Best of Success Podcast Show

Legal Insights expert Trent Cotney recently has received a lot of calls regarding workmanship warranties and manufactured material warranties from the field. He joined the RC Best of Success Podcast Show to break down some of the key features roofing contractors need to have in their contractors when it comes to workmanship and material warranties. He also explained that working with manufacturers and distributors to find a solution is often the best route to keep customers happy. Cotney also addressed the continued need to monitor field crews for heat illness and exposure to the sun during the final weeks of peak roofing season. “It’s just incredibly hot across the U.S. and it’s an incredibly dangerous time for our industry,” Cotney warned. Though efforts to create a new heat standard by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have stalled, regulators are still considering making updates that provide clarity to jobsite requirements over heat exposure. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is “You always have the duty to prevent your employees from suffering heat injury or illness and I’d recommend knowing the known hazards,” he said. Listen to the full conversation now.

Amparo Sancen, founder of Latinos en Roofing and CEO of Sanson Contracting, shared critical insights about the most costly tax mistakes plaguing contractors—and how to avoid them.

La temporada de impuestos puede ser la peor pesadilla de un contratista, pero no tiene por qué serlo. En un reciente podcast de Best of Success, Amparo Sancen, fundadora de Latinos in Roofing y directora ejecutiva de Sanson Contracting, compartió ideas clave sobre los errores fiscales más costosos que afectan a los contratistas—y cómo evitarlos.

Hear what incoming WSRCA President Stan Robinson’s looking forward to at WRE 2025, Sept. 28-30, and the challenges ahead for roofing contractors.

In a candid conversation with Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom, finance expert Thea Dudley explains the ins and outs of credit card surcharging, common mistakes contractors make, and how to communicate the changes without alienating customers.

RCLegal Insights expert Trent Cotneyrecently joined us to discuss the Department of Labor's expansion of self-audit processes, particularly focusing on OSHA's voluntary compliance programs. He explained that while self-audits can lead to citations if not handled properly, they offer opportunities for businesses to improve safety and compliance proactively. OSHA is also boosting its OnSite Consultation Program, which offers no-cost and confidential safety services to small and medium-sized companies. “Having a safety consultant come out, visit and audit your jobsites, check out your equipment and make suggestions and recommendations based on that is a great way to get the information, shore up your safety compliance and not have any exposure to a government agency,” he explained. Listen to the full conversation now.

Thea Dudley will lead a four-hour METALCON workshop, Blueprint for Back Office Success, on October 21 in Las Vegas, teaching contractors how to strengthen credit, collections, and cash flow management. With a hands-on approach, Dudley and her co-instructors will help participants build practical policies and overcome common roadblocks like invoicing delays and reluctance to ask for payment.

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk will headline the Win the Storm conference alongside roofing industry executives who've built companies worth hundreds of millions. In this exclusive podcast chat with RC, conference owner Josey Parks shares how he assembled speakers, including Nehal Kaiser, who sold his company Blue Hammer Roofing to private equity in four years, and Steve Little of National Roofing Partners. The August 20-22 Dallas event features 30+ specialized panels on scaling strategies. Hear Parks explain his speaker selection here.

With severe storms already generating a lot of roofing work across the country, pre planning has turned out to be a key difference for contractors that can maximize the opportunity. Steve Slepcevic, CEO of Strategic Response Partners, said a critical Many times, roofing contractors don’t even have a system in place to handle and manage the high volume of calls generated by a severe-weather event. “A lot of times I see contractors that are just caught off guard in these severe storms … and they’re like ‘ how was out-of-town, national group that doesn’t have a daily presence here taking all these big accounts from us?’” he said. Listen to the fill conversation now.

Construction attorney Trent Cotney outlines key tax benefits and workforce development provisions in a new federal bill, along with recent OSHA enforcement changes that offer significant relief and opportunities for contractors.

Jill Bloom sits down with AI experts Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, and Josey Parks, CEO of Roof Fix and Think Unlimited, to explore artificial intelligence's revolutionary impact on the construction industry.

In this exclusive episode, GAF’s Mike Thomas and IBHS FORTIFIED’s Fred Malik break down the unique partnership launched earlier this year to level up roofing contractors for the next frontier of roof resiliency. Listen to the full conversation now.

Many of tariffs announced earlier this year by the Trump Administration are set to take place this month and there are some indications that a comprehensive deal with China could be in the works. RC Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney, partner with Adams & Reese, explains the recent news and potential impact on roofing contractors and other skilled tradespeople. “You’re going to see more and more trade deals, similar to what we saw with the (United Kingdom) just a few weeks ago … and the chaotic nature that we saw at the beginning of Q2 I think is going to start dying down,” Cotney said. Listen to the full conversation here.

The recent unveiling of EagleView One provides roofing contractors access to a single, seamless platform where AI-driven property analytics and high-precision 3D models enable them to work more efficiently and make immediate, data-driven decisions in real time. EagleView CEO Piers Dormeyer discusses the platform, the accompanying new logo and branding, and how the enhanced digital experience for roof models can help roofing contractors grow in this exclusive conversation.

There’s a lot of economic uncertainty out there today, both inside and outside of the roofing industry, but there’s also a lot of opportunity. Josey Parks, owner of Win the Storm 2025, hopes to showcase that during the three days of intensive education, networking and more for roofing contractors Aug. 20-22 in Dallas. “What I’ve always said is I believe the blue collar industries are the last beating heart of America, and there’s something so important about what we do,” he said about this year’s focus on community impact. Part of recognizing that impact is also about second chances, and what the industry can offer people looking to make meaningful changes. “Let’s bring in the best minds, the best people and let’s create change in ourselves and our families and our businesses and serve our communities,” he said in an exclusive podcast chat with RC. Listen to the full conversation here.

Billy Downs, president of Ford’s Garage, shares how his people-first leadership philosophy, rooted in his “Hospitality Wheel” concept, continues to drive business success and meaningful customer experiences.

AI-generated summaries of search results are here to stay, making marketing your roofing company a challenge. Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, is here to provide the latest updates and information on successfully navigating digital marketing on search engines.

At the FRSA convention, construction law expert Trent Cotney emphasized the legal risks prime contractors face due to subcontractor actions, highlighting the importance of strong contracts, job site oversight, and thorough documentation. He also addressed growing concerns over ICE job site raids, urging contractors to prioritize compliance and support for their crews while advocating for more efficient labor policies.

RC Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney said he’s seeing increased immigration enforcement in unexpected places in Florida. From major busts in Tallahassee with more than 100 arrests, to smaller enforcement pushes on the highway, construction companies are at high risk for attention from federal and local authorities. Roofing contractors should be aware of high-volume areas for ICE enforcement and know their rights, says Cotney, who said he’s seeing increased immigration enforcement across Florida. “The administration has made it very clear what its position on the border is,” he explained. “We’ve seen an uptick in ICE enforcement in construction and not just in “Blue” states, it’s been in “Red” states equally.” Even companies that are fully compliant with I-9 documentation can still fall under scrutiny for having employees that face deportation, Cotney said. With the help of local authorities, ICE agents are targeting at the jobsite, at familiar intersections, and even where materials are being picked up. Listen to the full conversation here.

Prime contractors can be held liable for safety violations at a job site, even if they are never present to conduct the work. Trent Cotney, a partner at Adams and Reese, explains how contractors may be able to challenge certain aspects of this stance and how to mitigate liability as a prime contractor.