Big ideas, meaningful conversations, new friendships, and a little California adventure—our latest RIOT Impact Group gathering was one to remember!

In September, Eleanor Terlecki, owner of PuroClean of Auburn, ME, traveled from Maine to San Rafael, California, to join fellow PuroClean owners and leaders for an Impact Group meeting hosted by Nick Ondrejka and the team at PuroClean of San Rafael.

RIOT stands for Restoration Industry Over Takers, and the group brings together PuroClean owners and leaders who are committed to learning from one another, challenging each other, and building stronger restoration businesses.

More Than a Business Meeting

Running a restoration company can be challenging.

From emergency calls and staffing to equipment, insurance claims, customer service, sales, finances, and business growth, restoration owners face many of the same challenges regardless of where their businesses are located.

That’s one of the things that makes an Impact Group so valuable.

During the San Rafael gathering, owners had the opportunity to openly discuss their businesses, share experiences, work through challenges, and exchange ideas that can be taken back to their individual locations.

For Eleanor and the PuroClean of Auburn, ME team, being able to connect with other owners who understand the restoration industry firsthand is an incredible opportunity for growth.

Learning From Other PuroClean Owners

One of the greatest advantages of being part of the PuroClean network is that we don’t have to figure everything out on our own.

Every PuroClean location operates in a unique market. Maine’s property damage challenges can look very different from those in California, Texas, Indiana, Hawaii, or Nevada.

But there are also many similarities.

Customers everywhere need a restoration company that responds quickly, communicates clearly, performs quality work, and treats people with compassion.

RIOT creates an environment where owners can share what’s working, talk honestly about what isn’t, and learn from the experiences of others.

The conversations in San Rafael covered business operations, financials, equipment, claims, growth opportunities, and other challenges that restoration business owners encounter every day.

The goal isn’t simply to talk about ideas.

It’s to take those ideas home and put them into action.

A Different Kind of Team Building

Of course, an Impact Group gathering isn’t all spreadsheets and business conversations.

After spending time focused on the business, the group had the opportunity to experience some of what makes the San Francisco Bay area so special.

The group took to the water aboard a sailboat, cruising across San Francisco Bay with incredible views of the city, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the surrounding area.

For someone coming from Auburn, Maine, it was certainly a change of scenery!

Stepping away from the office created an opportunity to relax, laugh, tell stories, and strengthen the relationships that make groups like RIOT so valuable.

Sometimes the best conversations happen when you’re no longer sitting around a conference table.

Building Relationships Across the PuroClean Network

One of the biggest takeaways from the San Rafael trip was the importance of relationships.

Being a business owner can sometimes feel like you’re navigating challenges on your own. Having a network of people who understand the industry—and who are willing to share their experiences—can make a tremendous difference.

RIOT provides that network.

It’s a place where owners can ask questions, share successes, talk about mistakes, and challenge one another to keep improving.

Those relationships extend far beyond a single meeting.

When you’re part of a group like RIOT, you gain people you can call when you have a question, face a challenge, or simply want to bounce an idea off someone who understands what it’s like to run a restoration business.

Bringing New Ideas Back to Maine

The real value of an Impact Group trip doesn’t end when the plane lands back home.

Eleanor returned to Maine with new ideas, new connections, and plenty to think about as we continue growing PuroClean of Auburn, ME.

We’re constantly looking for ways to improve how we serve our customers, support our team, and operate our business. Learning from other PuroClean owners gives us another perspective and helps us continue raising the bar for our customers here in Maine.

Grateful for the PuroClean Family

A special thank you to Nick Ondrejka and the PuroClean of San Rafael team for hosting the RIOT Impact Group and welcoming us to California.

We’re grateful for the time spent learning, sharing, laughing, and building relationships with fellow PuroClean owners.

From Auburn, Maine, to San Rafael, California, the trip was a great reminder that while our businesses may be separated by thousands of miles, we’re all working toward the same goal: helping people recover when property damage disrupts their lives.

RIOT isn’t just about business.

It’s about accountability.

It’s about sharing knowledge.

It’s about challenging each other.

And it’s about building relationships that make all of us stronger.

We’re proud to be part of the PuroClean family and look forward to bringing what we learned in California back to our customers and community here in Maine.

From Maine to California and back again—what a trip!

PuroClean of Auburn, ME — The Paramedics of Property Damage®