Roofing Insights Podcast: Brad Strawbridge on Scaling with AI, Licensing, and Building a Brand That Lasts
Brad Strawbridge joins Dmitry Lipinskiy on the Roofing Insights Podcast to discuss how Capital City Roofing scaled from zero to $10M in under two years using AI, a licensing model, and a relentless focus on operations.
Capital City Roofing founder and CEO Brad Strawbridge sat down with Dmitry Lipinskiy on the Roofing Insights Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually takes to build and scale a roofing company in 2026.
From Lowe's District Manager to Roofing CEO
Before launching Capital City Roofing, Brad spent over a decade at Lowe's, working his way up from delivery truck driver to District Manager of In-Home Services overseeing multi-million dollar operations across the Atlanta metro. That background in large-scale operations, supply chain management, and customer service at scale gave him a unique perspective when he entered the roofing industry.
Capital City Roofing launched in May 2024 and hit $3 million in revenue in its first year. By year two, the company was on track to surpass $10 million - a growth trajectory that caught the attention of the entire roofing industry.
The AI-Powered Operating System
A major focus of the conversation is how Capital City Roofing uses artificial intelligence differently than most contractors. Rather than bolting AI onto broken processes, Brad built the company's entire operation around AI from day one - a 10-agent AI system that handles everything from lead response and appointment booking to proposal generation and follow-up sequences.
The result: faster response times, more consistent communication, and a customer experience that scales without adding administrative overhead.
The Licensing Model: A Franchise Alternative
Brad and Dmitry discuss the Capital City Roofing licensing platform - a franchise alternative that gives qualified operators access to the CCR brand, technology stack, back-office support, and training through Capital City University. Unlike traditional franchises with six-figure entry fees and uncapped royalties, the CCR model is designed to be accessible: $15,000 entry, 5% capped royalty, and one-year auto-renewing contracts.
The company has already expanded into Nashville, Charleston, and is entering new markets in Texas.
BuilderLync: The CRM Built by Roofers
The conversation also covers BuilderLync, the AI-powered CRM that Brad co-founded with three other roofing company owners. Built around the actual workflows and bottlenecks that roofing operators face, BuilderLync handles lead management, automated follow-ups, estimate generation, and project communication.
Feeding the Future: Purpose Behind the Business
Brad shares the story behind the Feeding the Future Project - the 501(c)(3) nonprofit he founded with the goal of feeding one million children in ten years. A portion of every roof Capital City Roofing replaces goes toward that mission, making community impact a non-negotiable part of the business model.
Watch the full conversation above, or find the Roofing Insights Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
Brad Strawbridge
Founder & CEO • GAF Master Elite® • CertainTeed ShingleMaster™ • NRCA Residential & Workforce Development Committees
Brad Strawbridge is the Founder and CEO of Capital City Roofing, bringing over a decade of hands-on expertise to the industry. A member of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Brad has been appointed to 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. Under his leadership, Capital City Roofing has achieved elite certifications held by fewer than 1% of contractors nationwide.
