Roofers Coffee Shop Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Featuring JM's Minnie Robles

The historic, growing and impactful role of Hispanics in the roofing industry recently took center stage for Coffee Conversations.

The episode celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which was part of the twice-monthly sessions hosted by Roofers Coffee Shop, featured a panel of roofing professionals with diverse backgrounds, including JM’s own Minnie Robles, a territory representative in Arizona. The panel shared their stories and reflected on how Hispanic culture has shaped the industry and will continue to do so well into the future.

“As the younger generation is coming up in our industry, I think we’re making a name and paving the way for ourselves,” Robles said, pointing to growth in the number of Latinos moving into influential positions in the industry, including management and ownership.

Robles and other panelists said such pathfinding would not be possible without those who came before and who mentored and continue to mentor the next generation.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have great mentors... people that looked out for me or people that said, ‘Hey, you know what, you’re doing it this way, try it this way,’” Robles said during the podcast hosted by RCS’ Megan Ellsworth.

Panelist Eric Gonzalez, a third-generation roofer, said, “A mentor really can give you everything they’ve learned throughout all the years... being able to take advantage of that, that’s what helps you advance much faster.”

The panelists, which also included Amparo Sancen, CEO and founder of Latinos En Roofing, discussed how companies can foster inclusivity by celebrating diversity and providing Spanish-language materials.

Ideas to which the industry is growing more attuned based on examples such as the partnership of the International Roofing Expo, Latinos en Roofing, National Hispanic Contractors Association, Latinos in Roofing Association, Labor Central and Southeast Contracting Services, which was announced earlier this year.

“IRE aims to amplify voices and provide targeted resources that cater to specific needs by creating a dedicated space for Hispanic roofing professionals to connect with industry leaders to gain insight and knowledge,” Rich Russo, show director of International Roofing Expo, told Roofing Magazine in January. “The Hispanic roofing community represents a large and influential voice of the roofing sector, and it is important that IRE recognizes this dynamic group and provides resources through partnering with industry leaders to share expertise.” 

Roofing Contractor magazine also launched a Latinos in Roofing page that features content in both Spanish and English, as well as a link to sign up for its free Spanish e-newsletter, Techos Y Mas.

Johns Manville, which sponsored the podcast that can be heard here or watched here, has long had a commitment to diversity, which is demonstrated through its Diversity & Inclusion Council, as well as its employee resource groups.