s AI driving real growth—or setting up the next bubble?

Recorded live at this year’s INTRConnect, this episode features Selma Hepp, SVP & Chief Economist at Cotality, breaking down the macroeconomic trends shaping the housing and insurance markets.

Selma explores AI’s growing role in economic activity, concerns around potential market overvaluation, labor market softness, rising construction costs, and the surge in mergers and acquisitions driven by data investments. She also unpacks the reality of the K-shaped economy and what uneven wealth distribution means for contractors and the industry at large.

Despite ongoing uncertainty, Selma shares why she remains cautiously optimistic—and how staying informed can help contractors navigate what’s next with confidence.

🎙️ Hot off the INTRConnect keynote in Washington, DC

Garret Gray, of Cotality, joins the podcast to break down the big ideas behind his high-impact keynote—and what they mean for the future of restoration and insurance.

From the powerful metaphor of moving from darkness to light, to the debut of a conversational AI assistant designed to help contractors create real-time estimates, this episode dives deep into where the industry is headed.

The restoration industry moves fast, and many entrepreneurs quietly slip into workaholism along the way. In this episode, Michelle and Eric Sprague, co-founder of SuperTech University, talk honestly about the culture of overwork, both sharing their journeys of learning to work more strategically and saying yes to work that aligns with their purpose. This episode challenges restorers to rethink hustle culture and build healthier, more intentional work habits for 2026 and beyond.

Holly Baldwin, Senior Customer Success Manager at DocuSketch, joins the podcast to share her unexpected path into the restoration industry and nearly a decade of hands-on experience supporting contractors in the field. The conversation dives into how 360 documentation is transforming customer service, increasing transparency, and helping restorers get paid faster by reducing adjuster visits and follow-up questions.From combating tech fatigue during slower seasons to creative ways franchises are incentivizing technology adoption and using free 3D scans to strengthen relationships, this episode reinforces one key truth: restoration may be evolving, but it remains a people-first business built on trust.

Are you ready to kick off 2026?

In the last episode of 2025, Scott Severe (SVP, Alliances & Industry Relations at Cotality) and Matthew Parkerson (Senior Director, Customer Innovation at Cotality) join us to dive into what you can expect at Cotality’s INTRConnect Conference — January 20–22 in Washington, D.C.

With multiple learning tracks, hands-on sessions, and powerful networking opportunities, INTRConnect gives field leaders, owners, and ops teams the tools they need to navigate tight margins, optimize processes, and build stronger leadership in the year ahead. Registration is still open—team discounts available!

Welcome back to Main Street Restorer, a video series showcasing real-world challenges and practical advice from seasoned broker, Gokul Padmanabhan of Restoration Brokers of America, helping entrepreneurs discover innovative solutions and strategies for success.

In this episode of Main Street Restorer, we break down shifting M&A trends, why smaller restoration companies are selling faster, how private equity is reshaping the lower middle market, and what today’s economic climate means for valuations, buyers, and sellers.

Read Restoration Brokers of America's Q3 Restoration Market Update HERE.

Leadership, culture, and the future of restoration. 🍻 In the latest episode of Phil & Michelle's Happy Hour, Mike Hopkins, COO of Paul Davis, joins Phil Rosebrook, Jr., of Business Mentors, and Michelle Blevins to talk leadership development, sales mindset, technology, and how staying true to core values drives scalable, purpose-driven growth in the restoration industry.

This episode of the podcast we are joined by an amazing group of RIA volunteers and board members that include RIA President, Jeff Moore, Vince Scarfo, Mark Davis, Marcie Richardson, and Davis Ness. We will look at how the Restoration Industry Association moved the industry forward in 2025—and what’s coming next.

From record-breaking events and major advocacy wins to education updates, ethical standards, and the future of AI, this episode breaks down why RIA engagement matters and how it’s shaping restoration in 2026 and beyond.

Scaling doesn’t have to mean wearing more hats. In the latest episode of Chasing the Vision, in partnership with Exit Strategies 360 and Violand Management Associates, Josh Bachman of Violand Management Associates shares how restoration contractors can use outsourcing as a strategic tool to increase capacity, improve profitability, and build scalable systems.

JT Kraai and Tim Hull add real-world commentary on the challenges they see every day—owners stretched too thin, operational bottlenecks, and how the right outsourcing decisions can relieve pressure, improve performance, and increase enterprise value.

AI is no longer a “future” conversation for restoration—it’s happening now.

In this episode of Restoration Today, Nick D’Urbano, Co-Founder & CRO at Distance, breaks down how AI-native platforms are helping restoration contractors capture more leads, respond faster during storm surge events, and improve customer experience across every touchpoint.