Lessons in the Field: ATI Restoration’s Six-Week Hurricane Milton Recovery

The team at ATI Restoration successfully restored nearly 300 units in an apartment complete in just six weeks’ time through technology and teamwork

Welcome to a special Ask The Expert: Lessons in the Field edition. We’re joined by Brantley Kushner, Executive Project Director for ATI Restoration, and Robb Harrell, VP of Strategic Accounts at DocuSketch.

This new series gives restorers an opportunity to share real-world projects, the challenges they face, the vendor partnerships that help them along the way, and the lessons they learn. From overcoming adversity to achieving successful project outcomes, we're taking a closer look at what happens in the field and what you can take away from these experiences.

Here’s what we discuss:

The Job at Hand: Hurricane Milton left an apartment complex with nearly 300 units across several different buildings in need of restoration and remediation work. The complex stretched nearly a mile, the damage varied from unit to unit, residents had to leave their homes, and the team needed to move quickly.
Key Project Success Variables: Success went beyond manpower. The team needed to stay on top of documentation, communication, procurement, estimating, and production throughout the project.
The Importance of Technology and Tools: Brantley and his team leveraged DocuSketch for 360-degree documentation, creating a single source of truth that helped align their team, subcontractors, property managers, and carriers without slowing down the process.
The Biggest Lesson: Despite the project's massive scale, ATI didn't need to add more people to complete the work quickly and accurately. With the right people, partnerships, and resources in place, the team demonstrated how effective coordination can help you manage a complex project.
The Outcome: With the right approach, partnerships, tools, and coordination, ATI Restoration completed this massive project in just six weeks!

Want to learn more? Watch the full episode to hear how they did it and what you can take away from their experience.

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Kayla McGowan is the SPAR Partner Manager for PuroClean, where she manages and strengthens the company’s vendor partnership ecosystem. In her role, she serves as a key liaison between PuroClean, approved vendor partners, internal stakeholders, and Franchise Owners, helping connect the network with trusted tools, services, and products that support operational success.

With more than 10 years of experience in marketing and communications within the restoration and cleaning industry, Kayla has built her career around connecting people, ideas, and resources that move the industry forward. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Restoration & Remediation (R&R) Magazine and continues to contribute to R&R as a writer, bringing her industry knowledge and perspective to its audience.

Kayla holds a B.S. in Criminal Science and an M.S. in Public Safety and Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Restoration Industry Association’s Marketing Committee.

Her industry credentials include Microbial Warrior®️, Certified Forensic Operator®️, and High Risk/High Level Decontamination Specialist™️. Passionate about elevating the restoration industry and the professionals within it, Kayla enjoys building meaningful relationships, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities for collaboration. Outside of work, she is a food lover who enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors.