Ethan Van De Hey

Operator · Roofing and home services

Ethan Van De Hey first reached out to Dennis in 2022 while studying at UW–Eau Claire. At the time, he was a college senior helping a tech startup called Zync.ai, and he boldly asked for Dennis’s take on the product. He wasn’t shy about seeking mentorship, sending detailed questions about product-market fit and target audiences. Dennis was impressed by his initiative and hunger to learn, recognizing early on that Ethan valued Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust (EEAT). When Dennis offered to chat, Ethan made the most of the opportunity, demonstrating a clear drive to build his own authority by learning from others.

Their collaboration began with a practical challenge: Ethan’s podcast was invisible on Google. Dennis provided five specific fixes to improve its visibility, including buying a domain name and claiming social media profiles to increase search signals. In a rare move, Dennis bought the domain ethanvandehey.com for Ethan on the spot. Today, that domain serves as the hub for one of the best young marketers Dennis knows. Ethan is now the marketing director at Infinity Exteriors, a Wisconsin home-services company. Dennis notes that Ethan’s community-first content helped drive revenue from $45 million to $65 million in a single year. He also serves as the CEO of Roofing Launch.

Ethan is a dedicated host of the Encourage Mindset podcast, having recorded past 100 episodes. He continues to show up for Dennis’s Thursday Office Hours, balancing his professional growth with personal milestones, including completing an MBA and getting married. Dennis calls him the “Mr. Beast of roofing,” a title that reflects his energetic approach to the industry. Ethan’s journey from a cold-emailing student to a leader in home services marketing exemplifies the kind of dedicated partnership Dennis values.

Photos with Ethan Van De Hey

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