On its surface, restoration doesn’t seem synonymous with “soft.” It’s a hard industry that operates in physically and emotionally tough working environments. Restoring a property to pre-loss condition requires a particular set of hard (job-specific) skills and tools. But there is a soft side that, I’d like to argue, carries more weight.

What do people, in general, want from employers? How are other industries treating employees and candidates? Answering these questions offers up ideas, lessons and competitive intel from beyond the world of restoration. After all, restoration businesses aren’t just competing against each other for talent.

Joining a new industry is humbling. Being an outsider in an environment teeming with insiders who’ve been engrained for years and know it like the back of their hand is humbling. But to flip challenge into opportunity, I believe that just as growing up in this industry or spending decades here brings irrefutable value, an outside-in lens does.

Through Field Notes, we look forward to sharing the stories of the industry’s most driven, engaged and innovative technicians. We are eager to consistently shed light on their ideas, pain points, motivators, paths to restoration and more. In doing so, we hope to help shrink the gap between C-suite and frontline. We hope to help give these unsung heroes a real seat at the proverbial table and a stronger voice in the future of the industry.

R&R is officially accepting nominations for the 2022 Women in Restoration Award through January 10. We are also excited to introduce an all-new award to the restoration industry, honoring restoration technicians! 

The critical relationship between meaning and workforce management with real data points business leaders should take note of, based on a survey of 7,000 employees in seven countries.

I’m excited to expand on our popular Ask the Expert podcast with a subseries, called Real Stories in Restoration. It will capture the journeys of the people in restoration – how you got here, the work you do and tools you use, lessons learned, memorable projects, advice for industry peers, etc. I invite you to join me in sharing your story! 

As the new R&R editor-in-chief, I am honored and humbled to follow the legacy Michelle Blevins leaves behind—of building a respected, sought-after resource for the industry based on trust, relationships, and valuable content.

Over the last few years, my passion for email etiquette seems to have ramped up a notch, or five.