For two decades, the Experience Convention and Trade Show has been bringing professionals together to showcase the latest techniques, technologies, products and best practices in the cleaning, inspection and repair industry. The show, held at Caesars Forum Convention Center Sept. 3-5, has estimated that there were about 3,000 attendees.
Beth Johnson is the CEO of Absolute Flood Response (AFR), a company that specializes in restoration and remediation. She is among the few women, only 1 percent, who hold CEO positions in the construction industry. Her dedication, expertise, vision and leadership have led to AFR being awarded the 2024 Nevada Top Workplaces Women-Led Company Award, based on employee feedback.
“We’ve (AFR team) been coming to the Experience for 15 years, and I have noticed a big increase in technology, specifically. There are numerous products currently available that incorporate AI as part of their offerings. Some fans and machines will monitor a system remotely, so I don’t have to send a technician there. There are apps that allow us to capture photos, and they read the photos, so we don’t have to take notes. We don’t have to do a content log. It creates less paperwork, fewer hours on the job and more profits for the company,” Johnson said.
FieldPulse, a field service management software company, is an all-encompassing platform that allows clients to manage their customer record database, jobs, estimates, invoices and take payments into the platform. Its goal is to make a business run more efficiently.
Insurance is a significant aspect of the industry, whether it is for the client or the provider. Jeff Earl, senior manager of the contractor engagement team for Cotality, works with the insurance division.
“I work with the contractors. My team is in charge of big customer, white-glove training opportunities,” Earl said. Cotality offers several training resources to its clients, who are typically carriers and restoration contractors. For companies seeking to enhance their customer experience, Cotality itself offers “premium, white-glove, 24/7 customer service, from onboarding to ongoing education and beyond.”
Earl believes that there is uncertainty in direction, and the industry is at a technological crossroads, with what’s next unclear. “I think there’s a lot of reason to have confidence in the tech products and the direction they’re headed.”
Joe Verslui is an Eastern sales representative for Phoenix Restoration Equipment, a leading manufacturer of dehumidifiers, air scrubbers and air movers. The company also provides asset management and psychometric readings on the job site.
“The convention for us has been fantastic. We’ve had great flow the first day and a half, and we’ve already signed up for next year because we’re so impressed,” Verslui said.
Every industry requires documentation, and Encircle has created an app for field documentation, specifically, for restoration contractors. The company documents all photos, videos, dry logs, equipment recommendations, sketches, and creates a full report to submit, and estimates for insurance. Its goal is for their clients to get paid more and faster, as well as making it a smoother process to get information from the field to the office.
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is a nonprofit organization that sets rigorous industry standards, offers training and certifies professionals and businesses in the industry. This includes cleaning and restoration, as well as addressing water and/or fire damage and mold remediation. For more information, visit iicrc.org.
As for the success of the convention, “I believe this is our first time here, and from the turnout, we had a great turnout. It was a very successful convention for us. I can probably say we’d be back next year,” said Jack Pierce, account executive for FieldPulse.
“I think it’s one of the best I’ve ever been to for the industry. This one is very robust. Some of the classes that they offer here for the morning sessions are unbelievable opportunities to, first of all, network and get some of the latest, newest information on the industry,” Johnson said.
