Father-Son Teamwork Means Big Business for Some Roofing Companies

“Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice."
—Charles Kettering, American businessman and inventor

From the moment their sons are born, fathers share a special connection with their boys.

More than showing their sons how to throw a football or cast a fishing line, dads serve as role models, mentors, and superheroes throughout life. Fathers nurture a parent-child relationship that demonstrates the value of hard work, love, and acceptance.

Whether they’re goofy, serious, sporty, or handy (or a combination of all four), fathers often share their talents with their sons. Undoubtedly, sons soak up every nuance from their dads and replicate it throughout their lives. It’s no wonder fathers and sons sometimes share career choices.

To honor the father-son relationship this month, we spoke to father-son roofing teams to learn about the successes, challenges, and expectations of working together. Read how they have grown their businesses while maintaining strong family ties:

My Three Sons (and Two Daughters)

In His Hands Contractors, Inc.
Rossville, GA

Father: Ron Wyatt, 57
Sons: Josh Wyatt, 32; Dan Wyatt, 30; and Jon Wyatt, 27

In 1984, Ron Wyatt launched In His Hands Contractors in deference to his deep Christian values with a focus on honesty and customer satisfaction. When his boys grew up, Ron changed his sole proprietorship to a partnership. The company incorporated in 2014 with Josh, Dan, and Jon as 25% owners each in the family business.

Q. What does each person bring to the business that the other doesn’t?
A: (Ron) Each partner has a different role and responsibility in the company. Dan sells and manages our metal and specialty roofing projects; Jonathan sells our shingle roofing; and Josh manages the shingle roof projects. I work predominantly in the office, focusing on licenses, insurances, taxes and financials. We rotate responsibilities annually.

Q. What kind of challenges do you face working together?
A: (Ron) In all honesty, we do not face as many challenges now as we did when the partnership started. For the first few years, our roles conflicted. Then we started using our current system of operations, which allows each person to excel.

Q. Had you always hoped your sons would be interested in working in the business with you?
A: (Ron) I have always wanted my children to do what they believed the Lord wants them to do with their lives. I hoped that would include living life together, both in and out of work. Thankfully that has become a reality.

Q. If you weren’t roofing, what would you be doing?
A: (Josh) Breeding, selling, and training Labrador retrievers
(Dan) Something in the construction trade
(Jon) Something full time in ministry

Q. What was your most memorable project together and why?
A: (Ron) Our most memorable project epitomizes who we are as a family and a company. In 2019, we provided a new roof on a home belonging to a single grandmother and two disabled grandchildren. Their roof was in bad shape, with a tarp to keep out the water. Through the local Roof Rescue project, we installed a new roof at no expense to her.

Q. Where do you see your relationship and company in five years?
A: (Ron) Our family business is blessed to have two of my daughters also working with us daily. Amber, our operations manager and sales assistant, has been with the company for almost three years, making sure the partners achieve their goals. Amy, who has been with us for a year, works as the receptionist/secretary. As long as America continues as it is and the economy continues as it is, we do not see any change in the foreseeable future.

Livin’ the Dream

Guy Brothers Roofing
Pensacola, FL / Mobile, AL

Father: Mike Guy, 66
Sons: Brent Langham and Jason Guy, both 39

For two generations, Guy family patriarchs warned their sons against careers in roofing. Neither generation listened.

Growing up, Mike Guy remembers his father, a roofer, cautioning against the grueling work. But by age 26, Mike was running the family business — Guy Brothers Roofing. Fast forward some 40 years later and Mike’s sons Brent Langham and Jason Guy are on deck to take over the company.

Q. What does each person bring to the business that the other doesn’t?
A: (Jason) Dad brings in the most experience in the field, I have a customer service background, and my brother has a strong sense of how to run a good business.
(Brent) My dad has an uncanny ability to win over customers. I bring my education in business and innovative ideas and Jason is great at managing people.
(Mike) My sons bring new, young ideas. I bring my years of experience in roofing. If it can happen, I’ve seen it.

Q. What kind of challenges do you face working together?
A: (Jason) We can’t all take off at the same time for vacations and such. Also, we all have good ideas, making it difficult to decide which is best for the company.
(Brent) As with any multi-generational business, there will always be a challenge with new technology and bringing innovative ideas to the table, particularly when the company has been doing things one way for many years.
(Mike) I expect more out of my sons than I do others.

Q. Had you always hoped your sons would be interested in working in the business with you?
A: (Mike) Actually, I told them growing up they weren’t allowed to work in the business as adults. You see how well that worked.

Q. If you weren’t roofing, what would you be doing?
A: (Jason) [I would be working in] my previous career as a UPS driver.
(Brent) I would probably be in some sort of construction management.

Q. What was your most memorable project together and why?
A: (Jason) Being able to donate roofs for veterans brings me a sense of giving back to the community.
(Brent) Two years ago, we were fortunate enough to grant a Christmas wish through a local media outlet and donated a new roof to a needy family.
(Mike) We just recently were able to put a roof on for the Wounded Warrior Project. We are fortunate to be able to give back in that way.

Q. Where do you see your relationship and company in five years?
A: (Jason) We will still be growing in both our relationships and company.
(Brent) The company is striving and continuing to lead in our market and expanding into other markets. Our relationships will continue to get stronger.
(Mike) I will still be supporting my sons but hopefully as just a consultant.

Roofing His Way to D.C. and Back

National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) CEO
Rosemont, IL

Father: Ray Ribble
Son: Reid Ribble, 65

It’s safe to say that Reid Ribble attributes a lifetime of success to roofing. When he started in the family roofing business as a young adult, Ribble never imagined it would take him so far.

After running a successful roofing business for more than 30 years and serving three terms as a U.S. representative from Wisconsin, Ribble now works as the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) CEO. Ribble said he owes his success to his father Ray, who started the family business in Kaukauna, WI, and the roofing industry overall. Although Ray Ribble died in 2002, Reid Ribble’s love for roofing continued. We asked Reid Ribble to share his thoughts on father and son roofing.

Q. What did each person bring to the business that the other did not?
A: When I joined my father’s company, the biggest thing he brought was his 25 years of experience. That is not replaceable and was unique to our local market.

Q. What kind of challenges did you face working together?
A: Our challenges were the same as other families in business together. My father wanted me to be successful, but his approach was having me start from the bottom and working my way up. I wanted to start my career further up the company “food chain.” My father was right.

I started in the warehouse, then to the roof as a laborer and then finally in the office. Through those experiences, I gained the knowhow and confidence that I needed.

Q. Had your dad always hoped you would be interested in working in the business with him?
A: I was the youngest child of six, and he wanted all of us to join the company. I was the one who finally took him up on it. Later, another one of my brothers also joined the business.

Q. If you weren’t roofing, what would you be doing?
A: I would likely be a lawyer or have a full-time career in politics.

Q. What was your most memorable project together and why?
A: I launched our company’s commercial roofing division. The first job I sold was reroofing a building for a local paper mill.

The job was replacing the roof and structural deck over an operating paper machine. It was a complex and challenging job. It is memorable because of how dangerous the work was and the need to implement stringent safety requirements on our crew. This was before the days of modern safety programs. We faced stiff opposition from the roofing workers.

Compromise + Balance = Family

Dultmeier Roofing
Topeka, KS

Father: Jim Dultmeier, 61
Sons: Justin Dultmeier,41, and David Dultmeier, 37

The Dultmeier brothers are a study in compromise and balance. Justin Dultmeier is known for his calming patience — a great trait when helping customers or handling job site problems. David Dultmeier is detail-oriented and bounding with energy — perfect for getting the job done right. Dad, Jim Dultmeier, proudly leads and observes his sons and the company.

Dultmeier Roofing, in business for 38 years, was the first in Kansas to reach AtlasPRO+™ Platinum level. Today, the Dultmeiers have an eye on Diamond in the future.

Q. What does each person bring to the business that the other doesn’t?
A: (Justin) I’ve worked for my dad since high school, so I know more about the day-to-day company operations and the people in the business. I also tell my brother when to relax in certain situations.
(David) I’m always working on devising new ways to reach customers through social media and software. I tell my brother when to step it up in certain situations.

Q. What kind of challenges do you face working together?
A: (Jim) When we first started together, we understood that we would have our disagreements, but we would always be family. We are always trying to balance work and family dynamics. We’ve made some rules about how it works, including never discussing business during family functions.

Q. Had you always hoped your sons would be interested in working in the business with you?
A: (Jim) I always hoped one of my boys would take over the business. Never did I think that both boys would take on the business together. I am proud of them. It’s exciting to see them working the business and succeeding.

Q. If you weren’t roofing, what would you be doing?
A: (David) I was a mechanic for 13 years before. I'd still be doing that.
(Justin) I'd be working in construction.

Q. What was your most memorable project together and why?
A: (Jim) One of our earliest projects taught us lessons about teamwork and running a business together. It was a large gym and a flat roof at a church in Topeka. The project had problems — with material, crews and too many people “in charge” — and everyone had their own ideas about how things should be run. We got it done and learned a few things.

Q. Where do you see your relationship and company in five years?
A: (Jim) The way roofing companies are run has changed dramatically in the last 20 to 30 years, so where we will be in 5 years is anybody's guess. We do know this: we WILL be in business and our family will be intact!