President’s Award Honors Keith Swope, CPRC The President’s Award is given every year to someone who goes above and beyond to assist the President throughout their year as President of the Association.
“I don’t know of anyone more deserving in the industry who has helped me more this past year than my father, Keith Swope, CPRC. Although, as many know, there are certain challenges of working with family, I have been able to count on him. It doesn’t matter if it’s filling in when I’m away for meetings, helping carry the load or for his advice on how to handle the responsibility of being the President of the Association, he has always been there. I can’t thank you enough, Dad!” — President Brian Swope, CPRC
Past President Keith Swope, CPRC
Trent Cotney Earns Memorial Heart Award The Earl Blank Memorial Heart Award is given each year to an FRSA associate member who most exemplifies the giving nature that the late Mr. Blank was known for in his work with the Association. The award criteria seem almost created for FRSA Legal Counsel Trent Cotney, Esquire who is proudly presented with this year’s award. Trent has been an active FRSA member for almost twenty years. He not only serves as Legal Counsel for the FRSA, but also for NRCA and multiple other roofing organizations. In meetings he is known to keep his opinions close to the vest unless an issue is raised that he feels FRSA needs his input on. When he addresses a committee or the FRSA Board of Directors, a hush falls over the room as his words always carry a lot of weight. Trent’s strong desire to give back has been shown in different ways at FRSA. He is beyond a generous counsel when dealing with Association legal matters and has established and fully funded a Governor Level Endowment through the FRSA Educational Foundation. He also directly funds a $2,000 scholarship payment for a deserving student each year through the Foundation Scholarship program. In addition, Trent funds a scholarship at his high school alma mater each year. What can you say about someone who is as obviously talented and caring as Trent Cotney? He is both intelligent and down to earth. He has a heart of gold and the desire to show it. Trent is a truly savvy entrepreneur who has grown his firm, Cotney Construction 26 |
Law into THE national law firm representing the interests of the roofing industry. He is a renowned speaker with the ability to put difficult concepts into laymen’s terms. All, and more, are true. Trent is familiar to most FRSA members and to all who are active in the Association. For those that know him well, here are a couple of interesting facts to share. Trent comes from an old Florida family and has a blue-collar blood line. His family owned a tire store in the Jacksonville area where Trent grew up. He attended Vanderbilt University where he achieved the rare distinction of “Double Commodore,” completing both his undergraduate and law degrees at the school. As noted, he likes to give and two of his favorite causes are veterans and dogs. The Humane Society and Black Dagger, a Tampa area group that engages and treats vets with PTSD are both huge beneficiaries of his generosity. Earl Blank would be proud. Congratulations, Trent!
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