Format: MP3 Audio Download

Presenter: Luke McCormack

In this one-of-a-kind presentation, Luke McCormack, CEO of Roofing Talent America, reveals leadership lessons drawn from the global phenomenon The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, a book that has sold over 40 million copies worldwide and transformed the way leaders think, operate, and succeed.

Framed around this timeless model, the talk brings it to life through exclusive interviews with seven titans of the American roofing industry, (including two past IRE keynote speakers) who have each exemplified one of the seven habits in building, scaling, or selling some of the most successful roofing companies in the country.

Habit 1 - Be Proactive - Dan Tinker, CEO of SRS Distribution

Insights:

• Talent isn’t a department - it’s a leadership priority. The best CEOs treat recruiting like revenue generation.
• Great companies hire ahead of the curve. Don't wait for a vacancy to recruit; build your bench proactively.
• Every leader recruits. World-class companies embed talent acquisition into the fabric of their culture.
• Strategy follows people. Your business can only scale as far as your team can take it.

Habit 2 - Begin With the End in Mind - Steve Little, CEO of KPost & NRP

• Start with the exit in mind. Whether it's scale, sale, or succession - reverse-engineer the people strategy to match the outcome.
• Vision attracts talent. A-players don’t join companies - they join missions. Sell the future with clarity and conviction.
• Build the machine, not just the momentum. Talent systems are the infrastructure of long-term success.

Habit 3 - Put First Things First - Reid Ribble, Former CEO of the NRCA

• Average people build average companies. Be relentless in your hiring standards - or settle for mediocrity.
• Outsource what slows you down. Strategic partners unlock scale and clarity for leaders.
• Think bigger - then staff accordingly. Your vision should scare you a little and stretch your team a lot.

Habit 4 - Think Win-Win - Ken Kelly, CEO of Kelly Roofing

• Character over credentials. Hire for coachability, energy, and grit - then train the rest.
• Growth isn’t optional - it’s oxygen. Winners need stretch goals, autonomy, and pathways to grow.
• If they leave, it’s leadership. Retention problems are usually development problems in disguise.
• Your best people crave a challenge. Make it your mission to keep them engaged.

Habit 5 - Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood - Randy Korach, CEO of Roofing Corp of America

• Listening is your competitive edge. Understanding your people drives trust, which drives performance.
• Culture is built in conversation. Don’t just lead - learn.
• Self-awareness isn’t soft - it’s strategic. The best leaders are students of both people and themselves.

Habit 6 - Synergize - Charles Antis, CEO of Antis Roofing

• Lead with heart, not just hustle. Purpose isn’t fluff - it’s fuel for performance.
• Culture compounds. When people feel safe, seen, and supported - they outperform expectations.
• Vulnerability builds loyalty. Real connection creates real results.
• The more you give, the more the business grows. Altruism is a strategy.

Habit 7 - Sharpen the Saw - Chris Czarnik, Creator of Winning the War for Talent

• People stay when they grow. Development is the new retention strategy.
• Train your bench, not just your leaders. Future-proofing starts from the bottom up.
• Let go to level up. Delegation isn’t abdication - it’s elevation.
• You’re not in the roofing business - you’re in the people business. Build humans, and they’ll build your company.

Structure
Each section introduces one guest, features a short video clip of them speaking on their core habit, and is followed by “Luke’s 3 Lessons” - key takeaways from the interview tailored to help roofing leaders implement the habit in their own company.