Meet the Team

Ridge Runner Roofing

Meet our experienced team

At Ridge Runner Roofing, our dedicated team combines expertise, integrity, and a commitment to quality craftsmanship. We work together to ensure every customer receives exceptional service, fair pricing, and lasting results. Read about our team below. Contact us today to learn more.

Rufus Vance Jr.

Founder

Rufus was born in Caddo County, Oklahoma, and was a lifelong resident of the area. He graduated from Gracemont High School and married his high school sweetheart, Jessie. After serving in the military, he and Jessie made their home in Midwest City, OK.

Rufus and Jessie raised two boys in Midwest City. Rufus worked for Dayton Tire, while Jessie took care of the home. He was a proud union member and did not believe in crossing picket lines. During a strike in 1995, he and a close friend began roofing houses to support their families. Rufus ran that company for six years before JJ and Jeremy took over. From 1995 until that point, he went on strike two or three more times. He finally retired in 2003 after 34 years of service at Dayton Tire.

After retiring, he helped his sons with whatever assistance they needed. He taught them the value of hard work and taking pride in their work. He also emphasized, “The jobsite better look better than it did when you started.” Rufus had the gift of gab and never met a stranger—treating everyone the same, whether homeless or wealthy.

Rufus was a longtime cancer survivor, but unfortunately, the disease returned in late 2017, and he passed away in May 2018. However, his lessons and legacy live on through his children and now his grandchildren.

JJ Vance

Co-Owner/Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

JJ Vance was born and raised in Midwest City, OK. During his freshman year of college at USAO in Chickasha, OK, he began helping his father at Ridge Runner Roofing. Two years later, while still a full-time student, his father reached an agreement with Bridgestone, and JJ took over the day-to-day operations. His brother Jeremy joined him about two years after that.

JJ and his wife, Adra, have been married for 18 years and have three children: Drew, who started at Ridge Runner Roofing three years ago; their daughter, Austin, who lives in Chickasha; and their youngest, Ezra, who recently started at Ridge Runner Roofing. In his free time, JJ enjoys live music and often spends weekends in Oklahoma or Texas attending concerts. He and his wife also enjoy traveling.

Over the years, JJ has been involved with many civic organizations, including serving as President of the Anadarko Chamber of Commerce, as a member of the Anadarko City Council, and currently as an officer at the Chickasha Elks Lodge #2125.

Jeremy Vance

Co-Owner/Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Jeremy Vance started working at Ridge Runner Roofing in 1996 when he was 13 years old. In the beginning, he helped with cleanup and provided whatever assistance was needed on the ground. He worked on weekends and during the summers while in high school.

By the time he was 16, he was up on the roof, removing old roofs and installing new ones alongside his brother JJ, his father Rufus, and a few additional installers. He graduated from Midwest City High School in 2001, then attended college at USAO in Chickasha, OK. Soon after, he and JJ took over running the company full-time.

They started out as a small family roofing business with a pickup truck, an air compressor, and a couple of nail guns. Over the years, they have grown into one of the oldest and largest roofing companies serving Southwest Oklahoma. As they bring the third generation of Vances into the company, they hope to continue growing and serving their clients with the same dedication shown over the past 30 years.

Jeremy and his wife, Melissa, have three children: Cheyenne, who started her journey with Ridge Runner Roofing two years ago; Lyndon, who will graduate high school this year; and Matthias, who just started junior high. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, listening to live music, and watching the OKC Thunder and Oklahoma Sooners football.

Melissa Vance

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Melissa Vance has been with her husband, Jeremy, for 18 years, and they have three wonderful children. She spent 20 years in the medical field, and four years ago, she took over managing the office at Ridge Runner Roofing. At first, she had little experience running a roofing business—her background was limited to reading and writing medical notes. But after four years and lots of patience, she now successfully manages the office. Melissa and her daughter, Cheyenne, also handle all the promotional merchandise for the company.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys attending painting parties with her friends, going on antique road trips with her husband, and traveling to Mexico twice a year. She never misses her son’s basketball games, and her family loves spending time outdoors, especially camping and kayaking together.

Cheyenne Vance

Senior Administrative Assistant

Cheyenne Vance is the daughter of Jeremy and Melissa Vance. She graduated from Anadarko High School in 2024 and began college immediately afterward, completing one year at SWOSU before deciding to join the family company full-time. She worked for the company after school and on weekends throughout high school. At work, Cheyenne typically handles promotional merchandise and assists with various tasks assigned by her mother, managing much of the behind-the-scenes work for the company.

Cheyenne loves everything art-related—pottery, painting, and DIY projects are some of her favorites. She enjoys spending time outdoors and has an impressive bug collection. She also loves going on road trips with her family, singing, and listening to music.

Ashley Riggs

Secretary

Ashley Riggs has been working at Ridge Runner Roofing since 2022. She is most likely the first person you will speak to when you call, and she strives to provide exceptional customer service. If she doesn’t have an answer right away, she ensures clients receive the information they need promptly. Ashley has also played a key role in onboarding new customer service software and helping the company navigate its features to move into the digital age. She is the daughter by love of Jeremy and Melissa Vance.

Ashley has one daughter, Chloe Jane, who is affectionately known as the little “Miss Sassy Pants,” running the show. In her free time, Ashley enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Chloe, and her bonus son, Mason, exploring new places and making memories together. She also enjoys getting together with family, playing video games, and going on road trips with the girls.

Drew Vance

Lead Ground Man

Drew Vance is a third-generation Vance working for the family business and has been with Ridge Runner Roofing since 2022. He got tired of making ice cream at Braum’s Dairy and decided to give roofing a shot.

Drew has mastered the precise cutting required during the installation of the company’s roofing systems, which is one of the more challenging positions. He visualizes the pieces on the ground using measurements provided by the screw techs. Each piece must fit together perfectly, like a puzzle, and one miscut can affect production. Drew takes pride in handling these challenges with the utmost professionalism, and as he works his way up in the company, he is committed to helping Ridge Runner Roofing continue to thrive for years to come.

Drew is married to Brandi, and they enjoy spending time together on his days off. He has never met a Mexican restaurant he wouldn’t try, and he also enjoys gaming and cheering on the Dallas Stars.

Kelly Autaubo

Assistant Project Superintendent

Kelly Autaubo has been working with Ridge Runner Roofing on and off for almost 15 years. He is passionate about the proper installation of the company’s roofing systems and has years of experience on the roof. There is no challenge he cannot handle when it comes to the more difficult details and nuances of a metal roof system. Like William, he focuses on keeping the metal crew on track to install high-quality roofs that the company takes pride in, while also giving clients peace of mind knowing they have a solid roof over their heads for years to come.

Kelly is married to Brittany, and they have four children. In his downtime, he enjoys spending time with his family, going golfing with friends, and relaxing with a cold beverage. He also enjoys cheering on the OU Sooners and the OKC Thunder.

William Reyes

Project Superintendent

William Reyes has been working for Ridge Runner Roofing since right out of high school and has been with the company for nearly 19 years. He has held every job title, working his way up from the bottom to where he is today. William has a “first one there, last one home” work ethic and always ensures that projects are completed promptly. He strives to uphold the principles established by founder Rufus Vance Jr., following the Ridge Runner Roofing way of doing things. He also focuses on keeping the crew on track to install high-quality roof systems that the company takes pride in, giving clients peace of mind knowing they have a solid roof over their heads for years to come.

William is married to Kari, and they have a house full of dogs. He enjoys spending time with his wife and family, visiting great seafood restaurants, and cheering on the OU Sooners and Green Bay Packers.