About Guardian Recovery Services

Guardian Recovery Services is Michigan’s leading residential and commercial property restoration and content cleaning contractors. Whether it’s water, fire, smoke, or mold, let us mitigate your disaster with our certified and state-of-the-art remediation services. Our service is unparalleled in this industry, and has to be experienced to be believed.

Guardian Recovery Services has been helping Michigan businesses and homeowners recover from various disasters for over 15 years. Our technicians are meticulously trained and certified by The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC) in safe, state-of-the-art mitigation procedures. GRS can provide Hazard Assessment Reports for asbestos, electrical, and lead paint. We take great care with your property and belongings during the recovery process, from the beginning to the end.

Why Should I Use an IICRC Certified Restoration Company?

Mopping up visible water and running a few fans falls far short of the efforts required to completely mitigate the effects of water damage in a home or business. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC) set the standards for safe and modern methods of water damage mitigation. Guardian Recovery Services is certified by the IICRC to perform water damage mitigation in every possible scenario.

In addition to water damage, we also mitigate disasters from fire, smoke, and mold. Our teams follow all EPA and OSHA regulations, as well as use only the latest scientific testing and state-of-the-art remediation protocols for your particular disaster recovery. We even work with companies that maintain extensive security precautions, clearances, and protocols.

Can Guardian Recovery Services Work with My Insurance Company?

Your insurance company would prefer that you try to minimize the damage to your home and contents. This is because insurance companies are ultimately in business to turn a profit. This means minimizing the claims they must pay out in the event of a disaster. GRS recommends that you call us immediately. We can help you determine if your insurance covers water, fire, smoke, or mold remediation, and the extent of your coverage.

You should still call your insurance company to make a claim, but you should not wait for an adjuster or claim representative to arrive before calling us to begin mitigation procedures. Damage can be minimized, thus decreasing restoration costs. As an independent company, GRS is beholden to no insurance company, but we frequently work with most of them. We will not be bullied or manipulated into taking shortcuts by any insurance company. Our number one priority is our client, you. We can even help with completing and filing your claims.

Meet the Team

Teamwork begins by building trust

CEO

Ben Barris

Ben is a true lead by example operator owner. He is a seasoned entrepreneur from the Fairgrounds area of Detroit, Michigan. Known for his inclusive approach and strong community values, he excels at building a strong customer service orientated team that cultivates innovation and creativity to better assist in meeting the various needs of our clients.

Ben has a broad view of the world, as he has lived and worked in Hawaii, California, Seattle and of course Michigan. Having extensive experience in successful business ownership in a wide range of ventures, Ben has unparalleled expertise in customer care to enable complete restoration for our customers. Ben is motivated by his prized role as a father. He is guided by a strong moral compass and integrity with a long-standing reputation of being impactful to his family, clients, team members and community.

CFO

Mary Barris

Mary serves as our Chief Financial Officer, but her most valued roles are a dedicated wife, proud mother and grandmother. Mary has been an integral part of the company since its founding almost 2 decades ago. As such a long-time committed part of our foundation, Mary brings deep institutional knowledge and unwavering dedication to the organization. Her customer service is unmatched as Mary consistently offers both professionalism and attention to detail. Mary oversees the financial health and stability of the organization as well as an advocate for our team’s health and wellbeing. Her sincere kindness and warmth are a pilar in the Guardian foundation.

Administrative Coordinator

Terisa Almore

Terisa is our Office Manager extraordinaire -in every sense of the word. She provides essential support in the day-to-day operations and does so with honest care and precision. As a mother of 3, massive multitasking is a natural skill for her. She offers more than two decades of administrative experience in various industries, which enables her to find creative solutions to everyday challenges.

She is a vital and dedicated member of the Guardian family as she plays many key roles. In addition, she is often our clients’ first point of communication, as she is that friendly voice our clients hear when they contact our office. Terisa enjoys a variety of creative hobbies including arts and crafts in her spare time, including painting. Her favorite time of all though is spending time with her family.

Supervisor, Sr. Water Tech, Warehouse Foreman

Thomas Watkins

Tom is a hard-working father who has just under two decades of experience in the restoration industry with a number of those years as part of the Guardian team. He is a dedicated part of our team and Tom leads the way in work ethics. He is such a vital part of the Guardian team due to his expertise and comprehensive detail-oriented approach in all projects he takes on. Tom enjoys being a dad, carpentry and working on cars in his spare time.

Supervisor, Sr. Water Tech

Laron Bowden

Laron (LB) is the father of 5. LB has been a dedicated member of the Guardian family and in the restoration industry for a decade and a half. LB is an essential part of the Guardian team because of his wonderful work ethics and follow-through. He will work tirelessly until the project is completed. LB enjoys fishing, spending time with his children and vintage cars.

Sr. Mold Tech

Justin Spangler

Justin has just under a decade of experience in the restoration industry. He has been a dedicated member of the Guardian family for almost half of that time. Justin is an important contributor to the Guardian team because of his commitment to the end goal. And every project just touches, his aim is always to do it with excellence and leave the customer in the top-tier, clean and sanitized space.

Justin enjoys fishing in international travel in his spare time.

Certified Mold Remediator & Inspector

Zackary Peters

Zackary is an incredibly important part of the Guardian team. He is deeply committed to continually learning new ways of improving our customers outcome. His top priority is to familiarize our clients with the variety of hazards due to mold, exposure and unhealthy air quality. Zachary‘s focus is to empower and create solutions for a safe environment for your home or business. In Zachary‘s spare time, he enjoys, taking care of his health by working out at the gym and basketball. Zachary is an avid movie goer and a self-proclaimed foodie.

General Manager

Chris Smith

Chris is the General Manager here at Guardian Recovery Services. He has extensive experience in the insurance industry, making him an extremely valuable asset to our clients and claim navigation. Chris brings education, clarity and confidence while assisting our customers in the process of insurance claims, both for business and residential clients. A dedicated husband and father, Chris leads the team with integrity, knowledgeable guidance, and an extensive commitment to service. He is laser focused on ensuring each restoration is handled both efficiently and professionally with responsive communication all the way through.

Scheduling Coordinator

Ilia Smith

Ilea is our Scheduling Coordinator. She has Decades of customer service. With a strong background in client, communication and organization, she plays an important role in coordination, field operations, and supporting a smooth experience for clients. Ilia is a dedicated team member and supportive colleague, but outside of work she is a devoted wife that values family. She brings that same care and commitment to everything she does..

Director of Operations

Colleen Collins

Colleen fulfills the roles of Controller and Director of Operations, bringing a diverse background across multiple industries. With a career rooted in operational excellence in financial leadership, she possesses expertise in financial management and process modernization, strengthening internal processes to support efficiency, sustainable growth and accountability. As a devoted leader of a large family and committed philanthropist, Colleen combines strategic insight with a collaborative approach for team development and efficient systems to create both strong performance and culture.

Why Should I Choose GRS?

At Guardian Recovery Services, we are about you, the client, most of all. Our first priority is that you and your family are safe, and that your immediate needs after a disaster are met. This includes emergency shelter, clothing, and even pet care. Only when these needs are met, do we turn to caring for your Michigan property.The process usually starts with an initial room-by-room review with the client to evaluate and document items that may not clean up 100%, and which need to be placed on a non-salvageable list. During the restoration and rebuild process, it is usually necessary to remove your personal property from your home or business for restoration or storage while the structural repairs are completed.GRS will inventory and secure all items to be conveyed to our off-site facility for cleaning and necessary processing. The contents will be boxed securely and stored until structural repairs are completed. After third-party testing has verified that your home or businesses is safe and healthy, we return your items to your property.

Still Need Help?

Damage Happens. We Fix It.

Trusted for fast, honest, high-quality restoration. From water and fire to mold and smoke, we’ve got you covered.

Choose the team trusted by homeowners and businesses across Madison Heights.

We’re ready 24/7 to assess the damage and restore your property — fast.

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