GAF hosted the 2026 GAF Latinos in Roofing Northeast Summit & Expo on Saturday, September 19, at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Hyattsville, Maryland.
The event brought together over 400 roofing contractors and industry professionals from across the Northeast for a full day of bilingual education, hands-on training, networking, and industry engagement. Attendees included Latino roofing contractors, installers, business owners, GAF representatives, and other industry professionals.
Hispanic and Latino professionals play a significant role in the U.S. roofing industry, representing more than 64% of roofers nationwide. The summit was designed to help contractors address operational challenges, strengthen their technical and business skills, and access resources that support long-term professional and financial growth.
Programming included bilingual sessions on roofing finance, in-home selling, artificial intelligence skills, and lead generation, as well as hands-on demonstrations of GAF roofing products, systems, and installation techniques. Attendees also explored the opportunities, challenges, and trends shaping roofing businesses across the Northeast, connected with industry partners and resources, and networked with fellow contractors, installers, business owners, and other industry professionals.
“Seeing roofing professionals from across the Northeast come together to exchange ideas, build new skills, and support one another was incredibly rewarding,” said Alan Lopez, Director of CARE External Learning and Development, Latinos in Roofing at GAF. “Through Latinos in Roofing, we’re creating opportunities for contractors to access the education, resources, and industry connections they need to strengthen their businesses, advance their careers, and make an even greater impact in their communities.”
Building on more than 50 years of manufacturing in Baltimore, the GAF Latinos in Roofing Northeast Summit & Expo reflects the company’s longstanding commitment to workforce development and community investment across the region. That commitment was recently demonstrated in May 2026, when GAF brought its tuition-free GAF Roofing Academy to West Baltimore, where 88 participants received hands-on training and built the skills needed to pursue careers in roofing. Nationally, the GAF Roofing Academy has trained more than 5,700 people nationally and placed over 3,200 into careers in roofing. Beyond workforce development, GAF continues to invest in Baltimore communities through partnerships with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake and Friends of Patterson Park. Together, these efforts underscore GAF’s dedication to creating economic opportunity, building community resilience, and making an impact in a region it has called home for more than five decades.
Roofing contractors interested in receiving information about the next GAF Latinos in Roofing event can sign up to be notified here.
As part of its broader focus on workforce development, GAF’s Latinos in Roofing Summit & Expo is one of several initiatives aimed at expanding skills, training, and career opportunities across the industry. Through The Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence (CARE), GAF provides ongoing technical training and business development resources to help contractors improve workmanship, reduce errors, and enhance customer satisfaction as industry standards evolve. Additional programs, including the GAF Roofing Academy and FORTIFIED™ training for GAF-certified contractors, further support skills development across the industry, advancing safer construction, long‑term business growth, and more resilient communities.
For more information, visit www.GAF.com.
