Restoration Today

This series is all about sharing valuable insights, strategies, and hard-learned lessons accumulated over the many years of experience shared by restoration experts, JT Kraai of E⁠xit Strategies 360⁠ and Tim Hull of ⁠Violand Management Associates⁠!

Episode 5 is all about the customer base and Tim & JT share:

• How revenue is broken down for restoration companies
• TPA work -Best referral sources for contractors
• Residential vs. commercial space
• Evaluation - are there certain revenue streams that bring greater value to a company?
• Personal stories of the importance and/or danger of not differentiating revenue streams
• ... and MORE! 

If you have questions for Tim & JT, please reach out and we'll try to add those into a later episode!

On this fresh new episode, Rusty Amarante, Director of Operations at BELFOR, joins Michelle to share the journey he has taken in the restoration industry- from part-time cleaning business to Director of Operations at a $3B company.

They talk through:

• What he attributes BELFOR's massive success
• The two arms of BELFOR, when they became the independent restoration company and the franchise group
• What sets BELFOR apart from fellow large competitors in the space?
• How BELFOR has responded to the M&A landscape over the last few years
• BELFOR's huge role in the community, specifically in Detroit.
• Three things he's seen change significantly in restoration since joining the industry
• How Rusty anticipates technology, specifically AI, will impact the restoration industry going into the future
• ...and MORE!

Dive into the essential non-technical skills crucial for success in today’s dynamic world in season THREE of our Restoration Master Class series, in partnership with our sponsor AnswerForce! Two times each month, we will drop quick, new episodes on different topics related to Power Skills – with different industry guests!

In episode 7, Kelley Dolan, Business Development Advisor at Violand Management Associates, joins Mandy to share all about her power skill - responsibility, and shares how that ties into building trust in the workplace.

Idan Shpizear, Founder of  911 Restoration, and Miri Offir, CEO of 911 Restoration, join the podcast to talk with Michelle about 911 Restoration, telling their story and impact they have in the restoration industry.

Idan & Miri share:

• Their background inside and outside the industry. How did they get to restoration?
• When was 911 Restoration founded, and what is the company's overall mission/purpose?
• How they have seen the industry change in the last 3 years and how they are ensuring the 911 brand stays competitive in a consolidating market
• What the biggest topics impacting their franchisees right now?
• ...and MORE!

Welcome back! Eduard Mirzoian, CEO of Restorerz, shares his story of starting as a field tech and building a fast-growing restoration business, sharing what sets Restorerz apart from the rest of the industry.

They talk though:

• Eduard's background in the industry.
• The story behind Restorerz
• The role technology plays in a growing company
• What keeps Eduard up at night as a CEO of a fast-growing restoration company
• How do you find, attract, AND retain good talent to keep pace with your growth?
• Goals for the future
• ..and MORE!

Kristy Cohen, CEO of RIA, Anthony Nelson, Group Facilitator at Pivot My Biz, and Leighton Healey, CEO of KnowHow, talk through the latest survey open to restoration companies and answer YOUR questions about:

• Where the idea for this survey came from
• KnowHow’s process and why their reasoning
• How this is different from State of the Industry Report
• What the survey timeline looks like
• Who should be completing this survey
• Plans for the data when it’s all said and done
• The vetting process and ensuring accuracy of information
• Is it anonymous?
• Who has access to the final data and when it will be live
• .. and MORE!

Welcome back to a FRESH new episode of the Restoration Today Podcast! Michelle sits down to talk with Erin Hynum, Senior Director of Product Management at Phoenix Restoration Equipment, about what's new and different with Phoenix's latest product, the DryMAX XL PRO, and:

• Where the industry is at with remote monitoring
• What contractors are looking for in equipment today
• How long it takes to design and innovate to roll out a whole new product
• The future of drying & where drying technology is going
• Choosing the right software and technology
• ..and MORE!

Dive into the essential non-technical skills crucial for success in today’s dynamic world in season THREE of our Restoration Master Class series, in partnership with our sponsor AnswerForce! Two times each month, we will drop quick, new episodes on different topics related to Power Skills – with different industry guests!

In episode 6, Mandy sits down to talk with "Restoration Chameleon" Paul Silliman, Account Executive at Knowhow, about the power of being adaptable to change, how AI comes into play, and tips for those struggling with adaptation.

Though the 2024 RIA Convention has come and gone, the conversations are still continuing throughout the industry, and Chris Nordyke, president of Floodlight Consulting Group, & Brandon Reece, CEO of Floodlight, sat down to talk with Michelle about their thoughts on one of the biggest conventions of the year PLUS a little authentic industry conversation on a hot topic at the end!

On the latest episode of the Restoration Today Podcast, Michelle talks with Dan Cassara, Founder of CORE Group and Tom Gissler, CRO at CORE Group, about:

• Latest news at CORE
• What led Tom to CORE
• Trends they are both seeing in the industry right now
• How companies like CORE are affecting the consolidation of the industry
• Whether or not they see the lack of weather/economy affecting contractors overall
• What contractors could/should be doing to be busy year-round, and not fully weather-dependent
• ...and MORE!

Registration for the Collective is NOW OPEN! Register HERE and use the CORE DISCOUNT CODE: CR100

Welcome to episode 4 of Chasing the Vision in partnership with Exit Strategies 360 & Violand Management Associates! In episode 4, Michelle talks with Tim and JT about what they are seeing in the industry market, what to keep an eye on in Q2, generational shifts, the role of PE in the industry, and more!

Dive into the essential non-technical skills crucial for success in today’s dynamic world in season THREE of our Restoration Master Class series, in partnership with our sponsor AnswerForce! Two times each month, we will drop quick, new episodes on different topics related to Power Skills – with different industry guests!

In the 5th episode of season 3, Michelle talks with Jeff Jones, Director of Sales and Marketing for Violand Management Associates, about NETWORKING! Feeling lost when it comes to networking? Jeff shares tips and wisdom he has gained on networking and talks through:

• Networking and relationships
• Jeff & Mandy's article "Networking Beautiful"
• How to determine what your goals should be/are for a networking event
• Tips for more fruitful conversations
• How to get OUT of a conversation
• ..and MORE!

Welcome back to the Restoration Today podcast! Today, David Wheatley, Principal/Co-Founder of Humanergy is here to talk with Michelle about leadership development and how to grow and develop healthy teams.

Talking points:

• David shares a bit more about Humanergy
• Working "non-negotiable vs. just "priorities"into running a business effectively
• What is a Solidarity Statement and what does it mean?
• The #1 thing David coaches teams through as a way to resolve almost any conflict
• David unravels some of the confusion between accountability, authority, and responsibility.
• ... and MORE!

Dive into the essential non-technical skills crucial for success in today’s dynamic world in season THREE of our Restoration Master Class series, in partnership with our sponsor AnswerForce! Two times each month, we will drop quick, new episodes on different topics related to Power Skills – with different industry guests!

In the 4th episode of season 3, Michelle and Mandy talk with Alexus Neidert, Head of Brand & Culture at Thomasville Restoration, about:

• Alexus' #1 power skill
• How to celebrate power skills in her team
• Recommendations for restorers on creating a company culture
• ...and MORE!

Welcome to episode 3 of Chasing the Vision in partnership with Exit Strategies 360 & Violand Management Associates! The first two episodes were about owner involvement and the roles of management and leadership in chasing a company's overall vision. In this episode we will take a step back and take a look at the company as a whole and how the identity and culture of a company comes into the discussion.

Bobby Paine, CEO of Epic Estimates, joins the podcast with Michelle to share his background and unique way he found himself working in the restoration industry.

They talk through:

• What Epic Estimates provides the restoration industry
• Biggest trends and changes Bobby has seen in the industry and with estimating today
• Symbility and how much he's seeing people use it
• Importance of technology when it comes to estimating, especially with hiring
• A favorite story
• ... and MORE!

This is one of FIVE Meet the Candidate interviews featuring the five RIA Board of Directors candidates for the 2024 elections. Please take a moment to watch each video! Voting is open to RIA members March 18 through March 25; links to vote will be sent via email. Election results will be announced on March 27, with the new board members installed at the RIA Convention in Dallas April 8-10. To register for the RIA convention, visit convention.restorationindustry.org.

Michelle was able to take a tour of I-team North America facility in Holland, Michigan and speak with Patty Olinger, who is Founder & CEO of BEAMS Consulting. Most restorers might remember her as being the Executive Director of GBAC, a division of ISSA. They talk through:

• Cleaning and disinfection of today and the future
• The difference between cleaning in the US and Europe
• Her experience on the team at Emory that cared for and created protocols for caring for the Ebola patients.
• Cleaning technologies
• Best practices (and no-nos) with cleaning and disinfection
• The difference between cleaning and sanitizing
• ..and MORE!

Dive into the essential non-technical skills crucial for success in today’s dynamic world in season THREE of our Restoration Master Class series, in partnership with our sponsor AnswerForce! Two times each month, we will drop quick, new episodes on different topics related to Power Skills – with different industry guests! In episode 3, Mandy Rewis, Business Development Leader at Answerforce, and Michelle talk with Nicole Humber, President & CEO of Bravo Restoration about:

• A major personal power skill and how it's affected her business
• Creative and effective ways she motivates her team
• Nicole's personal fitness journey & how that has impacted her team
• .. and MORE!

On the latest episode, Michelle talks with Kate Scully-Krebsbach, with Scully Insurance Group, about all things restoration insurance. Kate shares her advice for contractors as they hit topics like:

• Trends in the insurance space
• Whether Kate sees common areas where restoration contractors are under insured
• Are there more instances of companies not getting renewed?
• When did Kate learn the value of becoming a RESOURCE for others?
• Advice for candidates ready for a new position in 2024
• ..and MORE!!

Chuck Violand, founder of Violand Management Associates and long-time friend, joins the podcast to share more about his new book, "Forging Dynasty Businesses", a book & tool that helps small businesses become better at "finding the right people, vetting the right people, & creating a culture where people wanted to stay."

Chuck and Michelle talk through:

• What led to book #2 and how long it took to complete
• The premise of the book
• How often owners should be recognizing and celebrating various things their team does
• ONE story from the book
• ...and MORE!

On this next episode of the Restoration Today podcast, we are thrilled to have three people who REALLY care about the restoration industry and the RIA. Kelley Dolan (Violand Management Associates), Jeff Jones (Violand Management Associates), and Andy McCabe (Quickcheck) join Michelle to share favorite RIA Convention memories, best ways to network, what's NEW and DIFFERENT this year, and how to get the most out of the 2024 RIA Restoration Convention & Industry Expo.

Welcome to episode 2 of Chasing the Vision in partnership with Exit Strategies 360 & Violand Management Associates! In episode one, Tim and JT discussed the role of an owner, and their level of involvement, in a company. Now, we are going to take a step out, and down the org chart just a big, and discuss the roles of the management and leadership team in chasing a company’s overall vision.

Read Tim's article: "Second in Command, First in Line"

On the latest episode, Ryan Giger, VP of Sales & Marketing at Vital Solutions and James Parker, GM at Vital Solutions talk with Michelle about disinfection, sharing their background in the industry and the history and mission of their company.

They talk with Michelle about:

• Vital Oxide
• How COVID changed the disinfectant market
• What kinds of questions consumers are asking about products being used in their homes
• What things contractors should consider when choosing which products to use in their company
• Mycotoxins - what are they, and how big of a deal are they?
• ..and more!

Dive into the essential non-technical skills crucial for success in today’s dynamic world in season THREE of our Restoration Master Class series, in partnership with our sponsor AnswerForce! Two times each month, we will drop quick, new episodes on different topics related to Power Skills – with different industry guests!

In the second episode, Mandy Rewis, Business Development Leader at Answerforce, talks Holly Murry, President of FRSTeam, about:

• The extensive experience in the industry and at FRSTeam
• Speaking at INTRConnect on Navigating the workforce
• Most important power skill in franchising
• Advice & tips for staying present in the workforce
• ..and MORE!

Dan Tarantin, CEO of American Restoration, joins the Restoration Today podcast to share more about American Restoration, what he's seeing in the M&A space, and overall trends in the restoration industry.

Podcast highlights:

• Explain more about how all the well-known restoration companies in the mix all come under the American umbrella.
• The value these companies have found being under the American Restoration umbrella.
• What American Restoration's overall goal is in 2024
• What sets American Restoration apart from other growing, multi-location, multi-state restoration companies
• #1 pain point facing restoration companies today
• ...and MORE!

After the announcement of Corelogic and Artigem aligning to launch contents estimation capabilities to improve the insurance claims process, Kurt Artinger, CEO of Artigem, and Mikhail Palatnik, Head of Product Management at Corelogic, sit down and talk with Michelle at #INTRConnect to share more about the value of their partnership and the innovation in contents restoration they are providing the restoration industry.

Dive into the essential non-technical skills crucial for success in today’s dynamic world in season THREE of our Restoration Master Class series, in partnership with our sponsor AnswerForce! Two times each month, we will drop quick, new episodes on different topics related to Power Skills – with different industry guests!

In this first episode, Mandy Rewis, Business Development Leader at Answerforce, and Michelle talk with Scott Severe, SVP, Alliances and Industry Relations at Corelogic, about:

• What's new at CoreLogic
• What the Contractor Advisory Council is, and how it's helping in an era where contractors are inundated with technology options
• What differentiates INTRConnect from other industry events
• ..and MORE!

Greg Boatwright, CEO of Advanced Disaster Recovery, and Angelo Ferrante, Chief Growth Officer at Advanced Disaster Recovery, join Michelle on the Restoration Today podcast to share:

• Plans for expansion and overall goals
• How they determine if a company is a right fit or not
• Taking care of companies and employees
• Biggest challenges and opportunities in the industry
• Upcoming workshops
• ...and MORE!

Michelle sat down with Corelogic’s President of Protect, Insurance Solutions, Garret Gray moments after his opening keynote at INTRConnect in Austin. The two discuss the latest in technology and innovations in restoration, new uses for AI, and updates coming from CoreLogic including their new Mitigate platform, a large language model, Corelogic Workspace, and SO much more.

Welcome to our FRESH new videos series, "Chasing the Vision", in partnership with Exit strategies 360 & Violand Management Associates!

Immerse yourself in the wisdom of industry pros who have mastered the art of navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship. In each episode, seasoned experts share invaluable insights, strategies, and hard-earned lessons accumulated over years of experience. From scaling startups to redefining market dynamics, “Chasing the Vision” offers a front-row seat to the secrets of sustainable business success. Your path to triumph in the business world starts here – don’t just follow the vision, chase it! It’s common for owner’s to wear too many hats - which happens for many reasons like lack of delegation, lack of trust, control issues. We are going to get into trust and accountability later, but we wanted to start this series at the root of the company - the owner, and the owner’s role as the company grows.

Nelson Higgins, VP of North America at Docusketch and Xactimate Certified Trainer, is on the podcast to talk through the recent restoration trend of remote estimating. They will touch base on best practices when looking for an estimator, what they're looking for in documentation, how to ensure you're getting accurate estimates, and more!

Happy New Year and welcome back to the Restoration Today podcast! Today Helena Kelly, co founder & Fractional CMO of Sagely & Co., is here to share her knowledge on all things marketing and have a conversation with Michelle about:

• When starting Sagely & Co., what she decided she was and was NOT going to do.
• The #1 struggle for B2B companies trying to market their products/services
• How to stay up on all the latest marketing trends
• What advice she would give to women who want to take the leap
• ...and more!

We are excited to bring the restoration conversation north of the US and bring Ji Yoon, president & CEO of Canstar Restoration on the podcast! Ji Yoon has a decade of experience in the restoration industry and has directed growth within companies, predominantly through M&A strategies. On this episode, Michelle and Ji Yoon talk about: 

• Introducing us to Canstar Restorations 
• What is the restoration climate like in Canada? 
• What are the biggest challenges you’re facing? 
• What is happening with M&A in Canada? 
• What trends do you foresee impacting Canada in 2024? -
• ...and more!

On this episode, Scott Severe and Brandon Burton of Corelogic join Michelle to share the latest news at Corelogic and INTRConnect, sharing their thoughts on:

• #1 thing they are most excited about for INTRConnect
• What makes INTRConnect different from other industry events
• What CoreLogic is doing to bring new tools to the mitigation process
• Highlights for contractors curious what's on the horizon
• What's new in the world of IICRC Standards
• Top 3 changes contractors will notice/should be excited about with the change
• ...and MORE!

On today's episode of the Restoration Today Podcast, Kevin Dooley, founder of Kahi joins Michelle to talk about innovations in the industry, asset tracking, share a bit about what Kahi provides to the restoration industry, challenges/opportunities for restorers, and more!

Ben Clark & Tim Kern of Matterport join the podcast to talk through all things tech, AI, 3D imaging, 360 degree images vs. point and shoot, 2024 trends, and MORE!

On this episode, we are joined by Psychologist, speaker, fellow podcast host, & author of the book "What Now - Navigating the Aftermath of Homicide or Suicide," Dr. Jan Canty. Michelle was introduced to Dr. Canty through a blog on ethical lines for crime scene cleanup. You can read the blog post HERE.

Episode highlights:

• The story behind her book
• Ethical boundaries for crime and trauma scene cleanup companies
• How companies in the industry can/should be helping survivors of great losses
• Red flags of trouble
• Advice for survivors on finding the right company to help
• ...and more!

On this final and 18th episode of season 2 of The Restoration Master Class, sponsored by Encircle, Michelle talks with Rachel Stewart, CEO of Xcelerate Restoration Software to talk about overall profitability from the contractor side to the technology side of restoration.

They discuss:

• Where Rachel sees restorers doing WELL as it relates to profitability
• What areas need improvement?
• Are there blanket margins that are “normal” or is profitability a much bigger spread than people think?
• How much does software/technology affect a company’s ability to be profitable?
• ...and more!

Miss an episode? Check them all out below! Each is 15 minutes or less, and no two episodes cover the same angle on how to increase your profitability!

Rob Ferguson, CEO of The Ferguson Alliance, has a passion for doing whatever he can to help family businesses reach prosperity and extend their lifecycle. On today's episode of the Restoration Today podcast, Rob talks with Michelle about all family-run businesses and shares his thoughts on:

• Why family-owned businesses are such a vital part of our economy
• Strengths that family-run businesses bring to the table
• Frustrations/pain points for family-owned businesses
• Can family businesses ever reach a boiling point where there is no resolution other than to move on?
• Recommendations for succession planning?
• ...and more!

Welcome to Frankie Soriano, Founder of WeScope, and Jonathan Siegel, Founder of EstimateQA, on this episode of the Restoration Today podcast. Frankie and Jonathan talk with Michelle about estimating and getting paid!

Topics discussed:

• Biggest challenges contractors facing when it comes to technology, especially centered around documentation and estimating
• What to tell contractors who are nervous about moving too many services, like estimating, out of their offices
• Where they envision estimating technology, especially with the growth of AI, taking us in the next few years
• Co-sourcing vs. outsourcing
• .. and more!