Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominic Zaccardo.
Dominic, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I didn’t grow up with much. Poverty wasn’t a chapter in my life — it was the whole book for a long time. When you’re raised in an environment where every day is about getting by, you learn early that nothing is guaranteed. You learn to work harder than everyone else, to adapt quickly, and to keep moving even when the path ahead is unclear. Those years shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand until much later.
Everything changed when I became old enough to make my own decisions. That’s when I met the woman who would become my wife. There wasn’t one dramatic moment where I suddenly knew — it was the slow accumulation of dinners, conversations, shared struggles, and shared dreams. She grounded me. She challenged me. She believed in me long before I believed in myself. Without her, the last fifteen years would have been a blur of motion without progress, effort without direction. She gave me stability, discipline, and a sense of self‑worth I had never experienced growing up.
As we built our life together — kids, school routines, sports, the everyday chaos of raising a family — something inside me shifted. Providing for them wasn’t just a responsibility; it became my purpose. Every early morning, every late night, every career pivot was driven by the desire to give them a life completely different from the one I came from.
My career started in construction. I didn’t walk into leadership; I earned it the long way. I learned every trade, every code, every blueprint. I learned how to manage crews, solve problems, and keep projects moving even when everything around me felt like it was falling apart. Those years taught me how to lead, how to communicate, and how to stay calm under pressure.
Eventually, I took my first leap into entrepreneurship with a remodeling company I started myself. It was raw, stressful, and transformative. I learned how to bid jobs, manage clients, and deliver results without a safety net. But when COVID hit, everything changed. Homeowners were waiting for work to start and finish, and I refused to leave them hanging. Instead of dragging projects out or risking delays, I handed my business over to a friend so the clients wouldn’t suffer. It was a selfless decision — the right one — but it meant starting over.
Not long after, I received a job offer from what was described as the largest custom home builder in Granbury, Texas. The offer came through a Zoom call, and it felt like the fresh start my family needed. I sold my home, packed up everything, and moved to Texas with full confidence in the opportunity ahead.
But when I arrived, everything fell apart.
The company changed their mind without any notice. No explanation. No transition. Nothing. I spent a month trying to get clarity, sending emails, making calls, hoping for some kind of resolution. Eventually, I received a short message that said, “We are not hiring anymore.” That moment was nauseating — a punch to the gut that left me questioning everything. I had uprooted my entire life for an opportunity that evaporated the moment I arrived.
But giving up wasn’t an option.
I eventually found a position with a roofing company, but it wasn’t a leadership role. I started as a general salesperson — no shortcuts, no special treatment. I was one of hundreds. But I knew how to communicate. I knew how to follow up. And I had a construction background that allowed me to explain things to homeowners in a way that made sense. Those skills pushed me into the top 10 out of roughly 250 people.
From there, I worked my way up. I earned every step. I learned the roofing industry inside and out. And somewhere along the way, I discovered something I didn’t expect: I had a natural talent for roofing claims. Not just competence — mastery. Every claim I touched, I won. Every homeowner I represented, I protected. Every insurance conversation, I navigated with precision. I didn’t lose. Not once.
But even with that success, I started to see cracks in the company’s foundation — gaps in transparency, communication, and client advocacy. Homeowners deserved better. And I knew I could build something better.
That’s when DVZ Roofing was born.
I didn’t create DVZ Roofing to be another roofing company. I created it to be the company homeowners trust when everything is on the line. A company built on transparency, integrity, education, and relentless advocacy. A company that refuses to cut corners. A company that treats every home like it’s protecting a family — because I know exactly what it feels like to fight for stability.
Today, I’m building a brand that reflects everything I’ve lived through: the poverty that shaped me, the partner who steadied me, the family that drives me, and the work ethic that carried me through every chapter. I still move the goalposts. I still push for more. And every day, I wake up driven by the same things that have guided me from the beginning — family, responsibility, legacy, and the belief that hard work, done with integrity, always wins.
DVZ Roofing isn’t just a business to me.
It’s proof that no matter where you start, you can build something extraordinary.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting DVZ Roofing in a city where the roofing industry is already deeply established has been one of the toughest challenges of my life. You’re stepping into a market where homeowners already have their preferred companies, where trust is earned slowly, and where every new customer feels like a hard‑won victory. On top of that, the daily grind of running a new business comes with obstacles most people never see — marketing hurdles, constant scams targeting startups, and even defamation attempts from people who don’t want to see a new company rise.
Every day requires protecting the brand’s integrity, keeping our image clean, and staying positive while navigating problems that hit from every direction. There are moments where you genuinely wonder why anyone chooses to own a business at all. But then you remember why you started — to build something transparent, honest, and rooted in real advocacy for homeowners. That purpose is what keeps me pushing forward, even on the hardest days.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What sets me apart in the North Texas roofing market isn’t a slogan or a sales pitch — it’s the way I operate, the way I communicate, and the way I advocate for homeowners. I didn’t come into this industry as a salesperson trying to learn construction from a script. I came from the construction world itself. I understand how a home is built from the ground up, and that knowledge allows me to explain things to homeowners in a way that’s clear, honest, and rooted in real experience.
When I talk to someone about their roof, I’m not guessing. I’m educating. I’m showing them what’s damaged, why it matters, and what their options are. That alone puts me in a different category from most roofers in this area.
Another thing that truly separates me is my track record with insurance claims. I’ve won every single claim I’ve ever handled. Not because of luck, but because I know how to document properly, communicate clearly, and advocate relentlessly. Homeowners don’t just get a roofer when they work with me — they get someone who knows how to navigate the insurance process with precision.
Transparency is also a core part of who I am and why DVZ Roofing exists. This industry has a reputation problem, especially in North Texas. There are storm chasers, high‑pressure sales tactics, and companies that disappear after the job. I built DVZ Roofing to be the opposite of that. I show homeowners exactly what’s going on, what’s covered, what isn’t, and what the process looks like. No scare tactics. No inflated claims. No hidden agendas.
Communication is another major difference. I follow up. I stay in touch. I keep people informed. Most roofers lose jobs because they don’t communicate. I win jobs because I do.
And finally, I built this company to advocate for homeowners — not insurance carriers, not adjusters, not anyone else. I stand my ground professionally and firmly. I don’t inflate claims, I don’t cut corners, and I don’t play games. I simply fight for what’s right.
Starting a new roofing company in a market as saturated as North Texas is incredibly tough. You’re competing with companies that have been here for decades. On top of that, you deal with marketing challenges, scams targeting new businesses, and even defamation attempts from people who don’t want to see you rise. Every day requires protecting the brand’s integrity and staying positive while navigating problems most people never see.
But what keeps me going is simple: I’m building something honest. Something transparent. Something rooted in real advocacy. People don’t just hire DVZ Roofing — they hire me, my standards, my integrity, and the story that brought me here.
And that’s something no competitor can replicate.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
When I think back to the few bright spots in my childhood, dirt bikes were one of them. For about three years, racing was everything to me. I grew up watching S.C.O.R.E. races tear across the Nevada desert — engines screaming, dust clouds rolling, riders flying across terrain that looked impossible to conquer. Those races were larger than life, and as a kid, I wanted nothing more than to be out there with them.
My KX‑60 felt like the fastest thing on two wheels when I was on it. That bike wasn’t just a machine — it was freedom. It was the one place where the noise of life disappeared and everything made sense. I pushed that little green rocket harder than anyone expected, and it showed. I stacked up several first‑ and second‑place finishes, even while racing against kids in the pro class. For a moment in time, I had a clear trajectory. I was studying every move James Stewart made, watching Travis Pastrana redefine what was possible, and idolizing Ricky Carmichael like he was a superhero. Those guys were my blueprint.
That chapter didn’t last forever, but it left a mark. Racing taught me how to focus, how to push past fear, and how to compete with everything I had. Even now, decades later, I can still feel the throttle in my hand and the rush of knowing I was doing something I loved — something I was good at. It was one of the first times in my life where I felt like I had a real shot at something, and that feeling has stayed with me ever since.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dvzroofing.com
Image Credits
dvz roofing – Dominic Zaccardo
