Montana

Montana Roofing Leaders Breaking Barriers and Building a Brighter Future

Published

2 years ago

May 6, 2024

Montana Roofing Leaders Breaking Barriers and Building a Brighter Future

Montana
has its fair share of unique roofing challenges. Seasonality limits
timelines, while the varying landscapes and climates demand resilient
roofing systems. However, the expansive state also faces challenges that
roofing contractors everywhere understand.

Labor shortages
continue to hamper roofing companies, compounded by the difficulties of
recruiting younger generations more interested in being “influencers”
than climbing onto a roof. But in the Treasure State, two gems are
shining in the Montana Roofing Association’s crown, which indicates a
bright future for the industry.

At its 35th annual convention in
January, the MRA chose Morgan Thiel and Rachel Hoover as its president
and vice president, respectively, marking the first time in the
association’s history women held both roles. The move represents the
association’s desire to see the next generation lead the way and an
increased effort to make roofing more inclusive.

“I feel like
we’re in a unique space where we’ve both come from companies that have
really championed women – about half of my company is women,” Hoover
said. “I think that we’re seeing the desire to have more women in the
space because of the unique things we bring.”

Thiel and Hoover participating in the 2024 National Women in Roofing Days in Las Vegas. Photos courtesy of Rachel Hoover.

Madams President and Vice President

Thiel
is a third-generation roofer — her father and uncle co-own Thiel Bros.
Roofing in Sidney, Mont., and she grew up working at the family business
during summers, something she continued to do in college. After
finishing her post-secondary education, she returned to work full-time
in 2018.

Her official title is project coordinator, but she dons
several hats in the company, whether handling project paperwork, running
machines or working on a roof.

“I felt very welcomed at every
level in this industry. And I think that’s a really good sign moving
forward,” Thiel said. “I know a lot of women did push through more
uncomfortable times for us to kind of get where we are, but yeah, I
think that’s a really positive direction that the roofing industry is
going.”

Thiel Bros. Roofing is also a founding member of the
Montana Roofing Association. As a result, Thiel attended MRA conventions
as a child, especially when her parents ran the events. Two years after
joining the company full-time, some of the members asked if she would
join the MRA’s convention committee. She took them up on the offer,
continuing a family legacy.

A year after that, Thiel became vice
president of the MRA, a position she held for three years until she
became president in 2024.

Hoover’s journey into roofing began two
years ago when she joined Ace Roofing in Wilsall, Mont., as its director
of marketing. However, it’s not her only connection to the industry.
Hoover’s grandfather owned a roofing company in Montana, which was also a
founding association member.

“It was really fun [connecting] with Morgan’s dad and uncle and hear stories about my grandpa,” Hoover said.

Ace
Roofing’s founder and president, Jake Magalsky, had served as president
of the MRA. In 2023, he asked Hoover if she would serve on the
association’s convention committee. Hoover was glad to step into the
role, where she worked alongside Thiel. When Thiel became president,
Hoover was elected vice president and chair of the convention committee.

Her
experience with event marketing, sponsorships, developing growth
strategies and community involvement through Ace Roofing have made her
an asset to the MRA.

“I’m not the one putting roofs on, but it’s an important role and something that I really enjoy doing,” Hoover said.

Although Thiel and Hoover may be a minority in the roofing industry, the duo’s rise to the top leadership positions is no fluke.

“I
think that the members that voted us in obviously see the value in
having some newer people that maybe are a little bit more innovative or
looking at [how] we can change things to make things better,” Hoover
said.

The Montana Roofing Association’s annual golf outing benefits its Cameron Sauter Memorial Scholarship. The program has granted more than $40,000 in scholarships since 1994.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

Changing
things for the better includes bringing more women into the workforce.
According to the National Roofing Contractors Association, in 2019,
women made up approximately 2% of the roofing labor force, one point
more than a decade earlier.

“A lot of people don’t really know
about it as an option,” Thiel said. “We’re from a small town in a remote
area, but a lot of people don’t really even know what we do or what
working at a roofing company looks like until they come and try it out.”

In
addition to the MRA initiatives, a Montana-Wyoming chapter of National
Women in Roofing is slowly but surely growing in membership. Thiel, who
heads the chapter, expressed that there can be difficulties bringing
people together in such a massive state, but the efforts are paying off.

“We
try to get a women’s lunch going at all our MRA events to grow that,”
Thiel said. “It’s incorporating those events to give women a place in a
[fairly] male-dominated industry.”

Thiel and Hoover emphasize
education as one of the cornerstones of their approach, drawing
inspiration from groups like the NRCA. Among their strategies are
reaching out to people seeking a different career and working with
schools to present roofing as a viable career path.

“Women are
really good with technical details and tend to be better at taking care
of paperwork and reports along with running a lot of the machinery we
operate that is more detail-oriented, so there are definitely companies
looking for women for specific roles,” Thiel said.

Looking to the Future

The
efforts go beyond gender. The MRA is pursuing ways to reach other
minorities in roofing and younger generations. This has included
bringing guest speakers to its conventions and seeking information and
resources from manufacturer partners.

“It’s shifting the
perception away from ‘it’s a summer job’ to a legitimate career path,
not just for women, but for men too,” Hoover said. “Most of the people
in our organization didn’t think they were going to go into roofing, and
they found a place and they made a good career out of it.”

Technology,
as a solution for making roofing more efficient with fewer workers,
continues to gain steam, though the construction industry is
traditionally a late adopter. Montana’s diverse landscape and remote
locations mean roofing companies vary wildly in what products they use,
whether on the roof or in the office, so making suggestions to MRA
membership isn’t one-size-fits-all.

“Everyone is struggling with
workforce issues these days, so this is just one way we’re looking to
solve that issue,” Thiel said.

Thiel admits her company might be
“behind the curve” in implementing technology but understands why —
companies with more extensive legacies have innate understandings of how
their operations work, so the urge to modernize can become an
afterthought.

“We’re pretty much always looking for something that
can work for us; it’s been a bit of a challenge finding programs that
will fit what we do, specifically us because, since we’re in such a
remote area, we do a lot of different things to serve our region,” Thiel
said.

By comparison, Ace Roofing has adopted various software
programs to streamline its operations. However, Hoover cautions that
companies must ensure they’re not bringing on tech simply because it is
new.

The duo points out that adopting technology is more than
using modern software and drones. The latest gadgets, tools and
equipment make roof applications easier than in past decades, and as
more advancements to roofing products hit the market, equipping crews
with them can make the job more appealing to those who perceive it as
grueling work.

“I think the other part of it, too, is I think
we’re all a bit unique. [Ace Roofing has] a fairly young team,
millennials and some Gen Z, so I think those generations are very eager
to implement new technology if it means working smarter, not harder,
which is great,” Hoover said.

The association’s approach to
tackling all these issues is multi-pronged. For instance, Hoover said
the MRA’s political committee has been active, meeting with state
lawmakers and representatives as recently as last March to garner
support for the industry.

“I think we’re involved in things on
multiple levels, making sure we’re serving the roofers of Montana and
serving our industry the best we can,” said Hoover.

Of course,
it’s not all work and no play for the MRA. The association holds an
annual golf tournament to support its scholarship and is hosting its
third annual fishing trip at Flathead Lake in July.

As they lead
the MRA into the future, Thiel and Hoover are grateful for the
association and the support they’ve received from its membership. Both
readily seek advice to fill the gaps in their knowledge.

“We have a
lot of older members who have been around a long time and have a great
deal of knowledge, experience, and wisdom that guide us a lot,” Thiel
said. “We have a lot of people who have grown up, like me, [as] children
of founding members that are in leadership positions now, which is cool
to see, and then we also have quite a few new people stepping in … it’s
cool to see different perspectives from different groups.”

Hoover agreed that having that depth of information has been invaluable.

“I
feel like they’ve really kind of taken us under their wing; they’ve
been mentoring us and giving us advice on the things that work [and] the
things that haven’t, and it’s just been such an amazing wealth of
knowledge,” she said.

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Montana

Evacuation orders issued as 5,000-acre wildfire burns near Roundup, Montana

Published

9 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Evacuation orders issued as 5,000-acre wildfire burns near Roundup, Montana

ROUNDUP, Mont. —
The Rehder Creek Fire is burning 16 miles southeast of Roundup has grown to about 5,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders for residents in the Bruner Mountain Area/Subdivision.

The fire started Feb. 26, the cause is unknown and containment was at 0%.

Evacuation orders are in effect for all residents in the Bruner Mountain Area/Subdivision. The Musselshell County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating the evacuation orders, and 911 reverse calls have been sent out to advise people in the area.

A shelter is opening at the Roundup Community Center. Residents were told to contact Musselshell County DES for further information.

Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority. The public is asked to avoid the Fattig Creek and Rehder Road area so emergency personnel can safely and effectively perform their work.

Fire resources assigned to the incident include 40 total personnel, 11 engines, one Type 2 helicopter, three tenders and two dozers.

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Montana

February 26 recap: Missoula and Western Montana news you may have missed today

Published

21 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

February 26 recap: Missoula and Western Montana news you may have missed today

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Montana

Escobar, Jayapal, Members of Congress Call on Camp East Montana to be Shut Down – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Escobar, Jayapal, Members of Congress Call on Camp East Montana to be Shut Down – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) – joined by Representative Pramila Jayapal, the Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, and 22 other Members of Congress – sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons calling for the immediate closure of Camp East Montana in El Paso. They cite urgent humanitarian concerns following multiple deaths in custody, documented unsafe conditions, and serious deficiencies in medical care.

This marks the fourth letter Congresswoman Escobar has sent to DHS and ICE leadership. The previous three letters have gone unanswered.

The letter can be found in its entirety below and here.

“Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons:

We are urgently calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or the Department) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to shut down Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas.

Camp East Montana has been operational for six months, and at least three people have died at the site since December 2025: Francisco Gaspar-Andres, Geraldo Lunas Campos, and Victor Manuel Diaz. The El Paso County Medical Examiner has officially ruled Lunas Campos’ death a homicide, citing “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression.”

Camp East Montana was constructed in a matter of weeks and opened before construction was complete and it does not have enough federal staff on-site to provide adequate oversight. Over the last several months, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, in whose district this facility is located, has sent multiple letters to DHS and ICE regarding concerns about the conditions at Camp East Montana, and has received no responses.

According to detainees, there have been constant and consistent problems at the facility since it opened, beginning with the facility’s poor construction and poor ambient temperature control. Upon opening, the drinking water at Camp East Montana tasted foul and made some detainees sick. Detainees continue to be served inadequate meals, including food that is rotten or frozen; last fall, the facility was also consistently failing to make dietary accommodations for detainees. Detainees have shared that they have sporadic access to outside spaces and recreational areas, and that their dormitory pods are cleaned only once every eight days, despite pods housing up to 72 people at a time. Laundry services are not consistent, and people are washing their clothes in the facility showers. Additionally, the facility experiences flooding and sewage backups when it rains, leading to stagnant water.

One of the biggest concerns with the Camp East Montana facility is the inadequate medical care being provided to detainees. Our offices have heard that only the most ill detainees are referred to the medical unit and that there are inconsistencies as to how soon after arriving detainees are able to undergo initial medical screenings. Detainees with chronic health issues who rely on regimented medications for their health have had difficulty accessing necessary medications, including blood pressure medication and insulin.

At least one of the deaths that occurred in ICE custody, the death of Francisco Gaspar-Andres, appears to partially be the result of poor medical care by staff at the facility. According to ICE’s own account, Gaspar-Andres sought medical attention from facility staff for increasingly serious symptoms, but was only transferred to an area hospital once his condition had severely deteriorated.

In addition to our concerns about poor medical care, we are also aware that detainees have experienced irregular access to their legal counsel, including instances of detainees having only two minutes allotted per phone call every 8 days, which is contrary to ICE’s Detention Standards on access to counsel, and that the belatedly created law library lacks adequate resources for the amount of people currently held at the facility. In January 2026, ICE announced the on-site death of Geraldo Lunas Campos “after experiencing medical distress.” ICE opened an investigation into the death, but did not provide a cause of death. However, The Washington Post later reported that another man detained at Camp East Montana had witnessed guards choking Lunas Campos when he refused to enter a segregated housing unit. Weeks later, the El Paso County Medical Examiner ruled that Lunas Campos had experienced “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression” and ruled his death a homicide.

Lunas Campos is the first detainee to die at Camp East Montana as a result of a use-of-force incident, but we are strongly concerned that he will not be the last if ICE is allowed to continue operating Camp East Montana.

ICE was given $45 billion in taxpayer dollars in the reconciliation bill, $1.2 billion of which were awarded to Acquisition Logistics, LLC, a company with no previous experience managing immigration detention facilities, to build and oversee Camp East Montana. However, in the wake of three deaths in custody so far, continued concerns about conditions at the facility, and ICE’s apparent disinterest in responding to oversight letters from Congress, we do not believe Camp East Montana is being run professionally or responsibly.

Camp East Montana must be shut down. For the safety of everyone at the facility, for an end to abuses to detainees, and for fiscal responsibility to the American people, the site cannot continue to operate. We are calling on DHS and ICE to move to immediately close operations at Camp East Montana.

We look forward to hearing from the Department promptly on this matter.

The other co-signers include Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Nanette Barragán, Yvette Clarke, Lloyd Doggett, Maxwell Frost, Jesús “Chuy” García, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Jimmy Gomez, Henry Johnson, Stephen Lynch, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delia Ramirez, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Darren Soto, Rashida Tlaib, Paul Tonko, Lauren Underwood, Gabe Vasquez, and Nydia Velázquez.

Issues: Immigration

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