Driving Change In The Industry

Roofing is a $49 billion business in the U.S., operating with more than 100,000 companies across the nation. Although the competition can be stiff, the next generation of contractors isn’t worried.

Last year's article featured 11 young, ambitious roofers who, by age 30, have already achieved great success in their careers. In the second part, we’re spotlighting 10 more rising stars, all under 35, who are on a mission to better the industry while realizing their dreams.

Their Word Is Their Bond

Steven Ragsdale | Atlas Pro™ Plus Silver Contractor
Owner, Blacksmith Roofing (Tulsa, OK)

Steven Ragsdale was managing an apartment complex in a career he wasn’t passionate about — until a friend introduced him to roofing. After working in the field for a few years, the 28-year-old started his own company, which he now shares with his business partner, Preston Davis. Ragsdale attributes his success to keeping his word and treating people like family.

Q. What do you bring to the business that others may not?
A. We build real relationships with our customers. Many of our customers have become hunting buddies, close friends and church members. This comes from honesty and always being available.

Q. Is there anything about the industry that you’d like (or hope) to change?
A. Just the overall stigma of homeowners, realtors and insurance agents thinking that all roofers are the same. There are a lot of great roofing companies and we all need to work together to make this environment a lot healthier.

Q. What’s your most memorable project to date, and why?
A. Doing the roof for the stunt double for the main female character in Terminator 2. She also was in Rush Hour 2, on M.A.S.H. for five years and a couple of other movies. It was awesome to pick her brain on celebrities and what it was like to be a stunt double!

Q. Are you involved in any charity work, professionally or personally? If so, for which organization(s) and in what capacity?
A. Not a specific charity, but we pull money back from every job that goes to our local church to help with funding churches and playgrounds in Kenya, Africa. We have done one church and one playground so far. Many more to come!

Q. If you weren’t a roofer, in what other profession do you think you’d be working, and why?
A. I’m not really sure. Being a college dropout and being blessed to find this career has been a miracle. I think that if I had to have an answer, I would probably start another business. More than likely a pawn shop. Ha! Whatever it is, it would be in dealing with people and meeting others.

Preston Davis | Atlas Pro™ Plus Silver Contractor
Owner, Blacksmith Roofing (Tulsa, OK)

Thirty-five-year-old Preston Davis has been in the construction field his whole life. He says he started his own business to provide well-paying jobs to others. Two years ago, Davis teamed up with his friend Steven Ragsdale. Together, they plan to grow their business and become the most trustworthy roofing company in their community.

Q. How did you grow your company into the success it is now?
A. It’s honestly the simplest answer ever. Treating people like they actually matter and are worth something. Not chasing the dollars.

Q. What do you like about working in the roofing industry?
A. I love changing people’s minds about the roofing community. There’s a very negative stigma about roofers out there and it’s easy for us to overcome with how we connect with our customers.

Q. What do you bring to the business that others may not?
A. Ironclad ethics. We stand behind every single thing we do. We don’t plan on going anywhere. We plan on being available for many years to come for our current and future customers.

Q. What’s your most memorable project to date, and why?
A. We helped a church with an insurance claim. They had several bids and were planning to pay out of an allocated church fund. We were able to get insurance to cover everything and the church used those funds elsewhere.

Q. If you weren’t a roofer, in what other profession do you think you’d be working, and why?
A. More than likely I’d become a local police officer or EMT. There are so many reasons. The biggest for me personally is serving those in need.

Growth Factor

John DeLaurier | Atlas Pro™ Plus Silver Contractor
Owner, DeLaurier Roofing and Renovation (Watkinsville, GA)

John DeLaurier started roofing at age 13, working on mission trips. The 34-year-old loves working with people and providing solutions to problems. He says being a business owner has always been a part of who he is.

Q. How did you grow your company into the success it is now?
A. Always, always, always treating people with honesty and respect. Customers, subcontractors, employees, suppliers. Also, constantly reading and listening to podcasts in order to grow personally and professionally.

Q. What are your business growth plans three to five years down the road?
A. We want to grow between 15 percent to 25 percent each year, and profit will always be the focus. We plan on growing the commercial side of the business too.

Q. Is there anything about the industry that you’d like (or hope) to change?
A. [The requirement of] a roofing license in Georgia — ASAP. Also, a requirement for all roofing contractors to carry general liability and workers’ comp insurance.

Q. What motivates you to go to work every day (besides income)?
A. Being challenged in new ways and keeping my employees and subcontractors working.

Q. Are you involved in any charity work, professionally or personally? If so, for which organization(s) and in what capacity?
A. We are partnering with a local charity that helps young pregnant women have a place to stay during their pregnancy.

A Born Entrepreneur

Cade Lewis | Atlas Pro™ Plus Platinum Contractor
Owner, Precise Roofing (Bixby, OK)

From the time he was a kid with a lawnmower asking all the neighbors if they needed their yards mowed, Cade Lewis had an entrepreneurial spirit. The 32-year-old recalls hearing horror stories from his mom, a real estate agent, about unreliable and untrustworthy roofing contractors. The next thing he knew, he was on roofs learning everything he could, equipped with his work ethic and desire to help people in need.

Q. How did you grow your company into the success it is now?
A. It started at my home office working very long hours into the night, every night. I did [everything] myself to avoid overhead and save the money to grow. I also did a lot of research on other companies nationwide and their strategies that may be different than my local competitors. I spent countless hours figuring out how to separate myself from the competition and still do. I read many articles and watched videos on successful business owners and their philosophies. At the end of the day, it takes hard work. I give it 110 percent every day. My motto is: “If you’re not growing, you're dying.”

Q. What do you like about working in the roofing industry?
A. I like being able to help people get a quality product over their head to help protect their families. I like meeting and talking to new people. I’ve met a lot of different walks of life in this industry. It’s a blast.

Q. What do you bring to the business that others may not?
A. Urgency. Many companies will put you off until the next day or won’t return your call for three days. Customers like when someone can make them feel they are important. I like to treat others like I would want to be treated — that is, fairly and with integrity.

Q. What’s your most memorable project to date, and why?
A. A nursing home remodel project. The look on their faces when we were done was priceless.

Q. Are you involved in any charity work, professionally or personally? If so, for which organization(s) and in what capacity?
A. We volunteer work and support the Special Olympics event. We also personally are involved with the local outreach center and help sponsor the annual foster kids’ Christmas party. This is always personally rewarding to see the kids with all the presents.

Continuing The Family Legacy

Ryan Lauck | Atlas Pro™ Plus Gold Contractor
Owner, Ryan's Roofing (Camp Hill, PA)

Growing up with a dad who owned a roofing business, Ryan Lauck got an early start in the industry, working weekends and summers while he was in school. After getting into the business full time, he soon found himself branching out on his own for friends and family. So, he decided to take the leap and start his own company. Today, at age 29, Lauck doesn’t regret his decision and loves being his own boss.

Q. How did you grow your company into the success it is now?
A. Being in the industry pretty much my entire life, I had the opportunity to see what works and what doesn’t. I always pay attention to my surroundings. I’d say my customer service and satisfaction has helped launch my business to the next level. I’ll go above and beyond to make sure every one of my customers is happy with the service we’re providing.

Q. What are your business growth plans three to five years down the road?
A. Over the next few years I would like to broaden my company’s work area as well as branch out into larger commercial jobs. I want to expand to a point that I can keep my quality and customer satisfaction at the high level it’s at.

Q. Any dislikes about working in the roofing industry?
A. I do everything I can to bring integrity and honesty back to the roofing industry but, unfortunately, we fix a lot of issues that other companies do and never come back to fix. So, roofers don’t always get the best judgment.

Q. What motivates you to go to work every day (besides income)?
A. Helping others and continuing to learn motivates me to go to work. Every day is a new day with new lessons and things to learn and expand on. One thing I love about my job is the day-to-day interactions with different people in the community and being able to hear so many stories from others.

Q. If you weren’t a roofer, in what other profession do you think you’d be working, and why?
A. Roofing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, so I can’t even imagine myself in any other field.

From Admiration To Action

Andrew Ammons | Atlas Pro™ Plus Silver Contractor
CEO, ACR Roofing (Pampa, TX)

Andrew Ammons’ family has been in the contracting sector for more than 30 years. At a young age, he watched his parents transition from employees to small-business owners, which he admired. The 30-year-old says his mission has always been to make as big a splash as possible in the industry.

Q. How did you grow your company into the success it is now?
A. My tribe. I’ve been blessed that my gifts of strategic planning and vision have allowed me to attract and retain a killer team of individuals who are highly motivated by our mission at hand. If I had to pick one, singular “how,” it would be the use of long-range planning tools like organizational charts, position outlines and simple business planning that’s set the stage for the success we chase daily.

Q. What are your business growth plans three to five years down the road?
A. Our destination is a nine-figure, multi-region contracting company whose focus is to create wealth, smash paradigms, without waiver and no apologies for every single individual we touch.

Q. What do you bring to the business that others may not?
A. Professionalism. One of the core values I’ve carried from my days as a roofing salesman and into the fabric of our organization is professionalism. From first call to final nail, my mission is to leave people “wowed,” satisfied and, quite frankly, confused that a roofing company values their experience as much as we do.

Q. Is there anything about the industry that you’d like (or hope) to change?
A. There [is], and I’m working daily to improve it. As odd as it may sound, I would like there to be stronger regulations on who can roof and who cannot. I’m also incredibly fascinated by how technology will continue to shape the industry and our customers’ experience.

Q. Are you involved in any charity work, professionally or personally? If so, for which organization(s) and in what capacity?
A. I love this question, not only because I am involved, but because it’s new for me. I always knew we are called to serve, but [only] recently [did] I really find a way to blend business and giving. Our Build to Bless program does just that. A portion of every single roof build, via our customers’ payments and through our partnership with Atlas Roofing, goes to our fund which then gives to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children), St. Jude and other local organizations.

Rebuilding Hopes And Dreams

Patrick Wallace | Atlas Pro™ Plus Gold Contractor
Owner, River Oaks Construction (Brookhaven, MS)

Thirty-year-old Patrick Wallace runs a disaster restoration company, which includes a roofing division. Wallace says his team consists of some of the best people, who work with pride and like to see a job done well.

Q. What inspired you to start your own business?
A. I like working for myself and seeing the positive outcomes that originated as a negative issue for the client. Seeing a house being rebuilt after a tree falls through the living room is what I like to do. I like to stay on the move and see new projects move forward.

Q. What do you like about working in the roofing industry?
A. We like assisting customers in order to provide them with the best service and product we possibly can. We enjoy seeing homes take on a new look with replacing what really stands out — a new roof. Roofing tends to be a quick turnaround compared to our other types of projects, which is something that I like.

Q. What do you bring to the business that others may not?
A. I have an extensive knowledge about the disaster side of things due to [my] restoration background, and I have been working with insurance companies for years. Not only can I install a new roof for a client, I offer framing, painting, flooring, custom cabinetry, finish carpentry, counter tops, plumbing, electrical and more. River Oaks is a one-stop shop for all types of home improvement.

Q. What motivates you to go to work every day (besides income)?
A. Seeing the difference we can make in home projects and having satisfied customers. I enjoy seeing our crews doing good work.

Q. Are you involved in any charity work, professionally or personally? If so, for which organization(s) and in what capacity?
A. Yes, we assist in a number of 501(c)(3) organizations such as Rescue Tails, a foster-based volunteer group dedicated to helping animals in need. We have fostered around 30 dogs over the last few years and re-home [them] to partner groups up north. I also assist my wife with her junior auxiliary projects, helping children in our community, as well as church projects. River Oaks construction donates to several community organizations in our area.

Building A Future

Carson Feiner | Atlas Pro™ Plus Gold Contractor
Owner, Feiner Construction LLC (Spring Green, WI) (Tulsa, OK)

Carson Feiner got into construction during high school. Beginning with exterior work, he made his way into roofing. The 34-year-old says he was inspired to start his own company because his dad is a farmer and was so proud of what he built on his own. Feiner wanted to have that for himself too.

Q. What do you like about working in the roofing industry?
A. It has been very interesting to watch the growth and new technology that has come into the industry since I started.

Q. Is there anything about the industry that you’d like (or hope) to change?
A. Last year our neighboring towns experienced a large hail storm. The devasting stories of storm chasers that came in and took so many homeowners’ money is beyond sad. [I’d like to come] up with a way to get homeowners and insurance companies on the same page with local contractors so incidents like that don’t keep happening.

Q. What motivates you to go to work every day (besides income)?
A. Seeing the company I started all those years ago when it was just me. Every year it keeps growing and [I’m] working hard to have this for my girls if one day they want to take it over.

Q. What’s your most memorable project to date, and why?
A. I roofed a church in Edgerton, WI, that was about 140 squares and it was a historical building.

Q. Are you involved in any charity work, professionally or personally? If so, for which organization(s) and in what capacity?
A. Feiner Construction has worked on a few projects with Make-A-Wish Foundation along with doing sponsorships for our town’s local fire department fundraiser event.

Staying A Step Ahead

Brent Simmons | Atlas Pro™ Plus Silver Contractor
President, Restoration Roofing (Collierville, TN)

Right out of college, Brent Simmons went to work for his father’s multi-family construction company. A few years later, his father-in-law asked him to replace the roof on his house, then on a friend’s house, and the snowball continued. To make it official, the 30-year-old launched Restoration Roofing. Simmons says he continues his education through as many certifications and other courses as possible to provide the latest and greatest products to his customers.

Q. What inspired you to start your own business?
A. It was my daughter and wife. When I started my business, my daughter had just been born and I saw the volatility of the multi-family construction market, so I wanted to be sure I could secure a strong future for my family. My wife has helped me grow my business in ways I would have never imagined. I would not be where I am today if it was not for her support and God leading me down this path.

Q. How did you grow your company into the success it is now?
A. I took a different approach. I grew slower with a retail-mostly model and have gained the trust [of] a ton of people around the city. From this, I have calls coming directly to my phone all day and each call is, “So and so recommended you.” My business model is one of building trust and being honest. It is paying off. You can ask anyone I know, I am not a greedy person. My father taught me, “Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.” I’m a pig. Steady and consistent growth all the way.

Q. What do you like about working in the roofing industry?
A. I like the challenge. I am addicted to great customer service. I am really an introvert at heart, but when I get the chance to talk about my business and how I can help someone solve a problem, I turn into a different person. I also, as silly as it sounds, like going to places with my family and pointing out the crazy roofs I have been on or replaced. I’m sure they get annoyed, but I will continue to show them each and every time!

Q. What motivates you to go to work every day (besides income)?
A. A solid future for my family. The new unique projects that get thrown at me all the time. I love solving complex issues. My company has become very good at solving roof issues that others could not. Give me your worst roof and I’ll make it right again.

Q. What’s your most memorable project to date, and why?
A. I tore off and installed an 87-square Signature Select® roof in one day on a three-story home. It was organized chaos, but we wanted to make sure the roof was installed before the homeowner’s party he was hosting that weekend.

Finding A Greater Purpose

Jeremy Gilstrap | Atlas Pro™ Plus Gold Contractor
CEO, Dreamworks Restoration Contractors (Loganville, GA)

At 19, Jeremy Gilstrap was struggling to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He couldn’t find any passion in working for someone else and always wanted to do something bigger than himself. He finally figured out that helping others and getting paid to offer knowledge was intriguing. Now, at 28, Gilstrap has created a business that uplifts the people around him and helps others believe in themselves.

Q. How did you grow your company into the success it is now?
A. Leading from the front. Many people who become owners don’t realize that you have to be involved in day-to-day operations. By doing this, it becomes easier to get my employees to buy into what Dreamworks represents and stands for.

Q. What are your business growth plans three to five years down the road?
A. Our goal is to build from within. We are constantly training our team to understand business and growth. Our goal is to have an office in every major city in Georgia.

Q. What do you like about working in the roofing industry?
A. My true joy comes from watching those who work beside me realize what they are truly capable of.

Q. Is there anything about the industry that you’d like (or hope) to change?
A. We are working on creating a roofing mastermind network that brings companies together.

Q. If you weren’t a roofer, in what other profession do you think you’d be working, and why?
A. Public speaking. I have so much passion for uplifting and motivating others. I’m the guy that shoots the shot and gives you the honest answers because that’s what helps me and others with personal growth.