For Roofing Contractor's Young Guns series, Hammerschmidt explains why disciplined execution matters, how SeekOne is using data to make decisions, and what he learned by being candid about the company's challenges with other industry leaders. 

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

CH: In college, I worked as a project manager for a high-end residential home builder, and that's where I fell in love with the building process and construction in general. After I graduated from the University of Georgia, I took a role with SRS as a territory manager, and that's where I learned the distribution and supply side of the roofing industry. It didn't take long to see how much opportunity there was on the contractor side, so I jumped to become the general manager of a roofing company that was opening a brand-new market in Nashville. That's where it all came together for me I learned sales, insurance, operations and customer experience, all while staying in the construction world I loved. I also managed a team of sales reps and production staff, which let me figure out firsthand what processes worked and what didn't from a management and leadership perspective. It let me craft a customer experience of my own, one that genuinely left homeowners thrilled with both their new roof and the process of getting it. 

Once I felt like I'd perfected that craft, it was God's intervention that led me to meet my partner, Jordan White, at the perfect time for us to go out and do it on our own. We started SeekOne in 2022 and have been off to the races ever since.

What are the top reasons SeekOne Roofing is successful?

CH: An unmatched customer experience. Let's be honest: most people don't look forward to getting their roof replaced. But through our systems, processes, communication and quality, we turn it into something they never expected: an experience so good it makes them raving fans. Taking a homeowner from "I wasn't thrilled about this" to "I'd tell everyone I know about you" is the whole point. We run on data and team structure.

At SeekOne, we believe what doesn't get measured doesn't get moved. Every job, position, department and goal is data-driven, because accurate data is what lets us make the right decisions. When something's off, the data lets us pinpoint the issue quickly, formulate a plan as a team, and, because we've built the structure to back it up, make sure that plan actually gets executed in a timely manner. That combination is what lets us keep setting new standards for ourselves and get better and better every day across the board. Our people: We've been deliberate about identifying and developing A-players, and about building real accountability into every role. Consistency: We hold the same high standard on every job and back it with repeatable systems and clear accountability, so quality stays steady no matter how busy we are. The customer should get the same experience whether it's a slow week or our busiest one. 

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

CH: Roofing isn't a business you can fully script; demand moves around, the insurance side keeps shifting, and there's no shortage of competition, so no two months look the same. We can't control most of that, so we focus on the part we can: how well we execute. We lean into being disciplined operators. That means tight job costing, standardized processes across both markets so quality and the customer experience never drift, and a constant push to close any performance gap between our locations rather than accepting it. Expanding into a second market taught us a lot about what it takes to replicate success, and we're using those lessons to build a repeatable model we can carry into future locations. In a market that's always moving, the companies that win are the ones that execute at a higher standard every single day. 

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

CH: A clear advantage. Being young means I m not anchored to how it s always been done. I can look at an old problem with fresh eyes and build the business around technology, AI and data in ways that aren't always the norm in roofing. But the bigger advantage might be that people genuinely want to see us win. There's something about being young and hungry that pulls people toward you mentors, vendors, employees, customers because they're rooting for you to make it. And I think that's rarer than people realize. There are far more people in this world who are complacent than determined, and even fewer who are actually willing to sacrifice everything to go do it. When people see a couple of young guys who did make that leap, they want to be part of the story. That's an edge you can't manufacture. 

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

CH: Operations and finance, without question. Sales gets the headlines, but I love the machine behind the sale the systems, the accountability, the job-level economics that turn a busy company into a profitable one. My favorite work is taking something messy and undefined and building the framework that makes it run predictably and scale. If I can see exactly where a job makes or loses money and fix the process that caused it, that's the whole game for me. 

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

CH: A lot. We had the opportunity to be in a room surrounded by sharp individuals, experts in the industry, and people who genuinely want to see you succeed. Jordan and I chose to be vulnerable in that meeting and shared the real issues we were facing in the business, everything from marketing to leads to staffing. What we got back was real wisdom from the people around us. And it wasn't just the meeting itself it was the time people took to keep pouring into us afterward. Those are relationships we still lean on and talk to today. That's the part you can't put a price on.

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

CH: For us, what's next is continuing to expand into more markets and pouring into our people at an even higher level. We're focused on being the best-run company in the space, building the systems and the bench of leaders that let us grow without ever losing what makes us good. The goal isn't just to be bigger; it's to be better, everywhere we operate.

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

CH: My faith and my family come first. Most of my time outside of work is spent with my wife, Danielle, and our two daughters, Laken and Romie. Beyond that, I like to stay active and in the gym, get out on the golf course, and spend time with good friends. Danielle and I love being on the water too, whether that's at the beach or the lake.