Xactly byGTE finds and places talent with restoration companies across the U.S. and Canada – from startups to businesses earning more than $1 billion annually. Their team recruits for all roles, from field technicians to estimators to sales representatives to executives. In this episode of Ask the Expert, Gregg Taylor, managing member of Xactly byGTE, speaks to the unmet expectations of restoration candidates during the hiring process. Taylor shares best practices, helpful tools, top trends and more related to finding, recruiting and keeping top-notch team members. A few of the many concepts he covers include the power of passive candidates, the cost of a vacant position and the importance of first impressions.

Fire damage goes far beyond removing soot and repairing visible damage. Learn about commonly overlooked contamination, fire suppression water damage, documentation, safety, and exceptional customer service. 

Wildfire risk is expanding into new regions across the US, creating new challenges for restorers. Jamie Knippen of Cotality shares her insights on conflagration, emerging technology, and how restorers can use data to prepare both their businesses and communities.

Is your business prepared for 2027? Jeff Jones and Josh Bachman share the systems, numbers, sales strategies, and long-term planning restoration businesses should focus on as both competition and the market evolve.

This episode is brought to you by:

Verisk experts break down the 2026 Q1 restoration trends that cover claim volume, CAT losses, pricing, labor, materials, and loss severity.

David Gavilanes shares how restorers can properly prepare for fire response with hazard assessments, PPE, communication, community education, and partnerships.

This episode is brought to you by:

Fire restoration goes far beyond the visible damage. Mark Robertson of Benefect and Fiberlock discusses hidden contamination, coatings, deodorization, and customer communication on this episode of Ask The Expert.

This episode is brought to you by: