Early Life
David Humphreys is an heir to the TAMKO roofing fortune. His grandfather, E.L. Craig, started the company in 1944 at the age of 69 in an old streetcar barn in Joplin, Missouri. Humphreys's father encouraged him to pursue his own passions and career which led David to work as a lawyer in firms in Joplin, New York and Paris.
Rise to Success
In 1989, David joined TAMKO as the company's first general counsel. He then became the President and CEO of TAMKO in 1994 after his father's death. Under his leadership, TAMKO has become the fourth-largest manufacturer of roofing shingles in the United States. He has modernized the manufacturing plants through automation and improved the supply chain to drive down costs.
Key Business Strategies
Humphreys has made modernizing all aspects of manufacturing plants through automation and vertical integration of raw material supply a goal of his time as CEO. TAMKO now sells products in the lower 48 states, has plant locations in seven states, and warehouses in five states. He utilizes the Deming Cycle to ensure the company grows each year. The company recorded $1.2 billion in 2023 revenue.
Philanthropy
David and Debra Humphreys are committed to helping others in need. They co-founded the Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School in 1993 to give students an opportunity to receive a first-class education. The Humphreys' Legacy Fund reduces tuition and ensures that top-quality educational opportunities are available. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Cato Institute and a board member of Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School. Charitable giving and supporting individual rights has been a decades-long priority for TAMKO.