Five years ago, the R&R team launched the Ladder Award. The goal was simple: recognizing the rising young professionals in the restoration industry, who are blazing new trails with innovative leadership, ideas and technological advancements. Each nominee must exhibit qualities such as leadership, career progress, community involvement and a clear passion for the restoration industry. Most importantly, nominees should exhibit evidence of high character, integrity and care for their colleagues and clients.

Each nomination is carefully scored by a set of industry judges. This year, amongst the restorers nominated for the Ladder Award, one rising young star stood out from the list of nominees.

 

Meet 2025 Ladder Award Winner Caleb Parrotte

Caleb has a long history with our industry. Funny thing is, he didn’t know this would ultimately end up as his career. Caleb started in his younger years by helping his father, who was a partner in a small restoration company, out on jobs. He quickly learned he had a love for the work he was doing, and he eventually ended up “running with it” and never looking back.

By the age of 10, Caleb was out sweeping and cleaning job sites, which led to him spending his spring, summer and winter breaks working to earn extra money. This led to the opportunity of having hands-on exposure across the business from helping with administrative tasks and estimating to learning about industry.

While Caleb has been in the industry for most of his life, his most impactful and significant years have been in the last six years, where Caleb officially launched his full-time career in the industry. He started out as a restoration technician, moved up to restoration supervisor, project coordinator, project manager, project director and senior project director. Then he joined the ATI Restoration team and quickly moved up the ranks to the Regional Manager of their Seattle-Kent, WA office. Following his promotion to Regional Manager, he was tasked with rebuilding the branch from the ground up. Not only did he reorganize and rebuild the team, he also had a significant impact on improving the morale and productivity of the staff by providing a supportive and collaborative culture for their team.

Caleb is constantly leading by example, refining workflows, seeking efficiencies and ensuring their office is a high-performing branch known for delivering high-quality work for all their projects. His growth within the company in just three years is a testament to his technical knowledge, leadership maturity and his deep-rooted passion for the restoration industry.

"I was sort of brought up in it in a way. I mean, I grew up on job sites with my father on weekends, spring break, summer break — all that fun stuff, helping from sweeping, I used to cut his floorboards if we did some flooring and trim and casing — stuff like that. And then I started being receptive and started learning and really started to love it. And from then on, I just ran with it."

 

Key Accomplishments in the Restoration Industry

Caleb holds several IICRC certifications, including:

• Water Damage Restoration (WRT)
• Applied Structural Drying (ASD)
• Applied Microbial Remediation (AMRT)

These credentials reflect his commitment to technical excellence and continuous learning.

Notable Restoration Projects and Initiatives

Caleb has led several high-impact restoration efforts, including:

• Restoring inpatient assisted living medical facilities affected by Hurricane Ian, with more than 60 units impacted
• Managing an 80+ unit flood in a Seattle high-rise
• Contributing to the restoration of a historic chapel in Seattle

With all these projects, Caleb was in the trenches with his team and did not hesitate to get his hands dirty, he was "in the thick of it" to ensure everyone understood the goals and worked collaboratively to achieve them. This often meant long hours of physical work followed by providing their clients with updated pictures and timelines, demonstrating his commitment to excellence.

"I wouldn't necessarily say a moment. I would more say that at any time that I can offer my team a moment to learn without it obviously affecting something drastically, I take it. I mean, everybody's got to learn from their mistakes just as well as their successes. That's the most important part. You've got to see the raw side of it. You've got to see the good side of it.”

 

Caleb’s Leadership Style

Caleb leads with a philosophy rooted in empathy, empowerment and character. “Effective leadership should not be done with an iron fist,” he said. “I don’t manage projects. I don’t manage a P&L. I don’t manage divisions. I manage people.”

His approach is centered on managing expectations and nurturing a culture where his team members feel supported and valued. He believes when people are happy and aligned, business success naturally follows. He encourages his team to learn through their mistakes, offering guidance rather than reprimanding them and he helps his team grow from both their wins and setbacks.

He also stresses the importance of character. “You can teach anything that we’re doing on a job site, but you can’t teach character,” he said. Caleb looks for qualities like ambition, perseverance and a positive attitude, traits he believes are essential for long-term success.

Mentorship and Support for Emerging Restoration Professionals

Mentorship is a cornerstone of Caleb’s leadership. He creates space for his team to learn, make mistakes and improve. “It’s 100% the most fulfilling part of my job,” he said, “seeing people I’ve brought up and elevated succeed.”

He motivates individuals based on their strengths and character, guiding them through their challenges and helping them build their confidence. His people-first mindset has cultivated a team that is not only technically skilled but also deeply committed to their high quality and service.

Caleb’s Advice on Getting Started in the Restoration Industry

Caleb encourages young professionals to be intentional and proactive. “Show your intentions to the leaders you’re working with,” he said. “Show your intentions to grow, show your intentions to learn.”

He believes in taking the time to understand project goals, seeking mentorship from trusted leaders and continuously learning from experienced professionals. For those considering a career in restoration, he offers this advice: “It’s not for the faint of heart. You’re providing a product and being there for somebody who needs it. The fulfillment is endless.”

 

Family and Mentor Support

Caleb credits much of his growth and success to the support of his family and the guidance of his mentors:

• Wife, Luci: "My wife, Luci, has been an amazing support, understanding all of the late nights and early mornings and everything in between. She continues to level me out throughout all the fun this industry has to offer." Their shared love for travel also provides a crucial balance to his demanding career.  
• Father, Ty: "My father, Ty, who had brought me up through construction since I was in single-digit age and has taught me everything I know." Caleb's early exposure to the industry through his father's small restoration business instilled the values, demands and community impact of the work.  
• Mentors (Mitch Martin and Derek Middleton): Mitch Martin and Derek Middleton were instrumental to his growth. Derek taught him the importance of focusing on the growth of people, allowing them to make mistakes and learn. Mitch reinforced the idea that "this is a people business" and by helping people get what they want, you will always get what you want. These mentors have shaped his people-first leadership approach.  

Passion for Restoration and What Drives Him

Caleb’s passion is simple: helping people through some of the most difficult and uncertain moments of their lives. “I want to be the guiding hand they didn’t know they needed,” he said. Whether it’s a flood or fire, he finds fulfillment in providing clarity and support when clients are most vulnerable.

He is also driven by the success of his team. “Seeing my staff help people, helping them elevate in their careers and in their lives—that’s the reason I come to work every day.”

 

Life Outside of Work

Outside of restoration, Caleb enjoys activities that help him recharge and stay connected to nature:

• Snowboarding in winter and spring
• Golfing during summer and fall
• Hiking and traveling with his dog
• Exploring new destinations with Luci, always keeping at least two trips on the calendar, whether nearby staycations or cross-country adventures

 

Meet Our Runners-Up

Alexus Neidert
Head of Brand/Culture, Thomasville Restoration

Alexus Neidert is a restoration professional with seven years of experience in branding, content strategy, and company culture. As Head of Brand + Culture at Thomasville Restoration, she’s passionate about telling authentic brand stories and fostering an environment where teammates feel loved, valued, heard, and cared for. With a proven track record of leading creative, impactful campaigns, Alexus focuses on building strong connections with both employees and customers. Her strategies have helped Thomasville improve employee retention and customer satisfaction, all while maintaining a meaningful, people-first brand identity. Alexus blends creativity with data-driven insights to craft memorable brand and teammate experiences. She’s been featured in industry articles, podcasts, and restoration-specific speaking engagements. Outside of work, Alexus volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, mentors emerging professionals, and consults with small businesses on brand development.

 

Ryder Hendrix
Regional Manager, ATI Restoration 

Ryder Hendrix is a dynamic Regional Manager at ATI Restoration with five years of experience in the restoration industry. Known for her operational expertise and people-first leadership, Ryder oversees multiple offices in the Carolinas, driving revenue growth, team development and exceptional client satisfaction across diverse markets. Her strategic mindset is evident in the structure she brings to teams—developing SOPs, fostering accountability and using data-driven insights to enhance efficiency and scalability.

Ryder is a certified restoration professional with multiple IICRC certifications and has been recognized internally for her leadership and consistent performance. Under her guidance, several ATI offices have earned top-performer distinctions with major third-party administrators. Beyond her day-to-day responsibilities, she’s a mentor, culture-setter and advocate for doing things the right way—leading with integrity, empathy and a deep commitment to excellence.

 

Meet Our Judges

Andrew Dobson
Owner/general manager, SERVPRO of downtown Pittsburgh 

2023 Ladder Award winner Andrew Dobson started his career as a technician for SERVPRO of West Mahoning County and quickly rose to the ranks of a crew chief and then on to production manager. After five years at SERVPRO, he and his wife became the owners of SERVPRO of East Mahoning County in 2016.

Over the past ears, Andrew's ownership group collectively now holds 19 SERVPRO franchises and is regarded as one of the top ten ownership groups in the SERVPRO system.

Andrew is technologically driven and process oriented. Having developed a hub and spoke model within the SERVPRO system, he is reshaping the model of franchise operations. His level of organization and attention to processes has lowered the barrier to entry for people looking for a career in the restoration industry. 

 

Benjamin Ricciardi
Founder, Ironclad Restoration Marketing

Benjamin Ricciardi is the founder of Ironclad Restoration Marketing, A digital marketing agency that specializes in the Restoration and Cleaning industry based in South Florida. Benjamin is the author of The No Bulls**t Guide to Internet Marketing for Restoration Contractors, hosts The Ironclad Marketing Minute each month on R&R Magazine and The Restoration Rundown Podcast, a podcast that is focused on everything related to marketing and owning a Restoration and Cleaning Business.