NSA
NATIONAL SLATE ASSOCIATION
dedicated to promoting excellence in slate roofing practices

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National Slate Association

Who We Are

The National Slate Association was first established in 1922 by producers of slate material. The goal then was to promote the use of slate for roofing and structural applications. It also set the standards in slate roof materials and construction still adhered to today.Not long after its formation, the organization became inactive due to lack of cohesion in the industry. Its primary publication, Slate Roofs, remained a valuable resource, continuing to be reprinted and used throughout the quarrying, construction, and design communities.
In an historic meeting in Saratoga Springs, New York, in January 2002, a steering committee of producers, roofing contractors, architects, building owners, and other interested parties convened to revitalize the National Slate Association. Inspiration for the Saratoga Springs meeting came from Dave Leeland, Bill Marcum, Martech Associates, and Brian Stearns, et al., authors of The Slate Book, who sensed a growing interest in improving the industry. Bill Marcum chaired the meeting. The event was attended by Dave Leeland, Matt Millen, Doug Cochran, John Conlon, Pete Papay, and Jonathan Hill, all NSA Board members; Nancy Turner of U.S. Quarried Slate; Jim Gibbs, Pat Rudder, and Jim Constantine, all from Cornell University; John Meyer of Vermont Slate & Copper; Steve Taran of Taran Bros., Inc.; Norman Farrell of the Farrell Group; Pete Tatko of Sheldon Slate Products; Stuart Matthews of Northern Roof Tile; Richard Boyle of Evergreen Slate Company; Craig Markow of Vermont Structural Slate; Shawn and Dave Camara of Camara Slate; Ken Lerch of the Structural Slate Company; Chuck Smid and Clay Heald of New England Slate; and Joe Jenkins of Jenkins Slate Roofing Services.

Shortly after the Saratoga Springs meeting, in April 2002, the National Slate Association was re-established as a non-profit, interdisciplinary, membership organization. The newly formed Board of Directors quickly grew from three, to six, to nine, with members from across the nation representing each of the key industries with a keen interest in slate roofing.

The re-organized National Slate Association is dedicated to promoting excellence in slate roofing practices through the development and dissemination of technical information, standards, and educational resources on the materials and methods used in the manufacture, design, and construction of slate roofs and associated flashing systems. Our members include roofing contractors, slate quarriers and distributors, architects, architectural conservators, roofing consultants, craftspeople, building owners, facilities managers, manufacturers, educators, and others concerned with the manufacture, design, construction, and care of natural slate roofs.

National Slate Association Goals >>

National Slate Association    P.O. Box 172, Poultney, Vermont 05764;    Phone Toll Free: (866) 256-2111;    Fax: (802) 287-5720