As part of its recent announcement of 2022-23 leadership, the Roofing Alliance named Kelly Van Winkle, of King of Texas Roofing Company, its first female president. This marks a new milestone in increasing the diversity of the roofing industry, particularly in crafting leadership teams that more closely represent the makeup of the industry. 

The number of women in the construction industry has continued to grow in the years following the Great Recession, making up nearly 11% of construction jobs in 2020, and as with any group of people, each woman's origin story of how they joined the industry is unique. For some, it's a family business, and for others, it's a new outlet for their creativity, business prowess and passion for helping others. 

For Kelly Van Winkle, president and CEO of King of Texas Roofing Company in Grand Prairie, Texas, construction is a family business: She is the third generation to join the commercial construction industry. Van Winkle has been with the company for more than a decade, when she began as VP of contracts. She was named president and CEO in December 2019 and has been a co-owner of the company since 2013. During her time in company leadership, King of Texas Roofing was nationally recognized as a certified women's business enterprise by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Van Winkle has served on the executive committee of the NRCA as VP, on the board of directors, and contributes to other NRCA committees in various capacities. She is also a member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and has served as president of the National Roofing Legal Resource Center (NRLRC).

She remains a staunch advocate for women in business even outside of the construction sector, serving as a board member of her alma mater Duke University's Women's Impact Network and as a member of the Big D Dallas Chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO).

It's an exciting time for Van Winkle and for women in roofing; while the industry certainly has more strides to make in representation and diversity in leadership, this milestone indicates a positive outlook for the future.