11 years, 6 teams, 1 competition

By Lauren White.

This year’s Student Competition tests participants on their roofing knowledge and management skills in creating an innovative solution for local hotel.

Day two of the 2025 International Roofing Expo (IRE) started with the 11th annual Roofing Alliance Construction Management Student Competition. This year, 10 teams competed throughout the year, with six finalist teams presenting at IRE. The teams are tasked with creating a written proposal and giving their oral presentation which tests roofing knowledge, project management, estimating, safety, quality control and presentation skills. Kyle Thomas, former Roofing Alliance president, and Roofing Alliance chair of the CTE committee, shared, “We’ve held steadfast to our mission to introduce students to the roofing industry throughout the years.”

The finalist teams presenting at IRE 2025 are:  

• Bradley University
• Clemson University
• University of North Florida  
• California Polytechnic State University
• Auburn University
• Texas A&M University

This year, with IRE being hosted in San Antonio, Texas, the project the students were tasked with was reroofing The Embassy Suites by Hilton San Antonio Airport Hotel. The project was donated by Beldon Roofing and Siplast this year. Some challenges for this project included numerous skylight replacements, a large open atrium in the middle of the building, and the fact that the hotel will remain operational during the time of construction. As in previous years, there are a lot of moving parts and crucial aspects to consider, including an airport being less than a mile from the airport and being near the end of an airport runway. “We want the project to be challenging enough to be interesting but not too difficult to work through,” Kyle shared.

While a challenging project, the students rose to the occasion. From providing safety solutions to navigating the logistics of installing the roof while the hotel remains operational, the teams presented viable options and innovative solutions for the project. Each team, coming up with their own company, take on the roles of superintendent, QA/QC manager, safety director, estimator, project manager and more, sharing their presentation as if they were submitting a proposal. The 15-minute oral presentation is scored based on:

• Overall quality of the oral presentation
• Feasibility of project management, organization and schedule
• Innovation, creativity, use of technology, value engineering
• Quality of safety and quality control/quality assurance plans
• Answers to questions

Then, seven judges have five minutes to ask the students questions about their overall project. Questions can range from safety considerations and material alternatives, to bid-specific details and quality control. The judges this year are:  

• Brad Beldon, chief culture officer and CEO of Beldon Roofing Company
• Michelle Boykin, COO of Rackley Roofing Co.
• Helene Hardy-Pierce, industry professional
• Scott Kawulok, vice president at B & M Roofing
• J. Dudley Miles, chairman of the board of J.D. Miles and Sons Inc., and Miles Roofing, Inc.
• Bob Pringle, vice president/principal of Evans Roofing Company Inc.
• John Yuko, president of GSM Roofing

The Student Competition not only promotes careers in roofing industry management, but also promotes professionalism and education within the industry. This competition is a learning opportunity for the students, their mentors and attendees alike. Getting a glimpse into the future of the roofing industry, and it looks bright in the hands of these future industry professionals. 

Tune in to the team interviews from The Coffee Shops soundstage to learn more about each team!