Every year, R&R Magazine honors and celebrates the women who make strides within our industry, their organizations and beyond. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of our Women in Restoration Award. This prestigious award recognizes leading women in the industry based on their journey and experience, job growth and future reach, industry and community involvement, and awards and certifications.

This year, like in years past, the Women in Restoration Award received nominations from many outstanding women, and one remarkable nominee rose to the top.

Meet Leslie Anderson

Leslie Anderson began her journey in the early 2000s. She worked for a small restoration company that focused on janitorial and residential losses. One day, during a lunch with her Sherwin Williams Representative, Rich Gilmore, she gained insight that changed her outlook and made her look beyond residential work into the world of commercial restoration. That day, a fire sparked within Leslie, which led her to where she is today. Rich may not have realized that the seed he planted that day blossomed into a notable career. The seed represented the idea of “what could be possible” — a seed that pushed Leslie to see where she could go if she put her mind to it. From there, she co-owned a full-service restoration company, consulted and helped other companies, and then opened the door to Paul Davis Restoration in 2011.

Leslie reflects on her journey, “Looking at where I am now, I am reminded of the profound impact of mentorship on my personal growth. I see the girl in the mirror who once cleaned offices, carried heavy dehumidifiers upstairs late at night, and worked tirelessly on water losses.” Mentorship, friendship, and the power of networking helped her make great strides, and all she has accomplished would not be possible without key industry icons like Sonny Bass, Rachel Adams, Mike Hopkins, Rich Gilmore, Tammy Wilson, and Curtis Carnes. If there is one thing about Leslie, she is humble, thankful, and will always share a word of thanks or encouragement: “Without their guidance, I wouldn't be where I am. I am also aware of the valuable lessons I have yet to learn from my peers and industry leaders,” she said.

One thing that has played an influential role in Leslie’s career is mentorship. It has transformed her professional life and shaped her journey in ways she could never have imagined. In her years of being mentored, she received many pieces of advice, but one stands out above the rest: “One tip I was given was to put a photo of myself as a young girl on my bathroom counter and to tell that girl all the amazing things she will do if she works hard and believes in herself.” This exercise challenges us to reflect on our professional career path and recognize who stepped up to help in a defining moment. She emphasizes the importance of the idea that “None of us got here alone.” She has a challenge for each of you: express gratitude to someone who believed in you, and in turn, see where you can make a difference.

The biggest wins in life come from helping someone. Leslie is a person who provides servant leadership, but she also absorbs lessons along the way. She strives to continue to learn, and that not only helps others reach their goals, but it also helps her reach her own. She has worked diligently to develop a mentorship program that inspires and coaches industry professionals into their roles within the IICRC. The IICRC has a legacy built by their Shareholders. Leslie feels honored to be a part of the IICRC, not only growing the organization but also helping industry professionals follow a career path through mentorship.

Her career has been full of challenges, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. If she had taken an easy road to success, she believes she may not have appreciated the success she has achieved thus far. It is no secret that the men and women in her career serve as a constant reminder that success is not an easy win, but one that requires determination, gut, grit, and a love for the industry. Leslie embodies this philosophy and has made it very clear that those who surround you have the ultimate impact and influence on your career. “I've always sought to surround myself with committed individuals who share a substantial vision or goal. This vision or goal, a beacon of clarity in the fog of challenges, has always been my guiding light, reminding me to work hard and never give up,” said Leslie.

One may ask, how does Leslie continue to evolve? It is through mentorship and the drive to consistently learn and gain new inspiration. A fun fact about Leslie: she is an avid listener of TED Talks, and she finds key inspiration from Brene Brown. How inspirational? Well, she shared some insight, “A few things are printed on my desk: ‘The Man in the Arena’ by President Theodore Roosevelt, a quote by Brene Brown that says, ‘There is no innovation and creativity without failure,’ and a pink sticky note that says, ‘Did I make a difference today? Did I act courageously and surrender fear by making all 86,400 seconds count?”’

Leslie’s Advice to Fellow Women in Restoration

Leslie is a strong advocate for women to participate actively in our industry, build their brand and network with other women. She believes that “[e]mbracing continuous improvement is the key to staying ahead in our dynamic industry. Work diligently and never quit. When you face setbacks, dust yourself off and try again.” 

Leslie’s Leadership Style

Leslie describes herself as a servant leader focused on nurturing future leaders. Her top priorities are empathy and leading by example, which establishes the solid foundation for trust, collaboration and personal development.

Her journey with Paul Davis Restoration, Inc. began in 2011, where she coached franchises to achieve profitability, capitalize on new revenue streams and effectively manage their operations. In 2016, she transitioned to training, where she implemented the Learning and Development (L&D) programs and eLearning systems. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Training & Launch. She is focused on developing and delivering educational opportunities that drives results, retention, engagement and performance to all their Paul Davis team members. Day to day, she works with other Paul Davis teams to support the needs in the field and at the home office. Their Frontline team’s determination drives her to be better every day. They are up early and out late, supporting their communities. They are the ones making the difference. She is honored to work with many technicians while earning their IICRC certifications. 

In Her Spare Time

Leslie’s father was a Navy pilot, and they traveled quite a bit in her younger years. This experience fueled her thirst for travel and experiencing different cultures and ways of life. 

She currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida, and has been married to her husband, Dan Anderson for 31 years. She has two boys, Camden, who lives in Tampa and is married to Katie, and Knowlton, who lives in New York City. They also have a German Shepherd named Luna that they rescued several years ago. 

Our Runners-Up

Leanne Russo

Operations Manager at First Onsite

Leanne began her journey in the restoration industry 22 years ago when she joined Crawford and Company as an independent adjuster in 2002. This is where she got her first taste of what it was like to help people at their most vulnerable, in situations ranging from small water losses to devastating house fires. From there she moved on to Liberty Mutual, initially as an adjuster, which led to a spot on the countrywide continuous improvement team. There she learned that she enjoyed working with team members to help them identify and recognize problems, discover their root causes, and most satisfying to her, addressing them with appropriate countermeasures.

As the type of individual constantly on the lookout for the next challenge, as well as always looking to improve herself, she then took what she considered as the next step and joined the first Onsite team, initially as a Project Manager in the Long Island region. A decade ago, First Onsite’s operational team consisted of Leanne as the only Project Manager, working with and learning the ropes from the Regional Manager. Leanna currently runs her own energy efficiency consultancy. The territory covered was the whole of Long Island, as well as most of Brooklyn and Queens, over 100 miles of dense urban and suburban development.

 

---

 

Nancy Kirk

Vice President of Operational Excellence at ATI Restoration (East Region)

Nancy Kirk is a dynamic leader in the restoration and construction industry with over 20 years of experience driving operational excellence and business growth. As Vice President of Operational Excellence for ATI’s East region, she oversees strategic planning, process improvements, and team development to ensure top-tier service and efficiency.

Prior to her current role, Nancy served as Regional Vice President – Central, where she played a pivotal role in managing operations across multiple regions. Her expertise in national account development, large-loss restoration, and operational strategy has made a lasting impact on the industry.

Nancy holds a degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce and multiple industry certifications, including IICRC and OSHA credentials. She is known for her passion for mentorship, commitment to excellence, and ability to lead high-performing teams through complex restoration challenges.

Her philosophy is simple: "Do you, because nobody else can do you." Nancy believes success comes from resilience, adaptability, and bringing your unique strengths to the table every day.

Judges

Lori Jones

Microbial Warrior®

Acknowledged in International Scientific Journals as a Leading Expert in Forensic Restoration and Decontamination, she is the R&R Magazine’s “2024 Woman in Restoration” Winner. Lori Jones is a Certified Forensic Operator® as well as a Certified Bio-Forensic Restoration Specialist®, she is one of the founding members of Bio-Sheen Services LLC in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and co-author of the RIA Forensic Guidelines. Currently serving as a Master Trainer of the Microbial Warrior® International, Lori has over 15 years of experience in the Forensic Restoration® industry that features an impressive resume of actual hands-on field work involving a vast array of Forensic Restoration® incident sites, from Fentanyl Remediation, Infectious Disease, Homicide, Suicide, Accidental, Natural and Unattended death site remediation.  Having a background as a Certified Crime Scene Track Investigator gives Lori a keen eye for detail.  Lori is also Certified Master Rug Cleaner® In a critical environment, Lori brings a servant’s heart to every incident she works utilizing compassion and concern along with expertise.

 

Diana Rodriguez-Zaba

President of ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba

Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, President of ServiceMaster by Zaba, is a resilient entrepreneur who navigated the challenges of the 2008 recession and the 2020 pandemic. She transformed her franchise into one of Illinois's largest, specializing in disaster restoration. Diana's expertise includes franchising, human resources, real estate rehabbing, and business management. She strategically expanded her business, addressing the needs of the time during the pandemic and civil unrest.

Under her leadership, ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba became a profitable disaster restoration company, assisting businesses locally and internationally. Diana's commitment to growth is evident in her acquisition and remodeling of a 30,000 sq. ft. facility, supporting certification programs in disaster restoration. Diana is also R&R’s 2022 Women in Restoration Award winner!

Apart from her entrepreneurial success, Diana is a vocal advocate for women in business, contributing to publications like Huffington Post and participating in the Forbes Business Council. She actively supports community organizations and serves on the Illinois State Comptrollers Advisory Collective. As a founding member of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Institute, she invests in the success of women-owned businesses through academic research and initiatives. She is currently a founding member for La Collective a nonprofit organization, whose mission is to create a community to empower, uplift, and celebrate the diverse voices of women. 

 

Debbie Bogar

Facilitator with Pivot My Biz

Debbie recently took on a facilitator/consultant role with Pivot My Biz after retiring from a 32-year career as the CFO at Woodard Cleaning & Restoration in St. Louis, Missouri.  During her time at Woodard, in addition to her accounting work, she also served for several years as its COO. She spent 12 years on the board as a director, President, and Treasurer of Restoration Affiliates, a cooperative network of independent restoration companies across the United States. Debbie is also a former Treasurer and board member of the Restoration Industry Association, and was the 2023 Women in Restoration Award recipient.