I recently sat down with Dmitry Lipinskiy on the Roofing Insights Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about how I built Capital City Roofing, why I structured it the way I did, and where we're taking it next.

This wasn't the typical "how'd you get started" interview. Dmitry pushed into the operational details — the AI systems, the licensing model, the tech stack, the nonprofit mission, and why I think most roofing companies are building on a foundation that can't scale.

The Background Nobody Expected

Before I ever climbed a ladder, I spent over a decade at Lowe's — starting as a delivery truck driver and working my way up to District Manager of In-Home Services, overseeing multi-million dollar operations and hundreds of employees across the Atlanta metro area.

Before that, I was a pastor. And before that, I was homeless — living out of my truck at 25. A Christ-centered recovery program called Haven House Mission in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida gave me a second chance, and that experience shaped every decision I've made since. I told that part of the story in full on the Sacred Grit Podcast.

When I launched Capital City Roofing in May 2024, I didn't bring a roofing background. I brought operational discipline, a servant-leader mentality, and a conviction that this industry could be run better.

We hit $3 million in year one. We're on track for $10 million in year two.

Why I Built AI Into Everything From Day One

Most contractors treat technology as something they'll invest in later — once the business is big enough. I did the opposite. Every workflow at Capital City Roofing was designed to run through AI-powered systems before we replaced our first roof.

I built a 10-agent AI system that handles everything except going to the customer's house and selling the roof:

  • Lead response in seconds — not hours, not the next business day
  • Automated appointment booking and reminders
  • Roof measurement reports ordered automatically
  • Full proposal generation — the system builds it, a human reviews it
  • Structured follow-up sequences — emails, texts, and rep call prompts on a consistent cadence

The humans on my team are freed to do what humans are actually good at: talking to customers, building relationships, and closing deals in person.

I go deep on this system in my episode on The AI & Marketing Show — including the $200,000 commercial job we won because the system produced a proposal package instantly while competitors were still getting their bids together.

BuilderLync: Why I Co-Founded a CRM

Nothing on the market was built for how roofers actually work. So I co-founded BuilderLync with three other roofing company owners and a developer.

BuilderLync is the AI-powered CRM that runs Capital City Roofing's operations — lead management, automated follow-ups, estimate generation, insurance claim documentation, project communication. It's designed around the actual workflows and bottlenecks that roofing operators face daily.

It's not exclusive to Capital City Roofing. Any contractor can use it. Currently in beta with a V1 launch targeted for June. Pricing: $500/month unlimited seats, $1,000/month enterprise.

The Licensing Model: A Franchise Alternative

Dmitry and I spent a good amount of time on the Capital City Roofing licensing platform. Here's the short version:

Most roofing franchises charge six-figure entry fees, take uncapped royalties, and lock operators into multi-year contracts. In exchange, you get a brand and a manual — and you're left to figure out the technology and operations on your own.

Our model:

  • $15,000 entry — not $100,000+
  • 5% capped royalty — not uncapped
  • One-year auto-renewing contracts — not multi-year lock-ins
  • Full operating system from day one — brand, AI-powered tech stack, back-office support, and training through Capital City University

We've expanded into Nashville and Charleston, with Greenville and Austin in the pipeline. Licensees launch on the same systems that built a $10M company.

Feeding the Future: Why the Business Exists

I founded the Feeding the Future Project with a goal of feeding one million children in ten years. A portion of every roof Capital City Roofing replaces goes toward that mission.

Revenue funds the mission. That's how I see it. Capital City Roofing is the engine. Feeding the Future is the purpose.

Certifications That Actually Mean Something

We hold GAF Master Elite certification (top 2% of contractors nationwide) and CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier status. I also serve on the NRCA Residential Roofing Committee and the NRCA Workforce Development Committee — helping set national standards for installation quality and the future of the roofing labor force.

These aren't marketing badges. They're operational commitments that constrain how we hire, train, install, and warranty our work — and they unlock warranty programs that most contractors literally cannot offer.

Listen / Watch

If you're a homeowner in Greater Atlanta, Nashville, or Charleston — capitalcityroofing.net

If you're a contractor interested in the licensing model — capitalcityroofing.net/licensing

If you want a CRM built by roofers — builderlync.com