Meet the Team | Dwayne Hartley Guarantee Restoration

Christina Riviere • February 9, 2022

Welcome to February! For many people, January is the slowest month of the year. Between the return from the holidays to the colder, freezing temperatures, it never seems to end. I am happy to report, however, that we have made it through once again! 


Like I mentioned last month, we are continuing to spotlight a different team member every month. This month, I am excited to introduce you to Dwayne Hartley, a technician at our Gulfport branch.


Meet the Team: Paw-Paw Dwayne, Bowling & America’s Pastime 

Dwayne was born and raised in Biloxi. Upon his high school graduation, he went straight to work full-time. Before joining our team in October 2021, he worked for Orkin Pest Control for 2 years.


Personally, Dwayne is the father of six children, 3 boys and 3 girls. He explained that when is not working, his five grandkids keep him very busy. They lovingly refer to him as “Paw-Paw.”


In the spare time he does find, he enjoys knocking back a few pins and playing baseball. Dwayne said that his favorite sports team is the New Orleans Saints…Who Dat!


Meet the Team: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work! 

As I was working on this article, I asked him what he likes about working for GRS. He said, “I love the teamwork that is demonstrated each day from the technicians to the project managers to the branch manager.” 


To connect with Dwayne, reach out to him via email.


Join the GRS Family

Guarantee Restoration Services is hiring at each of our five locations. We have two branches in Mississippi, located in Gulfport and Jackson. If you or someone you know is looking for an opportunity to join a growing team or make a career switch, visit our website to see a complete list of current available positions.

How to Respond to Property Damage in the First 24 Hours

By Shawn Folks • May 20, 2026
When a disaster strikes and a loss happens, the clock starts immediately. The first 24 hours after a storm event or a fire loss are the most critical for any property. It is at this time that major decisions need to be made, the damage is either controlled or spreads, and the path to recovery is determined. These decisions are often rushed, unclear, and reactive without a plan in place. This is where having a pre-loss plan makes a measurable and meaningful difference. A pre-loss plan creates a clear starting point for you and your team instead of scrambling to figure out who to call, what steps to take, or how to protect the property. It removes reactive hesitation and replaces it with action to recover. Everyone involved knows their role and understands the process, allowing them to move quickly without second guessing. Speed matters in restoration. Water continues to spread; materials continue to deteriorate, and secondary damage, like mold, can begin in as little as 24 to 48 hours. The faster a response is initiated, the more damage can be contained. Pre-loss planning allows that response to begin immediately, not hours or days later. Other than fast action, it also brings clarity during a very chaotic and challenging moment. Property managers, facility teams, and business owners are not left out in the dark trying to make high-pressure decisions on the spot. Instead, they are following a plan that has already been thoroughly thought through, discussed, and tailored to their specific property’s needs. Communication can become fragmented without a plan. Another advantage to pre-loss planning is coordination. There are several moving parts including emergency services, restoration teams, and insurance carriers. Having a plan streamlines communication ensuring that everyone involved is aligned from the start. At Guarantee Restoration Services, pre-loss planning is designed to support the exact moment the dust settles. It’s not just about preparing documents to sign ahead of time; it’s about setting up our partners and clients to respond with confidence when it matters the most. From established points of contact to documented site conditions and response protocols, everything is built to protect time, reduce damage, and maintain control.  Many people think preparation is about preventing the worst from happening. Rather, it is about being ready when it happens. Because when those first 24 hours hit, you do not want to be figuring things out. You want to be executing a well-formulated, personalized plan for recovery. Call us today...where 24/7 isn’t just a number, it’s a GUARANTEE!

Meet The Team | Brian McCaughan

By Christina Mullins • May 13, 2026
Behind every successful project at Guarantee Restoration Services is a team member dedicated to making a difference. This month, we’re proud to feature Brian McCaughan, Mitigation Manager at our Gulfport Branch. With more than two decades of industry experience and a strong belief in teamwork, Brian continues to lead by example both in and out of the field.

When Every Minute Counts: Why Pre-Loss Planning Is Essential

By Zack Klein • May 5, 2026
Pre-loss planning is not flashy or attention grabbing until you’re standing in the middle of a disaster and wondering what happened and what happens next. At Guarantee Restoration Services, it is one of the most important conversations we can have with our partners and clients, because preparation can mean the difference between complete chaos or a controlled situation. What Is Pre-Loss Planning? This service our team offers is exactly what it sounds like. It’s putting a plan in place before something goes wrong. Whether it’s a fire, a severe storm, or a flood, the first few hours matter more than anything. Decisions are made quickly, vendors are being called, and people are trying to figure out who is responsible for what and where. Without a proper plan in place, that moment is stressful, delayed, and more expensive than it needs to be. We have seen it firsthand, time and time again, those properties that have a solid pre-loss plan in place recover faster, experience less downtime, and have a much smoother path to normalcy. Properties that don’t have a plan are left to react instead of responding.
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