PowerChat with Jeff Gunhus: How Purpose, People, and Bold Goals Are Redefining Home Improvement Growth

Power100 CEO Greg Cummings sits down with Jeff Gunhus to explore how purpose-driven leadership and bold goal-setting are reshaping the home improvement industry.

March 16, 2026 – Power100 is the only unbiased, third-party platform that ranks the best leaders in the home improvement industry using a five-layer proprietary ranking system built to spotlight real performance, culture, customer experience, and impact—not paid placement or self-submission. In a recent episode of PowerChat, Power100 CEO Greg Cummings sat down with Jeff Gunhus, Co‑Founder and CEO of Home Genius Exteriors, to unpack how a “people-first, purpose‑driven” approach has turned one of the industry’s fastest‑growing brands into a national force. Recognized as the #5‑ranked CEO in the nation on the Power100 platform, Jeff Gunhus used the conversation to share a clear message: sustainable growth in home improvement starts with identity, culture, and a compelling “why.”​

From “Overnight Success” to 30 Years in the Making

At the start of the PowerChat, Greg Cummings framed Home Genius Exteriors as one of the most genuine and fastest‑growing home improvement companies in the country, now seven years into its journey and firmly “proven” in the market. Jeff Gunhus quickly reframed the narrative, emphasizing that this “overnight success has only been 30 years in the making” through long‑standing partnerships and hard‑won lessons across multiple businesses.

Home Genius Exteriors was co‑founded by Jeff Gunhus alongside Brent Miller, Austin Killian, and Max Alesi, extending a relationship that began at National Services Group in the late 1990s. What began in 2019 with just a few markets and a passionate founding team has scaled into a powerhouse in roofing, windows, siding, doors, gutters, and insulation, serving homeowners across multiple states with a “different experience” promise.​

In the PowerChat, Jeff Gunhus shared how the company recently set a bold goal of 300 million dollars in annual sales—largely, he laughed, because the leadership team loved the movie 300 and wanted the memes and Spartan‑themed celebrations that came with it. Home Genius Exteriors closed the year at 292 million dollars in sales and 280 million dollars installed, falling short of the internal goal but cementing its status as one of the most aggressive and disciplined growth stories in the industry. “If you hit every goal you set, your goals just aren’t high enough,” Jeff Gunhus told Greg Cummings, comparing the mindset to skiing hard enough to fall.

The “Revenge Tour”: A Path to 500 Million Dollars and Beyond

Coming out of that 292‑million‑dollar year, Home Genius Exteriors launched what Jeff Gunhus called the “revenge tour,” beginning on November 1 with a new fiscal year and a new target: 500 million dollars in annual sales. By the end of the first quarter, the company was already up 138 percent year‑over‑year, posting about 91 million dollars in sales compared to roughly 45 million dollars in the same period the prior year.​

When Greg Cummings asked how he motivates a team to chase what most owners would consider “outrageous” goals, Jeff Gunhus was clear: the key is identity and purpose, not just metrics. “Earlier in my career, I focused on the what and the how,” he shared. “Now we obsess about the why.” That “why” is centered on creating opportunity for the people who joined Home Genius Exteriors early, those who have come on board along the way, and the talented “Geniuses” the company has yet to meet.​

As Home Genius Exteriors scales, more revenue means more promotions, more leadership roles, and more chances for employees to build what Jeff Gunhus calls “transformational wealth” for their families. That sense of ownership showed up vividly when 420 team members returned from a five‑day incentive trip in Mexico—many with what they jokingly call the “Mexico flu”—and still went out knocking on doors the very next day without being asked. For Jeff Gunhus, that behavior proves that growth targets at Home Genius Exteriors are not viewed as corporate demands, but as shared commitments tied to collective opportunity and pride.​

People, Not Just Processes: The Home Genius Way

Throughout the PowerChat, Jeff Gunhus repeatedly underscored a central theme: home improvement is a people business first. While many large contractors talk about systems and processes, he told Greg Cummings that without the right human beings in the business, even the best playbook will fail.

Home Genius Exteriors has built a reputation for finding and developing what some might label “unicorns”—high‑potential leaders who become market‑changing forces once they are immersed in the company’s culture and standards. Rather than relying heavily on hires from other home improvement firms, Jeff Gunhus often prefers “blank slates” who can learn the Home Genius way without bringing in old habits. This approach has allowed Home Genius Exteriors to replicate high‑performing office launches “19 times over,” with several more on the way.​

At the same time, Home Genius Exteriors has invested heavily in defining and encoding its processes through an initiative called Operation Blueprint, led by senior leader Amy Moneypenny (who Jeff Gunhus jokingly called “the best name ever” on the PowerChat). The Operation Blueprint program maps out roughly 500 steps required to open a new office—from licensing and internet set‑up to marketing materials, lead sources, recruitment, and training—beginning six months before a launch with weekly alignment calls. By the time a new Home Genius Exteriors location opens, every detail has been planned, allowing teams to focus on customers and culture rather than logistics.

This tight integration of people, process, and purpose has helped Home Genius Exteriors achieve industry‑leading growth, scaling rapidly while preserving a local feel in each market. It also underpins Home Genius Exteriors’s core promise to homeowners: a “different experience” that combines clear communication, high‑quality workmanship, and long‑term relationships rather than transactional projects.

Planting New Flags: A Playbook for Greenfield Expansion

One of the central topics Greg Cummings wanted to explore on PowerChat was Home Genius Exteriors’s success in greenfield expansion—what the team refers to as “planting new flags.” In a market where many home improvement companies struggle to find their next phase of growth, Jeff Gunhus argued that adding new territories, when done deliberately, can often be more effective than trying to squeeze another 50 percent in revenue out of a saturated region.

Early in the company’s life, a 5–6 million dollar first year in a new market was considered a win, followed by 12 million dollars in year two and 18 million dollars in year three. Today, Home Genius Exteriors expects 18–20 million dollars in a new market’s first year, and if it falls short of that, the team treats it as a signal that something went wrong in execution, talent, or planning.

For owners watching the PowerChat who are hovering in the 10–25 million dollar range, Jeff Gunhus offered practical guidance:

• Target 25–40 percent of your current revenue from a new market in year one, as long as it is profitable.
• Use shared resources at the beginning to keep costs reasonable, while committing fully to the new market rather than treating it as an experiment.
• Expect mistakes the first time and measure success not just by revenue, but by the ability to replicate culture and standards.

He shared an example of a painting contractor in Colorado who plateaued around 30–35 million dollars for a decade, then reached 70 million dollars after opening two new markets in Texas—roughly half of that growth coming from the new “flags.” The lesson, he told Greg Cummings, is that bold expansion, coupled with real commitment and leadership presence, can unlock opportunities that optimization alone will never achieve.

Culture, Community, and the Power of “Home Genius Cares”

Another recurring theme in the PowerChat—and one that aligns closely with Power100’s ranking methodology—was Home Genius Exteriors’s deep investment in culture and community. Jeff Gunhus highlighted the company’s Home Genius Cares initiative as the single most meaningful program in the eyes of many employees.

Launched several years ago, Home Genius Cares organizes volunteer activities at least once a quarter in every market, often partnering with local food banks, churches, and nonprofit organizations. Participation is technically voluntary, yet Jeff Gunhus shared that the company sees nearly universal involvement—another sign of the pride employees feel in the mission.

Recent examples of impact include:

• Donating more than 100,000 dollars in windows to Habitat for Humanity.​
• Completing a full roof replacement at no cost for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC, delivered in just two days with support from partners at Owens Corning, ABC Supply, and other vendors.​
• Investing more than 450 volunteer hours during a Q4 Launch event to decorate teddy bears, assemble care packages, and write letters for families and service members.​

Inside the company, these efforts are not treated as side projects but as core expressions of the Home Genius Exteriors identity. Team members frequently tell Jeff Gunhus that Home Genius Cares is what they are most proud of when they talk to friends and family about their work. That pride, he noted, feeds directly into sales conversations, recruitment, and retention, helping Home Genius Exteriors stand out as a brand that does what it says it will do—on and off the jobsite.

This culture has been recognized externally as well: Home Genius Exteriors has been named the #1 Best Workplace in Construction™ by Fortune, listed among America’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces, and honored with numerous certifications including Owens Corning Platinum Preferred, CertainTeed 5‑Star, and James Hardie Elite Preferred. These accolades validate what Power100 seeks to surface: leaders who scale responsibly while strengthening the communities they serve.​

No Headwinds, Only Market Share

In a moment that resonated with many industry leaders watching, Greg Cummings asked Jeff Gunhus how he thinks about macroeconomic news—reports of slowing housing starts, rising costs, or broader uncertainty that often dominate headlines. Jeff Gunhus responded candidly that when he hears negative news about the market, his reaction is simply: “Who cares?”​

At Home Genius Exteriors, he explained, there is “no such thing as headwinds.” The company’s current share of its serviceable market is still a small fraction of the whole, so even in slower macro conditions, there is room to grow by taking care of customers better than anyone else and earning a larger slice of the demand that does exist. If Home Genius Exteriors ever misses its goals, Jeff Gunhus puts the responsibility squarely on himself and his team—not on outside forces—reinforcing an ownership mindset throughout the organization.​

That mentality is supported by a robust marketing engine that Jeff Gunhus affectionately calls “the Avengers,” a team that uses advanced digital and outbound strategies to keep lead flow strong even as acquisition costs rise. Combined with a world‑class recruiting operation, a rigorous training infrastructure, and a 500‑point checklist for new market launches, Home Genius Exteriors has positioned itself to out‑execute competitors regardless of economic noise.​

Why Power100 Ranks Jeff Gunhus as the #5 CEO in Home Improvement

Power100’s proprietary five‑layer ranking system evaluates leaders and companies across leadership excellence, culture and employee engagement, customer experience, community impact, and sustainable business results. In that context, Jeff Gunhus’s #5 ranking on the 2026 Power100 platform reflects more than rapid growth alone.​

• Leadership Excellence: Jeff Gunhus combines visionary thinking—a track to 500 million dollars and ultimately 2 billion dollars in revenue—with humility, accessibility, and a relentless focus on doing work his five children can be proud of when they search his name.​
• Culture and Employee Engagement: Under his leadership, Home Genius Exteriors has been recognized as a #1 Best Workplace in Construction and one of America’s Most Loved Workplaces, with employees describing the environment as family‑like, growth‑oriented, and deeply values‑driven.​
• Customer Experience: The company’s “different experience” promise, supported by technology‑enabled inspections, premium materials, and clear communication, positions Home Genius Exteriors as a trusted advisor rather than a transactional contractor for homeowners.
• Community Impact: Through Home Genius Cares and partnerships with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House Charities, Home Genius Exteriors has turned charitable engagement into an operating norm, not an occasional event.​
• Sustainable Growth: From a few million dollars in early years to well over 250 million dollars and climbing, Home Genius Exteriors’s growth is anchored in referrals, repeat customers, and disciplined market expansion, not just aggressive advertising spikes.​

“Jeff represents what Power100 was created to highlight: leaders who combine growth with operational discipline, people development, and a relentless focus on the homeowner experience,” said Greg Cummings, CEO of Power100. “His #5 ranking reflects not just financial success, but demonstrated leadership across culture, customer satisfaction, and community engagement.”

What This Means for Homeowners

For homeowners, the story behind Home Genius Exteriors and Jeff Gunhus’s #5 ranking offers practical answers to some of the most common questions about choosing an exterior remodeling partner.​

• Can I trust this company to be around in five or ten years to honor my warranty?
  Home Genius Exteriors’s track record of rapid but disciplined growth, combined with industry‑leading certifications and repeat national recognition, signals long‑term stability.​
• Will they treat my home like a one‑time project or a long‑term relationship?
  By emphasizing “a different experience,” local hiring, and lifetime‑backed work, Home Genius Exteriors intentionally builds repeat business and referrals, aligning incentives with long‑term customer satisfaction.
• How do I know they actually care about my community?
  Programs like Home Genius Cares, along with high‑profile charitable projects and volunteer days in every market, demonstrate that Home Genius Exteriors sees itself as a community partner, not just a contractor.

Through PowerChat, Power100 and Greg Cummings brought these themes to the forefront, giving homeowners, employees, and industry peers a transparent view into what it truly means to be a top‑ranked CEO in home improvement today.