Restoration Today

In this episode, Michelle and Stefan Figley, President of  1-800-Packouts , serve up a fun and insightful conversation on everything from contents cleaning to... tennis! They explore how the contents space has shifted over the last 5–10 years, the #1 emotional and practical needs clients have after a loss, and the common mistakes contractors make when handling contents.

Struggling to hire and keep great talent in restoration? In this episode, we sit down with industry expert Hope Folk, COO of  Restoration Personnel Source , who brings 12 years of experience and hard-earned insight into one of restoration’s toughest challenges: hiring and retention. From bad hiring habits to personality assessments, reference checks, and some unforgettable stories—you won’t want t...

We are VERY excited to welcome the U.S. President of  Contractor Connection , Lance Malcolm, to the podcast! Join the conversation as we dive into the evolution of Managed Repair Programs (MRP) and contractor relationships, exploring how both parties can create a win-win partnership in 2025 and beyond.

Welcome back to the brand new dynamic and practical video tip series designed to help restoration professionals overcome common team challenges and drive consistent, high-quality results. Erik Berglund, expert and founder of  The Language of Leadership , in collaboration with  RTILearning.com,  presents “How to Get Your Team to Do the Thing.” This series offers actionable insights on building high...

With so many software and technology options available, how do restoration companies choose the right fit? In this episode, we talk with CJ Bailey, Director of Software Management at  PuroClean , about the decision-making process for selecting the best tech, the importance of integration, and what’s missing in the industry today. Plus, we explore exciting innovations on the horizon, break down SOC...

How does CoreLogic predict wildfire risk, and why was the recent Southern California wildfire no surprise? Jon Schneyer, Director of Research & Content at  Corelogic , breaks down how data, property analytics, and restoration efforts intersect to shape better risk management, underwriting, and recovery strategies.

The restoration industry is evolving, and so are its events. What do restorers really want from conferences? How has the conversation around industry gatherings changed since COVID? And what new opportunities are on the horizon? In this episode, we’re diving into the shifting event landscape, the feedback organizers are hearing, and what’s next for some of the biggest industry gatherings—including...

Welcome back to season 2 of Chasing the Vision, in partnership with ⁠⁠ Exit Strategies 360 ⁠ and  Violand Management Associates ! We're VERY excited to have a special guest joining on episode 1! Chuck Violand, founder of Violand Management Associates, talks with Tim Hull, JT Kraai, and Michelle about Violand's recent transfer of ownership as well as when an owner should start looking for a...

Welcome to this Meet the Candidates conversation with Norris Gearhart, Executive Vice President, Regulatory Business Practice at First Onsite. 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 7 candidates total for this year’s election, and five open board s...

Welcome to this Meet the Candidates conversation with Vincent Scarfo, Principal & COO, Clear 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 7 candidates total for this year’s election, and five open board seats for the RIA Board of Directo...

Hello! Welcome to this Meet the Candidates conversation with Anthony Nelson, Partner, Pivot My Biz. 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 7 candidates total for this year’s election, and five open board seats for the RIA Board of Directors. Ballot...

Hello! Welcome to this Meet the Candidates conversation with Jason Cain, EVP, BluSky Restoration Contractors. 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 7 candidates total for this year’s election, and five open board seats for the RIA Board of Directo...

Hello! Welcome to this Meet the Candidates conversation with Marcie Richardson, COO, Guarantee Restoration Services. 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 7 candidates total for this year’s election, and five open board seats for the RIA Board of...

Welcome to this Meet the Candidates conversation with Stephanie Suchocki, VP of Operations, Superior 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 7 candidates total for this year’s election, and five open board seats for the RIA Board of Dir...

Hello! Welcome to this Meet the Candidates conversation with Dan Tarantin, CEO, American 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 7 candidates total for this year’s election, and five open board seats for the RIA Board of Directors. Ball...

Garret Gray, President, Protect Insurance Solutions at  CoreLogic,  is back on the podcast to give an update of his personal experience during the California wildfires and share more information about INTRConnect this year! Garret talks with Michelle about: Latest updates on the wildfires The decision-making process behind postponing INTRConnect What attendees can expect from this year's event...

“Main Street Restorer” is a new inspiring 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. Journey with Gokul as he shares stories and wisdom on helping Main Street Restorers grow, thrive, and prepare for the future – whateve...

Welcome back to the first market update of 2025! Aaron Brunko, President of  Verisk Property Estimating Solutions , and David Obert, Chief Product Officer at Verisk Property Estimating Solutions are back to share insights from 2024, the trends to look out for in 2025, how restorers can diversify to stay up on volume when weather is low, and more!

Welcome back to the podcast! We are thrilled to talk all things biohazard cleaning with Scott Vogel,  ABRA 's new president and COO of  Emergi-Clean ! He shares with Michelle more about ABRA, what areas ABRA has really had an impact, goals for the future, best practices, apprenticeship, mental health of yourself and your team, and MORE!

Welcome back to the brand new dynamic and practical video tip series designed to help restoration professionals overcome common team challenges and drive consistent, high-quality results. Erik Berglund, expert and founder of  The Language of Leadership , in collaboration with  RTILearning.com,  presents “How to Get Your Team to Do the Thing.” This series offers actionable insights on building high...

We are very excited to have Jeremy Reets, Founder of  Reets Drying Academy , on the podcast to celebrate 20 years of Reets Drying Academy and share the journey Jeremy has taken to today, Reets family culture, how training needs have changed over the years, the value of education, and MORE!

Welcome back to Phil & Michelle’s Happy Hour – a podcast designed to make you smile, and hopefully learn a few things along the way. In this episode, Phil & Michelle chat with Tom McGuire, owner of  Large Loss Mastery , and learn more about where he started in the industry to training within the industry, best practices, favorite stories, and MORE! Pour yourself a cocktail (or mimosa!), si...

In this episode, Michelle chats with Mark Springer, RIA’s New Carrier Relations Advocate, about his bold 2019 thesis stating that if restoration companies didn’t unite and advocate for sustainable claims practices, the industry could cease to exist within a decade. Fast forward to today, Mark shares the major wins of the AGA, his new role, and how his experience helps drive change alongside Ed’s a...

As we continue the California Wildfire coverage, Kyle Bias, Regional VP of the West at  ATI Restoration , joins the podcast to share what the last few weeks have been like for his team, how it compares to other wildfire events in the past, advice for restorers outside of California, laws and regulations that restorers should be aware of, and MORE!

We are very thrilled to have Steve White, President & COO of  PuroClean  and fellow YOOPER, on the podcast! He and Michelle talk about PuroClean's recent massive growth, the vision for the next 5-10 years, Steve's take on the 2024 restoration claim volume, how past military experience has shaped his approach to leading initiatives like the Veterans Forum and PuroVet, and so much MORE!...