November 2023 Newsletter
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Greetings,
Well, I can’t believe Thanksgiving is here and gone already! It's definitely been a hectic year for all of us, and I must apologize for missing a few monthly letters to all of you.
First and foremost, I hope you and all your families had a happy Thanksgiving, and I sincerely hope you got to spend time with your loved ones and friends. This time of year is truly special and marks the start of the holiday season.
Speaking of giving thanks, I also want to send thanks to all our suppliers, their staff, and all our sales reps for their efforts to get us our materials when they can with the delays they have been experiencing from the manufacturers. Thanks to all our crews, laborers, office staff, and everyone else for pushing through this year. I know we have asked a lot from you all. Lastly, thank you to all our loved ones. We could not do this without all your support, giving us the time to do what we love. Thank you to everyone!!!!
Now that the holiday season is here and December 1st is right around the corner, I am sure you all, like myself, are in a huge rush trying to get all your workloads squeezed in and praying for more good weather before year-end.
And while it has been a busy several months on the contracting side, we here at the CRA have been busy too these past few months as well.
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Our fall Sporting Clay tournament event had a great turnout and was a big success. Thank you to all that came out on that chilly autumn morning and for a fun day of shooting.
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We’ve held several educational seminars on subjects that included sustainability in roofing, ventilation, legal tips, contract and contractor liability, and a safety seminar on working with subcontractors. All of them had good interaction and discussions, and so much valuable information was shared in such a short time. Thanks to all of you who were able to get away during this busy time to get educated.
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We were also proud to be able to bring out the head of the NRCA, McKay Daniels, for our September membership lunch, and most recently, the head of the City and County of Denver with our November luncheon featuring Denver Mayor Michael Johnston. McKay spoke to the roofing industry as a whole about supply chain woes, workforce and immigration issues, and what to expect from the national level moving into 2024. Mayor Johnston spoke on his first 100 days in office and discussed, in more detail, his plans for our city to clean up and transform Denver into America’s best city, his plans to overhaul the city building and planning department, and what he is doing to try and speed up work authorizations for the refugees here in the state to allow us more opportunities to increase our workforce.
As we wind down the year, we at CRA and several committees are still working to bring you a few final educational opportunities, and other committees are making plans for our biggest two events held at the beginning of the year.
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The last round of classes at the CRA Training Center starts with a 1-day Roof Coating class this week and ends in December with our Introduction to Roofing class. Both classes are sold out, but waitlists are available if you would like to be added, please contact Diana Johnson.
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More education and training yet to come. On November 28th, we have a free OSHA Recordkeeping and OHSAlogs.com (new member benefit) webinar; on December 13th, we will have Mark Graham from NRCA and his annual presentation on the ever-changing technical side of roofing—a must-attend seminar for updates for both commercial and residential contractors; and lastly, on December 14–15th, a two-day OSHA 10-hour class for just $50 per person. Don’t miss out on these training sessions. All great values!
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The Young & Emerging Professionals (YEP) committee is planning a Holiday Gala and Casino Night on December 5.
For those that still need your CIUs, please be sure to take advantage of some or all of these opportunities to close out your CIU commitments for the year, which, as members, we all agreed upon as part of our annual membership.
Looking ahead to 2024, we have our two largest events early next year. First, our favorite and one of the best trade shows we think of in the country is the annual CRA Trade Show, to be held January 25th at the Arapahoe County Event Center. Mark your calendar to attend. Table sales are going on now, so vendors get your table(s) reserved, and attendee registration will open in early January.
Second, the Awards Dinner in February featuring our Job of the Year award nominees showing off some of the amazing projects our members have done in the past year. It's a great evening to support, network with, and be around some of the best contractors in the state. If you haven't been, please plan to go; you won't be disappointed.
It’s been a crazy busy year, but I am sure we’ve all still done some outstanding projects in 2023. I encourage you to take the time to submit your Job of the Year. Maybe this will be your year for a first-time submission? The nomination deadline for submission of your projects is December 4th!!!!!!
Hopefully, this update on what's been going on in the last few months has been useful and the events and training provided are a beneficial part of your membership this year. Let's keep working hard to finish out a good year for all of us and ensure that we roll into 2024 strong. Let's be smart with the colder weather coming to make sure our roofers and staff are safe and we can give our consumers the best roofs they deserve.
Be safe and warm out there!
Thanks.
Guy Mumford
Kudu Roofing
CRA President
A BIG THANK YOU to our 2023 Sponsors!
FRIENDLY REMINDER
Reminder | Mandatory CIU Requirement
The CRA Board of Directors would like to share a friendly reminder with all our contractor members on the mandatory CIU requirement you must meet by Dec 31, 2023 for membership renewal in 2024.
What are CIUs? The CRA Board continually looks for ways to strengthen the value and benefits of being a part of the CRA. Education is one of our core values and the Board feels education is highly important to advancing and improving our profession. That is why we implemented the Continuing Involvement Requirement for Members (CIUs) at the beginning of 2017. We would like to see our entire membership get more involved and to participate in the many association activities provided throughout each year.
This is also the reason members re-sign the CIU form each year as a reminder of the requirement and that you agree to meet the terms.
We have made it very simple to earn the 8 required CIU credits. The requirement is per company not per person. Please click the links below to search your company to check your current CIUs for 2023 (located in your company profile on the membership directory) and for our informational CIU flyer on how to earn your CIUs.
Contractor members can check your current CIU total for your company by going to the Member Directory Search, type in your company, view your profile and the total is located on the right column.
Check out the upcoming events section below or this link for list of opportunities through the end of the year.
UPCOMING TRAINING, SEMINARS & WEBINARS
Join us for these upcoming events. Meet your annual CIU Requirements!
CALENDAR
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(Hit the + button to see full details)
Safety Webinar | Tuesday, November 28
OSHA Update & OSHAlogs
Presented by Dustin Boss, OSHALogs.com
OSHA Recordkeeping Compliance made easy!
CRA has partnered with OSHAlogs.com to provide members FREE access to a dynamic OSHA record-keeping platform. Join us on Nov 28 for a virtual training/webinar on how to comply with OSHA's new electronic submission rules at the click-of-a-button! We'll also share some recent OSHA updates.
Take the time to hop on this free webinar and check out CRA's newest member benefit!
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Zoom Webinar
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (MST)
Register Now
CRA Member CIU’s = 2 per person.
YEP Event | Tuesday, December 5
2023 YEP Holiday Gala & Casino Night
Join the CRA Young & Emerging Professionals as we kick-off the holiday season! We invite you to join us for an exclusive event for young and emerging professionals. Bring your poker face and dancing shoes, and get ready for a night of networking, drinks, and table games. We can't wait to see you there
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Tradecraft
6145 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216-1030
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM (MST)
Register Now
CRA Member CIU’s = 1 per person.
Pinpoint Seminar | Wednesday, December 13
Roofing Technical Update by Mark Graham
Attention Residential & Commercial Contractors!
You don't want to miss this opportunity to stay on top of the ever-changing technical side of the roofing industry. It is vital to maintain a current understanding of building codes and realize how significantly they impact the roofing, waterproofing, and sheet metal sectors of our industry. Key areas that will be covered in this technical workshop include:
- Nailbase insulation considerations
- Fastener concerns
- FM & RoofNav
- Roof deck loads
- Wind uplift
- And much more...
MARK IS A DYNAMIC PRESENTER AND WELL WORTH YOUR TIME.
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023
Woolley’s Classic Suites
16450 East 40th Circle | Aurora, CO 80011-0814
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Cost: $30/per member and $60/non-member per session.
Register Now
CRA Member CIU’s = 4 per person.
OSHA 10-Hour Training | Dec 14-15 2023
Do you or your employees need an OSHA 10 Card?
Is your OSHA 10 Card over 3 to 5 years old, then it's time for a new one! Standards are constantly changing; it's good to keep up-to-date.
OSHA 10 Training is designed to ensure that workers are able to identify, predict, prevent and stop potential hazards in the workplace and on your jobsites!
Thursday, December 14, 2023 & Friday, December 15, 2023
Moody Insurance Agency
8055 E Tufts Ave,
Denver, CO 80237
7:00 AM (MST) to 12:45 PM (MST) - Both days.
ONLY $50 member rate. Great value. You can't beat this price!!!
Class registrations will be taken on a first come first serve basis. Class will hold 40 – limit 4 per company.
Co-Sponsored by CRA, Moody Insurance Agency and Pinnacol Assurance.
REGISTER NOW
CRA Member CIU’s = 4 per person.
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Awards Dinner | 2.23.24 | Job of Year & Lifetime Achievement Awards
Call for Nominations - Due by Dec 4, 2023
Get started now!! Let’s make this year’s Awards Dinner the most successful yet. All entries must be received by December 4, 2023 by 5 pm (no exceptions!) and judging will be conducted by a panel of roofing industry experts selected by CRA.
Check out these tips for an award winning entry.
AWARDS DINNER ENTRY FORMS:
Trade Show | 1.25.24 | Vendor Registration
VENDORS
REGISTRATION
IS NOW OPEN!
Excitement is once again building for CRA’s Annual Trade Show. We are back at Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and in our normal January timeframe... so be sure to save the date and join us on January 25, 2024.
VENDORS! CRA's trade show is designed to provide a place to share your latest innovations and the hottest trends in equipment and materials used in the roofing and associated industries. The show provides a platform in Colorado for exhibitors to meet and connect with customers and potential customers on a one-on-one basis; to generate awareness on new products and services; and allows attendees the opportunity to compare existing products and services.
We are looking for vendors to be a part of the shows continued success. Whether you want to showcase your products and services, establish a presence in your target market or build your company image, the 2024 CRA Trade Show is for you. Sign up today for this low-cost opportunity to meet face-to-face with your customers and prospects.
ACT NOW to save money… EARLY BIRD pricing ends 12.23.2023.
VENDORS – REGISTER ONLINE NOW
Click here to view the full 2021 Event Calendar – calendar includes additional event dates, member luncheons, pinpoint seminars, Training Center courses, etc.
Legislative Update
Hi. Exciting news! I am thrilled to announce that I've taken on the role of Chair at the Colorado Contractors Coalition, our partners in legislative advocacy, and am committed to driving positive change in Colorado's contracting landscape through legislative engagement. Stay tuned for insightful updates as I share valuable education and information from this dynamic group. Together, let's elevate the industry!
I've also created a LinkedIn group for the Colorado Contractors Coalition. Please consider joining via this link and following this enterprising group.
As a result of the loss of the ballot initiative, Proposition HH, Colorado's legislature just wrapped up a special session. It was four days of controversy and fast-paced legislation. The biggest takeaway is that everyone will receive a TABOR refund in the amount of $800 for single tax filers and $1,600 for joint tax filers.
The legislature took final action on these 7 bills:
Senate Bill 23B-001: Property tax relief for Colorado homeowners. Bill 23B-1 results in the residential assessment rate dropping from 6.765% to 6.7% for the 2023 tax year. Furthermore, homeowners will be able to deduct $55,000 from taxes on the value of their house. That's a property tax relief of approximately $430 million. Signed by Polis on Nov 20th.
Senate Bill 23B-002: Opting into a federal food assistance program. Starting next summer, Colorado will be a part of the new federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, which will give children who are at risk of food insecurity up to $120 during the summer months when school is not in session. The sponsors of the bill predict that roughly 300,000 Colorado children will benefit.
Senate Bill 23B-003: Making TABOR refund checks equal for every taxpayer. Colorado taxpayers will all get the same amount in their TABOR refund checks next year. In the past higher earners who pay more in taxes generally get a larger refund check in the past. Now all filers will get the same amount of $800 per single filer.
House Bill 23B-1001: Providing $30 million more for rental assistance. The Legislature has invested $65 million in emergency rental assistance, adding $30 million during the special session. This targeted relief is for individuals with up to 80% of the area median income who are at risk of eviction. The grants will cover rent, utility bills, late fees, court costs, attorney fees, and other related costs.
House Bill 23B-1002: Expanding the state’s earned income tax credit. The state legislature has doubled its earned income tax credit, currently providing 25% of the federal benefit to eligible low-income working families, with the state amount set to increase to 50% next year.
House Bill 23B-1003: Creating a task force for a long-term property tax plan. The Legislature has formed a 19-member task force to develop long-term property tax plans. The group includes members of the Legislature, local officials, an assessor, and representatives from education, firefighting, and business interests. The task force will meet twice a month until March, aiming to create legislation for the General Assembly or a 2024 ballot measure.
House Bill 23B - 1008: Allocation of funds for the property tax deferral program during 2023-24 fiscal year. This bill allocates funds to the Department of Treasury for property tax deferral and Community Food Access Program administration. The bill also offers $10 million in tax credits for small businesses and family farms, funded by eliminating tax breaks on business meals.
If you are aware of any specific legislation coming up in 2022 that will affect our industry, please contact me so that we can follow and share with the membership. With your help, we can continue to work together for positive changes in the roofing industry.
Have a happy holiday season.
Jaimie Williams
Next Wave Roofing
Gov't Relations Committee Chai
The CRA Marketing Committee is Here for You!
We want to help you increase your digital footprint and are bringing you tips each month to help you get there!
Watch this month's From the Rooftop marketing video tips all about social media engagement and the power of customer reviews.
Marketing tips for members:
In this video, Bridget will briefly walk you through SGE. We know there is much more to unpack than what we can squeeze into a brief video, so reach out to OTM if you have any questions! Introduced by Google on May 10th, SGE stands out as one of the most notable enhancements to search engine results pages, or SERPs, in years. With this, Google's AI summarizes search results, providing users with laser-focused answers.
While in its beta phase, here's what you need to know:
- For now, it's a Google Labs experiment and is available exclusively in English within the US.
- Though the experiment concludes in December 2023, it suggests a potential global rollout.
- Instead of replacing traditional search results, SGE enriches them. This ushers in answers to nuanced questions that were once challenging for search engines
Advantages: If SGE picks up your business, it's a golden ticket. Your services or products get highlighted, making you a top choice for locals.
Disadvantages:
- Shifted Focus: The traditional list of businesses on Google is modified. So, even if you were previously at the top, SGE could change that ranking.
- Accuracy Concerns: SGE, while powerful, isn't perfect. It can sometimes provide slightly off-target or incomplete summaries. This means your business might not get the showcase it deserves.
What to Focus on:
- Content clusters—create content around core topics and sub-topics.
- Earn and showcase quality reviews.
- Ensure your schema markup is accurate for all your products. That means price, availability, and descriptions.
- Write thorough, engaging content that answers specific questions your audience might have.
- Use AI-friendly formats such as lists, tables, and bullet points which are more likely to be highlighted by SGE.
Click HERE to watch the video!
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Helpful Member Benefits & Tools
ADVISORY NOTICE: Roofing Contractors Must Not Act as Public Adjusters – Check Your Contract Language
The CRA Board of Directors has issued an advisory with additional information and details about these public adjuster clauses we have seen being used in Colorado that basically state that the roofing contractor may negotiate or act as a public adjuster on behalf of the owner. This is against Colorado’s Residential Roofing Law (SB38) and it is required that you must be a licensed public adjuster before you take on this role. Click here to view the advisory.
Concerning Ladder Liability. Help us in educating consumers and concerned citizens about the liability and risks involved with unattended ladders set for inspectors.
CRA Safety Group Workers’ Comp Program. Receive a 4%-upfront discount, group or individual loss history dividend calculation and much, much more. Members of the program automatically belong to the CRA Safety Group whose focus is on continuing safety education and training and improving safety in the roofing community. In partnership with Moody Insurance Agency and Pinnacol Assurance. Call Kim Burkhardt. at 303-824-6600 to receive additional information regarding this program.
RoofersCoffeeShop Free Classified Ad. RoofersCoffeeShop is the premier networking site in the roofing industry, helping contractors find information, materials, services, tools, labor and training in one place. Share ideas and stories in our RCS Forum, and visit their classified ads section to sell and find items and get help. Use promo code CRA for your FREE classified ad.
OSHAlogs.com - new in 2023. More info coming soon!!
Colorado Contractors Legislative Advocacy Coalition - CRA partners with several other construction associations to make our voices heard as joint members of the Colorado Contractors Coalition. Together we have successfully passed legislation including payment reform (public and private to 5%), bonding requirements, pro-rata liability and construction defect reform policies. Check out the CCC website for more information and to keep up with our CURRENT advocacy efforts
Delivery of the E-Newsletter to Your Inbox
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