Meet The Team | Maria Wakefield

Christina Mullins • February 14, 2024

After a month hiatus, our Meet the Team feature is back for the first time in 2024. This February, we are shining the spotlight on Maria Wakefield, who serves as one of our Lafayette Team Coordinators. 

 

Maria was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina. The city of High Point is also known as the “Furniture Capital of the World.” For the past 17 years, she has lived in Lafayette. She did temporarily move to Jackson, Mississippi in 2021 to help start our branch there with Brandi Rowland. 

 

She obtained her Business Administration degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Prior to joining the GRS team, she worked for 5 years as a Health Information Coordinator for a hospice company. 

 

When she is not working, Maria enjoys watching and listening to crime shows and podcasts. She also really loves thrift shopping and told me that Goodwill is her mecca! When she is not learning about crimes or shopping, she spends most of her time hanging out with her children, Kira (21), Adrian (17) and Luca (14) .  

 

While I was writing this blog, I asked her what she likes about working for Guarantee Restoration Services. She said, “I like working at GRS, because my co-workers and bosses are the best. We have a lot of fun in the office. I know I can count on my people if I need something. They’ve become family, albeit a dysfunctional family, we are still a family.” 

 

One other question I always ask is if the Meet the Team individual has learned anything new recently. Maria responded, “Recently, no matter how cliché it is, I have learned that happiness really is found in the mundane. Appreciate even the trivial things in life. That’s where the magic happens!” What a simple truth that is so easy to forget. 

 

Finally, she told me what she wanted to be when she was younger. She said, “when I was a kid, I wanted to make funny t-shirts and open a home for teens and young adults with drug and alcohol problems.” It may not have worked out that way, but we have been grateful to have her on our team for 2.5 years.  

 


Join Our Team! 

We have three Louisiana locations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans. Our two locations in Mississippi are in Jackson and Gulfport. We opened a sixth location in Mobile, Alabama earlier in 2023. If you or someone you know is looking for a new position, or wants to make a career change, visit our website to see a full list of current available jobs.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Information: Zack Klein Director of Marketing and Business Development 225-753-8682 Zack@247GRS.com Guarantee Restoration Services Launches National Sales Team to Expand Strategic Partnerships Across the Country BATON ROUGE, La. – June 16, 2026 – Guarantee Restoration Services (GRS), a leading full-service restoration contractor serving the Gulf Coast since 1974, is proud to announce the implementation of its new National Sales Team. This strategic initiative marks an exciting step forward in the company’s continued growth and commitment to serving clients and partners on a broader scale. The newly established team will be led by Barrett Dick, Director of National Sales, alongside Zack Klein, Director of Business Development and Marketing. Together, they have played a pivotal role in growing GRS relationships across multiple industries throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond for over a decade. The team also includes newly hired account executives, David Stern and Chad Catalano. “Over the years, we have seen our partnerships and opportunities continue to grow beyond our traditional footprint,” said Zack Klein, Director of Business Development and Marketing at Guarantee Restoration Services. “Creating a dedicated National Sales Team allows us to strengthen those relationships, support our partners on a larger scale, and continue expanding the reach of the GRS brand, while staying true to the service and responsiveness we are known for.” Dick, who will celebrate 10 years with GRS next month, brings extensive industry knowledge and leadership experience to the role. He holds multiple Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) credentials, including Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT), Applied Structural Drying (ASD), Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT), and Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician (FSRT). After graduating from Louisiana State University, Barrett began his professional career with Marucci Sports before joining Guarantee Restoration Services in July 2016. Just weeks into his time with the company, the historic Great Flood of 2016 impacted Southeastern Louisiana, providing him with firsthand experience managing large-scale losses and coordinating restoration efforts for major school districts and commercial clients. Since then, he has helped cultivate business development efforts throughout Louisiana and nationally, working closely with partners in hospitality, education, government, healthcare, and other commercial sectors. “Our focus has always been relationship-driven,” said Dick. “We want our clients and partners to know they have a team they can rely on before, during, and after a disaster. This National Sales Team is another way we are investing in those relationships and positioning Guarantee to better serve organizations wherever they need us.” As part of the expansion, GRS hired David Stern as a National Sales Account Executive. Stern brings more than a decade of high-level sales and relationship management experience from the professional sports industry. Prior to joining our team, he served with the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans organization, where he consistently ranked among the organization’s top sales representatives and generated more than $38 million in multiyear contracts throughout his career. “David’s experience of building relationships, managing high-profile partnerships, and delivering exceptional client service makes him a tremendous addition to our team,” added Klein. “His background and skillset align perfectly with the direction we are heading as a company.” The National Sales Team also includes Chad Catalano, who joined Guarantee Restoration Services in January 2026. Catalano brings nearly two decades of restoration industry experience, with a strong background in sales leadership, project coordination, and relationship development throughout the Southeast and Gulf South regions. Prior to joining GRS, Catalano served as National Sales Manager for ServiceMaster DSI and spent more than 16 years with US Restoration as a Sales and Project Coordinator. Throughout his career, he has built long-standing partnerships while helping clients navigate complex restoration and recovery projects. In addition to his restoration industry experience, Catalano also spent several years as a successful high school baseball coach in the New Orleans area, earning multiple district championships and Coach of the Year honors. His leadership, communication skills, and client-focused approach make him a valuable addition to the growing national team. Guarantee Restoration Services continues to serve clients across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama with six locations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and New Orleans, Louisiana; Gulfport and Jackson, Mississippi; and Mobile, Alabama. With the implementation of its National Sales Team, GRS is further expanding its ability to support partners across the country through large-loss response, catastrophe recovery, and national account relationships. The company specializes in water, fire, mold, storm, and biohazard restoration, as well as reconstruction and pre-loss planning services. For more information about Guarantee Restoration Services, visit www.GuaranteeRestoration.com or call 1-800-349-HELP (4357).
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