Restoration Today

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

🎙️ 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

Scaling doesn’t have to mean wearing more hats. In the latest episode of Chasing the Vision, in partnership with  Exit Strategies 360  and  Violand Management Associates , Josh Bachman of Violand Management Associates shares how restoration contractors can use outsourcing as a strategic tool to increase capacity, improve profitability, and build scalable systems. JT Kraai and Tim Hull add real-wor...

AI is no longer a “future” conversation for restoration—it’s happening now. In this episode of Restoration Today, Nick D’Urbano, Co-Founder & CRO at  Distance , breaks down how AI-native platforms are helping restoration contractors capture more leads, respond faster during storm surge events, and improve customer experience across every touchpoint.

AI is evolving fast — and the restoration industry is feeling the impact. In this episode, David Grove, from  BYLT Restoration , joins Michelle to break down the most practical, business-ready AI tools restorers should be using right now. They dive into the latest updates from ChatGPT, OpenAI’s Sora 2, and Google Gemini, plus the real-world workflows these tools can automate. From email scheduling...

In this episode of Restoration Today, James Hatfield, CRO of  LiveSwitch  and RIA Affinity Partner, breaks down how real-time video technology, remote collaboration, and AI are reshaping restoration operations — especially during flash flood events. James shares why July’s peak flood season exposes major bottlenecks for contractors, how tools like live video, drones, BIM, and moisture mapping are...

Most restorers talk about “building a valuable business,” but few know what their company is actually worth — or what truly drives valuation in this industry. In Episode 10 of Chasing the Vision, in partnership with  Exit Strategies 360  and  Violand Management Associates , Michelle sits down with JT and Tim to break down the real factors behind restoration valuations, from EBITDA and recurring re...