ServiceMaster Restore

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ServiceMaster Restore President Q&A: Franchising, Community, and Crisis Support

1851 Franchise

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ServiceMaster Restore President John Tovar shares his path into franchising and how strong support and community-focused leadership drive success in the restoration industry.

Executive Q&A: John Tovar, President of ServiceMaster Restore

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From March 9 to 11, franchisees, leadership and partners from across the&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.servicemasterrestore.com/">ServiceMaster Restore</a> system came together at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for the brand’s 2026 Annual Conference. For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoderaustin">Austin Yoder</a>, chief operating officer of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/servicemaster-restore/info">ServiceMaster Restore</a>, the event serves as both a celebration and a catalyst for what’s next.“The conference was an exciting time for us all to get together and share our vision for the future,” Yoder said. “It’s also a time to award, recognize and celebrate our franchisees who had a great year.”<h2>A “Super Bowl” Moment for the System</h2>The annual conference is a cornerstone moment for alignment across the entire franchise network.“We kicked it off with sharing where we’ve been, where we are at, and where we want to be over the next five years,” Yoder said. “It’s something that we really want to share with our franchise network because without them we won’t be able to succeed and hit our combined goals.”That transparency and collaboration are critical in an industry evolving rapidly. “Our industry is highly tech-driven, so being able to change at a faster rate is very important for us to stay competitive and continue to offer value to our clients,” he said.The event also featured a keynote from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/williamh.mcraven/?hl=en">William H. McRaven</a>, Air Force veteran, whose message centered on resilience and leadership. “He really talked about dealing with challenges that he faced not only in the military but also in life, and why you have to buckle down and think positively,” Yoder said. “It was a really inspirational message.”<h2>Recognizing Excellence Across the Network</h2>The conference also gave ServiceMaster Restore a chance to recognize franchisees who had delivered strong results and helped set the standard for the rest of the system. “We celebrate our top-performing locations,” Yoder said. “We’ve outlined a playbook that shows franchisees the areas to focus on, and those are correlated with growth and profitability.”<h3>Marion E. Wade Franchise of the Year</h3>Winner: DSI Holdings —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SMDSIDownersGrove/">ServiceMaster Restoration by DSI (Downers Grove, Illinois)</a>This award goes to a franchise that performs well across the business, including operations, financial results, leadership and brand alignment. DSI Holdings earned the honor after another strong year, with its sales organization generating more than $50 million in revenue in 2025. Its sales team also logged more than 30,000 activities with commercial and insurance partners across its markets.<h3>AWE Leadership Award</h3>Winner:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcyganiak">Mark Cyganiak</a> —&nbsp;<a href="https://smrecover.com/">ServiceMaster Recovery Services (New Berlin, Wisconsin)</a>The AWE Leadership Award recognizes leadership during catastrophic events. Cyganiak earned the award for both his performance and his proactive approach. He was willing to raise his hand early, ask for support and work closely with the broader network, helping his team respond more effectively during high-pressure, large-scale events.<h3>Ambassador of the Year</h3>Winner:&nbsp;<a href="https://ca.linkedin.com/in/johnlcooke">John Cooke</a> —&nbsp;<a href="https://svmottawa.ca/">ServiceMaster of Ottawa (Ottawa, Ontario)</a>This award honors franchisees who put the brand before themselves and serve as champions of the system. Cooke was recognized for going above and beyond to strengthen ServiceMaster Restore not just locally, but across the broader network. He is the chairperson of the Canadian Restore NFC/Steering Committee, helping guide the network through meaningful progress.&nbsp;<h3>Hero of the Year</h3>Winner:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/damon-kuhn-ab167717">Damon Kuhn</a> —&nbsp;<a href="https://servicemasterrestore.com/servicemaster-restoration-by-rite-way">ServiceMaster by Rite Way (Columbus, Ohio)</a>Hero of the Year is voted on by fellow franchisees and corporate leadership, and it recognizes an employee — not an owner — who lives out ServiceMaster Restore’s values on the job. Kuhn’s award points to the role frontline team members play every day, especially those who consistently “do what’s right” for customers and communities.<h3>Community Impact Award</h3>Winner:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/terri-philibert-b2b15247">Terri Philibert</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-philibert-05ab92279">Jacob Philibert</a> —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/ServiceMaster-Restore-by-Cleaning-Masters/61573949423781/">ServiceMaster Cleaning &amp; Restoration by Cleaning Masters (Watertown, Connecticut)</a>Philibert and her team were recognized for their work supporting the Connecticut Burn Care Foundation through their annual “Restore the Hope” event — a community-driven fundraiser designed to support burn survivors and their families. The event, structured as a fun fair with raffles, vendors and family-friendly activities, has made a tangible impact, raising $9,000 in its first year and $11,000 in its second. Proceeds help send children to The Children’s Burn Camp, where they receive support, confidence-building experiences and a sense of community — all free of charge.<h2>Momentum for the Future</h2>As&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/servicemaster-restore/info">ServiceMaster Restore</a> continues to scale, the annual conference serves as a powerful reminder of what drives the brand forward: a combination of operational discipline, innovation and a deeply rooted commitment to service.“Overall, it was a great time to share our strategy for the future and our focus on what we are looking to do as a franchisor,” Yoder said. “We all look forward to it throughout the year — it’s really our Super Bowl.”With a clear vision, a strong network and a culture that celebrates both performance and purpose, ServiceMaster Restore is positioning itself and its franchisees for continued growth in the years ahead.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/servicemaster-restore">https://1851franchise.com/servicemaster-restore</a>.

ServiceMaster Restore brought franchisees, leaders and partners together in Las Vegas to celebrate award winners, share priorities and align around the brand’s next stage of growth.

ServiceMaster Restore Celebrates Systemwide Excellence at 2026 Annual Conference

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For more than 65 years,&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.servicemasterrestore.com/">ServiceMaster Restore</a> has been one of the most recognized names in residential and commercial disaster restoration. With more than 800 franchise locations across several countries, and with the backing of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.servicemaster.com/">ServiceMaster Brands</a>, the company has built its reputation on responding quickly when water, fire, smoke or mold damage disrupts homes and businesses.Now, the company is placing a stronger emphasis on managed repair services, allowing franchisees to take projects from initial mitigation through full reconstruction.<h2>Why Managed Repair Services Matter Now</h2>According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-stateson-32974747/">John Stateson</a>, vice president of construction services, this shift is largely driven by customer preference, as reported in a J.D. Power studies the team commissioned and researched.Adding managed repair services opens more doors at the local level. Adjusters, agents and referral partners often look for providers who can take a project from mitigation through the rebuild. Handling the full scope of work removes the need to juggle multiple vendors, and that shift makes franchisees easier to work with and more reliable in the eyes of local partners.“Being able to become that single-source solution will grow your business that much better as the years go on,” Stateson said. “In my experience, I spent half my career in this industry as a franchisee, and because we offered construction, we were able to get work from so many referral sources and consistent, repeatable work because they knew that we were trustworthy, that we did quality work and they continued to come back to us.”That has not always been the standard approach. For years, insurance carriers often split mitigation and reconstruction between separate vendors because of concerns about conflicts of interest. In practice, though, that setup often led to delays, mixed messages and a more frustrating experience for homeowners. Now, both carriers and customers are placing more value on having one company oversee the job from beginning to end.With improvements in documentation tools and project management technology, Stateson said brands like&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/servicemaster-restore">ServiceMaster Restore</a> can now provide transparency and eliminate the gray areas that once made separation necessary. “We can tell a better story,” he said. “We can help justify and prove what needs to be done, and also deliver a better product.”<h2>Improving the Customer Experience After a Loss</h2>When mitigation and reconstruction are handled by separate companies, customers often struggle to understand who is responsible for each phase. Miscommunication can lead to finger-pointing between vendors and longer project timelines. By integrating managed repair&nbsp; services, franchisees simplify the process.“They have one company that they’re going to talk to throughout the project,” Stateson said. “There’s a lot less confusion around it. I also think that when you have that single provider delivering that solution end-to-end, that provider is more likely to put its best foot forward. And so it improves the quality of the experience.”Because reconstruction planning can begin while mitigation is still underway, projects often move faster overall. Eliminating vendor handoffs reduces downtime and accelerates completion.<h2>How the Brand Supports Expansion into Managed Repair</h2>ServiceMaster Restore is investing in training, technology and peer collaboration to help franchisees integrate or expand managed repair services, especially since construction within a restoration environment is distinct from traditional contracting. Franchisees are not remodeling homes. They are restoring properties to pre-loss condition, often working within insurance guidelines and tight timelines.“When you go in to do construction for restoration, every project’s a little bit different,” Stateson said. “You’re not remodeling. You have to restore. The restorative construction piece is unique in that sense, and it can be more difficult. So we work to provide a lot of training and best practices.”The brand is developing playbooks, structured training programs and best-practice frameworks to guide franchisees through operational integration. Peer-to-peer collaboration also plays a significant role, connecting experienced operators with those just entering the managed repair space.&nbsp;“We also want to work to enhance technology around it,” Stateson said. “We’re looking into the technologies of artificial intelligence, documentation technology and then blending that into our overall processes around construction.”<h2>Getting Started: A Measured Approach</h2>Franchisees exploring managed repair services for the first time need to start with the basics. Requirements are not the same everywhere. Licensing rules can change from one state or municipality to the next, and the difference matters. In some markets, restoration work can be done without a license, while construction work cannot. Before moving forward, it is important to understand what is required locally, how permitting works and whether the franchise agreement allows for adding new services.“Oftentimes people want to jump into it with both feet and get the really big jobs because it’s a lot of money,” Stateson said. “But the reality is when you take that big of a risk with a really big job with a little bit of experience, you can easily get yourself into financial harm.”<h2>Beyond the Standard Offerings: Growing Local Revenue</h2>As disaster restoration continues to evolve, ServiceMaster Restore’s focus on managed repair services reflects a broader industry shift toward accountability, efficiency and customer-centered delivery.For franchisees, integrating reconstruction is not simply about adding revenue. It is about strengthening referral relationships, shortening project timelines and creating a more seamless experience during one of the most stressful moments a customer can face.For more information on franchising with ServiceMaster Restore, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.servicemasterrestore.com/.">https://franchise.servicemasterrestore.com/.</a>&nbsp;

How ServiceMaster Restore Franchisees Offer Managed Repair Services

ServiceMaster Restore franchisees are expanding beyond mitigation work, adding construction services, helping them add revenue, strengthen referral relationships and shorten project timelines.

How ServiceMaster Restore Franchisees Offer Managed Repair Services in Addition to Disaster Recovery as a Single-Source Solution

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When homeowners deal with water, fire or mold damage, the first call is usually urgent. For&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.servicemasterrestore.com/">ServiceMaster Restore</a> franchisees, that early conversation often centers on a practical question: how is this going to get paid?At&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/servicemaster-restore/info">ServiceMaster Restore</a> in Nampa, Idaho, franchisee Christopher Davis and Marketing and Sales Manager&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/riane-tynan/">Riane Tynan</a> have built financing conversations directly into their intake and inspection process. Their goal is to help customers understand their financing options.“We ask what happened and create a space to have that conversation,” said Davis. “A lot of times, customers don't know what they need, you're there to help them. We go over the whole [financing] process.”&nbsp;<h2>Helping Customers Understand Their Options</h2>In the midst of a loss, it can be stressful to navigate the financial aspect of restoration. That’s where ServiceMaster Restore comes in, providing clarity and clear guidance on financing options. Once Davis is on site, the conversation shifts to helping homeowners understand what comes next.&nbsp;“We leave information behind, then we start working the estimate,” Davis said. “It’s about staying engaged with the customer and using financing as another tool in our toolbox.”The company walks customers through the scope of the work, the costs involved and the options available to cover those costs, including third-party financing through ServiceMaster Restore partners, bank loans and home equity lines of credit. Acting quickly during the early stages of property damage is critical to limiting the extent of the problem.“Homeowners need to take action quickly to protect their homes and belongings from further damage. Water can cause immeasurable damage to a home, and high humidity levels can wreak havoc on its contents,” said Mark Rohlfing, senior manager of local sales at ServiceMaster. “Soot and contaminants from fires tend to be acidic and can cause etching and corrosion on certain materials that could all be avoided through quick decision-making to engage a mitigation company like ours to take action.”Many homeowners are conditioned to seek multiple bids and choose the lowest price, but that approach can create problems during restoration projects. The lowest price isn’t always the best option when it comes to protecting property values and equity in the home.“When forced to make quick decisions to protect your home, what really matters is understanding the intended scope of work and the reputation of the company you hire,” Rohlfing said.&nbsp;Davis explains the options to his customers: doing some of the work themselves, hiring ServiceMaster Restore to complete the project or combining the two. From there, deeper financing discussions typically begin, and that is when the handoff to Tynan happens. She serves as the financing point person, guiding customers through third-party options and helping them choose a plan that fits their situation.“It just creates a space for them to even think about it themselves. Maybe they can use a credit card because they could get airline points for that, for example,” she said. “You don’t have to use our financing. But it gets them thinking.”<h2>Becoming Part of the Solution</h2>Both Davis and Tynan say that integrating financing into everyday operations has changed how customers respond.“When people call us, it’s because they need help,” Davis said. “Financing lets us stay part of their solution all the way through.”Importantly, they stress that customers are never pushed toward a specific product. Some choose bank loans, credit cards or home equity options instead.&nbsp;When handled the right way, financing is not an awkward sales conversation. It is a service that helps homeowners move forward during one of the most difficult moments they will face, while allowing restoration companies to stay engaged, supportive and responsive from start to finish.For more information on franchising with ServiceMaster Restore, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.servicemasterrestore.com/.">https://franchise.servicemasterrestore.com/.</a>&nbsp;

How ServiceMaster Restore Franchisees Offer Flexibility in Finance Options

For many ServiceMaster Restore franchisees, financing has become a practical way to help homeowners address damage.     

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Executive Q&A: John Tovar, President of ServiceMaster Restore

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