The Restoration & Remediation Ask the Expert Podcast

Leslie Anderson is senior vice president of training and launch with Paul Davis Restoration. She was recently elected to the 2022 IICRC board of directors. In this episode of Real Stories in Restoration, Anderson shares insights on delivering valuable training experiences to hundreds of restoration franchises. She also discusses her goals as an IICRC board member, her experience as a woman in a ma...

In 2016, Benjamin Surdi, founder and CEO of PureDry Restoration, purchased a business that was in major debt and all-around bad shape. Since then, the company has quadrupled in size and revenue, and it is a recognized market leader in Washington State. In this episode of Real Stories in Restoration, Surdi shares hardships, triumphs and secrets to his success. A few of the themes covered include: C...

Nia Sherrema Pearson is founder of Marketing 4 Real Results, a marketing agency that serves restoration businesses across the country. In this episode of Ask the Expert, Sherrema Pearson shares out-of-the-box digital and traditional marketing techniques. Examples include text communication, community involvement, and relationships with plumbers and property managers. She covers basics like a Googl...

PuroClean 2021 Franchise of the Year owners Ivan and Karina Oliver share the impressive growth their franchise, PuroClean of San Antonio Northwest, has experienced since its start in 2017. Their key to success: Focus on the customer first and everything else follows. In this interview they discuss the accomplishments and challenges behind their recognition as a top franchise. They share what it’s...

Gordy Powell is a steward for education, ethics and advancement in bio-recovery, crime, trauma and death-scene cleaning. In this Ask the Expert episode, Powell discusses the Georgia Bio Recovery Association he co-founded in 2020; co-authoring Georgia House Bill 417 which regulates the crime, trauma and death-scene cleaning industry; and Invoicing for Trauma, a new course he is offering in 2022. Po...

JP Korpi, a public adjuster and founder of K-Factor Advocates, offers perspective on how restoration contractors and adjusters can work together in the interest of policyholders. Korpi discusses the role of a public adjuster versus a claims adjuster or an independent adjuster, how restorers can ensure they get paid in full and more.

Insights on infectious disease and cross-contamination control for restoration and remediation contractors – from how to gain more business in this space, to tips on disinfection and decontamination services, to mitigating exposure risks. Marlene Linders, executive director of The Linders Health Institute, and president and CEO of Philders Group International, joins us to share best practices. 

R&R Editor Valerie King announces the call for 2022 Women in Restoration Award nominations in this special message. She shares the importance of the award, now in its seventh year, as well as eligibility requirements and judging criteria. Watch through the end for an all-new award R&R is introducing to the restoration industry! 

John Downey, executive director of the Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI), previews Healthy Buildings America 2021. The conference, taking place in Honolulu, was postponed to January 18-20, 2022 due to COVID-19-related restrictions in Hawaii. This time around, Downey provides even more examples of learning opportunities for restoration industry attendees. He also explains the theme of the...

As contractors move from pen and paper to digital documentation of everything from jobsite photos and 3D scans, to project estimates, to invoices and P&L, they’re left wondering what happens to the data they share on third-party platforms. In this episode, Kelly Ruane Melchiondo, attorney and partner with the Bilzin Sumberg Construction Law Group, answers commonly asked questions on the inters...

This special-edition episode features a prestigious panel of Ladder Award finalists from 2021 and 2020. They share innovative ways they are helping advance the property restoration industry, as well as their vision for its future. Hot topics covered include attracting and retaining talent, employee training, growing a business, marketing, adopting new technology, imposter syndrome, and leading fro...

Speaker: Kris Rzesnoski, CR, WLS, FLS, CLS, RTPEVice President, Encircle In this podcast, Valerie King delves into restorative drying with Encircle Vice President Kris Rzesnoski. Encircle recently unveiled a major feature update to their app, called Hydro, developed to support restorers on even the toughest of water jobs. Listen in as Kris outlines the biggest challenges happening in the field and...

Media blasting expert Wayne Lawrence, managing partner at ESCA Great Lakes, shares key things restoration contractors should know as they invest in media blasting equipment. He covers what media blasting is, common applications in property restoration, the range of tools available, notable case studies, product advancements, the importance of equipment training, buying versus renting, equipment co...

After years of putting out fires and pointing the finger at employees, Eric Sprague and Larry Wilberton learned to point the finger at themselves. In this episode, Sprague shares how he and Wilberton transformed their property restoration and cleaning company into one with a culture of high engagement, performance and profit by rethinking their roles as leaders. Today they help other blue-collar c...

Jim Kowalski is owner and vice president of Kowalski Construction Inc. He is also president of the Restoration Affiliates board. In this interview, Kowalski shares secrets to success and lessons learned in purposefully growing his third-generation, family-run property restoration and repair company in Arizona, which was founded in 1967. He also explains what exactly Restoration Affiliates – a nati...

Why is strategic planning important? Who should be involved? When should it happen? How do you ensure it fuels action? Where do you begin? Is it worthwhile in a world of heightened uncertainty? Jeff Jones, director of sales and marketing with Violand Management Associates, offers a crash course in annual business planning, as well as longer- and shorter-term strategic planning. 

Jennifer Todd, president of remediation company LMS General Contractors and acclaimed leader in construction, was the youngest Black woman to acquire a Class A California general engineering license. She joins us to discuss her experience as a Black, woman contractor-owner in a white-, male-dominated field. Todd highlights the importance of looking at the labor shortage and diversity as one conver...

CoreLogic acquired Next Gear Solutions on Sept. 15, 2021. In this episode, Garret Gray, founder and CEO of Next Gear Solutions, discusses what this means for the restoration industry now and into the future. He covers the impetus and vision for the acquisition, its impact on existing customers and restoration contractors overall, how and how long the integration of the two organizations will play...

In this first-ever Real Stories in Restoration episode, disaster restoration expert and author Sean Scott joins us to share insights from his more than 43 years in restoration and construction, takeaways from three of his publications, fire and smoke damage restoration tips, and more. Listen through the end for exciting news on what’s ahead for him and R&R.

PuroClean recently offered its inaugural Microbial Warriors training program, which proved a huge success with new and seasoned franchises. Here, Jeff Jones, master trainer of the Artemis Biorisk Training Academy’s Microbial Warriors Experience, and Darren Hudema, director of training and technical services with PuroClean, dive deep into what made the course so impactful. They cover everything fro...

Dr. Anirban Basu, chief economist with Associated Builders and Contractors, sheds light on key factors contributing to the top challenges of restoration and remediation companies: finding skilled workers, increasing wages and retaining labor. He gets to the real what and why behind the labor shortage, “great resignation” and “great retirement.” He points to what prospective employees want from res...

In this special episode, Andrea Stenberg, emergency services production cleaning manager with Paul Davis Restoration of Portland & Vancouver, Washington joins us to share her story and insights. She is the winner of R&R’s 202 Ladder Award, an annual award honoring outstanding young restoration professionals under 35 years of age. 

John Downey, executive director of the Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI), joins us to talk Healthy Buildings America 2021. The theme of this year’s conference, scheduled for Jan. 18-20, 2022, is “Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice – In the Age of COVID-19 and Beyond.” Downey provides an overview of the conference’s history, purpose and 2021 learning opportunity highlights for...

As the new voice of R&R, Valerie King will continue the tradition of providing unparalleled service to readers and viewers while keeping close to our main objective of delivering the best and latest technical, business and industry information for the restoration and remediation community. Listen to Valerie introduce herself!

The Restoration Industry Association's Advocacy and Government Affairs Committee continues pushing forward with efforts to level the playing field between restoration contractors and the insurance industry as a whole. In mid-May, the AGA officially released its first restoration pricing position statement: Deviation from Standardized Price Lists.