Opening the door to roofing careers

# Why roofing careers are less visible than they should be

Few people grow up picturing a career in roofing. Christine Mockenhaupt, COO of Maven Roofing and chair of National Women in Roofing (NWIR), didn't either. She started as an accountant and found roofing after moving into building materials work. Her path passed through distribution, manufacturing and contracting, showing how many doors the industry opens.

# What NWIR is doing differently

NWIR focuses on workforce development by increasing exposure. The organization supports girls' construction camps, participates in SkillsUSA and promotes career pathing so students can experience the trades and learn about roles they might otherwise never consider.

Programs prioritize hands-on experience so that young people can test interests and skills. The goal is not to push them into a single job but to provide information and concrete examples so they can choose for themselves.

# Why exposure matters

Students are routinely asked what they want to be when they grow up, but that question assumes they know the range of options. NWIR argues that many students simply don't know roofing-related careers exist. Showing how non-rooftop roles — such as accounting, distribution and manufacturing — connect to roofing helps students map how their current interests could translate into industry jobs.

# The role of personal stories

NWIR encourages roofing professionals to share their own career journeys: what they wanted to be growing up, how they found roofing, and what the industry has meant to them. Those narratives serve two purposes: they normalize nontraditional entry points, and they illustrate the career mobility available within the sector.

# Practical steps for companies and individuals

• Support or host visits to local construction camps and SkillsUSA events.
• Invite students to shadow office, manufacturing and distribution roles as well as field crews.
• Encourage employees to share concise career stories with school groups or at industry events.
• Create clear career-path materials showing alternative routes into the company beyond field labor.

# Where to learn more

NWIR maintains a Coffee Shop Directory listing and a website at nationalwomeninroofing.org where organizations and individuals can find more information about their workforce-development activities.