The Conversations That Shape What’s Next

**Schedule subject to change

Time	Training	Wekiwa 3	Wekiwa 6	Wekiwa 7
8:00 am	Cotality Training		Xactimate Fundamentals to Advanced Estimating This four-hour Xactimate course combines foundational and advanced training into a single, comprehensive session. Attendees will learn how to build accurate estimates from start to finish, beginning with essential fundamentals …
12:00 pm	Altimeter University (AU) Training Altimeter University is a centralized platform designed to accelerate contractor readiness and performance. It provides immediate access to: With this platform, contractors can be trained and field-ready within hours. Even … Susann Eisenhauer Learning and Development Manager, Altimeter Soultions Group
1:00 pm	Cotality Training			Xactware Innovations for Modern Restoration Work This hands-on session helps Altimeter members see how modern Xactimate innovations extend beyond estimating into active job management. Attendees will gain practical experience with tools that support restoration workflows—from capturing moisture readings …
3:00 pm		Contractor Fun Learning – Group 1 Get ready for a high-energy showdown where regions go head-to-head in contractor-themed games like Jeopardy, Name That Tool, Family Feud, and Wheel of Fortune. It’s fast-paced, a little competitive, and … Altimeter Team

Time	Main Stage	Wekiwa 3	Wekiwa 4	Wekiwa 5	Wekiwa 6	Wekiwa 7	Wekiwa 8
8:30 am	Opening General Session Jonathan Miko opens the conference by framing what performance under pressure looks like for the industry today and why bringing the industry together matters more than ever. He will share … Jonathan Miko CEO, Altimeter Solutions Group
9:15 am	Keynote Aron Ralston shares his powerful story of survival, resilience, and responsibility in moments where every decision matters. Through his personal experience, Aron challenges audiences to think differently about accountability, adaptability, … Aron Ralston Moutaineer & Survivor
10:45 am		The Invisible Leak: Plugging Process Gaps to Scale Without Burnout When a loss comes in, your team’s reaction is instinctual—but is it efficient? After observing restoration workflows across the globe, one thing is clear: the path from Point A to … Paul Silliman Head of Sales and Customer Success, Clean Claims	Building a Tech Ecosystem That Performs, Not Just Powers with RIA To move beyond “feature chasing” and help restoration leaders evaluate their technology through the lens of performance, ensuring that individual tools (CRMs, documentation, financial intelligence) communicate seamlessly to drive actual …	Liberty Mutual Town Hall An open forum to discuss carrier programs, priorities, and perspectives. Contractors will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in open conversation.	Auto Club Group Town Hall An open forum to discuss carrier programs, priorities, and perspectives. Contractors will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in open conversation.	Workforce Under Pressure: Rethinking Retention & Recruiting in Restoration Labor pressure isn’t temporary, it’s structural. In an industry defined by urgency and high expectations, recruiting faster won’t solve the problem if the talent pipeline itself is weak. This panel … Kristy Sifford Founder, Wylander Dr. Jake Avila Associate Professor of Construction Management, Middle Tennessee State University Lisa Lavender CEO, Lever360	Power Moves for Precision Exits: Preparing Your Business for the Next Chapter In this session on engineering your best exit from your restoration business, Gokul breaks down the metrics that drive enterprise value and reveal how prepared your company is for market. … Gokul Padmanabhan Founder and Business Broker, Restoration Brokers of America
1:00 pm		Growth vs. Grit: Balancing Revenue Ambitions with Operational Discipline In today’s insurance restoration environment, the pressure to grow revenue is relentless, but unchecked growth can strain operations, erode margins, and exhaust teams. This session explores the delicate balance between … Josh Bachman Business Development Advisor, Violand Management Associates		HIPPO Town Hall An open forum to discuss carrier programs, priorities, and perspectives. Contractors will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in open conversation.		Unlocking New Opportunities: Altimeter’s Home Warranty & Manufactured Housing Partnerships This session covers how to work effectively with 2-10 Home Warranty and Clayton Homes—including communication expectations, workflow standards, and service quality requirements—while outlining what contractors can expect in return, such … Johnetta Johnson Senior VP of Operations, Altimeter Solutions Group	Flexible, Not Fragile: Building Teams That Win Under Pressure The pace of change in the restoration industry is exhausting. Things are moving faster than ever. This requires business leadership to be disciplined and flexible. Learn how to create a … Phillip Rosebrook President, Business Mentors
2:00 pm		Experience Is the Brand: How We Built a Trust-Driven Culture at Thomasville Restoration In restoration, experience is everything. At Thomasville Restoration, a trust-driven culture is not just a value—it’s a performance standard, reflected in consistent 4.9-star customer reviews. Learn how disciplined leadership, clear … Alexus Neidert Head of Brand + Culture, Thomasville Restoration JaMar Plater COO, Thomasville Restoration		SageSure Town Hall An open forum to discuss carrier programs, priorities, and perspectives. Contractors will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in open conversation.	From Scope to Supply: Streamlining Interior Repairs with Verisk and Lowe’s See how estimates built in Verisk can flow directly into material ordering through Lowe’s. This session walks contractors through the end-to-end workflow for interior repairs, with a focus on drywall … Geoff Nielsen Director, Contents Data & Direct Supplier, Verisk Charles VanCleave National Account Manager – Specialty Restoration, Lowe's	Hiring Like a Pro: Building a Process That Actually Works Most small businesses don’t have a hiring process — they have a hiring moment. A resume looks promising, the interview “feels good,” and a few weeks later you’re wondering how you … Kristy Sifford Founder, Wylander
3:00 pm				Engineering Town Hall An open forum to discuss carrier programs, priorities, and perspectives. Contractors will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in open conversation. Tina Pettinato Senior VP, Altimeter Solutions Group
4:00 pm	Bringing the Industry Together Panel The restoration industry performs best when its parts work together and that’s hardest when the pressure is highest. For the first time on the ACCESS main stage, carriers, contractors, and … Jonathan Miko CEO, Altimeter Solutions Group Luke Micakovic CEO/Senior Partner, ICON Restoration Services Kristina Tomasetti VP, Claims Optimization, SageSure Jesse Herrera EVP Global Product & Operations, Cotality Aaron Brunko President, Property Estimating Solutions, Verisk Bill Gandsey COO, Tri-Tech Restoration & Construction

Time	Main Stage	Wekiwa 3	Wekiwa 4	Wekiwa 5	Wekiwa 6	Wekiwa 7	Wekiwa 8
8:30 am	From Restoration to Ritz-Carlton: How Great Leaders Build Customer Experience Cultures In a marketplace where technical skill and speed are no longer enough, the true differentiator is the experience your clients feel. In this powerful keynote, Chris Nordyk reveals how restoration … Chris Nordyke President, Floodlight Consulting Group
9:30 am	Customer Experience in Action Panel This panel brings together operational leaders, carriers, contractors, and industry partners to talk about how customer experience actually comes together. Panelists will share what they’re trying to accomplish, the pressures … Chris Nordyke President, Floodlight Consulting Group Marcie Richardson COO, Guarantee Restoration Dr. Theresa Young CSAA Scott MorgenRoth Brand Director, GuildQuality Johnetta Johnson Senior VP of Operations, Altimeter Solutions Group
10:45 am		What’s Really Happening Inside Restoration Companies Today Join Michelle Blevins and Leighton Healey as they unpack the 2026 State of the Industry Report, the restoration industry’s leading benchmarking study delivering real data from contractors in the field. … Leighton Healey CEO, KnowHow Michelle Blevins Publisher + Owner, C&R Magazine	Scope Is the SLA: How Top Contractors Win ManagedRepair Programs Today—and Prepare for What’s Next In managed repair networks, contractor performance is measured as much by file execution as by field execution. Scope speed, documentation accuracy, and estimate defensibility directly impact program scorecards, desk review … Chris Gulbronson Director of Customer Success, Encircle	Church Insurance Company of Vermont Town Hall An open forum to discuss carrier programs, priorities, and perspectives. Contractors will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in open conversation.	CSAA Town Hall An open forum to discuss carrier programs, priorities, and perspectives. Contractors will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in open conversation.	Stop Hiring, Start Leading: How Adaptive Leadership Solves the Retention Crisis in Restoration Retention isn’t just about keeping people; it’s about creating a culture where they feel valued and want to stay. In the restoration industry, where small teams and limited advancement opportunities … Rod Cruce Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Trifecta Growth Institute	Not All Subs Are Created Equal: How to Build a Reliable Bench Finding subcontractors is easy. Finding qualified, compliant, and dependable subcontractors is not. This panel brings together technology leaders and recruiting experts to break down what proper vetting really looks like … Ed Baldwin CEO, ProfileGorilla Taylor Hardin Account Executive, Altimeter Solutions Group Bill Lang Director of Compliance, Altimeter Solutions Group Chris Andronaco CEO, Sublynk
1:00 pm		Beyond the Score: How Customer Feedback Predicts Operational Risk Trust is everything—and your survey results are one of the clearest signals of how well that trust is being earned. In this breakout session, we’ll show how customer feedback isn’t … Scott MorgenRoth Brand Director, GuildQuality Laura Summerlin Head of Growth & Marketing, GuildQuality	The Owner Bottleneck During CAT Response: The Hidden Cost of Slow Decisions As restoration companies scale, especially during CAT events, the owner often becomes the slowest-moving constraint in the system. When too many approvals, overrides, and exceptions funnel through one person, job … Mark Shippe Principal Consultant, Shippe Consulting Group	Erie Town Hall An open forum to discuss carrier programs, priorities, and perspectives. Contractors will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in open conversation. Kimberly Gilley Account Executive, Altimeter Solutions Group	American Family Town Hall An open forum to discuss carrier programs, priorities, and perspectives. Contractors will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in open conversation.	Mobilization: Systems for Speed, Consistency & Reduced Frustration This session focuses on the practical side of operational readiness — how standardized systems, physical organization, and clear role alignment allow teams to respond faster, make fewer mistakes, and reduce … Lisa Lavender CEO, Lever360	How to Keep Your Claims Moving and Get Paid Faster Everyone wants to get paid faster. And while there are many factors that influence payment timelines, there are also areas within a contractor’s control that can make a difference. Across … Todd Lipkin VP of Finance, Altimeter Solutions Group Johnetta Johnson Senior VP of Operations, Altimeter Solutions Group
2:00 pm		FNOL/FOS: Establishing consistent SOPs that increase revenue, avoid issues, and elevate customer service This session will offer best practices for your First Notice of Loss and First On Site staff to reduce cycle time while increasing volume and cash flow. Established SOP’s also … Russ Jacobs Director of Customer Development, Esporta Wash Systems Inc.	The Concrete Playbook: Building Restoration’s Future Workforce The restoration industry is facing a growing workforce challenge that threatens long-term sustainability and growth. As demand for restoration services continues to rise and a generation is looking to exit, … Dr. Jake Avila Associate Professor of Construction Management, Middle Tennessee State University		Altimeter Q&A: Why Contractors Get Dropped from Networks (and How to Avoid It) Join the Altimeter team for an open Q&A. Success often comes down to the details across both operations and credentialing. We’ll discuss the standards that matter most, how performance and … Bill Lang Director of Compliance, Altimeter Solutions Group Cristina Ramos Senior Regional Field Manager, Altimeter Solutions Group Natasha Ryan Senior Regional Field Manager, Altimeter Solutions Group Chris Peppard Senior Regional Field Manager, Altimeter Solutions Group		Allstate Inspection Town Hall An open forum to discuss carrier programs, priorities, and perspectives. Contractors will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in open conversation.
4:05 pm	MRP Leadership Panel: Building for What Matters This panel brings together MRP leadership to discuss where the company is headed and the priorities guiding its next phase. The conversation focuses on how leaders are setting direction, balancing … Michelle Blevins Publisher + Owner, C&R Magazine Jonathan Miko CEO, Altimeter Solutions Group Keith Hemmer COO, Altimeter Solutions Group Tina Pettinato Senior VP, Altimeter Solutions Group Johnetta Johnson Senior VP of Operations, Altimeter Solutions Group
4:45 pm	Closing General Session Keith Hemmer wraps up the conference by reflecting on what we’ve heard, what we’ve learned, and what it means for the work ahead. His closing session centers on perspective, progress, … Keith Hemmer COO, Altimeter Solutions Group

On the Main Stage

Where performance, leadership, and alignment take center stage.

Tuesday - May 19

Opening General Session - JONATHAN MIKO

CEO, Altimeter solutions group

Jonathan Miko opens the conference by framing what performance under pressure looks like for the industry today and why bringing the industry together matters more than ever. He will share perspective on current conditions, emerging themes, and the challenges and opportunities shaping the year ahead.

Keynote - Aron Ralston

Moutaineer & Survivor

Aron Ralston shares his powerful story of survival, resilience, and responsibility in moments where every decision matters. Through his personal experience, Aron challenges audiences to think differently about accountability, adaptability, and leadership when circumstances are at their most demanding. His message connects deeply to the realities of high-pressure environments and the choices that define outcomes. This keynote delivers inspiration grounded in perspective, not platitudes.

Panel - Bringing the Industry Together

Panel MoDerator - Jonathan Miko

The restoration industry performs best when its parts work together and that’s hardest when the pressure is highest.

For the first time on the ACCESS main stage, carriers, contractors, and vendors will sit down together to talk about what really happens when urgency, expectations, and accountability collide. This conversation focuses on the gaps that slow things down, the moments that create tension, and the practical steps needed to improve clarity and alignment so the industry can move forward together.

WEDNESDAY - May 20

From Restoration to Ritz-Carlton: How Great Leaders Build Customer Experience Cultures

Chris Nordyke - Floodlight Consulting Group

In a marketplace where technical skill and speed are no longer enough, the true differentiator is the experience your clients feel. In this powerful keynote, Chris Nordyk reveals how restoration leaders can borrow lessons from Ritz-Carlton to build a culture that delivers remarkable service at every touchpoint. Through real-world stories and five practical building blocks, attendees will learn how to empower their teams, close service gaps, and create moments that turn customers into lifelong advocates.

Panel - Customer Experience in Action

Panel moderator - Chris Nordyke, Floodlight Consulting Group

This panel brings together operational leaders, carriers, contractors, and industry partners to talk about how customer experience actually comes together. Panelists will share what they’re trying to accomplish, the pressures they’re working within, and what’s been working well in practice. The conversation focuses on understanding how different sides of the industry connect and where better alignment makes a difference for customers.

Panel - MRP Leadership: Building for What Matters

Panel moderator - Michelle Blevins, C&R Magazine

This panel brings together MRP leadership to discuss where the company is headed and the priorities guiding its next phase. The conversation focuses on how leaders are setting direction, balancing long-term vision with operational realities, and making decisions that position the company for continued performance.

Closing General Session - Keith Hemmer

COO, Altimeter solutions group

Keith Hemmer wraps up the conference by reflecting on what we’ve heard, what we’ve learned, and what it means for the work ahead. His closing session centers on perspective, progress, and how the industry can keep moving forward together. Attendees will leave with a clear sense of purpose and momentum.

The ACCESS Experience

ACCESS 2025 wasn’t just a conference, it was a chance to reset, reconnect, and rethink what’s possible across our industry.

Elevate your expertise at access 2026

Attend the sessions shaping the industry, gain valuable insights, and network with professionals who are driving change.