For the past few years, the building trades have been pummeled by the recession, with new-home construction at a virtual standstill. The scene has improved somewhat in the past year, mainly on the strength of home-remodeling projects, but Mother Nature has supplied an even bigger boost. Simply put, coming off a harsh winter that necessitated [...]

Gary Brunelle knows that, unlike business owners in countless other lines of work, he can’t expect to build his enterprise on the strength of repeat business. That’s because the commercial and residential restoration work he does follows a fire, flooding, strong-wind damage, sewage backup, or even a vehicle plowing into a home or storefront. In [...]