Finding Common Ground: NBA Rivals, RIA, and the Power of Advocacy

Insights authored by Amanda Chavez Thomson of Chavez Restoration. 

Client advocacy has always been top of mind for our family-owned small business. When a customer calls with a fire or water emergency, the hope is that they have never had to deal with that type of situation before. Navigating insurance, trying to figure out next steps, and making hard decisions—all while under immense stress and uncertainty—is a challenge for anyone. We act as a guide for our clients, making sure they feel they are getting the direction, knowledge, and service they deserve from all parties involved.

Our advocacy should not end with our clients. Over the last several years, I have had the opportunity to meet with local elected officials at both the state and federal levels through my participation in our local chamber. I have also attended annual DC Advocacy Fly-Ins, where we are able to speak directly with our elected officials and advocate for the work we are doing in our city, the businesses we own and operate, and the communities we serve.

I recently attended the webinar, “Proof Over Promises: Ethics, Certifications, Documentation & the Future of Restoration,” featuring Vince Scarfo, Director of Advocacy & Government Affairs at RIA. The webinar provided many valuable insights, but what stuck with me most was Vince’s call to action to get involved in shaping the future of our industry.

With an advocacy trip coming up, I knew I wanted to reach out to Vince for guidance on industry issues and talking points that I could bring with me. Vince was quick to respond and graciously took the time to meet with me. We quickly learned that our two favorite NBA teams were battling in the Finals, but we did not let that stop us from finding our common ground: advocacy and the restoration industry. I was deeply impressed by his passion for advocacy, and his seasoned experience working with legislators, regulators, and industry stakeholders was immediately evident.

After our discussion, I traveled to Capitol Hill the following week with stronger talking points and a deeper understanding of how to communicate industry issues in a way that lawmakers can understand and, more importantly, know where and how to apply our concerns and requests. An urge to keep fighting the good fight for our industry remains and is stronger than ever.

Policy changes do not happen overnight. But there are voices that help shape policy, and yours should be one of them. The more elected officials at every level understand the challenges our industry faces, the better positioned they are to help create the solutions and actions we are seeking. No one will do this for us—it has to be us.

Vince and I may disagree on who the best team in the NBA is, but we can agree that advocacy matters and that the time spent on it is time well spent.

Thank you to RIA for continuing to elevate the voice of restoration professionals and thank you to Vince for leading those efforts and making it easy for members like me to get involved.