The Total Contentz Team

Barb Jackson, CR - President, Consultant,  Speaker, Instructor

In 1990, Barb developed Restoration CleanUps, offering specialized fire, smoke and water damage restoration cleaning services to full-service contractors in the Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania market, many of whom are Restoration Industry Association (RIA) firms. Restoration CleanUps offered specialty restoration cleaning services until 2003. Barb has managed hundreds of restoration jobs. She developed an operating model for her company which implements standards and procedures to manage the varied challenges of restoration cleaning and pack out situations and which emphasizes customer service and empathy for the loss victims.

Barb has received certifications in Fire and Smoke Restoration, Odor Control, Carpet Cleaning, Leather Cleaning categories through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

As President of Total Contentz, LLC, she continues to help restoration professionals improve their contents processing capabilities with the latest technology and procedures. Barb offers consulting and training services for full service restorers and specialized cleaning contractors. Her particular areas of expertise are contents processing facility design, work flow and production strategies, on-site and warehouse contents processing procedures, and contents packing and inventory techniques. Her design projects range in size from a 2,000 sq ft facility to an 8,000 sq ft warehouse within a 120,000 sq ft building. Barb has authored several industry articles published in C&R, Cleanfax and R&R trade publications. She also is co-creator of Contents Solutions Newsletter with Steven LaVelle.

Barb is a Restoration Industry Association (RIA) designated Certified Restorer (CR). Out of 570 Certified Restorers, she is the 11th woman to receive the designation. A Certified Restorer has met the requirements of the Restoration Industry Association Certified Program and is qualified to inspect, appraise and restore structure and furnishings from the effects of fire, smoke, water and other related perils.

She has published several articles in industry magazines.  These include:

• Interview with Michelle Blevin's with C&R Magazine:  Finding Value in Contents Cleaning & Restoration
• The Nuances of Contents Restoration - It All Depends (C&R magazine, March-April issue, 2024)
• "The Amazing World of Media Restoration" (Restoration and Remediation magazine, June 30, 2014)
• "Contents:  The Future of Restoration" (Restoration and Remediation magazine, January 24, 2013)
• "Why Communication is Key for Contents Professionals" (Restoration and Remediation magazine, July 13, 2012)
• "The Value of Contents Inventory Systems" (Restoration and Remediation magazine, May 20, 2011)
• "Avoiding Pack Out Pitfalls" (Restoration and Remediation magazine, July 2, 2008)
• Building a Profitable Contents Restoration Division" (Restoration and Remediation magazine, March 1st, 2007)

Tim Jackson - Consultant & Instructor

NOT just Barb's husband - LOL

Tim Jackson, a Registered Master Plumber, combines his construction skills with the restoration industry. 
As co-owner of Restoration CleanUps, he served as Production Manager of hundreds of structure and contents restoration cleaning projects for 13 years in the Pittsburgh, PA area.  

Tim is certified in Water Damage Restoration through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

As co-owner & co-founder of Total Contentz, Tim currently provides contents processing facility design services.  Tim and Barb work on design projects range in size from a 2,000 SF facility to an 8,000 SF warehouse within a 120,000 SF building. Tim also provides project management,  consulting and training for full-service restorers, specialized cleaning contractors, and restoration cleaning specialists.

Tim teaches Contents Processing and Pack Outs, Hands-On Ultrasonic Processing, Aqueous Electronics Processing and Soft Goods Processing.  

IN MEMORIUM

Steven LaVelle – Author, Speaker & Marketing Consultant

Among Steven's many accomplishments, he co–authored three of the top-selling restoration marketing and sales books in the industry, Get Paid!, 197 Ways to Persuade Adjusters to Give You the Job! including his latest work, Contents Restoration Success!

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 (including IAQ Radio).

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 has 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.

Over 250,000 of Steven’s audio and video programs have been sold nationally and internationally.

It is with deep sadness that we announce that Steven Lavelle passed away November 2, 2024.   When it came to personal issues, he was a private individual - not one to admit he was battling a serious health problem.  Unfortunately, his condition declined rapidly after hurricane Milton in October 2024.  He died peacefully in his sleep with family by his side.

 Steven was completely dedicated to his writing, and gave freely of this time and experience, which included marketing consultations and a variety of marketing ideas. 

So many restoration professionals enjoyed the wonderful insights Steven shared in his writings through the years.  The topics and articles he wrote in Contents Solutions Newsletter and his books are timeless and remain a tribute to his writing skills, marketing savvy, and uncanny ability to inspire others.  

We are deeply grateful to have known and worked closely with our friend, Steven.  He will continue to be in our hearts and memories forever.