b'CAREER PATHSHe says education and training opened"Install every roof like its on your housedoors and set him on a path to success, butstartingontheroofearnedhim respect. His advice to those just startingand strive for excellence no matter whatout? Build relationships, jump at oppor-tunities and never stop learning.This is a specialized trade, and thereyoure doing. Advancements will come quicklyare always new advancements in building science and roofing technology. Peopleif youre good at your job."should be proud to be part of an industry thatofferssomanyopportunitiesfor people to build a successful career.Les FullerMEET LES FULLER, FIELD TECHNICIANEarly retirement is in the near future. Les Fuller loves his job as a field tech-nician for SOPREMA Canada, an inter-national manufacturing company special-izinginmembranesandotherroofing and building envelope solutions. After 18 years with the company and 35 years in the roofing industry, hes set himself up to retire early. Currently,hisworkinvolvessite reviewsforthecompanyswarranty program,expansionjointfabrication, classroom and hands-on training at the SOPREMA facility, on-site training, and classroomandhands-oninstructionat RCABCforrooferapprentices.The companygenerouslydonateshistime andmaterialstoRCABCtosupport roofer education and training in B.C. PriortojoiningSOPREMA,Les worked as a roofer for about 16 years and finished his apprenticeship training at RCABC in 1995. He credits his time learningthecraftasabigreasonhes enjoyed a successful career. He says to even be considered for a field tech posi-tion, you have to first build a reputation for yourself as a successful roofer. Having the Red Seal endorsement in roofing carries a lot of weight in the role that Im in now, as does the experience I gained on the roof. Im able to go onto a jobsite and properly demonstrate how to use our product and talk to the workers from a roofers point of view. It was a chance meeting, as well as the desire to teach, that inspired him to try another career path in the industry. Back in 1992 when he was working as a roofer, the SOPREMA field technician at the time gave him some advice on how www.rcabc.orgl33'