Winter Newsletter 2020
A letter from Advanced Roofing’s founder and President, Rob Kornahrens
Advanced Roofing, Inc. (ARI) welcomed 2020 with a strong backlog of projects and our usual momentum to grow our roofing, HVAC, and solar business units. We couldn’t have predicted that a global pandemic was right around the corner. Through one of the most challenging years we have ever experienced, we found our footing in this new normal, together.
Through careful planning and outstanding leadership from our entire team, we were able to resume normal operations while ensuring the safety of our employees and customers. By being nimble and exhibiting the dedication and fortitude our employees are known for, Advanced Roofing completed more than 135 roofing projects, repaired over 10,000, installed 14.6 MW of solar energy, raised more than $80,000 for charity, and hosted ten- Zoom educational webinars for our customers.
As we look forward to the COVID-19 vaccine and a more normal 2021, we take a look back at the extraordinary year that was 2020.
A Record-Breaking Hurricane Season
With an unprecedented 30 named storms, this hurricane season was a reminder of how vulnerable we are and brings awareness to the importance of our environment in our everyday lives. I’ve been a part of Broward County’s Climate Change Task Force for the past 12 years. I am equally passionate about education, which is why I am honored to have been appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the Florida Virtual School Board of Trustees. It is vital that we teach Kindergarten children the importance of conserving our environment since they are going to be the leaders making decisions 20 years from now. One of the first projects we’ll be working on is a collaboration with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation to develop a K-12 virtual marine science program. I look forward to sharing more information on this exciting endeavor as we reach 40 million students worldwide.
Schedule Your Post-Hurricane Roof Inspection Today
Roofing Updates & Trends
Currently, we have a strong backlog of re-roofing projects moving into the New Year. Sales were slightly impacted this year due to COVID-19, and we are working hard to navigate through these tough times. In 2020, we completed many exciting re-roofing projects that include the Broward County Courthouse, Holy Cross Hospital, Arthur Ashe Technical Center, and multiple buildings for Martin County.
In commercial roofing product trends, we are seeing growth in silicone roof coatings, which act like sunscreen on your roof. These protective coatings extend the lifetime of your roof, with warranties up to 20 years. Sign up for our roof coatings webinar on February 4th, 2021.
We continue to see a trend in single-ply roofing systems and solar roof systems that can help lower energy expenses. Earlier in the year, Advanced Roofing completed a large re-roofing project for the historic Riverside Hotel on Las Olas using Carlisle 60-mil PVC Kee and 60-mil PVC Kee Fleeceback membranes. PVC’s resistance to chemicals, grease, fire, and punctures make it an ideal choice for the hotel industry.
Solar Updates and Trends
Solar continues to be in high demand this year aided by the Federal Tax incentives. The solar investment tax credit is set to step down to 22% next year for commercial projects. We see businesses across the state of Florida taking action to invest in renewable projects before the credit is reduced to 10% in 2023.
AGT recently completed a project to help Cape Coral-based Mercola, a distributor of health-related products, achieve 100% solar power for its 45,000-square-foot corporate headquarters. Steve Rye, the Mercola CEO, recently told the Fort Myers News-Press that with the 30% tax cr
HVAC Updates & Trends
Our HVAC department saw one of the best backlogs in its history this year and continues to excel with high-profile projects, including the Broward County Public Schools selecting ARI and Advanced Air to re-roof both buildings at its Atlantic Technical College Arthur Ashe, Jr. Campus.
Advanced Air Systems wants to remind property managers to take advantage of the cooler weather this fall and perform routine maintenance and inspection on chillers, cooling towers, and rooftop air conditioning equipment.
Our People
I am proud of our team, who took COVID-19 straight on and never missed a beat. The ARI Safety Team quickly established a set of procedures that allowed everyone to get back to work while ensuring the safety of our customers and employees.
We set up Zoom Lunch & Learn to keep in contact with our customers. Earlier in the year, our Safety Team volunteered to teach Fall Protection classes in Spanish at the South Florida AGC Construction Safety Fair. We take pride in these opportunities to provide further education in our industry.
With the construction labor shortage at an all-time high, we are using innovative training and recruitment methods. Our goal is to fill more than 70 open positions in 2021. One of these innovative hiring tools is the ABC Roofing Apprentice Program. Over the Summer, four ARI employees graduated from the program. Christopher Roberts, Emanes Fertil, Phillip Brown, and Rafael Navarro Duran received a 3-year diploma and 27 college credits toward an Associate’s Degree in Construction Management from Broward College. A big congratulations go out to these men!
Awards and Recognition
- Advanced Roofing purchased a new office building in Tampa, Florida to support growth and demand for roofing and solar energy services on the Gulf Coast.
- Roofing Contractor magazine ranked Advanced Roofing in the Top 100 Roofing Contractors in the United States. We moved up two spots to earn the #12 position in the nation and named the #1 commercial roofing company in Florida.
- Advanced Green Technologies earned the #1 ranking in Florida, #153 in the country, in Solar Power World magazine’s Top Solar Contractors list.
- ARI earned the second place Low Slope award from the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association (FRSA) STAR Awards for its work on the iconic Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Congratulations to Project MVP Terry Tilson and the crew for their hard work on restoring this gem.
- Advanced Roofing’s CEO, Rob Kornahrens, was named as one of the most influential executives in Florida Trend magazine’s “Florida 500” list.
Advanced in the Community
Our company takes pride in its longtime contributions to nonprofit organizations and fundraising events in our community, such as Bike MS and The American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk. When these events went virtual, our team stepped up online to help raise money and awareness, earning a first-place ranking in the Bike MS Club 100 list of top fundraisers. We also helped raise over $400,000 for the National Christian Foundation of South Florida to distribute to COVID-19 victims and non-profits.
This year has shown us the power of connection and the importance of coming together, even when we have to stay apart. We are currently working with RHI Roofing, Furman Insurance, and Certified Contractors on a charity roofing project for Gloria, a 94-year-old woman in Pompano. Gloria’s house was inhabitable, so we are excited to have her move back into her newly restored home just in time for Christmas.
In the spirit of the holidays, we will also be collecting unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.
2021 CEU Webinar Schedule
Advanced Roofing offers a comprehensive look at the Commercial Roofing, Air Conditioning, and Solar Energy industries through its state-accredited Continuing Education Programs. We offer five separate 1-Hour CEU courses for Property Managers and Community Association Managers.
January 19, 2021 – 1 CEU ELE & IFM
New Code Changes for 2021, Budgeting and Commercial Roof Life Cycle Management
February 4, 2021 – 1 CEU ELE
Roof Coatings Systems that Perform Like Sunscreen
February 18, 2021 – 1 CEU ELE & OPP
New Commercial HVAC Technology and How to Filter Out COVID
March 9, 2021 – 1 CEU ELE
Solar Energy Technology and EV Charging Solutions for Businesses and Commercial Properties
March 23, 2021 – 1 CEU ELE
Essential Rooftop Safety Products
April 6, 2021
Roof Asset Management Technology and How to Maximize Your Advanced Access Portal
April 20, 2021
Government Piggybacking Solutions for Roofing and Solar Energy
May 6, 2021
Hurricane Season Preparedness – Is Your Roof Ready?
Looking Forward
We enter 2021 with a lot of uncertainty. But our country and our company are resilient. It is my hope that we stay the course to protect ourselves and our loved ones. From all of us at Advanced Roofing Inc., best wishes to you and your family for a safe holiday season and a hopeful new year.
I am immensely proud of the work we do and the people we do it with. We’ll keep you updated as our story continues to unfold. Follow us on social media for weekly updates and behind the scenes photos of our roofing and solar projects.
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