Founder & CEO of Dorothy, Arianna Armelli, shares how Dorothy is transforming the way restoration pros, public adjusters, and policyholders navigate storm damage and claims.

Originally launched as a cash advancement business, the company pivoted to focus on advocacy and AI-driven damage intelligence. Dorothy aggregates real-time data across hurricanes, hail, wildfires, and more—helping identify impacted properties and uncover unreported damage opportunities.

Arianna also discusses with Michelle the evolving insurance landscape, the limits of tools like FEMA maps, and how technology is reshaping response and recovery.

Deep Dive #1 of 4 in The State of the Industry webinar series is here!

Join C&R and KnowHow for an exclusive, interactive look at the 2026 report—breaking down key financial trends, workforce realities, tech shifts, and growth opportunities shaping restoration today.

Discover what the data says about confidence, margins, and hiring, plus actionable strategies to guide your business decisions this year.

Severe convective storms are quietly becoming the biggest driver of insurance losses—and most people don’t even realize it.

In this episode, Jon Schneyer of Cotality breaks down why hail, wind, and tornadoes are now outpacing hurricanes, what makes these storms so costly, and why “invisible” damage is a growing problem for property owners and contractors alike.

From the surprising spread of storm risk across the country to the “Chicago anomaly” and the role aging roofs play in claim severity, this conversation dives into what’s really changing—and what the industry needs to do about it.

What does it take to build a team that lasts in restoration?

Jon Vogt and John Warnick, of BluSky, share how they’ve stayed aligned for 15+ years—through growth, acquisitions, and change—by hiring for fit, leading with honesty, and protecting their culture.

In this episode, we sit down with Gokul Padmanabhan, the founder of the newly rebranded Restoration Advisors of America, to break down what’s really happening in 2026.

From a slowdown in M&A activity to the rise of tech-driven private equity, the landscape is shifting in ways every restoration business owner needs to understand. We explore the concept of K-shaped consolidation, why investors are doubling down on hyper-local platforms, and how leading companies are moving from reactive work to proactive, contract-based revenue models that drive higher valuations.

What does it take to build a restoration company that doesn’t rely on you?

In this episode of The Restoration Master Class, in partnership with DocuSketch, special guests Ben Justesen, Enterprise Solutions Consultant at DocuSketch and Chris Laney, Senior Consultant at Midwest Remediation, break down how to move from owner-dependent to system-driven—with clear processes, better documentation, and stronger leadership.

Learn how to streamline operations from first call to final invoice, leverage centralized estimating, and build a team that can execute without constant oversight.

What happens when a family-run restoration business outgrows its limits?

DJ McCabe shares how he helped scale McCabe Restoration, navigated a family exit, and built Endurant Disaster Recovery into a growing Southeast platform—without losing what made it successful in the first place.

What actually makes a restoration company valuable? 

In this episode of Chasing the Vision, in partnership with Violand Management Associates, Garrett Sigler, a former CFO in construction and restoration, explains why financial discipline is the foundation of enterprise value. Too many companies rely on assumptions, outdated spreadsheets, and incomplete data—leading to poor decisions and cash flow problems. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• Why inaccurate financials cost you value 
• Common mistakes with AR and billing 
• How liquidity issues really start 
• What strong financial leadership looks like 
• How clarity drives better decisions 

If you want to grow, scale, or sell your business, it starts with one thing: knowing your numbers—and trusting them.

What happens when you launch two businesses at the same time—and scale to $7M?

In this episode, Coral Martin, owner of 1-Tom-Plumber Space Coast, shares how she built a powerful combination of plumbing + restoration services to drive growth, efficiency, and consistent lead flow.

From leveraging franchise support to integrating dispatch and office teams, Coral breaks down what’s working right now—and what it really takes to build and lead in a competitive, male-dominated industry.

You’ll hear:

• Why plumbing and restoration are better together
• How branding (yes, even pink trucks) can drive recognition
• The real challenges of hiring skilled trades—and how she solved it
• What it’s like building a business as a woman in the field
• The mindset shifts that helped grow a $7M company
• ...and MORE!

This is a real, honest look at growth, leadership, and what it takes to win in restoration today.

AI isn’t slowing down—it’s accelerating. In this episode of RestorAI, David Grove, of BYLT Restoration, and Michelle break down the explosion of AI agents, the race to build massive data centers, and why some experts believe white-collar jobs could be reshaped in the next 18 months.

From tools like Claude and autonomous “coworkers” to real-world use cases in restoration businesses, we explore what’s hype, what’s happening now, and what it means for your future. Plus, we dig into privacy concerns, government influence, and the uneasy balance between innovation and surveillance.