At 27, the SeekOne co-founder brings an ambitious approach to growth, but one grounded in culture, relationships and a belief that the company's purpose extends beyond roofing. For White, success is measured not only by expansion, but by the opportunities the business creates for the people inside it.

For Roofing Contrator’s Young Guns series, White discusses the partnership behind SeekOne, the realities of expanding into new markets, earning credibility as a young entrepreneur and why developing people remains at the center of his long-term vision.

What are you doing when you're not thinking about roofing?

JW: I'm usually focused on real estate and development, working out or training jiu-jitsu, playing golf, spending time with [fiancée] Avery and [golden retriever] Chance, or connecting with other entrepreneurs and business leaders. I'm always looking for ways to grow personally, professionally, and in my faith, and I genuinely enjoy building businesses and relationships that create an impact beyond just roofing.

How long have you been in the roofing industry and how did you get your start?

JW: I've been in the roofing industry for about seven years. I spent my first two years working for another roofing company, which is where I was blessed to meet my current business partner, Conner someone who is strong in so many areas where I'm not. Our strengths complement each other, and that partnership gave us the confidence to take the leap and start SeekOne in 2022. Since then, we've been focused on building something special, developing great people, and raising the standard in the roofing industry. 

What are the top reasons SeekOne Roofing is successful?

JW:  Our people. We've been extremely blessed to build a team of people who genuinely care about what they do, our customers, and each other. SeekOne wouldn't be what it is today without them. Our culture. We've always believed our purpose is bigger than roofing. Our purpose is people. We work hard to create life-changing opportunities and an environment where people can grow personally, professionally and in their faith. High standards. We're constantly pushing to get better. We don't want to just be another roofing company; we want to raise the standard for the customer experience, craftsmanship, communication and professionalism. Our willingness to adapt. We've made plenty of mistakes along the way, but we're willing to recognize when something isn't working, change quickly, and keep moving forward. Faith and vision. We believe God has blessed us with an incredible opportunity, and we try to be good stewards of it. We've always had a big vision for SeekOne, but we understand that vision only becomes reality through consistent execution every single day.

What are the big challenges in your market, and how is the company addressing them?

JW: The biggest challenge in our market is how quickly it's changing. Homeowners are more educated, insurance is becoming harder to navigate and competition continues to grow. Our response is to keep getting better investing in our people, training, brand and relationships, and creating multiple ways to generate business. Another challenge has been learning how to successfully expand into new markets. Opening our second location taught us a lot about leadership, culture and what it takes to replicate success. We're now using those lessons to build a strategic, repeatable plan for future locations while continuing to recruit and develop great people.

Do you see your age as an advantage or disadvantage in this business? Why?

JW: I see my age as an advantage. Starting young meant I had less to lose and a lot to prove, which gave me the willingness to take risks and put in the hours necessary to build something from the ground up. It has also kept me hungry and open-minded. I don't assume I have all the answers; I'm constantly seeking out mentors, learning from other business owners, and surrounding myself with people who are stronger than me in different areas. At the same time, being young means you sometimes have to earn credibility before people take you seriously. For me, that's been motivation. I've always believed the best way to overcome that is through results, consistency and doing what you say you're going to do.

What area of the roofing business are you most passionate about?

JW: The area I'm most passionate about is the people side of the business. I've always enjoyed sales, growth, and building the company, but as SeekOne has grown, I've realized that the biggest impact we can make goes far beyond putting roofs on homes. What excites me most is watching someone come into our company, develop confidence, grow as a leader, increase their income, and create opportunities for themselves and their family that they may not have had before. I love identifying potential in people and helping give them the tools, environment, and opportunity to reach it. That's really where our belief that our purpose is people comes from. Roofing is what we do, but developing people and creating life-changing opportunities is what I'm most passionate about.

What did you get from attending the Young Guns meeting at Best of Success?

JW: The biggest thing I got from attending the Young Guns meeting at Best of Success was the opportunity to be around other young leaders experiencing many of the same challenges that come with growing a roofing company. It was a chance to share ideas, learn what others are doing well, and gain new perspectives I could bring back to SeekOne. It was also another room full of great contacts and relationships. I've learned that some of the best opportunities and ideas come from simply surrounding yourself with the right people, and the Young Guns meeting was a great example of that.

What's next? What are your future plans for the business?

JW: Our focus now is taking everything we've learned over the last several years and building a strategic plan to scale SeekOne the right way. We want to continue strengthening our current markets while expanding into additional locations with a repeatable model that protects our culture and standards. The bigger vision is to continue diversifying the business, developing leaders from within and creating more opportunities for our people. We're not interested in growth just for the sake of getting bigger; we want to build a company that lasts, impacts a lot of people, and becomes one of the most trusted roofing companies in the markets we serve.