The passing of a great one

In Memory of Steven LaVelle

??????????? It is with profound sadness that I mourn the passing of Steven LaVelle, a true friend to the disaster restoration industry. Steven was not only a respected professional in our field but also a dear friend to many, including myself. He wrote the forward in my soon to be released book titled “Memoir and Confessions of a Serial Restorer”. Steven worked closely with Barb and Tim Jackson, owners of Total Contentz.com.

I had been trying to contact Steven for the past few weeks regarding a project I am working on and learned that he passed away on November the second.

I had the distinct privilege of co-authoring a couple of books with Steven, alongside other esteemed colleagues. These collaborative efforts were more than just professional endeavors; they were a testament to Steven's unwavering dedication to sharing knowledge and advancing our industry.

I vividly recall our early interactions. Steven mentioned his appearances on the Joan Rivers and Connie Chung show, and his extensive lecturing on the science of hypnosis, marketing, sales and persuasion. I immediately confessed, "I remember you! I saw you on the Joan Rivers program. I loved it." This brief exchange perfectly captured his engaging personality and his ability to connect with audiences on a personal level.

Stevens’s contributions to the disaster restoration field were immeasurable. He was a passionate advocate for best practices, industry standards, technological advancements and helping restorers get paid. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he was a kind, compassionate, and supportive advisor and friend with an unforgettable sense of humor. He possessed a unique ability to connect with people on a personal level and foster meaningful relationships. His humor, wit, and genuine interest in others made him a joy to be around.

He personally trained over 10,000 professional men and women to use his techniques of sales, marketing and persuasion. He made appearances on national talk shows, and was a guest presenter on dozens of radio and television broadcasts across America.

Steven was a private and corporate consultant, professional speaker and workshop leader, having appeared for such diverse organizations as Stanford University, CSUF, Interlink Supply, The Mid-South Professional Cleaners Association, hospitals, insurance companies, sales and marketing conferences, and he had given over 1,000 public, corporate and private lectures, seminars and workshops all across the United States as well as in Mumbai, India, and Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, China.

In 2008 he co-created?Contents Solutions?Newsletter with Barb Jackson, CR.? He worked almost exclusively with Total Contentz clients who wanted to acquire more contents restoration assignments.

Steven will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide future generations of restoration professionals. He coauthored many books widely read in the restoration industry to include: Get Paid!, How to Get More Water Damage Jobs, 197 Ways to Persuade Adjusters to Give You the Job!,??The Restoration Book, 101 Ways to Successfully Market Your Restoration Business During the COVID – 19 Pandemic and ?Contents Restoration Success!

Until we laugh again, fly high brother.