Duradek's Top Performers of 2014 Recognized

Duradek is a family owned and operated business whose product reaches the marketplace through a network of select professionals. At Duradek's 40th Anniversary Convention that took place in Kelowna, BC at the beginning of October, Duradek was proud to see such a great group of decking professionals all gathered in one place. Having been in the business for 40 years, some of the business relationships have been around nearly as long and now we are seeing these valuable relationships extend to the next generation of Duradek experts.

Duradek values the impressive history the company has developed with many of our respected dealers throughout North America over the years and truly considers every business that represents Duradek as extended family. But it is not just longevity that makes an exceptional Duradek distributor or dealer; sometimes it is that inexplicable X factor that allows some companies to go beyond the ordinary and exceed expectations and averages to truly stand out from the crowd.

Duradek is proud to introduce you to some of the stand-out business who represent Duradek by acknowledging the recipients of Duradek's Top Performance Awards for 2014 as honored at the Duradek 40th Anniversary Convention.

Performance Awards for Canada

Top Canadian Dealer - Victoria Deck Ltd.
Top Canadian Distributor - Raildek Distribution Ltd.

Performance Awards for the United States

Top U.S. Dealer - Duradek of Virginia
Top U.S. Distributor - Duradek MidAtlantic

Exceptional Performance

Outstanding Initiative - Duradek of Utah

Get to Know the Top Performers of Duradek

Victoria Deck Ltd - Top Canadian Duradek Dealer

from left: Bob Ogivie - Duradek, Brian Nursey - Victoria Deck,
Gail Penner - Victoria Deck, John Ogilvie - Duradek.

Victoria Deck Ltd. has been taking care of decking needs in Greater Victoria and southern Vancouver Island since 1976 which makes Victoria Deck Ltd. one of our oldest Duradek dealers (only two years younger than Duradek). Created by their father, Victoria Deck is run by brother and sister team Brian Nursey and Gail Penner; and this family business has already spanned two generations shows no signs of slowing down. Supported by an excellent team of estimators and installers, Victoria Deck maintains its reputation by consistently providing exceptional customer service and acute attention to detail from start to finish. Victoria Deck is an accredited member of the BBB with an A+ rating and is a member of the Canadian Home Builders Association. If you are in the Victoria area, Victoria Deck Ltd. will help you with your decking needs no matter how large or small. Look for Victoria Deck this spring at the Victoria Home Expo at the Juan De Fuca Recreation Center on April 17 - 19, 2015.

Raildek Distribution Ltd. - Top Canadian Distributor

from left: Bob Ogilvie - Duradek, James Simpson - Raildek,
John Ogilvie - Duradek.

Raildek is a direct source for Duradek vinyl in the Greater Toronto area, supplying a skilled network of Duradek dealers throughout Ontario. Created by owner James Simpson in 1984, Raildek has over 25 years of history representing Duradek. James came from an extensive, hands-on construction background and he recognized the need for maintenance free outdoor living products that could withstand the extreme climate for a long-lasting value to home owners. James knows that homeowners who enjoy their outdoor living space want to be spending their time enjoying it, not maintaining it. The relationship with Duradek was a natural fit! With a strong network of authorized Duradek dealers, more Duradek has moved through Raildek's doors than any other Canadian Duradek distributor this year. Raildek is also the location that provides the product for notable HGTV programs that have used Duradek like The Builder Boss and Income Property. Watch for Duradek this spring on Cottage Life TV as James let us know he provided Duradek to one of his skilled Duradek Dealers to install it for a project on an upcoming episode.

Duradek of Virginia - Top U.S. Dealer

from left: Bob Ogilvie - Duradek, Chip Hampton - Duradek of Virginia,
Bill Shank - Duradek of Virginia,  John Ogilvie - Duradek.

With over 10 years of experience representing Duradek, Bill Shank and Chip Hampton of Duradek of Virginia have installed Duradek vinyl on more decks than any other Duradek dealer in the U.S. this year! This is the second time that Duradek of Virginia has earned this top performing recognition. Located in Springfield, VA and servicing the Washington DC Metro Area, Duradek of Virginia became involved with Duradek coming from a strong roofing background and had actually worked as installers for several Duradek dealers before starting their own dealership. Duradek of Virginia is relied on by some of the U.S.'s major home developers like Pulte Homes, Toll Brothers and many other national home builders. Duradek's unique use as a walkable roofing membrane provided a reliable solution for a niche market and with Duradek of Virginia embracing the mission of providing comfort to their customers with a worry free roof, Duradek's ICC approved roofing membrane provides them with an attractive solution as well. Duradek of Virginia is yet another example of the Duradek family extending generations as Bill's son Michael heads up their installation crew and is sure to carry forward the reputation of excellence earned by Duradek of Virginia.

Duradek MidAtlantic - Top U.S. Distributor

from left: Bob Ogilvie - Duradek, Jaime Kotanko - Duradek MidAtlantic,
Debbie Rickart - Duradek MidAtlantic, John Harlow - Duradek MidAtlantic,
John Ogilvie - Duradek.

Once again, Duradek MidAtlantic is recognized as the top performing U.S. Duradek Distributor. Celebrating its 20th year, Duradek MidAtlantic began it's operations as a division of a home improvement company and was later co-owned by John Harlow who led the way with their exclusive relationship with Duradek. Duradek MidAtlantic started as an installation company to get the vinyl membrane out into the marketplace, as at that time, Duradek was a virtually unknown product in the region.  Within 5 years, Duradek MidAtlantic had developed a substantial installer network and in just over 10 years had to move to a larger location to meet the ever growing demand for Duradek and Durarail. Owner John Harlow has since retired and Duradek MidAtlantic is now run by his  daughter, Jamie Kotanko.  Duradek MidAtlantic is another example of how the Duradek family extends generations and continues to provide excellence in the deck waterproofing industry. Duradek MidAtlantic accepts nothing but the best, and they consistently set the bar high for the entire Duradek network with an exceptional training model and marketing program...and now, for the 14th year in a row, takes the title of Top U.S. Duradek Distributor.

Duradek of Utah | Deckmax - Exceptional Performance

from left: Bob Ogilvie - Duradek, Samantha McClure - Dekmax
Matt McClure - Dekmax, John Ogilvie - Duradek.

The rarely issued Exceptional Performance award was resurrected this year for stand out performance for Duradek of Utah who may have not been the top volume performer, but has fully taken on the Duradek philosophy of educating people to "Doing it Right the First Time" and really embraced the opportunity to develop the roof deck waterproofing business in a region that historically not been recognized for roof decks but is now showing a growing number of new developments embracing this outdoor lifestyle advantage.

Check out these articles featuring notable projects from Duradek of Utah:

• Creating Value in Real Estate and Quality of Life
• Changing the Landscape in Salt Lake City One Roof Deck at a Time

Duradek of Utah is getting noticed. Besides these  great high profile projects that show Duradek doing exactly what it was meant to do, Matt has a few other unique, eye-catching techniques up his sleeve. The Dekmax truck has been transformed into a mobile showroom and the custom canopy Matt has made beautifully displays Duradek's range of waterproofing membranes,  perimeter details, drain details and railing options. Really making his work truck work for him, Matt also put together a little YouTube video demonstrating the strength of Duradek seams by using his truck to tow a Ford F250 with a heat-welded piece of Duradek. It is really amazing to see the welded vinyl stretch as it pulls the F250..and the seams still hold.

With these kind of initiatives and the excellent work Duradek of Utah is doing with educating the local architectural groups like the Salt Lake City chapter of CSI, Utah is poised to embrace roof decks as much as any major metropolitan harbor city.

Congratulations to all of our top performers and thanks for your ongoing support of Duradek and bringing reliable low-maintenance roof decks to communities all throughout North America!

Deck Expo Starts this Week as R|D|J Takes Over Baltimore

Remodeling Show | Deck Expo | JLC Live (R|D|J) starts today with education conferences and the exhibit hall opens its doors tomorrow, October 23rd, 2014 for this annual trade-only event.

The Baltimore Convention Center is where this mega-event for the residential construction industry takes place. The Remodeling Show, Deck Expo and JLC Live have combined to create the leading national trade-only event for remodeling and deck building.

There will be two full days (Thursday, October 23rd and Friday, October 24th, 2014) of exhibitors and exhibit hall events that will bring the best of method and material for remodelers, deck builders and residential construction industry professionals.

The Exhibit Hall Show Floor features hundreds of exhibits showcasing deck and railing products, and Duradek invites you to come by to see us at Booth #3313 where the professionals from Duradek MidAtlantic can show you the advantages of our deck waterproofing systems.

 

Duradek reached the landmark of 40 years in business this year and distributor, Duradek MidAtlantic is celebrating 20 years in business this year. At Duradek's recent convention, Duradek MidAtlantic was again recognized as the top performing Duradek distributor and consistently demonstrates the exceptional service that makes Duradek such a reliable brand. With a dedicated and skilled network of trained and authorized installers, Duradek MidAtlantic can ensure your decks and roof decks are reliably protected with an attractive and low maintenance waterproofing system.

When you are visiting the Deck Expo, be sure to talk to the professionals at Duradek MidAtlantic at booth #3313 if you have any decking projects or any questions on deck waterproofing. You may also get a chance to speak with Duradek president, John Ogilvie who will be at the show and who is a wealth of information on the vinyl membrane industry that he helped to pioneer with the Duradek brand.
 

Look for Duradek MidAtlantic at booth #3313

R | D | J Exhibit Hall Floor

This year there will be lots of activity on the exhibit hall floor including:

• Installation Clinics
• Interactive Workshops
• Exhibitor Demos

R | D | J Education

There are also an abundance of education opportunities at this event and conferences covering 15 education tracks span topics like Sales & Marketing, Technology & Technical, Business & Construction and more give industry professionals all the tools they can possibly need to stay competitive in their area of expertise.

This year the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has partnered with R|D|J to offer courses and NAHB designation CE requirements can be acquired. The show organizers, Hanley Wood, is also registered with the American Institute of Architects and education sessions are eligible for AIA learning units.  

Deck Expo Co-located with Remodeling Show and JLC Live’s History

Deck Expo is a trade only event focusing exclusively on the deck, porch and railing industry. Sponsored by NADRA and Professional Deck Builders Magazine, Deck Expo began in 2003, and co-located with Remodeling Show in 2009.

Remodeling Show is owned and produced by Hanley Wood and sponsored by the National Association of Homebuilders, NAHB Remodelers and Remodeling Magazine, Remodeling Show. It has been an anticipated industry event since its inception in 1991, and since that time has seen many ups and downs in the industry, several technological advances and an increased breadth and scope of building products on the market. One thing has remained consistent over the years - manufacturers continue to innovate and allow residential construction professionals to work smart and efficiently.

JLC Live joined these two significant shows for the first time in fall of 2014 to create the all new R|D|J Mega Event. With annual shows in the Pacific Northwest and New England, the addition of this residential construction show brings even more depth to the offering for residential construction professionals and makes the R|D|J a not-to-miss event.

R | D | J 2015 will move to it's alternate home and take place in Chicago at the McCormick

New Mega-Show for Residential Construction Professionals Anticipated by Duradek

Building industry professionals now have a new mega-show to benefit from this fall as JLC Live joins the co-located Remodeling Show | Deck Expo for the first ever R | D | J Show for Residential Construction Professionals. With these top shows combined in this industry only event, builders can be confident that their time invested into attending will be time well spent.

Duradek invites you to register for free exhibit hall admission using promo code EVITE1. This is your chance to come by and discover the latest in education and product availability for this trade-only event at the Baltimore Convention Center from October 22nd – 24th.
The exhibit hall floor is open:

• Oct 23: 9:00 – 5:00 p.m.
• Oct. 24: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Duradek will be there at our booth #3313, represented by exclusive distributor Duradek MidAtlantic who is celebrating their 20th year in business this year along with Duradek celebrating our 40th anniversary.

What to Expect at Remodeling Show, Deck Expo, JLC Live (R | D | J )

At Deck Expo, Remodeling Show and JLC Live, professional remodelers can expect to find: hundreds of exhibitors, installation clinics, interactive workshops and a variety of instructional presentations…all held in conjunction with 4 days of educational conferences that begins on October 22nd. There are a variety of clinics to choose from this year including:

• Creative Elevation
• Deck Builders Workshop
• Durable Exterior Details
• Engineered Siding & Trim
• Remodelers Workshop
• Residential Drywall
• Weathering the Building Envelope

R | D | J Educational Conferences

As always, there is an excellent selection of education opportunities to allow you to earn education credits. There are education tracks in the following categories:

• Business
• Construction Materials and Technology
• Construction Safety
• Deck
• Design
• Legal
• Marketing
• Production
• Replacement Contractor
• Sales
• Technical Updates
• Technology
• Universal Design Build

In addition, you can take courses that are a part of the Master Deck Professional – Codes and Standards, a four-part series offered by NADRA. More information can be found on the NADRA Website.

R | D | J Social Events

A great way to unwind with your fellow remodeling professionals, the show offers a variety of fun events to enjoy some social networking the old fashioned way. There is still a bunch in the works, so be sure to check back on what you want to register for, but you can start by counting on these annual social events (pre-registration required):

• Dinner with New Friends
• R|D|J 2014 Welcome Party
• R|D|J Haunted Fells Point Pub Crawl
• NAHB Remodelers Gala
• NADRA 2014 Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner

Deck Expo Co-located with Remodeling Show’s History

Deck Expo is a trade only event focusing exclusively on the deck, porch and railing industry. Sponsored by NADRA and Professional Deck Builders Magazine, Deck Expo began in 2003, and co-located with Remodeling Show in 2009.

Remodeling Show is owned and produced by Hanley Wood and sponsored by the National Association of Homebuilders, NAHB Remodelers and Remodeling Magazine, Remodeling Show. It has been an anticipated industry event since its inception in 1991, and since that time has seen many ups and downs in the industry, several technological advances and an increased breadth and scope of building products on the market. One thing has remained consistent over the years - manufacturers continue to innovate and allow residential construction professionals to work smart and efficiently.

JLC Live is another of Hanley Wood’s excellent construction brands as the Journal of Light Construction sponsors this part of the show. The Journal of Light Construction and JLC online are excellent resources for residential construction pros and while JLC has two annual shows with JLC Live Northwest and JLC Live New England, this is the first year JLC Live participates along with the co-located Remodeling Show and Deck Expo.

Official Show Sponsors

NAHB Remodelers, Remodeling Show Sponsor
NAHB, National Association of Home Builders, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association that helps promote the policies that make housing a national priority. Since 1942, NAHB has been serving its members, the housing industry, and the public at large. Founded in 1982, NAHB Remodelers serves the interests of more than 14,000 remodeling industry members.

NAHB Remodelers is committed to improved management and technical competency of remodeler members, excellence in service to the consumer, and effective government representation of remodelers' interests at the federal, state, and local levels. Working in partnership with locally-organized Remodelers Councils at more than 150 NAHB-affiliated state and local builders' associations, NAHB Remodelers provides information, certification, education, and recognition programs geared to keeping remodeler members competitive.

NADRA, DeckExpo Sponsor

Duradek is proud to be a member of NADRA, the Official Sponsor of DeckExpo. Their core purpose is to be the voice of the deck & railing industry by promoting national Deck Safety Month, helping guide code writing and regulations with ICC and sponsoring DeckExpo, the premiere trade event for the deck, dock, and railing industry.

The mission of the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) is to provide a unified source for the professional development, promotion, growth, and sustenance of the Deck and Railing building industry in North America so that members can exceed the expectations of their customers.

Register for complementary exhibit hall passes for R | D | J Show using promo code EVITE1 and be sure to visit us at booth #3313. Be sure to check back for updates on events at the show as it gets closer. We look forward to seeing you there!

Landmark Year for Duradek MidAtlantic

While Duradek celebrates its 40th year in business this year, key Duradek distributor, Duradek MidAtlantic celebrates their landmark 20th year along with us! The source of all Duradek vinyl from Maryland to South Carolina and from Virginia to Delaware, Duradek MidAtlantic has been the top producing Duradek distributor for the past 14 years and they are poised to continue their stellar performance for years to come.

Duradek MidAtlantic was launched in 1994 by Ron Bongiorno and Del Thebaud with the assistance of John Harlow. Ron, Del, and John recognized Duradek as a niche product that would work well with their existing home improvement business, Bay Construction. While Ron was busy seeking specifications from architects and working with builders, John was diligently installing numerous Duradek projects in the area. Duradek was virtually unknown in the area but after very little time, great interest had developed and other companies wanted to get involved installing Duradek. John began training these companies to be independent Authorized Duradek Dealers thus laying the groundwork for a distribution network.

By 1999, Duradek MidAtlantic had built up a large enough distribution network to cease installations and focus solely on training, sales, and support for their growing network of Authorized Duradek Dealers. In 2000, Jaime Kotanko, John Harlow’s daughter, was brought on to assist with the company’s growth.

In 2001, Ron Bongiorno bought out his partner, Del Thebaud, making him sole owner of Duradek MidAtlantic. Ron recognized that John Harlow had been a major driving force behind the success of Duradek MidAtlantic therefore designated him President and gave him half ownership in the company. By 2006 Ron had moved to Florida and was ready to retire so he sold his remaining share in Duradek MidAtlantic to John Harlow, and Jaime Kotanko was named Vice President.

Duradek MidAtlantic maintains a nationally recognized training program developed by their factory certified trainer who has nearly 20 years of installation experience. They have also developed a leading sales and marketing program to assist their dealers with growing and expanding their businesses and can be seen representing Duradek at major industry trade shows like Deck Expo (Look for Duradek MidAtlantic at Deck Expo in Baltimore in the fall).

In preparation for his own retirement, John has now passed the Duradek MidAtlantic leadership reins to Jaime. Jaime was named company President and began holding an ownership stake in 2012. John is now the company Chairman and is getting ready to enjoy his retirement in North Carolina.

Duradek U.S. Manager, Susan Smith (left) Duradek MidAtlantic's
John Harlow (center) and Jaime Kotanko (right).

While some members of the Duradek MidAtlantic team have changed over the years, the quality and dedication of their staff and the services they provide are at the same level of professionalism and dedication that they have always been. In addition to John and Jaime, the Duradek MidAtlantic team includes:

Debbie Rickert - Office and Marketing Manager
Debbie has been with Duradek MidAtlantic since 2002. She is highly dedicated and one of the major forces behind the company's success.

Rick James - Business Development
Rick is tasked with seeking specifications from architects and engineers as well as working with builders and general contractors to see that Duradek is properly utilized.

Matt Kotanko - Dealer Services
Matt, who is also Jaime’s husband, is in charge of Dealer Services which includes Authorized Dealer training, support, estimating, and whatever else their Dealer Network needs.

Candice Johnson - Administrative Assistant
It is Candice's pleasant voice that greets everyone on the phone. She not only processes Dealer orders, but provides valuable support to the rest of the staff.

Andy Bowser - Warehouse Manager
Andy is the one responsible for making sure everyone gets the right materials in a timely fashion.

With a strong team and a strong brand with the Duradek family of products, and of course the ever present need to protect outdoor living space from the elements, Duradek MidAtlantic will continue to be a leading supplier of waterproofing solutions for decades to come.



The Duradek MidAtlantic Team 2014

Congratulations Duradek MidAtlantic!