Joe Fiala
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Joe Fiala is a Green Roof Professional (GRP) who works for Tremco Roofing & Building Maintenance as the field advisor and roof consultant. After completing his Bachelors Degree in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations in 2016, he went on to complete his Masters of Business Administrations (MBA) in Business Administration and Management at Quinnipiac University. Joe started working for Tremco shortly after his MBA, and is now responsible for managing, developing and managing clients’ roofing and building envelope assets and improvement projects. Here, he combines his unique background in business with his interest in green infrastructure and the benefits they provide urban environments. We checked in with Joe to learn more about his experiences as a GRP!
Joe Fiala
Why did you become a Green Roof Professional (GRP)?
I wanted to help lower the Urban Heat Island effect of cities, as well as improve air quality. I think that this will become more of an issue as cities keep growing.
How has it enhanced your career?
Becoming a GRP has separated myself from the competition. Instead of battling against the competitors who may have the cheapest Day One solution, I can now help give clients the best lifetime solution that meets their goals. It gives you the ability to design any type of roofing system. If you have a client that could benefit from a Green Roof, you now have the ability to provide that solution.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love designing roofs that improve the everyday life of clients.
What advice would you provide to someone interested in pursuing a similar career path to yourself?
Get on as many roofs as possible. Learn from someone who has been in the industry for a long time. There is so much to learn.
What trends about green infrastructure/sustainability make you excited for the future?
I see company’s trying to find ways to become more Green. I don’t think enough company’s know the benefits of Green Roofs, and I am excited to educate them on the benefits of having Green Roofs. I am excited that we can cut down on throwing roofing systems in the landfill if we install the correct Green Roofs that are sustainable for the lifetime of the building with proper maintenance.
What do you see the role of green infrastructure in resilience and the COVID-19 recovery?
After the initial freeze of construction projects, I hope that company’s increase the installation of Green Roofs to improve air quality. With this virus affecting the respiratory system, improving the air quality around these buildings with Green Roofs would be a major benefit to everyone.
How does having a GRP on stagg/projects benefit the company?
“Having Green Roof Professionals on our staff and projects ensures we can provide our clients with the best solution for their needs and budget. Having team members knowledgeable in Green Roof applications, we are able to enhance sustainability goals for our clients, and advocate for the long term health of the planet and industry through green roof innovation.” -Gina Ortiz, Regional Manager for Tremco Roofing in the Southwest Region
Tell us about a recent project:
A recent project was at Star Bar in Austin, TX. This was not a Vegetative Roof, but instead of tearing off the black EPDM roof(With a Gravel BUR Roof below it), we restored the roof with our Alphaguard BIO fluid-applied roofing system. This system has no odor, and can be installed direct to concrete for our Vegetative Roof Systems. Before we restored this roof, I conducted an infrared scan to find the wet insulation areas that needed to be replaced before the restoration. This project was a major success for Star Bar.
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Green Roof Professionals are industry recognized as having the most extensive knowledge of green roofs due to the rigorous training and exam process. The GRP training series and exam is available online through the Living Architecture Academy. Learn more about Green Roofs for Healthy Cities or how to become a Green Roof Professional.
