It started with a hurricane. Most good Florida stories do.
In 2004, Hurricane Jeanne and Frances tore through South Florida and handed me an opportunity. I packed up my five-year-old son William Jr., left Rochester, NY behind, and headed south to help homeowners put their lives back together. Twenty years later, I’m still here — and I wake up grateful every single day that I made that move. My dad eventually landed in Key West. The man wakes up in paradise. We don’t feel sorry for him.
What I learned fast: insurance companies are not your friends.
I spent years working with insurance adjusters and quickly discovered their business model is basically “deny everything and hope the homeowner gives up.” They’re not in the business of paying claims — they’re in the business of not paying claims. So I made it my mission to fight back. We guaranteed to do the work for exactly what the insurance company paid — and we made sure they paid what they actually owed. Homeowners only paid their deductible. I got to take money back from billion-dollar corporations. Honestly? I loved it.
Then the storms slowed down, and I had a decision to make.
I studied, earned my state roofing license and general contractor’s license, and launched America’s Choice Contractors in 2007. We did everything — remodeling, repairs, interior, exterior, you name it. Jack of all trades, master of none. It wasn’t enough.
So in 2020, I went Renegade.
I rebranded around what I do best: roofing. One trade. Done exceptionally. The name came easy — I’ve never been comfortable with “the way things are done.” I’ve always questioned the standard narrative, pushed back on “normal,” and refused to just accept the matrix version of life. When I was brainstorming the name, Renegade kept showing up. My father asked me if I actually knew what the word meant. I told him I did — and that I was one. That settled it.