The Roofing Alliance leadership has approved $1 million in funding over four years to establish the Roofing Industry Center, a collaboration between the academic community and the roofing industry. In partnership with Clemson University’s Nieri Department of Construction, Development and Planning, the center will focus on driving innovative research and workforce development programs that aim to address critical challenges within the industry.
 
The Roofing Industry Center’s mission is to foster sustainable growth across the roofing supply chain through research initiatives and workforce development programs. It will be overseen by a Steering Committee composed of Roofing Alliance leadership and guided by Clemson faculty members: Dr. Dhaval Gajjar, Associate Department Chair and Associate Professor; Dr. Jason Lucas, Associate Professor; and Dr. Vivek Sharma, Assistant Professor.
 
The initial funding will support the center’s development and implementation phases, laying a strong foundation for its transformative role in the roofing industry. Key areas of focus include creating robust workforce development programs that engage students as early as middle school and extend outreach to high school, community colleges, technical schools, and trade programs. Additionally, the center will establish a specialized education platform for roofing professionals and conduct pioneering research in sustainability, resiliency, technology, and materials.
 
"Roofing Alliance members are thrilled to partner with Clemson University on this initiative, which we believe will be a game-changer for addressing the industry’s workforce challenges," said Alison L. LaValley, CAE, Executive Director of the Roofing Alliance. "Through focused initiatives, we aim to attract, train, and retain the next generation of professionals."
 
The Roofing Industry Center’s research efforts will also tackle key issues like sustainability and technology, providing the groundwork for industry-wide advancements. "Our research will pave the way for groundbreaking innovations that will shape the future of roofing across all sectors," added LaValley.
 
Dr. Dhaval Gajjar, who will serve as the center’s director at Clemson, emphasized the importance of workforce development: “Our top goal is to create training programs that inspire students starting as early as middle school. The roofing industry offers opportunities for careers with a range of skill sets and education levels,” he said. “Roofs are a basic necessity, and yet the potential for innovation in the design, materials, and construction of roofs are limitless.”
 
Dr. Vivek Sharma highlighted the collaborative nature of the center: “This center is the culmination of years of vision and effort. It has the potential to become a model of industry-academic partnerships, backed by rigorous data, research, and training, and paving the way for innovation in the roofing sector.”