The Restoration Playbook Podcast

In this episode of Mission Critical, Leighton Healey speaks with Dan Claps, founder and CEO of VODA Restoration, about building one of the fastest-growing restoration franchise networks in North America after exiting his previous company to private equity in 2022. Dan shares how he partnered with Dragan Krstic, a Serbian immigrant who built a cleaning and restoration business from nothing, rebrand...

In this episode of Mission Critical, Leighton Healey speaks with Kyle Chason, president of Best Option Restoration, about building a 70-location restoration franchise network across 26 states after starting as the system’s first franchisee in 2017.  Kyle shares his early experience as a one-person operator, including working alone on a New Year’s Eve mitigation job with $2,500 left, and how that s...

A new show from KnowHow dropping into The Restoration Playbook feed: What's Next in Franchising is a weekly podcast built for leaders scaling home and commercial services franchises, tackling the biggest news stories, and sitting down with the most innovative voices and leaders in the industry. In this first episode, Leighton and Travis Martin break down three developments shaping service business...

In this episode of Mission Critical, host Leighton Healey, CEO of KnowHow, speaks with Chris Hembrough and Matt Wike from Peerless Restoration. Together, they discuss the unique challenges and strategies employed by their three-generation family business in Central Illinois. From managing three major projects simultaneously to fostering leadership and communication within the team, Chris and Matt...

On this episode of Mission Critical, Leighton Healey interviews Jamar Plater, COO of Thomasville Restoration, one of the top restoration providers in the Mid-Atlantic. Jamar shares how radical transparency has transformed Thomasville's operations, turning their 150-person team into problem-solvers rather than spectators. He unpacks the LEAST framework (Listen, Empathize, Apologize, Solve, Thank) t...

The restoration industry faces immense challenges with soft sales, thin margins, and delayed payments. On this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast: Mission Critical, Leighton Healey interviews Kristin Smith, President of Mooring USA, who shares her financial strategies and insights. Kristin, equipped with a background in oil and gas, discusses how Mooring USA has diversified revenue stream...

“It’s not ever about you.” That’s the leadership mantra Holly Murry built a national restoration brand on. In this episode, the FRSTeam President joins Travis Martin to unpack how empathy, self-awareness, and accountability power high-performing teams, without the ego. From gut-check hiring tactics to letting go with grace, Holly reveals how she builds leaders who care, serve, and go above and bey...

Ever heard of “Semper Gumby”?—the Marine Corps mantra for staying always flexible. That mindset is Chuck Lane’s not-so-secret weapon for scaling training at BluSky Restoration, one of the biggest players in the industry. Hit play as Travis uncovers how Chuck turns curveballs into growth, building crews who learn fast, adapt faster, and keep BluSky miles ahead of the storm. Stick around to see why...

In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast, Travis sits down with Marcie Richardson, COO of Guarantee Restoration Service. Marcie shares the exact leadership moves that helped her scale across multiple offices without compromising values, consistency, or connection. From above-the-line communication to her “culture gardening” framework, Marcie breaks down how to grow people and why great...

In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast, Travis sits down with Tony Scott, CEO and founder of Pro-Claim Group. Tony shares how he’s spent over 30 years building one of Canada’s most respected restoration companies—not just through operational excellence but by anchoring his team in deeply held values. He unpacks how a culture rooted in passion, purpose, and empathy has fueled innovatio...

In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast, Travis sits down with Steve Glozik, President of FP Property Restoration. Steve takes us through the early days of building FP, the company's unwavering commitment to growth, and how they created a culture of excellence that drives their success. Hungry for more insights?  Join Travis on March 13th live at 1 pm EST to discuss how today's most in...

In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast, Travis interviews Andy Amrhein, CEO and co-owner of Thomasville Restoration. Discover how Andy and his team achieved a remarkable 357% growth in just three years with the right leadership and a strong company culture. Whether you lead a team or aspire to, you'll want to listen to this episode. Hungry for more insights? Join Travis on February 13...

Howdy, restorers! We've got a bonus listen here for you this week... Get your copy of the Building Leaders e-book by the KnowHow Team at buildingleadersbook.com or check out the audiobook at http://www.tryknowhow.com/podcast/building-leaders-official-audiobook.html, or wherever you found this episode. Thanks for tuning in! About KnowHow: KnowHow is an intuitive, mobile-first application that helps...

In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast, Travis interviews Julie Johnson, former owner of Alpha Omega Disaster Restoration. To Julie, leadership is less about directing others and more about walking alongside them—showing up day in, day out, and always striving to make things better for everyone. Tune in to hear her practical advice on building a thriving restoration business. Hungry f...

In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast, Travis interviews Mark Springer, founder of ORDIS Advisors and former CEO of Dayspring Restoration. Mark shares his personal journey, the lessons he's learned about leadership, and practical strategies for identifying and developing potential leaders. Hungry for more insights? Visit randrmagonline.com to read the second article in a new monthly...

In the first episode of season three of the Restoration Playbook Podcast Leighton Healey passes the mic to Travis Martin, VP of Product and Marketing at KnowHow, to interview this season's property restoration experts. Travis Martin sits down with Ben Looper, CEO of Southeast Restoration Group and current RIA President, to discuss what it takes to develop the next generation of leaders in restorat...

In the final episode of season two of the Restoration Playbook Podcast Leighton Healey sits down with Tony Scott, forty-year industry veteran and CEO of Pro-Claim Group, a member of the GUS network, to discuss building a team that can withstand the industry's stresses. Discover how curiosity, care, and commitment can transform your team and help staff thrive in restoration. Hungry for more insight...

In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast Leighton Healey welcomes Keegan Trudgen, multi-location owner at PuroClean Disaster Services, to discuss how technology can improve the restoration experience. Tune in and discover how Keegan integrates new tools to enhance customer experience and job satisfaction, and gain insights into his methods for creating a consistent customer experience. ...

In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast, host Leighton Healey chats with Lory Perizzolo, COO at RCCN DKI, about mastering operations and building an empowered workforce in the restoration industry. Lory recounts his storied career path and shares insights on the importance of clear communication, strategic planning, and fostering a supportive culture. Tune in to learn how to implement...

In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast, Leighton Healey interviews Steve Glozik, President of FP Property Restoration. Glozik shares how FP adapted its training for today's workforce and how it builds more competent and confident restorers... all while reducing management stress and improving work-life balance. Hungry for more insights? 1. Visit randrmagonline.com to read the third ar...

In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast Leighton Healey interviews Holly Murry, who shares insights into her 28-year journey at FRSTeam, emphasizing the importance of connecting work with meaning. Highlighting personal stories and 'Goosebump Moments', Holly advocates for creating a workplace culture that instills passion and meaning in daily tasks, ultimately leading to a more meaningf...

Join Leighton Healey as he sits down with Caleb Brunz, Head Coach, President, and Owner of Paul Davis Restoration of Greater St. Paul and Minneapolis, in the first episode of the "Winning With Workers" series, powered by KnowHow. Caleb shares his insights and firsthand advice on building a stronger, more cohesive team culture in the restoration industry, and we ensure you walk away with actionable...

In the final episode of our three-part Winning With Workers conversation, we discuss two more principles that restoration leaders are using to attract and retain top talent.  We welcome back Leighton Healey, CEO of KnowHow, to discuss KnowHow’s new book "Winning With Workers". Backed by insights and strategies from industry-leading companies like ATI Restoration, BluSky Restoration, Thomasville Re...

Growing restoration companies report on top-line numbers, but those numbers comprise of thousands of small stories and interactions between staff and customers after a traumatic event. In this episode, Marissa Hoffsteader and Jonathan Dew from Restoration 1 of East Baton Rouge share some of the standout stories they have of going the extra mile for their customers, and what it means about the over...

How do restoration companies attract and retain young workers? This question is the #1 issue keeping leaders up at night, so we got to work answering it. In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast, we sat down with Leighton Healey, CEO of KnowHow, to discuss KnowHow’s new book "Winning With Workers". Leighton is a renowned keynote speaker, workforce expert and the Co-Author of Winning wit...