Courtesy KPM Restoration
By Susan Elise Campbell
KPM Restoration now has five fully staffed offices in the Capital Region, three in the Hudson Valley and one in Vermont, allowing it to handle 30 or more jobs each week, according to President and founder James Kennedy. The firm restores homes and buildings damaged by water, fire, mold and sewage caused by natural disasters or system failures due to age or accidents.
Kennedy said clients range from Lake Placid to Long Island and that the Bronx is the latest market he is entering. He is moving into the boroughs by “getting out there networking and keeping relationships tight,” which has been his approach since starting KPM Restoration in 2017.
“The growth we are experiencing goes back to taking a chance and getting a network of good vendors, building managers, insurance companies, construction project managers, plumbers, and others to partner with,” he said. “And it is about making a foundation of people with grit who are like family to me.”
The firm is shifting to larger jobs from its new location in southeastern New York because, as Kennedy said, “bigger buildings need bigger restorations.”
“We bought three vans for the Westchester location and the warehouse is storing air movers and dehumidifiers to handle the volume of demand among hotels, residential complexes, and commercial buildings,” he said.
That brings KPM’s total to 45 employees and 26 vans kept on the road to respond promptly to property owners’ calls.
“If we are not there within the hour, the homeowner will call someone else,” Kennedy said. “We show up fast, communicate clearly, and treat every property like our own.”
As many staff members as possible are trained as water restoration technicians and applied structural drying technicians, certifications that take a week to complete. The technicians also receive on-the-job training, and Kennedy does not require prior experience in the restoration field.
“I look for people who enjoy working with people, who are honest and value doing a job right,” he said.
KPM currently has openings for 10 more employees in project management, sales, administration and field services.
As a business, KPM faces the challenge of responding to a growing clientele while upholding its reputation for quality service. That requires ensuring Kennedy’s “team is connected” and that he “stays very involved” with every employee, he said.
“We are happy we can help homeowners during their time of distress,” he said. “We know we have done a good job for them on our walkthrough and they see everything has gone to plan.”
After restoration and remediation are complete, the home or building may need further repairs and construction. Kennedy said his staff works with the client’s insurance representative to start the next stage and arrange direct billing, which can ease other burdens on the homeowner.
“It’s important to keep it honest with the adjustors and never hide a problem,” he said. “Sometimes people mess up, so just be honest and fix it and move on.”
Homeowners and building managers can take proactive steps to help prevent certain types of costly damage. Kennedy, who started in business doing foreclosure work for banks, said regular furnace cleaning and keeping smoke detectors and fire alarms in working order are imperative. They also should protect water pipes during winter and check attics for moisture.
Kennedy describes himself as a family man who emphasizes “giving back to the community,” especially “working with children who need help.”
The company donates to and sponsors events for high school and youth sports, hospitals, fire departments and local chambers of commerce, examples Kennedy shared of its community support.
“I’m a dad myself and my kids are my life,” he said. ”They know they come first, but have been very understanding of how busy Daddy can be.”
“My kids are aged 15, 11, and 5, and they have sacrificed a lot for me to help me out,” he said.
For more about the full range of restoration services and to meet the KPM team, visit kpmrestoration.com.