Beacon named Stephanie Pouse, a partner at Brahma Roofing & Construction in Windsor, Co., as the winner of its inaugural North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year competition. The competition was designed to shine a spotlight on inspiring women in the roofing industry across the U.S. and Canada.

“Stephanie is a perfect example of the roofing professional we sought to highlight in this competition,” Julian Francis, president and CEO of Beacon, said in a news release. “Combining her passions for building and business ownership will bring innovation to our industry that exceeds expectations.”

Pouse grew up on construction sites, shadowing her father and now business partner, Roy. After cultivating and developing her passion for building, Pouse co-founded Brahma Roofing and Construction.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by Beacon with this prestigious award,” Pouse said. “I applaud Beacon for highlighting the important role women play in our industry. I hope my story empowers other women to bring their diverse backgrounds, talents, and experiences to the roofing industry.”

For the North American Roofing Professional of the Year competition, Beacon solicited nominations from March 8 through April 19 before opening the competition to public voting from May 4 through June 7. The remaining top four finalists included Greta Bajrami of Golden Group Roofing in Westborough, Mass.; Agata Opoka of Design & Development Group in Schaumburg, Ill.; Jessica Reid of Reid’s Roofing and Insulation in Saint Albert, Alberta, Canada; and Camila Santander of ASA Roofing in Alexandria, Va.

“We received a tremendous number of votes in support of the five fantastic finalists that far surpassed our expectations,” Jamie Samide, vice president of marketing at Beacon, said. “The overwhelming response to their powerful stories is a testament to the impact women are having on the industry and their communities.”

Interested parties can learn more about the Female Roofing Professional of the Year contest at go.becn.com/femaleroofpro.

Herndon, Va.-based Beacon distributes roofing materials and complementary building products. The company operates over 400 branches throughout all 50 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces.