Christina Donovan, CSP, ASP is the Safety Director for Farrell Roofing. While being in the roofing industry was never something she expected, she is convinced she has found her passion in the mission to help keep Farrell’s best resource – their people — safe. Donovan has been in the safety field for eight years, and holds the Certified Safety Professional and Associate Safety Professional designations through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). She is also an OSHA Outreach Trainer for the Construction Industry, First Aid/CPR trainer through the National Safety Council, and a professional member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). Christina is co-chair of the newly founded Western New York/Erie Pennsylvania Council of National Women in Roofing along with her co-presenter and friend, Lorie Mets-Herman. Lorie is the Business Development/Marketing person for Farrell Roofing. She received her bachelor’s degree in English education from SUNY Fredonia however it was her love for running fundraisers that led her to her current role. She has been at Farrell for five years and in that time created their marketing department. Mets-Herman is co-chair of the newly founded Western New York/Erie Pennsylvania Council of National Women in Roofing along with her co-presenter and friend, Christina Donovan. “Our team is so proud and excited for Lorie and Christina to speak at the NRCA Conference (IRE) on behalf of AW Farrell” said Marc Farrell, vice president. “They are exceptional examples of professional women in our industry”

In 2020, both attended the National Women in Roofing Day in Dallas and realized that there was a huge lack of professional organizations for women in the roofing industry in Western New York. They decided to found the Western NY/ Eastern PA chapter of the NWIR. There are only two councils in the state with the other being in NYC. “Women make up 9% of the construction industry, and around 0.5% of the roofing industry. National Women in Roofing is committed to supporting and empowering women in all facets of the industry. It is exciting to be part of an organization where women support each other, share talents and experiences, and push each other to be successful in the industry,” Donovan said.

National Women in Roofing is a volunteer-based organization that supports and advances the careers of women roofing professionals, from manufacturing to design to installation, investigation to repair to management, and every step in between. It provides networking, mentoring, education and industry recruitment opportunities from the rooftop to the boardroom, for the young professional at the start of her career to the seasoned manager in the executive suite. Through a commitment to connect and empower women in roofing, NWiR members contribute to the overall betterment and professionalism of the roofing industry. Membership also includes and welcomes men who support the inclusion of women in the roofing industry. Working together, members are bringing the industry to a new level of excellence by supporting and promoting the contributions of women as an essential component to the future of roofing.

It is guided by a strong framework of bylaws, processes and procedures that are designed to ensure implementation of the pillars of the association: Industry Recruitment, Networking, Education and Mentoring.

Christina Donovan

National Women in Roofing reaches beyond traditional recruitment strategies to attract, hire and retain women who will bring diverse backgrounds, talents and experiences to the roofing industry and will elevate the professionalism and diversity of our community. It provides opportunities to interact with and learn from women in the roofing industry, creating strong, long-lasting and supportive networks with each other and through strategic alliances with other organizations. It creates high-quality learning programs and experiences for men and women to build successful businesses and careers in the roofing industry, with a focus on business skills, professional development, and self-advocacy to support their technical expertise and advance their careers. Most importantly the organization mentors and empowers women in the roofing industry to advocate for themselves and achieve excellence in their chosen careers.

“It is such a huge honor to be a council leader for this amazing organization and all the women associated with it. The 2020 even in Texas was such a powerful experience that Christina and I knew we needed to bring it to Western New York. We are so proud to mentor and empower other women in our field,” Mets-Herman said.

The International Roofing Expo is where contractors, remodelers, and builders connect with manufacturers to discover the latest products, technologies, and services on the market while further developing professional and technical skills. Content is curated, vetted, and presented by trailblazers in the roofing and exterior construction industries. Each year thought-leaders come together to share their knowledge and deliver exceptional educational content. The program is designed by the industry, for the industry. The education programs at IRE provide the individual with skill-building, practical solutions that can be taken back and implement right away. Enhancing skills and gaining a competitive edge in your field. There are 40 educational sessions each year at the IRE. “We are very excited to speak at the IRE expo this August. It is a great opportunity to learn from the best in the industry and stay current with the latest and greatest in roofing. We are humbled to be able to share our philosophy of using Safety as a Marketing tool with the attendees at the expo,” said Donovan.

“We are also so grateful to work for a company that allows us to grow and encourages us to shine. We are so proud to represent Farrell Roofing and Western NY on a national scale,” Mets-Herman noted.