The Story Behind the Standard
Richard’s foundation was built in environments where structure matters: Riverside Prep (Class President, 2003) and later Georgia Institute of Technology. Chemistry trained his thinking in a simple discipline: observe, test, document, verify. It’s not a slogan — it’s a method.
In April 2014, that method stopped being academic. While training for an endurance event, Richard was struck by an SUV. The injuries were severe, and recovery became a different kind of life: not motivation, not hype — measurement. What improved? What didn’t? What held up when fatigue hit? The answer was always the same: consistent steps, repeated long enough to become real.
One year later, in April 2015, he finished the Boston Marathon. By 2018, he qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Those milestones weren’t about being impressive — they were proof that the system worked: disciplined repetition, tight margins, and refusal to drift.
In the early aftermath — when recovery is raw and uncertain — Richard also began speaking in traumatic brain injury spaces. Not as a highlight reel, but as someone still doing the work: explaining what the invisible injury feels like, what real progress looks like, and why support systems matter. That commitment grew into ongoing advocacy and community support tied to TBI awareness.
He carried the same discipline into roofing because insurance runs on one currency: documentation. In Richard’s view, if a condition cannot be demonstrated and verified, it cannot be trusted. His inspections are engineered to be third-party reviewable — so homeowners, desk adjusters, appraisers, and carriers can evaluate facts without needing a sales narrative.
What “third-party reviewable” means in practice
- Evidence-first photos that show context and close detail (so the record stands alone).
- Clear labeling that ties each photo to roof location, slope, and observed condition.
- Causation framing built around observable indicators — not assumptions.
- Scope aligned to code intent so repairs don’t fail permitting or inspection logic.
- Consistent file structure so a reviewer can audit the claim without guesswork.
From Engineering to Code Compliance:
Restoring a roof isn’t just construction — it’s compliance.
As a Haag Certified Inspector, Richard builds every Xactimate scope to align with the
2024 International Residential Code (IRC) and 2024 International Building Code (IBC),
verifying compliance through local AHJ permitting. Because in insurance, scope without code is where claims stall.
“His motto has always been: compete, not complete.” — meaning put in all of your effort, not just the minimum.
Background & Verification:
• The Accident & Comeback: Augusta Chronicle feature
• Media Interview: Babbittville Radio
• News Coverage: WJBF News
• News Coverage: WFXG FOX54
• Academic Leadership: Riverside Prep class presidents