In this episode of Ask Annissa, Annissa Coy responds to a question from a restorer who disposed of contents on a non-salvageable list and now is dealing with an unhappy homeowner. She clarifies how they can avoid going through this in the future.

This edition of Ask Annissa offers ways for those new to the business to avoid damaging a client’s possessions while doing a packout. 

This edition of Ask Annissa covers the best ways to remove smoke odor from oil paintings.

Annissa talks about billing.

Annissa gives us knowledge on choosing the best content software for your company needs.

How to get free insurance from the vendors that work for you as well as tips on how to avoid becoming an insurance company of last resort.

Insurer provides complimentary smart home kit, premium discount to customers.

The challenge for restorers now becomes who pays as many homeowners in the area lack insurance. 

We delve into the challenges insurance company’s face when categorizing the different levels of water intrusion and the importance of why this is a big issue if done incorrectly.

Ben Gergis tells us just how lucrative franchising within the restoration industry can be.

It is time again for KnowHow’s monthly Case Study! This month we learn how to equip workers with technology that gives them superpowers.

Amanda teaches us how to identify a trustworthy marketing partner.

We bring you a new episode of Trade Talks: Unlocking The Experience with special guest Garret Gray, CEO of Next Gear Solutions and President of Insurance Solutions for CoreLogic.

Amanda teaches us the importance of understanding the interplay between lead generation and brand recognition.

Learn how building a strong team culture, investing in leadership development, and planning for the future can set your restoration business up for long-term success.

In the latest episode of Ask the Expert, Kevin Mardegian and Tess Huge share their expertise on estimating within the restoration industry. Discover key strategies for onboarding homeowners, negotiating with adjusters, and enhancing cash flow while building a collaborative network that elevates the entire industry. Join us to learn how mastering the art of estimating can drive success in your restoration business.

The restoration industry, despite its rapid growth, faces a leadership crisis. Burnout, the influx of younger generations with different motivations, and a backlog of urgent tasks have left many asking: Who will lead tomorrow?

New Crystal Restoration proudly announces the addition of Diosel Pineda Ocampo as Operations Manager. With 25 years in construction and 5 years specializing in restoration, Diosel brings a wealth of expertise to the team.

With Don O'Dell's expertise in quality service and safety, he is poised to lead New Crystal Restoration's project management team, further enhancing the company’s trusted reputation across the tri-state area. Learn more about his journey and the valuable skills he brings to this leadership role.

CRDN moves up on the 2024 Franchise Times Top 400 list, ranking third in sales growth within the Disaster Restoration category. Securing an overall ranking of 243, up from 278 in 2023, CRDN continues to showcase its growth and leadership in the restoration industry.

Rainbow Restoration of Greenville welcomes Geoff Schull as its new Chief Financial Officer. With a strong background in financial operations and a passion for process improvement, Schull aims to streamline efficiencies and support the company's mission to serve Upstate South Carolina with top-tier restoration services.

An immersive new exhibition at Queensborough Community College's renowned Kupferberg Holocaust Center documents the vastness of the Nazi's system of genocide. The center's Laura Cohen and Cary Lane discuss the exhibit and the emotional toll of creating it.

Sidik Fofana, a high school teacher who earned his masters in education at City College, wrote fiction on the side for a decade. He finally got his first book published -- and was awarded a prestigious Whiting Award for Emerging Writers.

113-24 : Final Contract Adjustment - Granite Real Estate Investment Trust Inc. (GRT) - Unit Reclassification and CUSIP Change

114-24 : Anticipated Contract Adjustment - SilverCrest Metals Inc. (SIL) - Plan of Arrangement

122-24 : Final Contract Adjustment - Osisko Mining Inc. (OSK) - Plan of Arrangement

125-24 : Final Contract Adjustment - Stelco Holdings Inc. (STLC) - Plan of Arrangement

126-24 : Final Contract Adjustment - Stelco Holdings Inc. (STLC - STLC1) Plan of Arrangement (Follow-Up)

127-24 : Anticipated Contract Adjustment - Brookfield Renewable Corporation (BEPC) - Plan of Arrangement

132-24 : Final Contract Adjustment - Primo Water Corporation (PRMW1) - Plan of Arrangement

Larry Cooper gives us a sneak peek into a new degree program that looks to be the future of the restoration and remediation industry! 

Lever360 has emerged to deliver innovation by combining the educational prowess of Restoration Technical Institute (RTI) with the comprehensive run-your-business system of iRestore, renowned for its restoration management software.

Dr. Jake Avila is spearheading efforts to establish and fund a restoration management degree program at MTSU.

Screen Innovations Slate 1.2 ALR material mated with the company's Zero Edge Pro frame design makes for a high performance, high style combo.

01-2014 : Montréal Exchange Celebrates its 140th Anniversary

02-2014 : Montréal Exchange Derivatives Education Initiative Continues to Grow

03-2014 : Montréal Exchange to Introduce Futures Contracts on the FTSE Emerging Markets Index

04-2014 : Montréal Exchange brings options trading to university campuses across Canada

https://www.abc27.com/investigators/shawns-law-york-county-mom-fights-for-tougher-penalties-against-those-who-encourage-others-to-take-their-own-life/?fbclid=IwAR2vuraueQvuG0cAOXMuLd8uw9zWUIqA4Kbvm61m3x4aE_UIOM1ewT_WBfU

We talked with PA Senator Maria Collett about two bills to combat human trafficking. The PCC supports these measures. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Kt42YCggWSg8cSfu/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/81hHpExotYkCzhXr/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/pwQ7FQ6FNsH9toZA/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/drx1X9Wqukp77EwZ/?mibextid=WC7FNe  

Sarah Bowen of the Promise of Life Network crisis pregnancy center near Pittsburgh talked with me about the motivation behind the campaign by abortion advocates against the work these centers do, which is to provide women with support during an unplanned pregnancy. https://x.com/PAcatholic/status/1703790777099235616?s=20   https://fb.watch/nccvJtmh6p/?mibextid=cr9u03  

There was a lot going on this week at the PA Capitol and work continues to try to get a budget in place by the Sunday deadline. Here are some highlights from the week as posted on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1aqPW3tYtMySPUcY/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/iPW4XyHKBf3oNVpA/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/MRTAq999kpMtkhv9/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/7ZdipDQTXzD21sM1/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/HMNCDYPoBPLBkMHn/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/2R5HH7NwBWVfMptZ/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/EhG7jnpXiU6wgbM9/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/ZpTH7M8RmkWASUTD/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/s2DhksEQn8eiyWhR/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/RwnUBVxxYpHCEds3/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/HGy8LvPkMrWfaUSQ/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/GZB94RZN77WXGCkq/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/8dkx16UsiGUsi7y1/?mibextid=WC7FNe

It was a week of long days and late nights at the PA Capitol in Harrisburg. The House and Senate passed a $47.6-billiion budget Thursday night and the Governor quickly signed it. Here are some of the highlights from the week as we posted on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/jB4x3LorzSqsLGGH/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/e6znUQoeEmS8bEVb/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/xRefuvWNigC7J8Yr/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/3XkX2ARAsyAwBKq4/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/7UMepHi21UzpeVFP/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/xWuE2TTU16vzTbGr/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/VhN9DPhZXAQfNshK/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/TjJfE13g46cUwRSt/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/zSvyP6CHK366W8hp/?mibextid=WC7FNe    

There will be a shift at the helm of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference beginning June 1, 2018. Eric A. Failing, PCC’s current social concerns director, will assume the role upon the retirement of Robert J. O’Hara, Jr. after his 21 years as executive director. Prior to joining the PCC staff as social concerns director, Failing was vice president of sales, marketing and development for Pennsylvania Legislative Services. In his year since joining the PCC team, he has spearheaded efforts to pass bills that would ban the practice of abortion for a Down syndrome diagnosis in the womb, expand services to the poor, address the crisis of drug addiction, and other issues. When he announced his plans to retire in March, O’Hara told CatholicPhilly.com that he counts programs that benefit Catholic school families, namely expanding the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC), among his proudest accomplishments.  He has also worked tirelessly to promote social concerns, access to health care for the poor, pro-life issues and the ability of religious organizations to operate according to their beliefs without government interference. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference was established in 1960 to give witness to spiritual values in public affairs and to provide an agency for corporate Catholic service to the statewide community. It serves as the public affairs agency of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops and the Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania. Its mission is to formulate positions on public policy issues, officially represent the Church before state government, and to foster a public understanding of the Church’s teaching and concern about morality, health, welfare, human rights, education and the common good. The PCC gets involved with a wide variety of issues that span across the political spectrum. Visit www.pacatholic.org for the latest news and legislative updates, to lend your voice to advancing the Church’s position in the State Capitol through the PA Catholic Advocacy Network. Congratulations, Eric Failing, on your new job, and Bob O’Hara upon your retirement. Godspeed to you both!

Religious News Service reporter Bobby Ross, Jr. recently asked this question, “When adoption agencies can turn away gay prospective parents, what happens to the kids?” With conflicts between religious based adoption and foster care agencies and government non-discrimination regulations playing out across the country including the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, this is an important question. In March, the City of Philadelphia issued an urgent call for 300 new foster parents to provide loving homes for some of the over 6,000 kids in Philadelphia foster care. That same month, the City abruptly barred Catholic Social Services, one of the city’s top-rated foster agencies, from placing children with foster families. This decision makes it exponentially harder for hundreds of children in need of foster care to find homes. Foster homes are sitting empty, even as the city begs for more families to help in its foster care crisis. Catholic Social Services and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have been serving children throughout Philadelphia for over a century. Their Catholic mission drives them to find loving homes for all children in their care, regardless of the child’s race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. Catholic Social Services currently serves over 100 children in foster homes. No family or individual has ever complained that the agency’s Catholic mission prevented them from fostering or adopting a child. Sharonell Fulton from Overbrook Farms has been a foster parent for over 25 years. She has opened her home to over 40 children, including two children currently in her care. She strives to provide a loving, stable home and treat each child as if they were her own. To do that, Fulton relies on Catholic Social Services’ help, including around-the-clock support and access to information and resources. “What justice is there in taking stable, loving homes away from children?” Fulton said in a statement to CatholicPhilly.com. “If the city cuts off Catholic Social Services from foster care, foster moms like me won’t have the help and support they need to care for the special-needs kids.” By freezing and threatening to cancel its foster care contract with the CSS, the city is “taking away this help and causing harm and heartache to countless families like mine,” Fulton said. The children will suffer if parents like Fulton do not have the support they need. In May, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed the lawsuit in the United States District Court in Philadelphia on behalf of archdiocesan Catholic Social Services (CSS), Sharonell Fulton and two other women caregivers associated with the archdiocesan agency. They asked the court to halt the city’s harmful policy. A hearing is expected later this year.

According to the religious liberty advocacy group Becket, Philadelphia-based foster families will be in court Monday fighting to end a new City of Philadelphia policy that is currently leaving numerous foster homes empty. In Sharonell Fulton, et al. v. City of Philadelphia, the City issued a new policy barring Catholic Social Services from placing children with foster families, solely because the City disagrees with the agency’s religious beliefs. That policy is causing serious problems for foster kids and families, and Catholic Social Services has asked a court for an urgent ruling by June 30. In March, the City of Philadelphia issued an?urgent call for 300?new foster parents to provide loving homes for some of the over 6,000 kids in Philadelphia foster care. That same month, the City abruptly barred Catholic Social Services, one of the city’s top-rated foster agencies, from placing children with foster parents like Sharonell Fulton, who has fostered over 40 kids in the last 25 years. This decision makes it exponentially harder for hundreds of children in need of foster care to find homes. Represented by Becket, Sharonell Fulton, Cecelia Paul, Toni Simms-Busch, and Catholic Social Services are asking the court to halt the City’s harmful policy and allow kids to be placed in a loving home.   What:  Oral Argument in Sharonell Fulton et. al. v. City of Philadelphia   Who:  Lori Windham, senior attorney at Becket Philadelphia foster families  When:  Monday, June 18 at 2:00 p.m. EST (arguments are expected to go three hours)   Where:  U.S. District Court 601 Market St., Philadelphia, Pa.    ###  Becket is a non-profit, public-interest law firm dedicated to protecting the free expression of all religious traditions?and has a 100% win-rate before the United States?Supreme Court.?For over 20 years, it has successfully defended clients of all faiths, including?Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Native Americans, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians?(read more here). 

PA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE APPLAUDS HOUSE PASSAGE OF MARRIAGE ACT HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference applauds today’s passage of House Bill 360, which, in addition to addressing some covid-19 related concerns, establishes 18 as the minimum age for marriage in Pennsylvania. The bill has been supported by the PCC since its inception, particularly as a means to help fight human trafficking. “This is good legislation for a number of reasons—first and foremost that it will help to end a problem in the law that has allowed girls as young as 12 to be married in PA,” said PCC Executive Director Eric Failing. “This can place them in a dangerous situation where they can be victims of domestic violence and exploited in sex trafficking. Advocates believe there are over 2,000 children who have been married in Pennsylvania.” The PCC has supported several measures designed to fight human trafficking, including the Safe-Harbor law that passed last session and the Buyer Beware act that passed earlier this session. Failing thanked the sponsor of the bill, Sen. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford, Franklin, Fulton) for his leadership and persistence on seeing the bill through.   Pennsylvania is one of 27 states that do not have a minimum age to marry. Currently, the state permits a minor under age 16 to marry with parental consent and a court determination that the marriage is in the best interest of the minor. The law also permits a 16 or 17 year old to marry with only parental consent.   The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference is based in Harrisburg and is the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops  

The 4th installment of our series on Maternal and Early Childhood Issues looks at the role the Wolf Administration has played in curtailing Catholic adoption efforts in Pennsylvania. https://fb.watch/bBXX1F6m97/ A woman we’ll call Kelly talked with me about her adoption a number of years ago through Catholic charities. She learned details of what happened as she got older. Kelly says it could have worked out any better. Kelly’s story was a familiar one for decades, but one that is happening less and less in many states across the country, as officials have placed restrictions on adoption agencies that contradict their long-held beliefs. Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf several years ago joined Democratic governors in other states to require adoption agencies to place children with same-sex parents in order to get funding. That requirement by Governor Wolf would be in direct contrast with the long-standing Catholic belief that a marriage is between a man and a woman. It is that parental combination, Catholics believe, that is the best way to raise a child. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference appealed to the Wolf Administration for a religious exemption. It was denied in 2018, basically causing most adoption efforts by Catholic organizations in PA to grind to a halt. Similar regulations have been shutting down Catholic adoption agencies across the U.S. ever since Boston Catholic Charities did so in 2006. The efforts by the PCC to remove this burden continued on both the state and federal level. We sent an appeal to the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington to grant us a religious exemption. We worked closely with U.S. Congressman Mike Kelly on getting federal relief. A number of state senators sent a letter to President Trump asking him to provide relief for our efforts. We’re hoping that a recent Supreme Court ruling involving foster care services by Catholic Charities in Philadelphia. Fulton vs. the City of Philadelphia started when the city said it would no longer contract with Catholic Social Services because CSS would not certify same-sex couples to be foster parents In response, two foster mothers—Sharonell Fulton and Toni Simms-Busch—and the CSS sued the city, arguing that severing the contract violated their religious freedom. Fulton and Simms-Busch, the mothers who are plaintiffs, claim it was their Catholic faith that inspired them to be foster mothers.After losing in two lower courts, they petitioned the Supreme Court, which first agreed to hear the case in February 2020. Over a year later  the Court ruled that the city’s refusal due to the agency’s same-sex couple policy violated the Free Exercise Clause. Great news and a big win for religious liberty. The PCC is hoping the principal will carry over into adoptions, but the damage may have already been done. In 2019 the Diocese of Greensburg closed its adoption and foster care program after 65 years because of the decision by the Wolf Administration. Adoptions were halted by Catholic agencies in other parts of the state.  Will the adoption work done by these organizations ever return to what it once was? We can only hope and pray.

Senior Research Associate Stephen Hoskins CREA The issues facing a growing silver population are gaining ground. Singapore’s baby boomers are now exiting the workforce. Would those approaching retirement have enough resources to maintain their current standard of living? Would future policy changes in healthcare, housing and pension impact their retirement adequacy? Facing a rapidly ageing population, Singapore is presented with urgent policy challenges. Yet there is very little data on the economic, health and family circumstances of older Singaporeans. In response, the Centre for Research on the Economics of Ageing, or CREA, at the Singapore Management University has been collecting monthly data on a panel of Singaporeans aged between 50 and 70 years, resulting in the Singapore Life Panel®, or SLP. SMU’s Prof Bryce Hool and Prof Rhema Vaithianathan detail the methodology by which the SLP was constructed, in a published paper titled High-Frequency Internet Survey of a Probability Sample of Older Singaporeans: The Singapore Life Panel®. In this podcast, Stephen Hoskins, Senior Research Associate at CREA introduces the SLP and how it yields rich and remarkable insights to Singapore’s ageing situation. Additional Info High-frequency Internet survey of a probability sample of older Singaporeans: The Singapore Life Panel - by Rhema Vaithianathan, Bryce Hool, Michael D. Hurd, Susann Rohwedder

Financial literacy in Singapore has not been analysed in much detail, despite the fact that this is one of the world’s most rapidly aging nations. In this podcast, Professor of Finance Benedict Koh from the SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business, discusses the key findings of his research jointly conducted with Olivia Mitchell from the University of Pennsylvania and Susann Rohwedder, Senior Economist at the RAND Corporation and Associate Director of the RAND Center for the Study of Aging. Using a unique new data-set and nationally representative survey - the Singapore Life Panel, they conducted an analysis of older Singaporeans’ financial literacy. Here, Professor Koh discusses his key findings, including: Do older Singaporeans score better on financial knowledge compared to their counterparts in the United States? What are the empirical linkages between financial literacy and retirement preparedness in Singapore? And is financial literacy positively associated with greater wealth and diversity of portfolios?