In 2016, Benjamin Surdi, founder and CEO of PureDry Restoration, purchased a business that was in major debt and all-around bad shape. Since then, the company has quadrupled in size and revenue, and it is a recognized market leader in Washington State. In this episode of Real Stories in Restoration, Surdi shares hardships, triumphs and secrets to his success. A few of the themes covered include: Creating raving fans out of customers, cultivating a culture of employee excellence, attracting talent in a tight labor market, financial literacy as fundamental, systematizing business operations, branding that stands out and emotionally intelligent leadership.

Larry Cooper, executive director of the Experience, shares what to expect at this year’s event, taking place Sept. 7-9 at the Caesar’s Forum Conference Center. Cooper explains why the Experience is more than catchy name. It reflects the convention’s educational philosophy. 

Carmen Ciricillo, owner and principal instructor, joins us to share how he combines his background in construction and comedy to present training on safety, codes and other crucial matter in a lively way. Ciricillo performs at comedy clubs across the country. He also posts videos on his YouTube channel in the persona of The Construction Comic.

Paul Huszar, president of CEO of VetCor, joins us to share the story of his company. Huszar is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. He and David Howard, another former Army officer, founded the Tampa, Florida-based company in 2013 and started franchising it in 2020. Huszar discusses the challenges veterans face in finding work in civilian life and how the restoration business provides a unique opportunity for them.

R&R Editor Valerie King announces the call for 2022 Ladder Award nominations in this special message. She shares the importance of the award, now in its third year, as well as eligibility requirements and judging criteria. Click here to submit nominations or learn more about the 2022 Ladder Award and to submit a nomination by Monday, May 30, 2022.

PSA by Canam Systems provides integrated restoration management software designed to help restoration companies increase efficiency, accountability and, ultimately, profits. In this Ask the Expert episode, Sales Manager Ryan Pritchard shares practical steps restoration contractors can take to ensure the software they invest in delivers value, including integration and scaling solutions with the growth of their business. He also discusses a PSA rebrand introduced at the start of 2022.

The American Policyholder Association is a nonprofit watchdog organization that promotes integrity, honesty and best practices in the property loss adjustment sector of the insurance industry. In this episode of Ask the Expert, Executive Director Doug Quinn talks about the APA’s work advocating for policyholder benefits and promoting solutions in insurance coverage, the insurance claim process, and the repair and rebuilding process for policyholders across the U.S.