Carmen Prantil (Staff Consultant), Chelsey Line (Chief of Staff), and Phoebe McCartan (Consultant) attended NWIR Days in San Antonio, Texas, this month!
What is NWIR Days?
It’s an annual event hosted by National Women in Roofing (NWIR), an organization dedicated to mentoring, educating, and empowering women in the roofing industry. The event brings together professionals from across the industry to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.
We asked Chelsey, Phoebe, and Carmen about their experience. Check out their takeaways!
Questions
1. If you could sum up your experience at the conference in one word, what would it be?
2. What’s a key takeaway that you’ll be bringing back to your work?
3. If someone asked, “Why should I attend NWIR Days?” what would you tell them?
4. If you could give one piece of advice to a first-time attendee next year, what would it be?
5. What was the best swag item you snagged?
Chelsey
- One Word: Uplifting!
- Key Takeaway: Focus. As a busy working mom with a leadership role that encompasses a lot of responsibility, I owe it to myself, my family, and my team to focus on one thing at a time. This word came up several times for me throughout the duration of NWIR Days. During a breakout session, I was asked to share a photo that brought me joy. I chose a photo of my son and I, that was taken while we were getting my daughter ready for the Daddy Daughter Dance. This photo brought me joy because I was solely focused on him, and connecting with him in the moment. During the conference, I also had the time to solely focus on several members of my team, allowing for brainstorming and deep conversation. I am the best mom and leader that I can be when I’m not multitasking.
- Why Attend?: Everyone needs a tribe, both personally and professionally. Luckily for me, this group of women has become my tribe in BOTH aspects of my life! We all need support to learn and grow, and this conference offers no shortage of women willing to lend a hand, a listening ear, an encouraging word, or even simply an “I’ve been there”. One of my favorite things about our industry, and why I’ve stayed in it, is that we all come together to help and support each other. Competition is checked at the door at this event, and we are all there to lift each other up.
- Advice for First-Time Attendees: Don’t be afraid to be yourself, and share who you are with the other NWIR members! This event is filled with women that are powerhouses in our industry, and it’s so humbling, because they are all the first to share who influenced them in their career, and then turn around to help other women find and achieve their version of success. Earlier in my career, I would always stay quiet…politely smiling as others conversed around me. This opportunity is a great place to step out of your comfort zone and lean into the energy and support of others…the energy at this conference is UNMATCHED!
- Best Swag: Tree of life bracelet from GAF, symbolizing the importance of sustaining strong business relationships. A great reminder for me of the strong relationships that I have made through NWIR, and how grateful I am for the women that have helped me to grow!
Phoebe
- One Word: Inspiring!
- Key Takeaway: My fear of failure is holding me back. I will inevitably continue to fail, but that also means that I will continue to grow.
- Why Attend?: The energy is infectious and it’s a great “reset” if you find yourself getting caught up in daily tasks (and the winter blues for those of us in the north). It’s incredible to be around so many people who are not only passionate and knowledgeable about their work but who genuinely want to share what they know and support you.
- Advice for First-Time Attendees: Make connections with everyone! It can be intimidating to leave the comfort of your team, but I found that everyone I interacted with was supportive and welcoming. I’m already looking forward to next year!
- Best Swag: I was most excited about the pop-up lantern! It will be an absolute game changer the next time I go camping.
Carmen
- One Word: Empowering!
- Key Takeaway: The importance of authentic leadership and collective growth. A rising tide lifts all boats, and experiencing so many women sharing their wisdom and expertise reinforced that when we grow together, we create bigger waves of positive change in the industry. I’m returning to CopelandBEC energized to continue bringing the collaborative spirit into our projects, where leadership at every level helps drive our ability to deliver exceptional building science solutions for our clients.
- Why Attend?: Powerful industry knowledge, meet unstoppable energy! Built on the pillars of Networking, Education, Mentoring, and Industry Recruitment, NWIR Days surrounds you with women who are genuinely invested in lifting each other up. From hands-on roofing demonstrations to transformative discussions about confidence, every moment is designed to fuel your growth while building meaningful connections. Walking in alone or with a few familiar faces quickly multiplies into an entire community of supporters championing your success!
- Advice for First-Time Attendees: Don’t just attend – dive in deep! Sign up for everything from the morning yoga sessions to the optional roof walks. Fully immerse yourself in the experience; these activities are your golden tickets to connecting with amazing people in unexpected ways. I highly encourage you to take the plunge!
- Best Swag: The plush travel blanket! Who knew conference swag could upgrade airplane naps to first-class comfort?