Michelle Blevins

Restoration Today

Business EN ↓ 415 episodes

Restoration Today is a video and audio podcast covering everything restoration-related. Every week, Michelle Blevins sits down with an industry peer – a contractor, a colleague, a supplier, an innovator, an insurer, etc. Every conversation will cover the hottest topics in today’s restoration industry – going beyond fire and water damage restoration and diving into topics like M&A, company culture, hiring and recruiting, innovations in restoration, and tools of the trade. Plus, there will be some guaranteed laughs and heartfelt moments.

Author

Michelle Blevins

Category

Business

Podcast website

www.candrmagazine.com

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

Financing: The Missing Piece? 24.03.2026

Cash flow is tightening, deductibles are rising, and insurance is shifting—so how are smart restoration companies staying ahead? In this episode of Restoration Today, Nate Cisney of  Restoration Made Simple  breaks down why financing is becoming a game-changer for restorers. From closing jobs faster to getting paid in 24 hours, we explore how adopting financing—and rethinking your sales approach—c...

The Silent Crisis of 2025: Why Restoration Pros Went Broke in a “Record” Hurricane Year 20.03.2026

What’s next for restoration estimating—and how is AI changing the game? 👀In this episode of the Restoration Today podcast, David Obert from Verisk Property Estimating Solutions breaks down the latest innovations shaping the industry. We also dive into:✔ The Line Item Advisor and smarter estimating with natural language✔ ExactPulse and how your performance stacks up against the market✔ Verisk’s pu...

The Most Dangerous Decision Owners Make: Skipping Reality | Chasing the Vision S3E2 20.03.2026

Are you seeing your business clearly—or just what you think is happening? In this episode of Chasing the Vision, Michelle and Tim Hull, of  Violand Management Associates,  break down the hidden danger of operating on assumptions instead of reality. They explore how familiarity, filtered information, and even good intentions can keep owners in the dark—and why objective data, transparency, and radi...

Earnouts Explained for Restoration Owners | Mini Motivation 13.03.2026

Welcome to the Mini Motivation series with JT Kraai of  Exit Strategies 360! In this short series, JT shares quick, practical insights on mergers and acquisitions in the restoration industry—from evolving deal structures to how owners can start preparing their companies today. In this episode, he explains how earnouts are reshaping restoration deals, why they’re being used more often, and what con...

RIA Meet the Candidates 2026: Josh Miller 13.03.2026

Welcome to this Meet the Candidates conversation with Josh Miller, President, Rainbow Restoration . We encourage you to watch ALL the Meet the Candidate interviews to get to know each of them and what they bring to the table. Our goal is for each of them to be 10 minutes or less! There are 3 candidates total for this year’s election (Josh Miller, DJ McCabe, and Joe Scroggins), and one open board s...

RIA Meet the Candidates 2026: DJ McCabe 13.03.2026

Welcome to this Meet the Candidates conversation with DJ McCabe, president of McCabe Restoration and Endurant Disaster Recovery . We encourage you to watch ALL the Meet the Candidate interviews to get to know each of them and what they bring to the table. Our goal is for each of them to be 10 minutes or less! There are 3 candidates total for this year’s election (Josh Miller, DJ McCabe, and Joe Sc...

RIA Meet the Candidates 2026: Joe Scroggins 13.03.2026

Welcome to this Meet the Candidates conversation with Joe Scroggins, COO of Peak Alliance . We encourage you to watch ALL the Meet the Candidate interviews to get to know each of them and what they bring to the table. Our goal is for each of them to be 10 minutes or less! There are 3 candidates total for this year’s election (Josh Miller, DJ McCabe, and Joe Scroggins), and one open board seat for...

Scaling Marketing and Customer Experience with Existing Tools | The Restoration Master Class S4E3 13.03.2026

What should restoration companies do when the storms slow down? In this episode of the Restoration Masterclass podcast, Santa Davison of  SERVPRO Team Olson  and Holly Baldwin from  DocuSketch  share practical ways restoration teams can use downtime to strengthen marketing, build relationships, and improve documentation workflows. They discuss how tools like DocuSketch can help companies generate...

Managing TPA Jobs Without the Chaos 10.03.2026

What if your TPA jobs, SLA deadlines, and communication tools were all managed in one place? In this episode, Jason McLaughlin, CEO, and Austin McLaughlin, COO, of  Complitrac  break down how their custom-built platform is helping restoration companies stay ahead of strict SLA requirements and improve visibility across TPA programs. They discuss why the restoration industry is still struggling wit...

Teeing Up Trust in Restoration 03.03.2026

What happens when you combine the restoration industry with the timeless networking power of golf? In this episode, Peter Lyons, Founder of Restoration Golf League, & Lee Patterson, Commissioner at Restoration Golf League, dive into the story behind the  Restoration Golf League  — a growing networking movement designed specifically for restoration professionals. With 18 chapters and expansion...

AI & Estimating: No Rage Quitting Allowed | Restoration Master Class S4E2 27.02.2026

In episode 2 of season 4 of The Restoration Master Class, experts Robb Harrell, VP of Strategic Accounts at  DocuSketch , and Todd Van Sant, VP of Estimating at  ATI Restoration , break down how AI is transforming restoration estimating and claims. From faster estimate creation and blueprint analysis to tools that help enforce carrier guidelines, AI is reshaping workflows — but not replacing human...

From Automation to Intelligence 17.02.2026

AI isn’t just for writing emails anymore. In this episode recorded at INTRConnect, we break down where AI is headed in 2026 — from consolidation among major players like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic, to what restoration contractors should actually be implementing right now. Think dashboards, automations, and real operational efficiency.

Compound Risk Is Changing Everything 13.02.2026

Compound risk is reshaping restoration and insurance. In this episode, Maiclaire Bolton-Smith, VP of Product Marketing at  Cotality , breaks down secondary perils, earthquake exposure, and how contractors can use catastrophe data to stay ahead of emerging opportunities.

Restoring the Entrepreneur | Chasing the Vision S3E1 11.02.2026

Season 3 of Chasing the Vision kicks off with a new focus — the real journey of entrepreneurship in restoration. Michelle and Tim Hull, of  Violand Management Associates , dive into why growth alone doesn’t create value, how scaling exposes hidden problems, and the disciplined habits that build strong, independent businesses. From cash flow traps to owner dependency and the critical $3–5M growth p...

The Tax Playbook for Restoration Entrepreneurs 06.02.2026

In this episode of Restoration Today, Drew and JT Pells from  PNT Advisors  join the show to break down practical tax and business strategies specifically for restoration industry entrepreneurs. From deciding when an S-Corp election actually makes sense, to understanding how to pay yourself properly through payroll and distributions, this conversation tackles the real financial questions owners fa...

Rethinking Estimating in Restoration | Restoration MasterClass S4E1 03.02.2026

Season 4 of the Restoration Master Class, sponsored by  DocuSketch , kicks off with a powerful conversation on one of the most misunderstood—and underutilized—scaling tools in restoration: remote estimating. This episode features Nelson Higgins, VP of North America for DocuSketch and a 43-year veteran of insurance restoration. Nelson breaks down why only 15–20% of the industry is currently using r...

EXCLUSIVE: Q&A with Altimeter Solutions Group Leadership 30.01.2026

What does the launch of Altimeter Solutions Group mean for managed repair contractors and carriers? In this exclusive Q&A recorded at INTRConnect, Jonathan Miko, CEO of ⁠ Altimeter Solutions Group⁠ , and Stephen Marquardt, Investment Partner at BV Investment Partners, share inside details on the newly formed Altimeter Solutions Group, formerly known as Alacrity Solutions Group’s managed repair...

Economic Signals Every Contractor Should Know 27.01.2026

s AI driving real growth—or setting up the next bubble? Recorded live at this year’s INTRConnect, this episode features Selma Hepp, SVP & Chief Economist at  Cotality , breaking down the macroeconomic trends shaping the housing and insurance markets. Selma explores AI’s growing role in economic activity, concerns around potential market overvaluation, labor market softness, rising construction...

Intelligence Beyond Bounds: The Intersection of Technology and Humanity 22.01.2026

🎙️ Hot off the INTRConnect keynote in Washington, DC Garret Gray, of  Cotality , joins the podcast to break down the big ideas behind his high-impact keynote—and what they mean for the future of restoration and insurance. From the powerful metaphor of moving from darkness to light, to the debut of a conversational AI assistant designed to help contractors create real-time estimates, this episode d...

From 100-Hour Weeks to a Heart Attack: Lessons Every Restorer Needs to Hear 13.01.2026

The restoration industry moves fast, and many entrepreneurs quietly slip into workaholism along the way. In this episode, Michelle and Eric Sprague, co-founder of  SuperTech University , talk honestly about the culture of overwork, both sharing their journeys of learning to work more strategically and saying yes to work that aligns with their purpose. This episode challenges restorers to rethink h...

Becoming the Go-To Pro: How 360 Documentation Drives Trust, Scale & Service 06.01.2026

Holly Baldwin, Senior Customer Success Manager at DocuSketch, joins the podcast to share her unexpected path into the restoration industry and nearly a decade of hands-on experience supporting contractors in the field. The conversation dives into how 360 documentation is transforming customer service, increasing transparency, and helping restorers get paid faster by reducing adjuster visits and fo...

Your 2026 Playbook Begins at INTRConnect 31.12.2025

Are you ready to kick off 2026? In the last episode of 2025, Scott Severe (SVP, Alliances & Industry Relations at  Cotality ) and Matthew Parkerson (Senior Director, Customer Innovation at Cotality) join us to dive into what you can expect at Cotality’s INTRConnect Conference — January 20–22 in Washington, D.C. With multiple learning tracks, hands-on sessions, and powerful networking opportuni...

M&A Market Update: Q3 2025 | Main Street Restorer 26.12.2025

Welcome back to Main Street Restorer, a video series showcasing real-world challenges and practical advice from seasoned broker, Gokul Padmanabhan of  Restoration Brokers of America , helping entrepreneurs discover innovative solutions and strategies for success. In this episode of Main Street Restorer, we break down shifting M&A trends, why smaller restoration companies are selling faster, ho...

Real Talk on Leadership: Growth, Service, and Doing It Right | Phil & Michelle's Happy Hour 23.12.2025

Leadership, culture, and the future of restoration. 🍻 In the latest episode of Phil & Michelle's Happy Hour, Mike Hopkins, COO of  Paul Davis , joins Phil Rosebrook, Jr., of  Business Mentors , and Michelle Blevins to talk leadership development, sales mindset, technology, and how staying true to core values drives scalable, purpose-driven growth in the restoration industry.

RIA Year in Review: 2025 Wins, Industry Growth, & What’s Next 22.12.2025

This episode of the podcast we are joined by an amazing group of  RIA  volunteers and board members that include RIA President, Jeff Moore, Vince Scarfo, Mark Davis, Marcie Richardson, and Davis Ness. We will look at how the Restoration Industry Association moved the industry forward in 2025—and what’s coming next. From record-breaking events and major advocacy wins to education updates, ethical s...

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