Advertise on podcast: The GPS Podcast - Navigating Small Business Growth

On this episode of the GPS Podcast, we talk with Ed Cross, lawyer and longtime restoration industry advocate, about what contractors are up against with TPAs, carriers, pricing, and what you can do about it.   Ed shares practical advice on negotiating with TPAs, who really holds the power on a claim, and how keeping the policyholder involved from day one protects your business. We also get into Xactimate pricing, why a written scope and price should come before the work starts, and how to protect your profit on every job.   Stay tuned for part 2.     Learn more and connect with Ed here: https://edcross.com/     Listen on: YouTube Apple Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio   Follow us on socials! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

The first 90 days can make or break a new hire, especially in restoration and plumbing.   In part two of the GPS Podcast's hiring series, Violand coaches Kelley Dolan and Josh Bachman break down how to onboard new employees the right way, including what to prioritize on day one, how to set realistic 90-day expectations, and the warning signs that someone isn't progressing the way they should.   Need help building out your onboarding process? Connect with our coaches at https://violand.com/connect/     Listen on: YouTube Apple Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio   Follow us on socials! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

Staffing is the biggest challenge in restoration and plumbing right now, and how you hire for each role matters more than most owners realize.   On this episode of the GPS Podcast, Violand coaches Kelley Dolan and Josh Bachman join Jeff to dig into hiring technicians, admins, salespeople, and bookkeepers, including sourcing strategies, referral programs, and the interview questions that separate strong candidates from the rest. Plus, a guest appearance from Karen Tuersley on hiring admins.   Stay tuned for part two!   Need help with your hiring process? Connect with our coaches for help at https://violand.com/connect/     Listen on: YouTube Apple Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio   Follow us on socials! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

What does it take for an owner and general manager to stay aligned while leading both a restoration and plumbing business?   Tanya Doucet and Kent Sonnier of Restoration Pros and 1-Tom-Plumber share what they've learned from working together through growth, change, and plenty of tough calls. Tune in as they discuss communication, trust, employee development, and the day-to-day realities of leading two successful service businesses.   Learn more about Restoration Pros: https://www.restorationprosla.com/ Learn more about 1-Tom-Plumber of Lafayette: https://www.1tomplumber.com/lafayette-la/   Listen on: YouTube Apple Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio   Follow us on socials! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

Growing a business is exciting. Growing too fast can create an entirely new set of challenges.   On this episode of the GPS Podcast, Shawn Folks, CEO of Guarantee Restoration Services, shares his experience taking over the family business and leading the company through a period of significant growth. Shawn and Jeff discuss the $22 million disaster project that changed the trajectory of the company, scaling operations, building culture, hiring and developing leaders, managing large-loss opportunities, and why taking care of your people remains the foundation of long-term success.   Learn more about Guarantee Restoration Services: https://www.guaranteerestoration.com/   Listen on: YouTube Apple Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio   Follow us on socials! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

The pressure of ownership is real, especially when you're taking over the family business.   In this episode of the GPS Podcast, Summer Becker-Battles of Steamatic of Albuquerque and Santa Fe shares her experience navigating succession, learning the financial side of the business, developing leaders, and making difficult decisions along the way. The conversation is packed with practical lessons for current and future business owners.   Learn more about Steamatic: https://www.steamaticnm.com/     Listen on: YouTube Apple Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio   Follow us on socials! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

There are patterns behind every successful restoration company. In this episode, we're joined by Josh Miller, President of Rainbow Restoration, to talk through what he’s learned over years in the industry and now leading a national franchise. They cover leadership, team dynamics, and the decisions that impact growth over time. If you're in restoration and looking to run a better operation, this is worth the listen.   Learn more about Rainbow Restoration: https://rainbowrestores.com/     Listen on: YouTube Apple Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio   Follow us on socials! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

Sales reps and sales managers are on the same team—but that doesn’t mean they always see things the same way. In this episode, we break down the real reasons behind the tension between reps and managers, why it happens, and what it takes to get aligned. Drawing from our Herding Cats article series, we share practical insights on how high-performing sales teams work through the friction and improve results.   Read the Herding Cats article series: https://www.candrmagazine.com/herding-cats-revealing-the-biggest-misconceptions-between-salespeople-and-their-manager/     Listen on: YouTube Apple Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio   Follow us on socials! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

In this episode of the GPS Podcast, we sit down with Darren Hudema of PuroClean to talk about the role technical skills and soft skills play in building a successful service business. With decades of experience in the restoration industry, Darren shares insights on training, standards, leadership, and why customer experience has become a key differentiator. The conversation covers the gap between technical training and real-world performance, the value of hands-on learning, and how communication, empathy, and consistency shape the customer experience.   Learn more about PuroClean: https://www.puroclean.com/   Join top leaders in the trades for advanced training and networking at The Violand Executive Summit: https://violand.com/training-programs/executive-training/     Listen on: YouTube Apple Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio   Follow us on socials! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

In this episode of the GPS Podcast, we sit down with Tom Laska of ICC Restoration & Cleaning Services to talk about what separates restoration companies that stand the test of time. Tom shares his experience building a business from the ground up, the challenges of hiring and developing the right team, and why focusing on quality, accountability, and culture matters more than chasing growth. The episode also highlights why sales continues to be a struggle for many companies and what owners need to think about to stay competitive.   Learn more about ICC Restoration & Cleaning Services: https://icchelps.com/   Join top leaders in the trades for advanced training and networking at The Violand Executive Summit     Listen on: YouTube Apple Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio   Follow us on socials! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

In this episode of the GPS Podcast, we sit down with Violand Business Advisors Josh Bachman and Bill Prosch to discuss one of the biggest frustrations in the restoration industry: getting paid on insurance work.   The conversation explores why collections really begin before the job starts, how contracts and communication impact payment, and what you can do to reduce delays, pushback, and unexpected payment reductions. Josh and Bill share practical insights on working with adjusters, setting expectations early, and building systems that improve cash flow without damaging relationships.   Connect with Violand to start a conversation about improving your processes, systems, and cash flow. Join top leaders in the trades for advanced training and networking at The Violand Executive Summit   Listen on: YouTube Apple Spotify Amazon iHeartRadio   Follow us on socials! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

In this episode of the GPS Podcast, Chuck Violand, founder of Violand Management, shares the hard‑earned lessons that only experience can teach. Chuck reflects on 40 years of building a business and the insights that continue to shape how he approaches leadership, growth, and success.   The conversation covers leadership blind spots, team dynamics, stalled growth, and the mindset shifts that help owners keep moving forward.   Join top leaders in the trades for advanced training and networking at The Violand Executive Summit: https://bit.ly/3Nb53iW   Listen on: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4hJfqUz Apple: https://apple.co/42EB8Vp Spotify: https://bit.ly/4thN765 Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Q3viW7 iHeartRadio: https://bit.ly/3Ene5o6   Follow us on socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ViolandManagement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/violand-management-associates Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violand_management/

In this episode of the GPS Podcast, we sit down with Ed Ross, Co-Founder of TradeMutt, to have a conversation about mental health in the trades that does not happen often enough. The trades come with long hours, physical demands, and stress that take a real toll over time. Ed shares how TradeMutt started, the impact it is making, and why creating a culture where people feel comfortable speaking up matters now more than ever. This episode is a reminder that sometimes the most important thing you can do is start a conversation.   Join the movement. Grab your TradeMutt gear and be part of Funky Shirt Friday: https://trademutt.com/   Join top leaders in the trades for advanced training and networking at The Violand Executive Summit: https://bit.ly/3Nb53iW     Listen on: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4hJfqUz Apple: https://apple.co/42EB8Vp Spotify: https://spoti.fi/40Ne6ZW Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Q3viW7 iHeartRadio: https://bit.ly/3Ene5o6   Follow us on socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ViolandManagement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/violand-management-associates Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violand_management/

In this episode of the GPS Podcast, we sit down with Kevin Dooley, co-founder and CEO of Kahi, to discuss the future of restoration and how the next 3–5 years will reshape the industry. The conversation dives into the growing role of data, technology, and AI in restoration, along with how these shifts are changing business models across the industry. Kevin shares practical insights on scaling, leadership blind spots, and how to think differently about operations, profitability, and team development. Learn what it takes to build a business that is ready for what’s next.   Learn more about Kahi: https://kahi.io/ Register for The Violand Executive Summit: https://bit.ly/3Nb53iW   Listen on: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4hJfqUz Apple: https://apple.co/42EB8Vp Spotify: https://spoti.fi/40Ne6ZW Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Q3viW7 iHeartRadio: https://bit.ly/3Ene5o6   Follow us on socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ViolandManagement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/violand-management-associates Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violand_management/

In this episode of the GPS Podcast, we sit down with Ross Driscoll Jr. of Driscoll & Driscoll and National E&S Insurance to discuss one of the most misunderstood parts of running a restoration company: insurance.   Ross explains the risks restoration contractors face today, the coverage gaps that often go unnoticed, and how changes in the insurance market are impacting restoration businesses across the country.   In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why many restoration companies are underinsured • The biggest insurance risks facing contractors today • How subcontractor agreements affect your coverage • What proactive steps owners can take to reduce liability   Learn more about Driscoll & Driscoll Insurance: https://www.driscollanddriscoll.com/   Learn more about National E&S Insurance Brokers: https://nationaleands.com/   Listen on: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4hJfqUz Apple: https://apple.co/42EB8Vp Spotify: https://spoti.fi/40Ne6ZW Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Q3viW7 iHeartRadio: https://bit.ly/3Ene5o6   Follow us on socials! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ViolandManagement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/violand-management-associates Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violand_management/