The property restoration and remediation industry is known to be a male-dominated field, and while women comprise 47% of the entire U.S. labor force, they account for just 10.9% of the segment’s workforce (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Within the restoration industry alone, only 20% of restoration technicians are women (Zippia). This Women’s History Month, PuroClean, one of the nation’s leading restoration and remediation franchises, is recognizing the women at the forefront industry.

Using the #PuroWomen platform, PuroClean developed the campaign to amplify PuroWomen’s voices during Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 8th. The initiative will spotlight women across PuroClean’s corporate support team, as well as those within its diverse franchise network throughout North America.  

“Our company is where it is today thanks to the hardworking women who lead our network, from our franchise owners and technicians to our Home Office team members,” said Steve White, President and COO of PuroClean. “Diversity in leadership and celebration of the women in our network is a priority for us as we continue to grow and excel, and this Women’s History Month, we are honored to recognize the great women who make PuroClean the world-class brand it is every day.”

The term ‘PuroWomen’ derives from a growth group that was formed over a decade ago by women in the PuroClean franchise community to encourage, train, and develop women to excel in a male-dominated industry. This year’s PuroWomen campaign is highlighting the ways in which PuroClean’s female employees, franchise owners, and partners #BreakTheBias through their work in the restoration and remediation industry. PuroWomen influence is rapidly growing, with 34 franchise offices having female ownership. This influence is also reflective of the brand’s employee roster, where hundreds of female technicians and staff members are employed by the brand across North America in an industry that we know is male dominated. 

The #PuroWomen campaign is celebrating the rising number of women in the field all month long with: 

  • Female franchise owner spotlights and profiles on the brand’s social media platforms, using #BreaktheBias – including owners like Jessica Beck of PuroClean of Lafayette; Becky Edgren of PuroClean Emergency Services in Moraine, OH; and Dawn Erickson of PuroClean Disaster Restoration Specialists in Charleston, SC, among others.
  • More than 30 videos, 50 photos, and several interviews highlighting PuroWomen and how they are breaking the bias in their communities, shared on social media and in marketing materials. 
  • Local, regional, and national PR efforts to amplify recognition for the brand’s outstanding women, including storytelling around the ways PuroWomen #BreakTheBias in their communities. 
  • Home Office team member spotlights across internal communication channels, including showcasing two outstanding women who have rapidly ascended the corporate ladder in restoration/remediation and franchising at PuroClean: Chrissy VanderWyde, Vice President of Franchise Relations, who recently earned a 2021 Gold Stevie® by the International Business Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Consumer Services Category; and Margaret Chebat, Vice President of Account Management for Business Development, who last year, became the youngest female Vice President in the company’s history.

“Throughout my tenure at PuroClean, I have seen our company grow in every aspect, and that growth has included some incredible diversification, which I believe is reflective of the support our senior leadership team has in its team members,” said VanderWyde. “The women who are taking the lead across teams at PuroClean have made an outstanding impact not only on our network as a whole, but also in their local communities as well. Our franchise owners, support team members, technicians, and Home Office team work tirelessly on behalf of our customers, and PuroWomen are at the forefront of it all!”

For more than 20 years, PuroClean has helped home and business owners with their restoration and remediation needs, serving communities across the United States and Canada with a network of over 375 offices.  

For more information about PuroClean, please visit www.puroclean.com, or call (800) 775-7876. For more information about franchising opportunities, please visit www.purocleanfranchise.com. 

About PuroClean

PuroClean is a leading service brand for water damage remediation, fire and smoke damage mitigation, mold removal, and biohazard cleanup services, working with both residential and commercial customers across the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 2001, PuroClean is a diverse, fast-growing network of more than 360 North American franchise locations, each independently owned and operated. With a commitment to respond within two hours, the professionals at PuroClean are thoroughly screened, insured and trained in utilizing the latest cutting-edge mitigation technology to complete the remediation task at hand. PuroClean has earned numerous awards within franchising and the greater global business community, including “The Franchise Satisfaction Award” from Franchise Business Review, ranking on The Franchise 500 from Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc. Magazine’s “5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies” and Franchise Times “Top 400,” and being named a Top Franchise for Veterans by Entrepreneur Magazine.