This year, I turn 47 — and my birthday lands right on Thanksgiving. It only happens every few years, but every time it does, it reminds me why I love this day, and this season.
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It’s not about gifts, decorations, or a shopping list. It’s about people. It’s about slowing down, being together, and realizing how much good we already have. It’s the one day when the world actually hits pause — and for a 24/7 industry like ours, that means something.
The day usually starts early. Not coffee in hand — I’m untraditional. It’s a Red Bull in the morning (maybe another later) and, if I’m lucky, an Old Fashioned at night once the house quiets down. The kitchen’s alive, the smells are unreal, and the TV’s on because football is mandatory.
Normally, I’m a dressing guy. Add my wife’s sweet-potato casserole — no one else’s will do — and the canned cranberry sauce I’ll defend forever. And yes, I’ll have some turkey — not too much, but enough to keep my protein in check. But this year, I’m breaking tradition. We’re spending Thanksgiving in Cancún, Mexico — trading turkey for enchiladas, fajitas, chips, frozen margaritas, and dancing at Coco Bongo (yeah, we be clubbing). It’s about making memories my kids will never forget. Because while tradition matters, time together matters most.
And don’t get me wrong — somewhere, someone’s having a rough Thanksgiving. There’s always a fire, a flood, or a broken pipe when millions of people cook, gather, and celebrate. Every year, our phones ring a few times, because restoration doesn’t take holidays. We work 352 days a year, give or take, and when things go wrong, we show up. That’s who we are.
But on this one day, I always hope our teams — at ATI, across the RIA, and throughout the industry — get to rest. To eat too much, to laugh with their families, and to take a break from saving the day for everyone else.
I’m thankful for that quiet — and for what it lets me see clearly.
I’m thankful for this industry — for restoration itself. It’s given me a life filled with purpose, challenge, and relationships that mean the world to me. It’s a privilege to do work that matters, to help people rebuild homes, businesses, and lives.
I’m thankful for my ATI Restoration family — my father, my mother, my brothers, and our extended team. Without them — the people who built this business since 1989 and those carrying it forward — ATI wouldn’t be what it is today. And without that foundation, I wouldn’t have the privilege of serving as your RIA President, dedicating much of my time these past two years to this industry, this community, and its future.
I’m thankful for the Restoration Industry Association and for everyone who contributes to it — members, volunteers, and leaders who believe in something bigger than themselves. This year’s RIA regional events in Memphis and Baltimore were proof that our community is thriving.
And I’m thankful for what’s next — the 2026 RIA Convention in Savannah and 2027 in Phoenix, which will also mark my last as RIA President. I didn’t plan that, but it feels like fate — finishing my presidency in my hometown, surrounded by friends who’ve become family.
I’m thankful for the men and women in the field — the blue-collar backbone of this trade. The people in boots and gloves who make this industry what it is. The rest of us just try to keep up.
And I’m thankful for my best friend and wife, Tavia, and our four incredible kids. They remind me that all the work, all the miles, and all the late nights are worth it — because it’s about them.
Football is something I love, but this Thanksgiving — and this birthday — I’m betting on family, on traditions, on new experiences in new cultures, and on restoration — a bright, resilient future for every person in this industry.
Here’s to a full plate, a quiet moment, a frozen margarita, and maybe a few dance moves at Coco Bongo.
Happy Holidays, Restoration Nation.
— Jeff
Jeff Moore, CR, WLS, CMP, Triple Master (IICRC)
Jeff Moore is a second-generation restorer and the 2025 President of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) as well as President of ATI Restoration. He started in the family business as a teenager, organizing the warehouse and working his way through nearly every role – from technician and estimator to executive leadership. Licensed in asbestos at 18, Jeff has managed major loss projects from 9/11 to today and brings hands-on insight into mitigation, construction, and large-loss operations. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife, Tavia, and their four children – Tyler, London, Savannah, and Phoenix.
Related Posts
