Alex Tolle Association Map

Exterior Contractor Alliance is an invitation-only cooperative for high-quality, full-service roofing and exterior finish contractors who service the single-family, multi-family, remodel, storm and insurance restoration and commercial market segments. ECA Members are successful entrepreneurs who believe they can get better, who enjoy the process of continuous improvement and who strive to improve their businesses, and therefore the industry, every single day. Our desire is to add value to every link of the industry chain and increase efficiencies through scale and cooperation. This group is comprised of business-minded entrepreneurs who run their business above all industry standards.

The Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues, Inc. (RICOWI) was established in 1990 as a non-profit organization to identify and address important technical issues related to the cause of wind damage which include:

• Dynamic testing of roof systems
• Importance of sample size for tests
• Role of wind tunnels and air retarders
• Need for acceptable procedures for ballasted systems
• Field data and response team reports
• General lack of communication within the roofing industry as to what the problems are, what is being done and should be done to alleviate them, and how effectively information is transferred within the roofing industry and to others in the building community

In 1996, RICOWI was incorporated as a non-profit corporation devoted to research and education on wind issues. After a review of the need for similar education and research in the areas of hail, energy efficiency and durability effects, the organization's objectives were broadened in 1999 to include other weather topics, and "Wind" in RICOWI's name was changed to "Weather" to reflect the expanded scope. RICOWI is assisted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the banner organization.