Making predictions in today’s business environment is very difficult due to the high speed of change, political uncertainty, health challenges and radically different feelings on the work environment. The next decade will bring changes that will be inconceivable to many, and will radically change the way we work, communicate, learn, travel, purchase and so much more.  The reality of this change will be hard to anticipate and if you are not “looking around the corner,” it will take you and your business by surprise.  Phil Rosebrook Jr. of Business Mentors joins Restoration Today to walk through the top trends that will impact your business and steps that you can take to help you and your business manage the impacts of these issues. You can read his full article on the topic here. 

CoreLogic President of Protect Garret Gray is back on the Restoration Today podcast! In this conversation, Garret and Michelle discuss a number of hot topics in the restoration industry today including (but certainly not limited to): Data Integrations Marketplace competition Contractor relationships Plus, Garret shares some of his background, the growth of Next Gear Solutions over the years before being acquired by CoreLogic, his family, and more. Miss our first conversation with Garret? You can listen to it here!

Rico Garcia is the talent behind the Restoration Domination podcast. A restorer and marketer to his core, Rico's passion bleeds through in every single podcast he creates. In this episode of Restoration Today, we are turning the tables and putting the Rico in the hot seat - to answer our questions about hiring, marketing, favorite guests so far, industry trends, and more. C heck out Rico's podcast at www.restorationdomination.com.

We are in an interesting time in the restoration industry. The chasm between contractors and carriers continues to be a pain point, and more contractors are veering away from program/TPA work. Today, there is an entire franchise that has chosen that route and is finding amazing success with their unique model. Sherry Rose is the CEO of Stellar Brands, the parent company of Restoration 1. She entered the company in 2020, initially as the COO of Restoration 1, bringing with her some amazing experience and records from leadership at other brands like Terminix, Merry Maids, and ServiceMaster Restore. On this episode, Sherry talks about R1's explosive growth, including being named a Top 100 Game Changer in 2021 by Franchise Dictionary Magazine, as well as soft skills, attracting more skilled workers, and more.

Check out our recent conversation with Larry on Restoration Today above! He shares some of his favorite trade show memories, the history of the Hall of Mirrors, what's on tap for education, and more! The Experience Conference and Exhibition in Cincinnati has just added a Taste of Cincinnati Reception on Wednesday April 6th at the Hilton Netherlands Hotel following the closing of the trade show.  The reception will be held in the Hall of Mirrors Meeting Room and will be a great opportunity for networking and just relaxing and having fun. The Reception will also have $10,000+ in drawings and giveaways! The Experience educational programs will feature four concurrent classroom tracks taught by some of the industry’s best instructors and guest experts who will share much needed valuable information. The featured keynotes Dr. George Buck and Jeff Jones will discuss bioterrorism and the need for preparedness and training. Les Cunningham and Chuck Violand will also be part of a live interview on stage in Wednesday’s general session. The hands-on and live demonstrations in the exhibit hall are set. The hands-on sections are led by Shawn Bisaillon, and he will oversee the flood experience, the hands-on rug plant, the upholstery cleaning area and the Shaw Learning Lab. The Experience Conference will also feature all hands-on learning Thursday morning in the classrooms.  There are 20 live hands-on sessions to choose from. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Health and Wellness Pavilion. Learn about your immune system and how it defends and protects you from pathogens including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and toxins. Jennifer Wilkinson, Experience Events show manager, said, “Our conventions and trade shows continue to thrive, and our attendees get to see, try out and buy the latest and best equipment, products and management & marketing information available. We want to shout out a huge thanks to our sponsors and exhibitors for supporting this show which enables us to continue to keep the registration prices lower for attendees.  The Charleston Show was packed and the hands-on demos were extremely popular. Ms. Wilkinson stated, I am looking forward to seeing all of you in Las Vegas in September.” Registration is open at www.experiencetheevents.com or 888-881-1001. The Hilton Hotel still has some rooms left, but book them today on our website at the venue link. The Experience Team has begun production work for the next in person show, The Experience Convention and Trade Show, in Las Vegas at the Caesars Forum September 7, 8, and 9, 2021. Look for updates on the Experience website soon.  Come join the Experience Team for another Great Experience!

As Abatix expands its footprint into the Chicagoland (and Midwest market), Regional Manager Dan Vaughn joined the Restoration Today podcast to discuss: Benefits of having vendor and supplier partners who specifically understand cleaning and restoration. Tips for choosing products and chemicals. Supply chain and labor shortage difficulties - and wins. Keeping up with restoration trends and hot topics & more!

Mike Fulton, CEO of Xactware (now known as Verisk Property Estimating Solutions) is back on the Restoration Today podcast for round two! He first appeared on our podcast last November, and we are excited to keep these open conversations going with Mike as the restoration landscape continues to change and evolve. In this podcast, which is audio-only due to a hiccup on our end, Mike and Michelle discuss hot topics like: Adjustments for inflation Reporting pricing vs. predicting pricing Thoughts on T&M and 10&10 Reason profit margins for contractors Up-and-coming innovations and platforms in the InsureTech world Software integration The Pricing Analyst program Listen here, or subscribe to Restoration Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your other preferred podcast platform to listen on the go and never miss a new episode! Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3BzR4YV Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3lyOqwL

Gerrett Stier, founder of GMS Distribution, sits down with Michelle to talk about what it has looked like to build a company over time, with great intentionality and focus on quality and customer service. "If you want something, you go work for it," he said. Plus, there is a lot of discussion on finding a work-life balance, and learning it is okay to step away for a moment. The work and relationships will still be there. Take a watch or listen for more great nuggets in this Restoration Today episode!

With all the changes and evolutions in the restoration software space in recent years, we wanted to have a conversation with Ryan Pritchard from Canam Systems/PSA on the current state of tech in the industry.   PSA is one of the original software platforms in the industry, founded in 1994. That puts the team in an interesting place to talk about the evolution of software for restoration contractors.   In this podcast, Ryan and Michelle discuss the importance of integration and collaboration among industry software platforms, the differences between various solutions out there, data concerns, what is needed in the InsurTech space, finding and selecting the right software platform, and more.

In this episode of Restoration Today, we are joined by Doug Hoffman, the CEO of NORMI. NORMI is the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors. Today, the organization is about 7,500 people strong - and facilitates a variety of training courses related to environmental remediation. Doug discusses some of the best practices of mold remediation, clears up some of the common misconceptions, and explains why the assessment process is so important as part of the entire IAQ process. He also discusses a brand new program by OSHA that will affect restoration workers heading to disaster zones.