In this episode of Mission Critical, Leighton Healey speaks with Kyle Chason, president of Best Option Restoration, about building a 70-location restoration franchise network across 26 states after starting as the system’s first franchisee in 2017.

Kyle shares his early experience as a one-person operator, including working alone on a New Year’s Eve mitigation job with $2,500 left, and how that shaped his focus on commitments, purpose, and perseverance. Kyle also outlines lean operating principles centered on fast communication, decision empowerment, and avoiding slow, opinion-heavy bureaucracy.

If you're a restoration leader struggling to navigate turbulent times while maintaining culture and finding operational margin, this conversation delivers battle-tested tactics from the trenches.

Looking for more expertise from restoration industry experts? Head to https://tryknowhow.com

A new show from KnowHow dropping into The Restoration Playbook feed: What's Next in Franchising is a weekly podcast built for leaders scaling home and commercial services franchises, tackling the biggest news stories, and sitting down with the most innovative voices and leaders in the industry.

In this first episode, Leighton and Travis Martin break down three developments shaping service businesses in 2026: new FTC franchise disclosure rules, what the Franchise 500 rankings signal about where the industry is heading, and why consumers are moving back toward professional service providers after years of DIY.

If you've ever wondered how the franchise world thinks about training, consistency, and scaling without chaos, this is worth 30 minutes on your commute.

In this episode of Mission Critical, host Leighton Healey, CEO of KnowHow, speaks with Chris Hembrough and Matt Wike from Peerless Restoration. Together, they discuss the unique challenges and strategies employed by their three-generation family business in Central Illinois. From managing three major projects simultaneously to fostering leadership and communication within the team, Chris and Matt share how they turn crises into opportunities for growth. With an emphasis on keeping promises and building strong relationships, Peerless Restoration proves that resilience and adaptability are key in the ever-demanding restoration industry.

If you're a restoration leader struggling to navigate turbulent times while maintaining culture and finding operational margin, this conversation delivers battle-tested tactics from the trenches.

Looking for more expertise from restoration industry experts? Head to https://tryknowhow.com

On this episode of Mission Critical, Leighton Healey interviews Jamar Plater, COO of Thomasville Restoration, one of the top restoration providers in the Mid-Atlantic. Jamar shares how radical transparency has transformed Thomasville's operations, turning their 150-person team into problem-solvers rather than spectators. He unpacks the LEAST framework (Listen, Empathize, Apologize, Solve, Thank) that empowers teams to handle issues before they escalate, reveals the daily KPIs he tracks to maintain operational health, and explains how they successfully expanded 100 miles into Richmond by communicating goals company-wide instead of solving problems in isolation.

If you're a restoration leader struggling to navigate turbulent times while maintaining culture and finding operational margin, this conversation delivers battle-tested tactics from the trenches.

Looking for more expertise from restoration industry experts? Head to https://tryknowhow.com

The restoration industry faces immense challenges with soft sales, thin margins, and delayed payments. On this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast: Mission Critical, Leighton Healey interviews Kristin Smith, President of Mooring USA, who shares her financial strategies and insights. Kristin, equipped with a background in oil and gas, discusses how Mooring USA has diversified revenue streams, cross-trained teams, and secured a private equity partner without sacrificing their rich family culture. If you're a restoration leader looking for concrete tactics to stabilize cash flow and navigate financial uncertainty, don't miss this valuable conversation.

Looking for more expertise from restoration industry experts? Head to https://tryknowhow.com

“It’s not ever about you.”

That’s the leadership mantra Holly Murry built a national restoration brand on.

In this episode, the FRSTeam President joins Travis Martin to unpack how empathy, self-awareness, and accountability power high-performing teams, without the ego. From gut-check hiring tactics to letting go with grace, Holly reveals how she builds leaders who care, serve, and go above and beyond.

Hungry for more insights?
• Join Travis on July 17th live at 1 pm EST to learn how to get more output from your team without increasing your payroll: Click Here to Register

• Subscribe to the Restoration Playbook Podcast wherever you're listening, and check out tryknowhow.com for even more interviews and resources for busy restoration leaders
• Visit randrmagonline.com to read the latest article in our monthly series with R&R Magazine, spotlighting industry leaders who are building top talent.

Thanks for tuning in!

About KnowHow:
KnowHow is an easy-to-use, mobile-first application that helps restoration leaders rapidly onboard new hires, up-skill their workforce, and provide on-demand, expert guidance for every worker. Home to your company’s proven methods, KnowHow ensures everyone has the expertise they need to get the job done right, with time-saving features that make it a breeze to build, maintain, and translate Standard Operating Procedures.

Learn more at https://tryknowhow.com

Ever heard of “Semper Gumby”?—the Marine Corps mantra for staying always flexible.

That mindset is Chuck Lane’s not-so-secret weapon for scaling training at BluSky Restoration, one of the biggest players in the industry.

Hit play as Travis uncovers how Chuck turns curveballs into growth, building crews who learn fast, adapt faster, and keep BluSky miles ahead of the storm. Stick around to see why “being Gumby” might be the smartest leadership move you make this year.

Hungry for more insights?
• Join Travis on June 11th live at 1 pm EST to learn how to provide your restoration team with on-demand answers: Click Here To Register.

• Subscribe to the Restoration Playbook Podcast wherever you're listening, and check out tryknowhow.com for even more interviews and resources for busy restoration leaders.

• Visit randrmagonline.com to read the latest article in our monthly series with R&R Magazine, spotlighting industry leaders who are building top talent.

Thanks for tuning in!

About KnowHow:
KnowHow is an easy-to-use, mobile-first application that helps restoration leaders rapidly onboard new hires, up-skill their workforce, and provide on-demand, expert guidance for every worker. Home to your company’s proven methods, KnowHow ensures everyone has the expertise they need to get the job done right, with time-saving features that make it a breeze to build, maintain, and translate Standard Operating Procedures.

In this episode of the Restoration Playbook Podcast, Travis sits down with Marcie Richardson, COO of Guarantee Restoration Service. Marcie shares the exact leadership moves that helped her scale across multiple offices without compromising values, consistency, or connection.

From above-the-line communication to her “culture gardening” framework, Marcie breaks down how to grow people and why great leadership means knowing when to push and when to pause.

Hungry for more insights?
• Join Travis on May 8th live at 1 pm EST to learn how to scale multiple locations and not your headaches: Click Here To Register.

• Subscribe to the Restoration Playbook Podcast wherever you're listening, and check out tryknowhow.com for even more interviews and resources for busy restoration leaders.

• Visit randrmagonline.com to read the latest article in our monthly series with R&R Magazine, spotlighting industry leaders who are building top talent.

Thanks for tuning in!

About KnowHow:
KnowHow is an easy-to-use, mobile-first application that helps restoration leaders rapidly onboard new hires, up-skill their workforce, and provide on-demand, expert guidance for every worker. Home to your company’s proven methods, KnowHow ensures everyone has the expertise they need to get the job done right, with time-saving features that make it a breeze to build, maintain, and translate Standard Operating Procedures.