You might recognize him from his informative how-to videos on YouTube, appearances at trade shows, or even the Truewerk Instagram page. Longtime Truewerk ambassador and home-building expert Kyle Stumpenhorst of RR Buildings has been carving a path for himself in the skilled trades one impressive build at a time, but it didn't start out that way. After securing a degree in computer science, he realized his true passion was in creating in a different way. We sat down with Kyle to learn more about his journey, favorite projects, and future goals in the skilled trades industry.
How did you find yourself in your current career?
I grew up wanting to pursue a career in technology and received a B.S. in computer science, which I used for a couple of years out of college before I quickly realized office life wasn't for me.
What drew you to the trades in the first place?
Initially, I started remodeling my own home with zero experience or training in the trades. It didn't take long to realize how much I loved working with my hands and that it was a potentially good fit for my future career since I did not enjoy office life. In a small town, people talk, and soon neighbors were asking me to take on small remodeling jobs. From there, it took off, and I haven't looked back.
What are your goals as a trade professional and content creator? Is social media changing how people learn about and join the trades?
Honestly, my goals in general are to continue doing what I love. Today that is being a tradesperson that loves sharing the day in and day out with his followers. Tomorrow it could be something totally different...I would like to go pro as a disc golfer. The point is, I like to focus my energy on something I am passionate about. Social media helped me connect and share with other like-minded and passionate people, which really fueled my fire to continue sharing.
Where do you find inspiration and motivation to essentially have two full-time jobs, one as a trade professional and the other as a content creator? Why do you do it?
Doing what I do, which is running a construction company during the day and a full-time media company at night, is not easy. I often wonder myself why I do it. The best answer I can give is the feedback. I am a people pleaser by nature, and whether it's a simple comment left on a post, a message from someone letting me know I inspired them to build something, or a young person who pursued a career in the trades because one day they too wanted to build like we do, the positive feedback is what keeps me motivated.
What project are you most proud of to date?
I personally love all my projects like they were my own, but a Hunting Cabin we built a family on their hunting property was one I look back on with a lot of pride.
What do you want your legacy in this industry to be?
I don't know that I have ever really thought that far down the road. I am not a huge long-term goal planner, but if people look back on our projects someday and see craftsmanship and quality while saying to each other, "they sure don't build them like they used to...," that would be pretty cool. Hopefully what we do and what I share motivates others to do their best, follow their passion, and do something they can take pride in.
If you could tell your younger self something when you were just getting into the trades, what would it be?
Figure out what you love the most, dive head first into learning everything you can about it, and become the best possible version of yourself you can. I wasted a lot of time early on taking every job that came my way, even if I knew it wasn't what I "wanted" to do. I think it is fine because it made me well-rounded, but I would have loved to be building like we do now when I was younger.
If you had to pick one favorite piece of Truewerk gear, what would it be?
T2 work pants are what made me fall in love with Truewerk. I love being comfortable on-site yet looking like a professional. Truewerk gear checks all the boxes for me.
Connect with Kyle by checking out @rrbuildings on Instagram.
