mycocycle stands as a shining example of how nature and technology can work hand in hand to create a better, greener future.

By Emma Peterson.

Examine market growth and industry shifts with Paul Trombitas and the FMI 2025 North American Construction Outlook report.

From new tariffs to changing immigration policies and more, 2025 has been an interesting year for the construction industry. To help you get a better understanding of what is going on in our market, FMI Research created a 2025 North American Construction Outlook report. To learn more about this, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Paul Trombitas for an episode of Contractor Outlook. Paul is a partner at FMI with a focus on the building products sector team. This position means that he is incredibly knowledgeable of the dynamic challenges facing members of our industry, whether they are manufacturers, contractors, architects or another type of professional.

When looking at this year’s North American Construction Outlook report, Paul noted that there’s a variety of factors affecting the industry right now. He elaborated, “It's the political climate, affordability rates, technological trends and advancements. On top of it all, you also have generational transitions. The dynamic market we see today is from all of these converging together right now.”  

While a lot of these factors seem challenging and stressful, Paul noted that we are still seeing a very favorable growth market of the construction industry. He explained, “If we look at just 2025 data center spending, it’s anticipated to be $30 billion, which is substantially higher than it was in 2020.” Looking at that in terms of spending, there has been a slight drop in the last five years. Paul shared, “When we look from 2023 to 2024, we saw 6% growth. And then moving from 2024 to 2025, it's 2%. So a slowing of growth, but it is still growth.” And the outlook for the future remains strong. Paul explained, “Overall, we're seeing more stabilization and while we anticipate 2025 to 2026 to be lower growth years, it is then predicted for a return to higher annual growth rates from 2027 to 2028.”

Read the transcript, Listen to the episode or Watch the full conversation to learn more about FMI’s 2025 North American Construction Outlook report and the future of the construction industries. 

By Dani Sheehan.

While policy shifts can create uncertainty, proactive planning and advocacy can help you navigate an evolving business landscape.

In the rapidly shifting political landscape, the roofing industry continues to advocate for policies that support business growth, workforce development and fair regulations. In a recent episode of Contractor Outlook, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Duane Musser and Deb Mazol from the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) to discuss the major legislative priorities shaping the industry. From tax reforms to tariffs and workforce policies, their insights highlighted both the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Navigating policy changes

1 – Tax reform

One of the most pressing issues on the legislative docket is tax reform. Many of the provisions that were passed in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire at the end of this year. According to Deb, “Tax reform is going to be key this year [for the roofing industry]. We have a lot of provisions that were passed in 2017 when Trump was last in office that expire at the end of this year, so that’s going to be part of any large package.” Contractors should stay aware of potential changes and plan accordingly to maximize tax benefits while they are still in place.

2 – Tariffs  

Tariffs on materials from Canada, Mexico and China could impact the cost and availability of roofing supplies. “It will probably go up and down and up and down, and it will be hard to follow or at least hard to predict,” Deb mentioned. Her advice to contractors? “Don’t panic. Just prepare... Diversify your supply chain, know your customers and know your suppliers.”

3 – Immigration and workforce

Immigration policy remains a critical issue for the roofing industry, particularly regarding labor shortages. Duane emphasized the need for clear pathways to legal employment, noting that while enforcement measures have been a major focus of the administration, the NRCA continues to advocate for visa programs that help meet workforce demands. “We would like to see, as we made a focus during Roofing Day, a provision – some type of visa for legal immigration to meet workforce needs,” Duane shared. The NRCA is also working to improve workforce training opportunities through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which could provide valuable resources for contractors looking to build skilled teams.

The power of contractor involvement

With so many legislative and regulatory changes potentially on the horizon, staying engaged in advocacy efforts is more important than ever. Roofing Day in D.C. provides an opportunity for industry professionals to make their voices heard. “We were very close to getting a bipartisan, bicameral bill through Congress last year... and we’re going to build on that for this year,” Duane shared optimistically.

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar for more insights on navigating uncertainty and positioning yourself for success in an evolving business environment.

By Dani Sheehan.

RICOWI’s storm damage research ensures that every storm leaves us better prepared for the next.

In a recent episode of Contractor Outlook, Heidi J. Ellsworth met with Phil Mayfield, a seasoned building envelope consultant and the storm investigation program coordinator for the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues (RICOWI). Together, they explored RICOWI’s mission and its crucial role in advancing roofing performance through weather-related investigations.

Phil has a diverse background of experience in the industry, consulting on storm damage cases for both insurance companies and property owners. His work with RICOWI is rooted in a mission to analyze roofing failures and successes in the wake of extreme weather events. “RICOWI started as the germ of an idea back in 1989,” Phil explained. “A group of roofing professionals and industry leaders all had a common goal and wanted to find out why some roofs fail, particularly in hurricane conditions and similar roofs and similar materials did not fail.” This led to the formation of an organization committed to studying real-world storm damage and applying those findings to improve design, manufacturing and installation practices.

Hurricane Andrew hit Florida in 1992, and its devastation catapulted the newly formed RICOWI and the rest of the industry to take a harder look at roofing standards. “A lot of the things learned after Hurricane Andrew had to do with EPDM membranes blowing off, issues with ballast, mechanical fastenings and even shingle materials,” Phil shared. “The sheer volume of damage forced changes in how roofs were constructed and secured.”

Since then, RICOWI has expanded its focus to also include hail, recognizing that wind damage and hail account for significant insurance losses across the country. The organization’s first official investigation took place in 2004 after a major hail event in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Unlike other research efforts, RICOWI mobilizations rely on volunteers – industry experts who dedicate their own time and resources to investigate storm-affected areas. Phil explained, “We’re not paid to do this. We cover our own expenses, and we’re not allowed to advertise our businesses or profit in any way. The idea of impartiality is ingrained in RICOWI.” This allows individuals to work alongside people they normally wouldn’t, from insurance professionals to code officials to academics, all with the goal of better understanding storm damage.

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about how RICOWI’s research helps shape best practices, inform code improvements and support innovative solutions for roofing resilience.

By Dani Sheehan.

From rethinking recruitment to leveraging the right partnerships, Chris’s approach will help you take a step toward winning the war for talent in the roofing industry.

Labor shortages are a pressing challenge across industries, and roofing is no exception. In a recent episode of our Contractor Outlook Newscast, workforce development expert Chris Czarnik shares invaluable insights into recruiting, retaining and developing talent in the roofing industry. Chris’s depth of experience and actionable strategies offers a roadmap for navigating this critical issue.

With over 20 years of experience in workplace development, Chris is no stranger to the challenges of matching workers with industries that need them most. He explains, “I’m not a guy from the ivory tower in New York telling you what theories might happen. Before I taught companies how to find people, I was a career coach for some 8,000 people, whether they were high school students, college graduates or mid-career professionals... I taught people a project-oriented way to figure out how to go to work and how to find it.”

He taught them a process he called Human Search Engine, which later became a topic in his book Winning the War for Talent, that he wrote for the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) but which has now been used by over 4,000 organizations. His approach emphasizes tangible solutions tailored to the roofing industry, an often-overlooked sector as a rewarding career.

Our industry faces a fundamental issue: most people don’t know the roofing industry exists as a viable career path. “When you’re seven years old, you can look at a fire truck and say, ‘I want to be a firefighter.’ You see a police officer and say, ‘I want to be a police officer.’ But we don’t see commercial roofing in our daily life,” Chris highlights. With an average second-year salary of $50,000 and lifetime earnings surpassing $2.5 million for commercial roofers, this field offers opportunities that are too often overshadowed.

Chris doesn’t shy away from the hard numbers: “We’re 8.5 million people short in the workforce for the next ten years. My generation [the baby boomers] are retiring at a rate of 2,500 people per day, and the generation replacing us only has 1,500 people per day entering the workforce.” However, he’s quick to offer a solution-focused perspective. Roofing companies don’t need to solve the national labor crisis to succeed – they need to focus on finding a few great employees at a time.

He asks, “Are you working as hard to find your next great employee as you are your next great client? If not, then the numbers are against you.”

Want to hear his practical advice and wake-up call for the roofing industry? Read the transcript, Listen to the newscast or Watch the webinar for Chris's solutions concerning workforce development and how you can apply them to your business.

By Emma Peterson. 

Looking into the new year, learn what economic trends in the industry are predicted to last and what might be changing. 

As we move into the new year, there are a lot of fears and uncertainties about where 2025 might lead us. One of the most pressing things on many contractors' minds is the economic outlook for the new year. To talk about this, Heidi J. Ellsworth hosted Dr. Anirban Basu, chairperson and CEO of Sage Policy Group for an episode of Contractor Outlook™. The Sage Group is an economic and policy consulting firm that serves as the chief economist for many organizations, including the Construction Financial Management Association and the Modular Building Institute. 

Overall, as we move into the new year, Dr. Anirban shared some thoughts on overarching trends for contractors economically. He saw two major directions, “For contractors who are engaged in public work, and especially those specializing in data center construction, whether exterior shells or whatever it happens to be, there will continue to be a construction boom.” He specification of data centers as a sector of growth for the contracting industry is due to the push for artificial intelligence and the support structures needed for that.  

On the other hand, Dr. Anirban sees more workflow issues for those working in private sectors, whether that be commercially or residentially. He shared, “We've seen construction slowdown in the U.S., multifamily segment, meaning if your apartment buildings are under construction, we've seen some slowdown in distribution center, fulfillment center construction and we've seen some slowdown in the traditional office market for obvious reasons, the pervasiveness of remote work.”  

This slowdown can be attributed to many factors, including rising interest and mortgage rates. But a big part of it is uncertainty. Dr. Anirban explained, “The presidential election is behind us, but what we don't have behind us is an awareness of what policymaking is going to look like. What are tariffs going to look like? What are tax cuts going to look like? How inflationary is that? What is going to be the immigration policy?” A lot of this is causing stress both for home/building owners and contractors which is likely to result in a slow-down of construction projects as people watch what will be unfolding in the new year. 

However, even with some of this slowdown, there will still be projects available. One idea that Dr. Anirban pointed to was the rise of what is called “adaptive reuse.” He explained, “A lot of older office buildings are being repurposed. Not all of them can be, but there are going to be a number of opportunities in every market in which some number of properties can be converted.” By converted, Dr. Anirban is referring to the trend of turning things like old office buildings into apartments, rather than demolishing and building from the ground up again. And so, for the contractors in the private sector, he has been recommending looking into this and seeing where it fits into their business.  

Read the transcript, Listen to the conversation or Watch the episode to learn more about Dr. Anirban’s economic predictions and observations. 

By Dani Sheehan. 

A roadmap to better leadership starts with dumping the HeadTrash. Learn how to silence self-doubt and build stronger teams in this intriguing newscast. 

In a recent Contractor Outlook Newscast episode, Heidi J. Ellsworth meets with Renie Cavallari, award-winning author and speaker about the mental health of today’s businesses. She shares powerful insights into the challenges leaders face in managing their mindset and transforming workplace culture. For roofing professionals looking to elevate their leadership and team performance, Renie’s practical advice provides a roadmap to clarity, alignment and productivity. 

After 30 years of owning her own firm, Powered by Aspire, Renie wrote her eighth book, “HEADTRASH: The Leading Killer of Human Potential” to explore how leaders can help themselves and their teams achieve their full potential. She defines HeadTrash as the inner dialogue that undermines potential, drains energy and fosters self-doubt. “Those nasty little voices in our head that undermine us, they suck our energy, steal our potential and they’re loud. They can keep us up at night,” she explains. Left unchecked, this inner dialogue creates chaos and emotional stress, derailing productivity and collaboration. 

The solution? Learning to identify and manage HeadTrash effectively. “It’s not just about being positive,” Renie emphasizes. “When we learn the tools to move from the disconnected side to the connected side of our emotional brain, now we learn how to dump and manage... And not just our relationships with others, relationships with ourselves because we’re not so critical.” 

Renie’s research with leaders worldwide reveals a simple but profound formula: decreased emotional stress = clarity = productive action. If the opposite occurs – in other words, if we have high emotional stress – we create confusion and inefficiency in ourselves and others, which can ripple across a company’s culture. 

“When we’re productive, we feel aligned within our organization, we feel aligned with one another. And when we feel that alignment, that's what culture is,” Renie explains. “A healthy culture is one that allows people to come together. It doesn't matter what you define as your vision, your mission, your values, people come together, and they align. And when they align, we're extraordinarily powerful. Whether it's as an individual, when I'm in integrity with myself I'm aligned or within a company.” 

The challenges roofing professionals face daily, from tight deadlines and dynamic team environments to the need to establish trust with their clients and crews, resonate deeply with Renie’s insights on high emotional stress in the workplace. The tools she offers can help leaders at all levels overcome these stressors, align their teams and cultivate a culture of resilience and productivity. 

Read the transcript, Listen to the newscast or Watch the webinar to hear more about Renie’s approach to dumping HeadTrash and transforming leadership. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how November 5 might shape the future of the contracting industry. 

As we move through the 2024 election season, many professionals are wondering if the current state of the presidential and congressional races will impact the industry. To take a deeper dive into this topic, Reid Ribble, former roofing contractor, congressman and past National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) CEO, joined Heidi J. Ellsworth for an episode of Contractor Outlook to talk about what members of the contracting industry should be thinking about heading into November. Heidi opened the conversation by clarifying a bit about the timeline of this episode release, saying, “We are recording this on September 20, 2024, with the plan of it coming out right before the elections in November. I want everyone to be aware that things may happen between today and when this podcast actually comes out, but we're going to be talking about where we're standing today.” 

With that acknowledgment made, Reid jumped straight into what’s unique about this election cycle. “It was unprecedented in that President Joe Biden decided to not seek reelection after he had won the primary system, which would've put him as the nominee.” As we all know, this led to Kamala Harris winning the Democratic Party’s nomination, which in turn threw off the Republican Party’s strategy,” Reid explained. “They were planning on running against one old man, against another maybe slightly older man. And all of a sudden they have this much younger, more vibrant candidate that they have to run against, and they're stumbling a bit, trying to figure out how to run against her.” 

On the congressional side, Reid shared his predictions, saying, “Right now the U.S. Senate is controlled by Democrats. The U.S. House is controlled by Republicans, and it's just a very, very small majority on each side. And so, I can pretty well tell you what's going to happen in the U.S. Senate. Republicans are going to take the Senate.” He believes that the outcome of the presidential election will also be an indicator of which party will take control of the House of Representatives. But, no matter who ends up with the majority in the House, he doesn’t think that it will be more than a four or five seat majority, meaning bipartisanship is necessary for anything to happen in the next year. 

As for how all of this will impact the contracting industry, one of the big things Reid highlighted was the economic influence that presidents can have. He explained, “Current Vice President Kamala Harris is talking about giving first-time home buyers a $25,000 cash credit so they can buy a home. And she's thinking that that will solve the housing problem. Former President Trump has policies about no taxes on tips or no taxes on overtime. Neither of these make sense.” Reid argues that Kamala Harris is missing a key perspective, whereby raising access to housing, it raises demand and only improves economics for housing builders. But he says that Donald Trump’s policy ideas are also flawed. He explained, “If they went to no taxes on overtime, it would incentivize every company in America to cancel all salaried employees because the salaried employees, they're working 60 hours a week now, they'd want those 20 hours to show up on their payroll so they can get a third of their income with tax-free.” Overall, Reid sees both of these economic plans as problematic because they would increase the national debt, which drains the private sectors (such as roofing) of resources they need to grow and flourish. 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the recording to hear more of Reid’s thoughts on how the 2024 election will affect those in the contracting industry.