Restoration Today

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...

What does 45+ years in restoration teach you? A lot. In this episode, industry veteran David A. Olson—consultant, mentor, and retired leader—breaks down the biggest transformations he’s seen since entering the restoration world in 1979. We cover: How the industry has changed in people, profits, and ROI What healthy year-over-year growth really looks like Independent vs. franchise models (and the b...

Garret Gray, President of Global Insurance Solutions at  Cotality , breaks down the current state and future of the industry. From navigating recent dips in claim volumes to the massive shift from paper to digital—including advanced AI and image analytics for estimating—this is a must-listen for contractors. Garret provides practical advice on how to diversify, use technology to capture market sha...

What’s it really like to run a business with your spouse? In season 2, episode 9 of Chasing the Vision, brought to you in partnership with  Exit Strategies 360  and  Violand Management Associates , we sit down with Katie Smith, CEO of  PHC Restoration , to unpack the real dynamics of building a company—and a marriage—at the same time. From defining roles and separating finances to protecting the r...

In this episode of Restoration Today, we sit down with Matt Hensley, the newly appointed President of  CORE Group , to talk about leadership, collaboration, and the future of the restoration industry. Matt shares his journey from insurance adjusting to leading one of the most influential networks connecting independent restoration contractors and insurance carriers. He opens up about what makes th...

From parachutes to project sites — meet Chris Kushmaul, a U.S. Army veteran turned restoration business owner. In this special Veterans Day episode of Restoration Today, Chris, U.S. Army veteran and owner of a  Restoration 1 franchise  in Metro Detroit, shares how the lessons of discipline, teamwork, and mission focus from his military service built the foundation for success in the restoration in...

In this Restoration Today episode, we sit down with Yvonne Vanbibber, General Manager of  Blue Kangaroo Packoutz of Cincinnati & Dayton , to explore the emotional and logistical side of contents restoration.   From hoarding situations to heavy-loss homes, Yvonne shares how her unique background helps her lead with empathy, communication, and care. She discusses: The emotional realities behind...

Grab a drink and join Phil & Michelle for another Happy Hour with one of the industry’s top leaders — Jeff Moore, President of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) and President and Chief Acquisitions Officer at ATI Restoration. Jeff shares the remarkable story of how his family’s abatement business evolved into a national restoration powerhouse. From defining roles in a family company t...

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...

From Firefighting to Founding a Movement — Dave Heimbach joins us to share the inspiring story behind  Helpful Heroes . What started as an idea to help off-duty firefighters earn extra income has become a nationwide network of trusted handyman services. Through Helpful Heroes, firefighters connect directly with homeowners needing help around the house — bringing reliability, integrity, and peace o...

Welcome back to Season 2, Episode 8 of Chasing the Vision — brought to you in partnership with  Exit Strategies 360  and  Violand Management Associates ! This episode is part two of our deep dive into the variables of a deal. In the last episode, we broke down key terminology to help you feel more confident and informed during the deal-making process. Today, we’re taking it a step further — gettin...

Meet Michelle and Jorge Gutierrez, owners of  SERVPRO Team Gutierrez ! From humble beginnings to winning Franchise of the Year, their story is one of resilience, leadership, and people-first culture. In this episode, Michelle and Jorge share how they’ve grown a 70-person team by staying true to five core values: Great teamwork Effective communication Responsiveness & resourcefulness Celebratin...

Big News from  Floodlight Consulting Group ! The team is stepping into a brand-new chapter — and we’re bringing you along for the journey. In this episode, we’re sharing some major updates from Floodlight Consulting Group! What does this mean for Floodlight? What’s next for the Head Heart & Boots podcast? And how do we find balance in a season of change? Tune in as Brandon Reece and Chris Nord...