De-Escalation Techniques for Solving Workplace Conflict

On September 30, 2023, the GAF manufacturing plant in Mt. Vernon, Indiana celebrated its 50th year in operation. The occasion brought together current and retired Mt. Vernon team members, their families, and community members to commemorate all that the plant has accomplished over the last five decades."Whether our team members have just joined us, or have been here for 25 or more years, they've all played a major role in an impressive history," says Steven Kiso, Senior Director of Operations. "It's certainly something to celebrate."Not only has the Mt. Vernon team grown to be like family—with colleagues who are actual family members in some cases—the plant has produced thousands of cutting-edge GAF roofing products in its time. Including, asphalt shingles as well as accessories that make up part of a complete roofing system. They also produced rolled roofing products for both residential and commercial buildings with no plans to slow down.Making Strides Toward the FutureOver the last 50 years, the GAF plant in Mt. Vernon has prioritized innovation to deliver for its customers—predominantly through investment in technology, which Wendy Collins, an HR business partner at GAF, describes as "next level." Today, employees use Chromebooks to advance their skills and take advantage of resources. Additionally, the plant is often used as a testing site for new machines and different ways of working. This offers valuable insight into how innovations can be shared across GAF's other manufacturing sites.Through automation and investment in new equipment, the plant has expanded its offerings to include not only asphalt shingles and accessories, but also TPO membranes. This has enabled other departments to expand as well, including the the shipping department."Over the last 50 years, the Mt. Vernon plant has helped create the most distinctive and premium products for our customers," notes Joby John, VP Residential and Vertical Manufacturing. "I congratulate them on an impressive run over the last five decades and am looking forward to many more to come."While there have been several initiatives over the last few years that have made a difference, Collins notes that an initiative designed to generate input from frontline employees has made some of the biggest changes. "Leaders know ideas can come from anywhere," she explains. "As a result, we have implemented so many great ideas from our frontline team."Just like the other plants across GAF, Mt. Vernon is always striving to develop and make things better.Caring for the CommunityBoth the plant and its employees have been a fixture in the local Mt. Vernon community during the last half-century. Every summer, employees spend a week giving back to their community through an initiative called Feeding Our Future, where they pack bagged lunches and provide meals to local families in need. In the past year, GAF team members have also supported Habitat for Humanity and the United Way of Posey County during their United Way Day of Caring.Through the GAF Community Matters program, the Mt. Vernon team has fostered an incredibly supportive environment. In turn, the shared dedication and widespread engagement has enabled the group to build a strong, close-knit community that extends beyond the plant's walls. This dedication to supporting neighbors has been recognized at the highest levels of GAF. In fact, the plant received an award for community engagement at this year's Operations Leadership Meeting.Helping to Protect the EnvironmentThe GAF team not only cares about the community, but also the local environment. The Mt. Vernon location was the first UL Environmental Zero Waste to Landfill Diversion facility to be validated. The program allows for a variety of methods of diversion, such as reuse, recycling, and composting. Companies that achieve a landfill diversion rate of at least 90 percent qualify for the Zero Waste to Landfill validation."I appreciate the Mt. Vernon team's continued commitment to protecting what matters most," says Randy Bargfrede, chief operations officer. "They continue to raise the bar when it comes to delivering for our customers, supporting our communities, and manufacturing top quality products safely."Working Toward the Next MilestoneThe plant's continuing dedication to the community, innovation, and protecting the environment has defined the last 50 years and will continue to live on. GAF is proud to celebrate the Mt. Vernon crew and thank them for all their hard work and dedication.Interested in learning about GAF's network of manufacturing facilities and the communities they call home? Visit gaf.com/manufacturing.

"Everyone deserves a roof," says roof raiser Dior Vass of Dior Construction, "and we want to give it to them."Thanks to hard work, a commitment to community service, innovative technology use, and ongoing contributions to the roofing industry, Dior's been nailing that goal since 2010. Learn how this GAF Master Elite Contractor* and his northern New Jersey company are raising the roofing game.Raising the Roofing WorkforceEncouraging future roofers is one way Dior raises up the industry. At a recent GAF Roofing Academy course held at GAF headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey, Dior shared industry insights and advice with an all-female class from Edison Job Corps.Women are vastly underrepresented and underutilized in the industry and only comprise about 4.6% of roofers. Dior is helping encourage a new wave of skilled laborers by supporting the Roofing Academy as it teaches the necessary skills to enter the roofing industry."Making roofing more appealing and friendly to women opens up a whole new level of opportunities from a business perspective," says Dior. Whether they're going to install shingles, manage projects, or sell jobs, "not actively seeking women out is one of the biggest mistakes a business can make."Dior is excited to see and support GAF making roofing more accessible to women through job training. "GAF Roofing Academy is really creating jobs and building the industry more than I've seen anyone else do," says Dior.As an industry leader, Dior knows the learning never ends. He regularly has GAF come out to teach his staff and notes that "GAF is the world's largest roofing manufacturer and still takes the time to create programs that educate existing roofers."Sharing the Keys to SuccessHow has Dior built such a successful company? Communication. "We've come to learn nothing is possible without it," he says. Along with strong internal and external communication, he attributes Dior Construction's success to people and processes.Dior has a well-planned approach to hiring the right team members and implementing the right processes. "Without the right people, processes will never be followed," he says. And without the right processes, "you can have great people, but they might be on the wrong seat on the bus and not have the opportunities they need to excel in their lives and careers."With solid communication, people, and processes, Dior's teams can provide "the highest level of quality and best service possible."Advancing with AI TechnologyTo stay ahead of the curve, Dior Construction has been using artificial intelligence (AI). One example is its use of AI chatbots to provide instant answers to employees who need technical data. This saves his employees time and his company money."There are thousands of technical bulletins and guides and code books," says Dior. Instead of an employee needing to dig into online manufacturer libraries or search hard copies at the office, Dior uploads roofing resources into an AI database. "Now, the employee can ask detailed and technical questions to the AI like it's a real person, and the AI chatbot will search thousands of papers and quickly provide the correct answer."Dior also uses AI to screen job applicants. "It costs us—and the applicant—time and money if we hire someone who's not the right fit," he says. Based on Dior's parameters, an AI program efficiently filters through job applicants, does a preliminary interview with them, and scores their resumes before they can progress to in-person interviews. "It's amazing," says Dior. "We wouldn't be who we are without our team. That's why it's so important to get the right candidate on board."Giving Back to the CommunitySince the company started in 2010, it has been involved in several programs to help provide safe, affordable housing to those in need. Some of these efforts are in partnership with GAF and Habitat for Humanity, where GAF donates roofing materials and a System Plus Limited Warranty, and Dior donates time and labor for the Habitat for Humanity roofing project.Dior has also helped provide added rebates for US military troops. The GAF Roofs for Troops program offers a $250 rebate when eligible military troops install a qualifying roof system. Dior Construction then matches the GAF rebate, providing local military members with $500 savings total for their new roof.Getting InvolvedDior is a true leader in roofing, from community service to empowering the industry and innovating new strategies for business success. Are you a contractor feeling inspired to get involved, too? Contact your local territory manager to see how you can help support your community, and look for a GAF Roofing Academy class in your area to help inspire future generations of roofers.*Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Contractors may receive benefits, such as loyalty rewards points and discounts on marketing tools from GAF for participating in the program and offering GAF enhanced warranties, which require the use of a minimum amount of GAF products.

The last few years have been a rollercoaster for workers in the U.S. The country saw its greatest job loss since the Great Depression and almost a year later faced the challenge of not having enough workers to fill job openings. It's an experience experts say has changed the American workforce and workers.As a result, 45% of employers are shifting their hiring practices and focusing more on skills and competencies versus degrees. So what jobs can help build the right kind of skills that will open more doors? Try roofing.Whether the interest is in finding a side hustle, a fresh start, or learning about different career paths, roofing helps build skills that translate across industries and sectors— from building and construction to manufacturing, human resources, sales, and more.From Side Hustle to Business OwnerErasmo "Mitos" Fuentes started his career as a teacher and got into roofing as a way to bring in extra money—but after his first day on a roof, he knew he could grow it into a full-time job. He made his way up from roofer to business owner and now works for the largest roofing manufacturer in North America.It all started when Fuentes was purchasing roofing materials and met a representative from roofing and waterproofing manufacturer GAF, whose expertise helped open new doors. "He explained the differences between shingles without dismissing any other brands or promoting GAF; he was just there to help me," said Fuentes, who found a mentor in his fellow roofing professional as he built his business.Passionate about sharing his knowledge with others, Fuentes later became a trainer at GAF's Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence (CARE) where he teaches courses in Spanish to roofing contractors. He and other industry experts guide more than 364,000 professionals across North America, teaching them everything in roofing—from installation to sales techniques. The courses are provided in both English and Spanish and range from live, hands-on training in centers across the country, in locations such as Minneapolis, MN; Michigan City, IN; Dallas, TX; Parsippany, NJ, and more, to virtual seminars that cover the industry's best practices and trends.Today, Fuentes is referred to by his peers as The Maestro because of the way he's helped and impacted others through roofing. A teacher, roofer, business owner, and GAF CARE trainer, he represents the roofing community's passion for lifting others up.No Formal Education? No Problem, in Roofing It's All about the Training!Roofers are among the construction industry's unsung heroes—they help families and communities protect what matters most, starting with the roof over their head. There's a need for skilled roofers and demand for 19,000 new jobs is expected by 2028.Roofing is a profession with few barriers—no degree or schooling required and national programs like GAF Roofing Academy help people of all backgrounds get into the field. Roofing Academy started three years ago and today includes a free two-week training course that combines classroom and on-the-roof training, led by expert instructors that prepare students for an entry-level position. After completing the program, graduates have access to job opportunities from thousands of GAF-certified contractors nationwide.To date, GAF Roofing Academy has trained over 2,000 graduates and, in 2022, 57% of its students were placed in jobs across the country. Training goes beyond installation and includes skills for roles such as solar installer, sales, estimator, foreman, project manager, and more. More than 20 trainings are expected to take place across the country in 2023 from Baltimore, MD to New Orleans, LA to Kansas City, MO, and beyond.Apprenticeships and training programs like these are also critical to diversifying the workforce and increasing earnings. More than a third of 2022 GAF Roofing Academy students were at-risk, justice-involved, or transitioning military. More than 60% were Black or Hispanic and nearly 15% identify as female.Roofing Teaches You Skills in Construction—and BeyondThe roofing industry opens the door to multiple career paths—some don't even require you to get up on a roof every day. Kelvin Thomas, for example, has had a 44-year career in roofing operations and held 16 different positions that helped expose him to opportunities in manufacturing, maintenance, quality, supply chain, and human resources in multiple cities.His first "real paying" job was in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, AL, starting on the clean-up crew at a GAF manufacturing facility. Over the course of his 44 years with GAF, Kelvin explored careers at GAF and held roles that ranged from a Lab Tech, a Regional Manager of Warehouse Operation, to a Sr. Director of Distribution. Today, Kelvin holds the position of Vice President of Operations Culture and Employee Engagement. This leadership role has brought his career full circle, giving him the opportunity to shape the culture and develop the future for frontline manufacturing professionals—the exact place his career started. Being a leader for the next generation of frontline employees allows him to share the valuable lessons he's learned in his roofing career, while driving continuous improvement in roofing operations and beyond."Sometimes our qualifications don't check all the boxes, but if you keep trying and have faith in yourself, someone will be willing to take a chance on you," explains Thomas.Roofing is an often overlooked opportunity for anyone interested in starting a career with endless opportunities for professional and personal growth. It's also a chance to make a meaningful impact on communities, helping neighbors to protect their homes and build resilience that can have a lasting impact on their families and lives.More information about roofing programs and opportunities can be found at gaf.com/LearnToRoof.