Restoration logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Join Today
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Restoration logo
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products & Technologies
    • Submit Your Product
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
  • CATASTROPHE
    • Fire
    • Hurricane
  • TOPICS
    • Latinos in Restoration
    • Cleaning & Sanitation
    • Contamination
    • Contractor Safety
    • Contents
    • Fire & Smoke
    • Mold
    • Odor
    • Recon & Reno
    • Water
  • EDUCATION
    • Training & Education
    • Business Management
    • Insurance/Legal Matters
    • KnowHow
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • Whitepapers
    • Industry Events
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Ask R&R AI
  • VIDEOS
    • Ask the Expert
    • Ask Annissa
    • Marketing Monday
    • Tech Tip Tuesday
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • THE EXPERIENCE
    • Convention & Trade Show
    • R&R Special Issue
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • JOIN
Restoration Training/EducationManaging Your Restoration BusinessAsk the Expert

Future Leaders in Restoration Roundtable

Ask the Expert

October 19, 2021

You may be familiar with R&R’s annual Ladder Award, honoring outstanding young restoration professionals 35 years and younger who are climbing the ladder of success and shaping the future of this industry. These individuals exhibit leadership, drive, innovation, care for clients and colleagues, community service and a clear passion for the industry. 

This special-edition Ask the Expert episode features a prestigious panel of Ladder Award finalists from 2020 and 2021 — the best of the best. They share innovative ways they are helping advance the restoration industry, as well as their vision for its future. 

R&R Editor-in-Chief Valerie King moderated this roundtable in-person during The 2021 Experience Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas. R&R received such great interest and feedback that we wanted to give everyone an opportunity to watch or listen. This virtual roundtable brings the panel back together in a format the wider industry can tune into on-demand. 

Millennials are now the largest generation in the labor force at over 56 million. As the property restoration industry struggles to attract new talent, works to ensure a workforce lives on once baby boomers retire, and invests in the adoption new technology, celebrating and learning from these rising young professionals is especially valuable. They provide fresh answers to the important issues noted above and so many more. 

This episode features:

  • Nicole Humber, CEO, Bravo Restoration & Construction (2020 Ladder Award Winner)
  • Andrea Stenberg, Emergency Services Production Cleaning Manager, Paul Davis Restoration of Portland / Vancouver (2021 Ladder Award Winner)
  • Tiffany Meece, Director of Commercial Marketing, First Onsite Property Restoration (2021 Ladder Award First Runner-Up)
  • Cameron Denommee, Director of Operations, ServiceMaster by Gilmore (2021 Ladder Award Second Runner-Up) 

This episode covers:

  • Personal and professional growth through grit
  • Skillsets needed to join the property restoration industry
  • Hiring for culture and training for skill
  • Employee engagement through formal mentoring programs
  • Training tailored to unique learning styles
  • Biggest career challenges faced
  • Top tools and technology
  • How the panel would like to see technology utilized by the industry into the future
  • Imposture syndrome
  • Key ways the panel would like to see the property restoration industry evolve
  • Leading from any chair – tips for others sitting in similar seats
  • Building beneficial industry relationships 
  • Resources for fueling growth – from books to podcasts to industry events
  • Advice they would give to their younger selves
  • Key things that motivate them as young professionals, that they seek from their place of work 

Check out this episode of Ask the Expert to learn more. You can watch the video here or listen to the audio version of our conversation here. You can also find our show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Just search for Restoration & Remediation Ask the Expert, then hit Follow.

Email kingv@bnpmedia.com to be considered for a guest spot on Ask the Expert.

Looking for quick answers on restoration, remediation and cleaning topics?
Try Ask R&R, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask R&R →

KEYWORDS: company culture employee retention restoration business growth restoration industry trends Trailblazer Award

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • House fire before and after

    Cleaning Isn't Clearance: The Next Evolution in Fire Restoration

    Learn why fire restoration goes far beyond cleaning and...
    Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration
    By: Kevin Coy
  • Women in Restoration Award Winner: Meredith Truitt

    Introducing R&R's 2026 Women in Restoration Award Winner, Meredith Truitt!

    Meet Meredith Truitt, R&R’s 2026 Women in Restoration...
    Restoration Training/Education
    By: Kayla McGowan
  • Digital view of the United States with a Hurricane and coding

    Is Your Restoration Technology Ready for the Upcoming Hurricane Season?

    Here’s how restoration contractors can prepare their...
    Catastrophe Restoration
    By: Taylor Carmichael
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • Join Restoration & Remediation
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Restoration & Remediation audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Restoration & Remediation or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • 5 Questions to Shape Your 2027 Plan
    Sponsored byVioland Management Associates

    Five Questions That Should Shape Every Restoration Company’s 2027 Plan

  • Violand business coaching
    Sponsored byVioland Management Associates

    The Conversation Most Owners Wait Too Long to Have

Popular Stories

ask the expert

Fire Restoration Safety, Lessons, and Customer Service

October 2026 Editor's Note: An Open Letter to the Restoration Industry

An Open Letter to the Restoration Industry

Metal Gears with words printed on them

Beyond More Jobs: What It Takes to Scale a Restoration Business

Preparing to Respond: Fires

Events

May 19, 2026

Hurricane Response: What’s Changed, Who’s at Risk, and How to Scale Without Breaking

On Demand Hurricane season isn’t what it used to be, and neither is disaster response. In this webinar, our panel will break down what’s changed for hurricane response, and how restorers can scale responsibly without sacrificing their safety, retention, or profitability.

December 10, 2026

Fire Damage Restoration: What We Know, What We Don’t, and What Comes Next

LIVE: December 10, 2026 at 2 PM EST This webinar brings together restoration, industrial hygienists, and safety experts for a practical discussion on what happens from the moment a property is assessed for fire damage through final clearance.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

What is Your Primary Service Offering

What is your primary service offering for your business?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

2026 National Renovation and Insurance Repair Estimator

2026 National Renovation and Insurance Repair Estimator

Current prices in dollars and cents and detailed descriptions for hard-to-find items needed on most insurance, repair, remodeling, and renovation jobs. All price items include labor, material, and equipment breakouts, plus special charts that tell you exactly how these costs are calculated. Includes many reinstall/salvage cost estimates, hundreds of sample product images and unique architectural items.ISBN 978-1-57218-405-3

 

 

See More Products

Submit Your New Product/Technology to R&R!

Would you like to promote a new restoration, remediation or cleaning product/technology with Restoration & Remediation? Fill out the question below to start your submission:

Related Articles

  • Why Restoration?

    Young Leaders in Restoration Share Their “Why”

    See More
  • Emerging Leaders

    RIA and C&R Magazine Announce Inaugural Emerging Leaders in Restoration Award Winners

    See More
  • Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Young Professionals

    Young Leaders in Restoration Share Words of Wisdom

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • COVER pdf.jpg

    How to Get More Restoration Jobs in 14 Days... (ebook)

  • Water in Buildings: An Architect's Guide to Moisture and Mold

See More Products
×

Stay in the know on the latest restoration & cleaning industry trends.

Get tailored content delivered your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Submit a Press Release
  • JOIN TODAY
    • Create Account
    • Newsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Reprints
    • Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing