Dustin Stanfield's path to leading Stanfield Roofing and El Dorado Building Systems is anything but conventional. After leaving high school, he spent years training cutting horses across multiple states-Missouri, Georgia, Utah, Texas, and beyond-before the work took a physical toll. When a dangerous incident with cattle at a feedlot made him reconsider his future, especially with a growing family, he made the transition into his family's roofing business around 2008.
What emerges from Dustin's story is a lesson in recognizing when to pivot. Realizing that cowboying-despite its appeal-wasn't sustainable long-term, he entered the commercial roofing industry determined to maintain high standards while scaling operations. His philosophy centers on doing things right, growing strategically, and staying deeply involved in the community. Today, Stanfield Roofing operates as a trusted commercial contractor, balancing aggressive expansion with the kind of personal accountability that started in his family business.
Dustin's journey underscores a broader truth for blue-collar entrepreneurs: success isn't just about working hard-it's about knowing when to evolve, maintaining integrity through growth, and anchoring yourself in community values.
When Dustin Stanfield left high school, he didn't head to college or start a career path most would recognize. Instead, he packed his bags and became a professional horse trainer, traveling across the country-Missouri, Georgia, Utah, Texas, Nebraska, Tennessee, and beyond-training cutting horses for some of the industry's top operations.
At one massive Missouri facility, he managed 64 indoor stalls, a 150 by 100 indoor arena, 50 horses in active training, and 600 head of cattle. "Being a 19, 20 year old kid," he recalls, "you'd be cleaning stalls, and they'd come in and say, 'Get your backpack-we're sending you to Texas to pick up a horse.' You'd get a credit card, a hotel room, and go." It was adventure, autonomy, and education all rolled into one. But it came with a price: long hours, minimal pay, and genuine danger.
The turning point came when Dustin was around 25. Working in feedlots and cattle shipping, riding 12 days on and two days off for 60-70 hour weeks year-round, he had a close call. His horse slipped, spooked cattle trampled the horse, and Dustin barely escaped by rolling through a fence. Looking at his boss (age 29) and the supervisor above him (age 27), he realized the math: he wasn't going anywhere in that career, and with a family to support, the risk wasn't worth it.
Around 2008, Dustin transitioned into Stanfield Roofing, the family business. It was a natural fit-the work ethic and discipline he'd learned training horses transferred directly to construction and roofing operations. The shift required reinvention, but his foundation was solid.
What's notable about Dustin's approach to growing Stanfield Roofing and El Dorado Building Systems is his commitment to doing things bigger, better, faster, and stronger-without compromising on standards. For a local business scaling commercial roofing operations, maintaining quality while expanding requires clear systems, strong leadership, and local market presence. That foundation of accountability and community involvement-attending local basketball games, supporting high school sports, staying visible and involved-reflects how successful blue-collar companies build lasting trust.
His transition from cowboy to commercial contractor isn't just a career change; it's a case study in recognizing when to pivot, how to leverage your strengths in a new arena, and the importance of grounding your business growth in community values.
How did Dustin Stanfield transition from cowboy work to building Stanfield Roofing?
Dustin made the leap into commercial roofing and founded Stanfield Roofing and Eldredo Building Systems by applying the same work ethic and reliability he developed in his earlier career. His journey shows how local service entrepreneurs can build thriving businesses in Wichita by staying committed to quality and customer relationships.
Why do roofing contractors need digital marketing and local SEO?
Roofing companies compete heavily in local markets where homeowners and commercial property managers search online for trusted contractors. Local SEO and digital marketing help roofing businesses appear first in Google searches, build credibility, and capture leads from customers actively looking for roof repair, replacement, and commercial roofing services in their area.
How does KillerGrowth help roofing contractors get more clients online?
KillerGrowth uses local SEO to rank roofing companies higher in Google Maps and search results, runs targeted Google Ads and Meta Ads to reach homeowners and property managers, builds professional websites optimized for conversions, and manages GoHighLevel CRM to track and close leads efficiently. This multi-channel approach fills the sales pipeline for roofing contractors in Wichita and surrounding areas.
What makes KillerGrowth different from other digital marketing agencies in Wichita?
KillerGrowth specializes exclusively in local service businesses-HVAC, roofing, plumbing, contractors, healthcare, legal, and similar trades. We understand your industry, your customers, and what drives local growth. We combine local SEO, paid advertising, website design, and CRM automation into one proven system. No cookie-cutter strategies-just results for service businesses that sell locally.
How can a roofing contractor or local business owner get started with KillerGrowth?
Book a free strategy call with Samuel McVay at killergrowth.com/booking. We'll review your current online presence, identify gaps, and show you exactly how to get more leads and clients online. No obligation-just honest advice on what's working and what needs to change.