Five Questions with Saima Hedrick: Get to Know Your CEO

On Fri, 02/27/2026
Five Questions with Saima Hedrick: Get to Know Your CEO

  1. What is the core mission that drives you as a leader?

My core mission has always been connection. There is a great saying that I think is perfect for membership organizations - "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together"- and it applies  to my leadership style. To grow our industry and have a stronger voice in advocacy, I need to work on bringing people together. In my early years as a professional, I brought professionals and advocates together to bring new technology and medicine to the public and then, as my career advanced, on bringing those new voices to the table with established professionals and mentors. As leaders, it is our responsibility to make sure the voices around the table represent all aspects of the industry. To do that we need to be collaborators, trust-builders, and the people willing to ask the difficult questions. All of that becomes possible when you value connection and make it your mission. 

 

  1. In your first 100 days, how are you prioritizing "listening" to the members? 

I started having 1-1 conversations with the most active RIA volunteers and plan to continue doing that over the next weeks. By early April, I hope to be sending a series of membership surveys to inform the overall membership strategy and strategic vision for the next 3 years. We are in this together and we need the membership to respond to those surveys and provide as much detail as they can so that we have a really clear picture of the future we are working towards. 

 

  1. If we look back a year from today, what would a "win" look like for your first year as CEO?

The “win” for my first year has 2 main components. RIA was highly fortunate to have Kristy Cohen, so my first component of success would be establishing the trust of the membership and key stakeholders. The other component would be developing a comprehensive implementation plan for RIA’s strategic goals that incorporates all the insights gathered from listening and translates them into actionable steps. In the last strategic plan, we identified insurance carriers as a key audience to elevate the restoration industry and address key challenges. We also aimed to make the membership benefits more transparent and that is why we recently launched the membership calculator on the RIA website. I encourage everyone to use it to see how much value you can get out of your RIA membership.

 

  1. Advocacy and education are huge for the RIA. Which of these pillars do you think needs the most "rocket fuel" right now?

That is a tricky question! I think the two work hand-in-hand so you really cannot have one without the other. RIA’s mission statement is to “Educate, Advocate, Elevate” so our convention, certifications, and professional development content are ways that we provide opportunities for members and non-members to get the education they need to be the best restorer. Advocacy is the work of taking that information to policy makers and sharing why they should care. Our members may not have the time to make the connections with policy makers, so Vince Scarfo, our Director for Advocacy and Government Affairs, does that for them and they, in turn, take all the lessons learned on the job and at RIA to those discussions. Without both pieces, our efforts wouldn’t be nearly as effective!

 

  1. When a member sees you at the RIA Convention this April, what’s the one thing you’re most excited to talk to them about?

My family likes to say you have 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason - your purpose is to listen. I love hearing about the individual member’s journey, their families, and what they need help with. It is in these stories that find a reflection of their values and priorities and learn about the industry as a whole. I had an opportunity to do that at the AGA event in Florida earlier this month and I came away with so many nuggets of wisdom! One of those nuggets is that a company’s success depends on their commitment to a people-first approach. That resonates deeply with my style of leadership, is why I joined RIA, and why I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Savannah, GA!