Steve Ruffner's Journey to Build Wildfire Resilient Homes
In 2024, Steve Ruffner, the president and regional general manager KB Home-Coastal in San Southern California, attended the Live Wildfire Demo at PCBC. He was so inspired by the event that—mid-build—he turned Dixon Trail, a new KB Home community in Escondido, Calif., into the nation’s first certified Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood.
Steve Ruffner credits his years of competitive swimming for helping him get his start in the business. Fresh out of college, with little knowledge of the home building industry other than a background as a realtor and an apartment maintenance job, he interviewed with Pulte Homes.
When his interview revealed that Ruffner was a three-time All-American competitive swimmer, he was hired on the spot. “No one works harder than swimmers,” he jokes, adding that he still gets in the pool a few days a week, nearly 40 years later.
As a teenager, he also lived with home builder Bob Warmington and his family in Newport Beach, Calif., where he initially took an interest in the industry. “Bob exposed me to land development, entitlements, and home building, and I thought that would be a cool thing (to do).”
Ruffner worked at Pulte for two years as a service manager and superintendent, then joined what is now KB Home in 1987. He's been with the company ever since, climbing through the ranks to achieve top leadership positions.
In 2004, he became division president of KB Home-Riverside (Calif.), then president for KB Home Southern California. He currently he holds the title of president and regional general manager for KB Home operations in Orange County, San Diego, and Long Beach, Calif., as well as senior VP of national purchasing and studio for the company.
Another passion of his is serving first-time homebuyers, and not just witnessing their excitement as they close the sale and get the keys, but also knowing that he and KB Home has taken care to provide them with a home that’s safe.
After witnessing IBHS’s wildfire demonstration at PCBC in 2024, he was moved to action. KB Home was in the midst of building Dixon Trail, a new community in Escondido, Calif. Keenly aware of the fire risk in that area, Ruffner met with architects and other experts to turn that 64-home community into the first wildfire-prepared neighborhood.
“I’d like to make the world a better place with the homes we build,” he says.
It’s safe to say that Ruffner has no plans to slow down, and there’s little doubt he will continue to make waves—in the pool and in the field—in the home building industry.
Experience Wildfire Prep and Resiliency Programs at PCBC 2025!
- Wildfire Prepared Demo, Tuesday, June 10 (complimentary registration required)
- PCBC 2025, Wednesday-Thursday, June 11-12, featuring the Wildfire Resiliency Breakout with Steve Ruffner and other presenters, including California State Fire Marshal, Daniel Berlant. (Register with promo code PROBUILDER for $100 off!)
