Nathan Ruffin '07 is the founder and CEO of HammerHead Design Build in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Nathan Ruffin '07 Heads Thriving Hometown Company
Christ School graduate stays hungry as business expands
Small business all boils down to desire, according to Nathan Ruffin '07. Ruffin doesn't just believe it, he lives it as founder and CEO of HammerHead Design Build in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Ruffin chuckles as he tells the story of driving through his hometown recently. Ruffin was growing impatient with his inability to reach someone regarding a business matter. Ruffin spotted that person while behind the wheel of his car. "I jumped out and stopped to talk to somebody. I literally stopped traffic," Ruffin said. "You've got to want it."
Ruffin was best known around Christ School for his love of theater and fly-fishing, and went on to receive a performance arts degree from High Point University in 2011. He lived and worked in Miami and New York City before getting into construction three years ago. Ruffin spoke about his business career and the momentum his company is enjoying.
Question: Three years is a small window, but how are things going with HammerHead?
Answer: Any time someone asks me that, my answer is that we can do better. That better be my response. My first lease was a 250 square foot space with no employees. We had no heat and it was a brutal winter. In three years, we've gone from that to five employees, a wood shop that is 5,000 square feet and a metal shop that is about 2,000 square feet. We're about to start demolition on new offices.
Question: How would you describe the work you do with HammerHead?
Answer: We are definitely a design build program based on creativity. The biggest thing is we are a customer-based company. I think we are very vast. We are on million-dollar construction sites right now. But we adjust to whatever the customer needs, whether it is working with a business on its point of sale display or a high-end residential project.
Question: How did your experience at Christ School shape you as a person?
Answer: If you had asked me back when I was there, my response would have been completely different than it is now. Christ School teaches you that you have to want it. You have to want it more. Mary Dillon was great to me, and Dale Sparacino was nothing short of spectacular. Paul Krieger continues to be an incredible resource.
