Restoration Affiliates

Abstract

In 2011 Rich Piltch, founder and CEO of ARS, a full-service restoration and reconstruction company based in New England, and the owners of three other restoration and reconstruction companies founded Restoration Affiliates (RA), a network of independent, full-service disaster restoration companies. With 21 members by the fall of 2013, RA represented the attempt of smaller regional restoration and reconstruction companies to compete against the big national players by providing a national service solution for their customers. But while forming a national affiliation gave members the geographic reach they lacked when operating on their own, Piltch was well aware that there were many issues to resolve in order to ensure RA’s long-term success.

Learning Objectives

To illustrate core issues in corporate strategy — how to achieve a high level of coordination and initiative within a diversified entity; demonstrate the inherent challenges in building a network rather than a firm even when all involved have a common objective; and, evaluate RA’s strategy in creating value for customers and capturing value for its members.

Appropriate for the Following Course(s) 

strategy, operations management

Restoration Affiliates 

teaching note*

*TEACHING NOTES AND SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO EDUCATORS WHO HOLD TEACHING POSITIONS AT ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS.