Wally Brunton grew up in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and what he likes about it is that, even with all the growth in the city and county, the old buildings of his childhood are still standing — a small thank-you to the simpler version of the town he remembers. Wally's path into roofing took a long, fascinating route. He came up around construction — a couple of uncles were builders, and he spent his summers and weekends helping them out — and after high school, enrolled in the I.B.E.W. (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) four-year apprenticeship and worked as an electrician. Bartending on weekends turned into bartending full-time, then a 23-year run in the bar business as a GM and owner. When he was ready for a change, a former employee of his — who knew Wally's construction background — offered him a job in roofing, and the rest, in Wally's own phrasing, is history.

His specialty at Peachtree is damage knowledge and building real connections with homeowners and adjusters — the kind of trust that opens up an inspection and keeps the project moving. Twenty-three years behind the bar taught him to read body language, facial expression, and tone in seconds, which is, frankly, an underrated roofing skill. His mentor's wisdom is unfussy: no matter what position you are in, you are not always the smartest person in the room — hold yourself and the people around you accountable, and always lead by example. Wally's proudest project was leading a Habitat for Humanity remodel of elementary school classrooms, playgrounds, and outdoor mural work.

Home is his wife Nicole, a Puerto Rican family therapist whose work he is deeply proud of, his nine-year-old son Harvey, his five-year-old daughter Bennie, and their 95-pound chocolate lab Swayze. Weekends are parks, festivals, and Georgia Bulldogs football. Fun fact: Wally is a former professional hip-hop dancer and DJ.

Wally's Tools & Software

• Xactimate

• AccuLynx

• Claude

• Snippet