In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, host Clinton James sits down with Scott Miller, founder of The Growth League, to unpack his incredible journey from rookie franchisee to independent restoration owner and now successful business coach.

Scott shares how he built a top-performing restoration business, scaled it, and sold it, all while learning the hard lessons that most owners don’t figure out until it’s too late. 

You’ll learn:

- The financial blind spots that keep owners from true profitability

- How to motivate your team with performance-based pay and shared goals

- Why today’s restoration market demands in-home sales training and strong intake calls

- The top mistakes that kill business value before an owner tries to sell

Whether you’re running a franchise, operating independently, or thinking about an exit, this episode is a goldmine of real-world wisdom for restoration entrepreneurs.

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Learn more about The Growth League:

https://www.thegrowthleague.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmiller1/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-growth-league/

https://www.youtube.com/@TheRestorationCoach

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?
Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton James sits down with Jeff Carrier, Co-Founder and CEO of Restoration ERP, to talk about how restoration companies can use technology to win more commercial work and how the new ERP Copilot AI is changing the game.

Jeff breaks down how most restorers have handled commercial disaster planning in the past, why ERPs are key to landing “first call” commercial clients, and how his team built a platform that makes it simple and profitable.

You’ll also hear about ERP Copilot, the industry’s first AI-powered sales trainer and assistant built specifically for restoration professionals. From sales call analysis and role-playing objection handling to email sequencing and disaster plan coaching, ERP Copilot gives restorers 24/7 guidance on how to approach, pitch, and close commercial clients with confidence.

Whether you’re already offering ERPs or just starting to target commercial properties, this episode will show you how to use automation and AI to scale your restoration business, strengthen client relationships, and win more high-value contracts.

Learn more about Restoration ERP and ERP Copilot:
https://restorationerp.com

Restoration ERP LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/restoration-erp/

Restoration ERP Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWTf0r9LXBoSPrg06PAj5Hg

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, host Clinton James (CMO, Water Restoration Marketing) sits down with Chris Nordyke, President & Co-Owner of Floodlight Consulting Group, to unpack the sales and marketing KPIs that separate thriving restoration companies from those just getting by.

Pulled from a powerful live session hosted by WRM and Floodlight, this episode breaks down how to truly “know your numbers” and how tracking the right ones can help you scale smarter, convert more leads, and win more profitable jobs.

You’ll discover:
✅ The top KPIs that drive predictable growth and profitability
✅ How to align sales and marketing for better lead conversion
✅ The biggest lead management mistakes restoration owners make (and how to fix them)
✅ Why tracking performance builds accountability across your entire team
✅ Real-world examples of companies using data to scale faster and smarter

If you’ve ever wondered which numbers actually matter when it comes to growing your restoration business, this episode will give you the clarity and direction you need to take your next leap.

Featuring:
Clinton James – CMO, Water Restoration Marketing
Chris Nordyke – President & Co-Owner, Floodlight Consulting Group

📈 Learn More:
👉 Explore Sales Consulting and Leadership Training from Floodlight Consulting:
https://www.floodlightgrp.com/

👉 Schedule a Free Strategy Call with Water Restoration Marketing:
https://waterrestorationmarketing.com/

Finding and keeping the right people can make or break a restoration business. In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, host Clinton James sits down with Mitchell Riley, Recruiter and Partner at OPS Staffing, to unpack what works and what doesn’t when it comes to hiring in the restoration industry.

Mitchell shares practical recruiting strategies that restoration company owners can use right away, including:

- Low-cost, high-impact tactics like referral programs, local networking, and community outreach

- Where to find the right candidates for different roles from field staff to project managers to executives

- How to use technology and AI wisely without falling into common traps like fake resumes or fast-apply overload

- The candidate experience what makes top talent choose one company over another

- Critical mistakes to avoid when trying to build a strong team

Whether you’re struggling to fill positions or looking to upgrade your recruiting process, this episode is packed with insights to help you hire smarter, save time, and build a team that drives long-term growth.
Visit: https://www.opsstaffing.net/

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

Cash flow is one of the biggest challenges restoration companies face. Insurance claims can take weeks or even months to pay out, leaving contractors scrambling to cover payroll, materials, and overhead. For many, this delay means turning down jobs, slowing growth, or dipping into personal funds just to stay afloat.

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton James sits down with Ilana Ben-Ezra, PhD, President of National Claims Funding, to reveal how restoration business owners can get paid upfront without waiting on the insurance company.

Ilana breaks down:

- Why delayed insurance payments can stall growth—or even sink a business

- How National Claims Funding’s Approved Scope Advance Program puts cash in your hands upfront

- Real examples of contractors who used this solution to take on more jobs and grow faster

- The simple, no-strings-attached process to start funding your invoices today

If you’ve ever felt the stress of waiting on insurance checks, this episode will show you how to take control of your cash flow, stay competitive, and focus on what matters most—growing your business and serving more customers.

Visit: https://natclaims.com

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton James (CMO, Water Restoration Marketing) sits down with Leah Hanlon (Franchise Sales & Business Development, 1-Tom-Plumber & Icon Property Rescue) to unpack exactly how restoration companies can land more commercial contracts in 2025.

If you’ve struggled to break into the commercial market or you’re ready to scale past residential feast-or-famine work, this conversation gives you the blueprint. Clinton and Leah walk through the traits of successful business development reps (BDRs), why professionalism and persistence win in commercial sales, and how your digital presence can make or break your outreach.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to hire and train BDRs that build real trust with commercial decision-makers
• Proven sales practices that open doors and keep you top-of-mind
• Why your website, Google Business Profile, and reviews are credibility checks you can’t ignore
• How to feature your BDRs online and build social proof with past commercial work
• The growth system that happens when sales and marketing work together

This isn’t theory it’s the exact playbook top restoration companies are using right now to win long-term, high-value commercial contracts.

Learn More About Adding a 1-Tom-Plumber Franchise with Leah:
https://www.1tpfranchise.com/water-restoration-marketing/

Want Personalized Help?
Schedule a Free Discovery Call with Clinton (Water Restoration Marketing):
https://waterrestorationmarketing.com/discovery-call/

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, Clinton James sits down with Holly Baldwin, Senior Customer Success Manager at DocuSketch, to uncover how restoration companies can transform an advanced documentation tool into a powerful sales and marketing engine.

Holly shares her journey from her early days at Servpro to becoming a key leader at DocuSketch, where she now helps restoration professionals streamline operations, win more business, and deliver a true “white glove” customer experience.

Key topics covered in this episode:

• Holly’s career path from Servpro to DocuSketch.
  
  
• What DocuSketch really is and why it’s more than “just a documentation tool.”
  
  
• The “no-cost pre-loss scan” strategy and why it’s a game-changer for winning prospects.
  
  
• How restoration pros are using 360 tours and before/after portfolios to stand out from competitors.
  
  
• Real-world examples of DocuSketch saving companies thousands in liability claims.
  
  
• Overcoming objections like “we already sketch by hand.”
  
  
• The “access deactivation” follow-up tactic that keeps you top-of-mind with property managers.
  
  
• How to integrate DocuSketch with ERPs, marketing campaigns, and sales systems.
  
  
• Why Holly believes in systems over goals for consistent sales success.
  
  

If you’ve ever thought DocuSketch was “just a documentation tool,” this episode will change the way you see it.

Visit: https://www.docusketch.com/

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?
Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

What does it take to move from working insurance claims to running one of Texas’ most trusted restoration companies while also launching a platform to educate the entire industry?

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, host Clinton James sits down with Ben Jernigan, owner of WTR Restoration and founder of DrMoisture.com, a new educational hub for homeowners, agents, and adjusters.

With over 18 years of experience in public adjusting, restoration, and disaster response, Ben shares his journey of rebuilding after Tropical Storm Allison, scaling WTR into a nationwide operation, and why he believes education is the next frontier for the industry.

Listeners will walk away with powerful lessons on business growth, leadership, and the future of restoration.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• The pivotal career moment after Tropical Storm Allison that led Ben into restoration work.
• Transitioning from public adjuster to restoration owner—and the unexpected hurdles along the way.
• Scaling WTR Restoration to handle over 50 major disaster events nationwide.
• Technology’s role in improving efficiency and customer satisfaction (Matterport 3D, remote moisture tracking, Encircle, and more).
• Core business values—how transparency and owner involvement set WTR apart.
• Lessons from setbacks and surprising wins that shaped his leadership philosophy.
• Introducing Dr. Moisture—an educational initiative for homeowners, adjusters, and agents.
• Future of restoration—climate-driven disasters, tech innovations, and where the industry is heading next.
• Rapid-fire insights—Ben’s daily routine, favorite tools, and one takeaway for listeners.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that blends hands-on restoration experience with a vision for educating and empowering the next generation of professionals.
Visit: https://drmoisture.com/ Your trusted educator for water damage prevention, restoration knowledge, and peace of mind.

Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, host Clinton James sits down with Leah Hanlon, one of the nation’s top restoration sales leaders at Icon Property Rescue and now VP of Franchise Sales for 1-Tom-Plumber. Leah reveals how she’s helping entrepreneurs merge restoration and plumbing into unstoppable growth machines.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Leah’s journey from dominating restoration sales to building a national franchise empire
  
  
• How to use emergency plumbing as the ultimate “door-opener” for winning lucrative commercial accounts
  
  
• The proven framework Leah teaches franchisees to generate restoration leads through plumbing services
  
  
• Strategies for identifying and training top-performing Business Development Reps (BDRs)
  
  
• Why 24/7 emergency service is a game-changer for commercial client relationships
  
  
• The biggest opportunities right now for restoration pros looking to expand into commercial channels
  
  
• Leah’s vision for the next 3–5 years in restoration and plumbing—and how you can position yourself to win
  
  

If you’re ready to unlock new revenue streams, scale your business, and learn from one of the best in the industry, this episode is your playbook for success.

Contact Leah Hanlon:- 

https://www.1tpfranchise.com/

[email protected]

Franchise email:  [email protected]

Franchise sales number: 1-855-832-6866

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, host Clinton James interviews Chris Nordyke, President and Co-founder of Floodlight Consulting Group, to unpack what it really takes to build and scale high-performing sales teams in the restoration industry.

With deep industry experience and a passion for business growth, Chris shares the foundational strategies behind Floodlight’s success and how their Fractional Sales Leadership model is transforming how restoration companies pursue and close profitable commercial work.

Key topics covered in this episode:

• Chris’s journey from the field to leading one of the industry’s top consulting firms
  
  
• The origin and mission behind Floodlight Consulting Group
  
  
• The value of 1-on-1 custom consulting for restoration owners and leadership teams
  
  
• What makes Floodlight’s Fractional Sales Management service a game-changer for companies wanting to grow without hiring full-time sales managers
  
  
• How to build and lead sales teams that consistently land commercial restoration contracts
  
  
• The most critical KPI’s every restoration company should be tracking to measure growth, accountability, and profitability
  
  
• Insights into current industry challenges, future trends, and the move from hustle to strategic scalability
  
  
• Why understanding and improving your company’s enterprise value is more important now than ever
  
  
• Actionable takeaways restoration pros can implement immediately to gain clarity, momentum, and results
  
  

Whether you're a restoration veteran or a growth-focused business owner, this episode is packed with real strategies, data-backed insights, and expert perspective to elevate your operation.

Visit: floodlightgrp.com to learn more about consulting services, assessments, and training tools mentioned in the episode.

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Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?

Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:
https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule