Kustom US, a privately held restoration and remediation company headquartered in Florida, has grown exponentially since 2000 by streamlining operations, acquiring new businesses and embracing a people-centered strategy. In this episode of Ask the Expert, Andrew Zavodney, chairman of the board and CEO, talks about Kustom’s investment in company culture, employee value proposition, corporate governance, M&A due diligence, transparency, accountability and scaling without private equity. He also discusses his role as vice president of the Restoration Industry Association and consolidation as a key industry trend.

In part two of our commercial drying series, Howard Wolf shares why successful commercial and large-loss projects require strong communication, risk evaluations, disciplined operational processes, and a systems thinking approach.

ServiceForge’s Jane Blanchard shares how after-hours response and customer communication can help restoration companies improve their reviews, increase lead conversion, and build trust.

Jeff Cross joins host Kayla McGowan to discuss AI in industry media, the value that deadlines bring, collaboration, and why coffee is part of their workflow.

PuroClean’s Margaret Chebat and Melissa Wittig discuss women in restoration, operational leadership, franchise growth, and the evolution of the restoration industry.

Nate Cisney of Restoration Made Simple shares TPA vs non-TPA work, how it affects your operations, profitability, diversifying your work, and long-term growth for restorers.

In the final Women in Restoration episode, Staci Sargent shares how leadership, training, and real-world experience are shaping the industry. She highlights the importance of structure, accountability, and continuous learning in building confident restoration professionals.