THE TOP 10 WOMEN IN FLORIDA’S ROOFING INDUSTRY
Diversity, innovation and
leadership reflected in distinctive
occupations and communities
Florida Construction News staff writer
Florida’s roofing industry is massive, encompassing
contractors and speciality supply and service busi-
nesses throughout the state. In this industry, women
make up a small percentage of the overall working pop-
ulation, but their contributions and leadership should
not be underestimated.
It is challenging to select the Top 10, so we’ve looked
at leading companies and associations, as well as
media reports and our own research to determine this
list. We’ve also sought out women representing a diver-
sity of occupations and communities within the state.
Note that the names here aren’t ranked in order of
achievement. We’ve listed them alphabetically.
Claudia Abbona, GAF
Claudia Abbona, based in Fort Lauderdale, is GAF
Materials Corp.’s territory manager, low slope. She is
also a director of the Roofing Contractors Association of
South Florida.
Vicky Byrne, BRI Roof Consultants
Vicky Byrne represents the Palm Beach County Roof-
ing & Sheet Metal Contractors Association (PBCRSM) as
the local association’s affiliate representative to the
Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Associa-
tion, Inc., (FRSMCA), the state’s major roofing associa-
tion. Tamara Chase – Chase Roofing
Tamara Chase oversees this family owned business’s
operations, serving clients in the Greater Tampa Area,
Orlando, and the South Florida Tri-County Area from its
Fort Lauderdale corporate office. She took over the
company’s operations in 2010, focusing on its core val-
ues, unique brand and culture.
Wendy Harvest, Roofing Contractors Association of
South Florida (RCASF)
Wendy Harvest has been the RCASF’s executive di-
rector since 2011. She oversees the association’s ad-
ministration and operations, and helps to coordinate its
charitable and educational programs.
Loretta Hartley – Northeast Florida Roofing & Sheet
Metal Contractors Association (NEFRSA)
Based in the Jacksonville area, Loretta Hartley is the
NEFRSA’s affiliate director to the FRSMCA.
6 – FALL 2018 — Florida Construction News
Hartley, who started her roofing career in the early
1980s, after being one of the first women in the Army
Signal Corps. She has participated in relevant roofing
and community associations for decades.
Lisa Pate – FRSMCA
Lisa Pate oversees, as executive director, this major
association founded in 1922, which seeks to “foster and
encourage a high standard of business ethics among its
members and to inform the general public of the impor-
tance of doing business with competent and ethical
firms.” She works with the association’s board of direc-
tors, administers its website, office personnel, and is
editor of Florida Roofing Magazine.
Angie Masini, R&R Industries
Compared to most individuals on this list, Angie
Masini is relatively new to the industry, but in her time
at R&R Industries she has reshaped the company’s op-
erations and enhanced its collegiality and spirit. (See
story page 8.)
Meghan Roth – FRSMCA Educational
Foundation director
Meghan Roth oversees the FRSMCA’s educational
and research foundation, established in 1982 to serve
the workforce, management and owners of construc-
tion businesses as well as other industry-related profes-
sionals. The foundation provides more than $232,000 in
scholarships and adds new educational programming
each year.
Rhonda Rzeczka, R&R Industries
Rhonda Rzeczka dons her safety gear and works on
roofs for this Daytona-Beach area company every day.
She enjoys the work and working with her husband.
(See story page 7.)
Sherri Wilkie, R&R Industries
Sherri Wilkie oversees purchasing, permit manage-
ment, and equipment and materials deliveries for this
successful contractor, routinely handling 70 or more
projects in normal times, and upwards of 200 to 300
jobs during hurricane and storm recoveries. She says
she thrives on the occupation’s diversity and chal-
lenges. (See story page 8)