Ask the Expert
Safety, Leadership & Restoration Excellence
Dan Derbes shares How the Navy’s values shape safety, customer care, and innovation for his career in the restoration industry.
We’re wrapping up this Q&A series highlighting our military veterans with Dan Derbes of Lightspeed Restoration. Dan is a U.S. Navy veteran with multiple industry certifications, and he has built a successful operation in Northern Virginia that is dedicated to improving home safety and well-being. Dan discusses the importance of home safety and operational excellence in our industry in this exclusive Q&A. Learn more about what has influence his career in the Navy has on his mindset, approach, and how it has influenced the way he tackles safety and customer care.
Question: How has your service in the Navy influenced your approach to home safety and operational excellence in our industry?
Answer: The military taught me to focus on the mission at hand, which also includes taking care of the team that is providing the service. In our industry, our mission is to help homeowners, and business owners with environmental issues like mold, water damage, air quality, and more. My experience in the Navy helped me maintain that holistic, mission-focused approach, caring for both our customers, and my employees. The level of dedication and compassion required in the military carries into the industry. You genuinely have to care about what you're doing every day to help people we serve.
Q: What are the most overlooked aspects of home safety that restoration professionals should prioritize during a job?
A: It all starts with safety; we cannot enter a jobsite unless we deem it safe first. The environments we work in often have their own set of hazards, so maintaining a safe work environment for both our teams and our customers is always at the top of mind. It is easy to overlook safety protocols, but they can never be taken for granted.
We always make sure we have the proper PPE, we’re situationally aware, and we are following OSHA guidelines. These steps are extremely critical, even when the job may seem “routine”. Safety is a priority for us, and I cannot stress how important this is for our industry. Safety needs to be at the top of mind for all industry professionals.
Q: How do you balance safety and the emotional well-being of your customers and your team?
A: We approach this several ways, but I want to focus on the emotional well-being side of things. Often our customers are overwhelmed, and they don’t understand the process of the work we do. We take an educational, constructive approach, and walk our customers through what is happening, what caused the issue, and how we will handle the project from start to finish. This helps lower their anxiety and build trust.
For our team, we make sure we have clear communication about safety protocols, our process, and this helps us stay aligned and avoid any unnecessary risks. Those aren’t the only focus points; we provide the emotional support to our teams as well. Sometimes we face situations that are emotionally heavy, and we want to make sure that our teams are taken care of on all aspects. Mental health is a key part of our safety as well. We have to have the right mindset to get the job done right.
Q: Which industry certifications and/or training programs have been most impactful in shaping your safety protocols and team culture?
A: I've thoroughly enjoyed the IICRC certification courses and have even retaken some of them to continually expand my knowledge. The technical training is excellent, but I find the broader business and customer service perspectives just as valuable. Sharing what I've learned with my team during meetings and toolbox talks helps us all grow. The IICRC's evolving curriculum, like the upcoming Building Moisture Inspection course, demonstrates the industry's commitment to science-based, holistic approaches to safety and remediation.
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Q: What innovations or trends do you see shaping the future of home safety and well-being in our industry within the next 10 years?
A: One thing I think we will see take off is remote monitoring technology. We’re seeing it now, but I think we will see an even bigger advancement that will advance our industry substantially. It will also see key benefits as an industry once it becomes an industry standard. What I mean by that is, we will embrace this technology, and it will be implemented into a majority if not all restoration businesses. They provide real-time data, alert systems, and find issues before it’s too late.
This allows us to address problems earlier, reducing the emotional and financial toll on customers. I also think AI will play a big role in generating checklists and reviewing job scopes to ensure safety protocols are followed. Overall, innovations that empower both restoration companies and homeowners to proactively maintain healthy, safe living environments will be transformative.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in the restoration industry who wants to take safety seriously?
A: Safety must become a habit, formed through repetition and constant reinforcement. It's easy to get complacent, even with known hazards like ladders. Restoration professionals must make safety a daily priority, going over protocols regularly with their teams. We have ingrained it as a core part of our culture, and safety becomes second nature, protecting both our team and customers. It may seem tedious, but this consistent focus on safety is essential for long-term success and well-being in this industry.
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