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It’s All About Reliability and Reputation - the dynamic success of ARCA “There’s no doubt about it!” roars the passionately committed Karen Rutherford, executive manager of Alberta Roofing Contractors Association (ARCA). “As far back as 50-plus years ago, professional commercial roofers were concerned about their industry’s profile and reputation.” She admits that much of the misunderstanding stemmed from public confusion and situations happening with small and independent residential roofers and some consumers. As Rutherford is adamant to explain, with unlimited technical detail, the highly skilled trade of commercial roofing is drastically different from the service of residential roofing. The differences are not only the concepts, techniques and materials, the specialized skills and qualifications of the trained technicians and installers, but the solid reliability of Alberta’s commercial roofing companies. “It has always been a fiercely competitive industry and even the reputable commercial roofing companies were left to work on their own. There was some cooperation and relationships but no professional networking, sharing 22 • April 2015 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | businessincalgary.com
of industry information and collaboration, no defined and technical industry standards and certainly nothing even remotely like a formal warranty.” All that changed in 1961. A group of Calgary and Edmonton commercial roofers had a vital good idea. They collaborated and formed ARCA – a volunteer, not-for-profit group of industry professionals who continue to define specific standards and guidelines for commercial roofing product applications and numerous other ways that support and advance Alberta’s commercial roofing industry. “Today, the association is active and dynamic,” says Rutherford with professional pride. “We have 34 commercial roofing company members who employ more than 1,600 staff in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Medicine Hat.” ARCA also plays an important advocacy role for the industry and is affiliated with the Canadian Roofing Contractors’ Association and the National Roofing Contractors Association in the U.S. ARCA members have a respected track record of providing the most up-to-date and highest quality of workmanship and ARCA member contractors perform more than 70 per cent of Alberta’s commercial roofing applications, new and reroof. “ARCA has also defined a formal and detailed code of standards and procedures that are valuable and referenced not only by our member companies but architects and engineers and accessible to the public. We continue to create advanced training opportunities, implement stringent safety programs in conjunction with the Alberta Construction Safety Association as well as a key industry innovation – ARCA’s development of a solid commercial roofing warranty program.” Rutherford enthusiastically highlights one particular aspect of the association’s industry role. “With five modules of technical training already in place, ARCA is about to ramp up the crucial importance of skilled trades to deliver the complex work of commercial roofing – training, standards and professional accreditation.” On April 17, 2015 the association will launch two new, exciting programs to further enhance the reputation and profile of the highly specialized industry: the Accredited Roofer of Alberta (ARA) for technical staff and installers and the Certified Roofing Professional (CRP) for the management component. “We are satisfied with ARCA’s uncompromised high standards of skilled trades, quality of workmanship, our emphasis on training and education, [and] workplace safety. Together with our solid industry warranty program, it continues to enhance the respected reputation and profile of the commercial roofing industry in Alberta.” BiC
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