Remembering Naphis Mitchell-Reyes
October 16, 2026 | A Five-Year Tribute
Five years ago, on October 16, 2021, the Empire Roofing family and the roofing industry lost an extraordinary leader, respected colleague, mentor, and dear friend,
Naphis Mitchell-Reyes.
As Empire Roofing's Safety Director and a valued board member of the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA), Naphis dedicated his career to something greater than policies, procedures, and regulations. He believed that safety was about people, protecting lives, strengthening families, and ensuring that every worker returned home safely at the end of each day.
Today, five years after his passing, we pause to remember not only the professional he was, but the remarkable man whose influence continues to shape our industry and the lives of those fortunate enough to have known him.
A Man of Honor, Integrity, and Purpose
Those fortunate enough to have known Naphis remember a man who valued honor, truth, and family above all else.
He approached life with an unwavering commitment to excellence, always seeking opportunities to grow, improve, and share his knowledge with others.
One of his most memorable sayings captured the philosophy by which he lived:
“I will never stop learning.”
These words were more than a personal motto. They reflected his belief that true leadership requires humility, continuous improvement, and a willingness to help others succeed.
Naphis understood that knowledge was most valuable when shared, and he dedicated himself to making those around him better, safer, and more confident in their work.
A Heart for Service Beyond the Roofing Industry
Naphis's dedication to helping others extended far beyond his professional responsibilities and contributions to the roofing industry.
While he generously shared his time, knowledge, and leadership with Empire Roofing and the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association, he also devoted his Sunday evenings to ministering to inmates in the Dallas-Fort Worth area jail system.
For Naphis, making a difference was not limited to the workplace. He believed in the importance of reaching people wherever they were in life, offering encouragement, spiritual guidance, and compassion to those who needed it most.
His willingness to give his personal time to others reflected the values he held closest to his heart: faith, family, integrity, and service.
Whether he was mentoring a fellow safety professional, helping an employee understand the importance of workplace safety, or offering words of hope to someone facing difficult circumstances, Naphis demonstrated that true leadership is measured not simply by professional accomplishments, but by the lives we touch along the way.
He dedicated his career to protecting lives and his personal time to helping change them.
That spirit of generosity and compassion remains an essential part of the legacy he left behind.
More Than a Safety Director
For Naphis, safety was never simply a job title. It was a responsibility he carried with pride and purpose.
He understood that behind every hard hat was a person with a family, dreams, and a future worth protecting.
His passion for workplace safety extended far beyond enforcing standards. He believed in building a genuine culture of safety rooted in education, accountability, trust, and mutual respect.
Through his leadership at Empire Roofing and his involvement with MRCA, Naphis earned the admiration of colleagues and roofing professionals throughout the industry.
His greatest contribution was not simply what he taught, but the lasting influence he had on the people who learned from him.
A Legacy Honored Through Safety Excellence
While five years have passed, Naphis's dedication to safety continues to inspire and recognize others.
In honor of his extraordinary contributions, both Empire Roofing and the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association have established safety awards bearing his name.
The MRCA Naphis Mitchell-Reyes Excellent Safety Professional Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate the very qualities that made Naphis such an exceptional leader.
Recipients must exemplify a genuine passion for safety, extensive knowledge and understanding of safety practices, and an unwavering commitment to developing an authentic safety culture within their organizations or for their clients.
What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that MRCA does not necessarily present the award every year. It is reserved for individuals who truly embody the character, dedication, and values that Naphis represented.
At Empire Roofing, our own safety award honoring Naphis serves as an enduring reminder of his contributions to our company and our commitment to carrying forward the principles he championed.
These awards represent more than professional recognition. They are a promise that his dedication to protecting others will continue to influence future generations of roofing professionals.
Five Years Later, His Legacy Lives On
Time may pass, but the impact of a truly exceptional person does not fade.
Naphis's influence remains present in the safety conversations we have, the standards we uphold, the people we mentor, and the decisions we make to protect one another.
His legacy also reminds us that making a meaningful difference extends beyond our careers. It lives in the kindness we show, the time we give, and the willingness to help others without expecting anything in return.
Every employee who embraces a safer way of working, every leader who places people before production, and every safety professional who strives to make a difference helps carry forward the values he believed in.
At Empire Roofing, we remain grateful for the years we shared with Naphis, the knowledge he passed along, the friendships he built, and the example he set for all of us.
Five years later, we remember his leadership. We honor his friendship. We celebrate his compassion. And we remain committed to continuing his legacy.
To his family, friends, colleagues, and everyone whose life he touched, we join you in remembering a remarkable man whose contributions will never be forgotten.
In Loving Memory of Naphis Mitchell-Reyes
October 16, 2021 | Forever Remembered
Your legacy lives on through the lives you touched, the people you inspired, and the safety culture you helped build.
An enduring reminder that the greatest legacy we leave behind is not measured by what we accomplish, but by the difference we make in the lives of others.
