The Unsung Architects of Business

Dillon Emanuel

VP Operations

The Unsung Architects of Business

Dillon Emanuel

VP Operations

Surfco Restoration & Construction

Every business faces its share of chaos, but not everyone is built to find clarity in the middle of it. That’s where Dillon Emanuel stands out. As VP of Operations at Surfco Restoration & Construction, his days rarely go as planned, and that’s exactly where he thrives. When others see confusion, he spots the next step. When a crisis hits—a burst pipe, a major storm, or a critical deadline—he doesn’t just manage the process; he leads with empathy, quick thinking, and a focus that calms the entire team. Dillon didn’t get here overnight. His story began with hands-on roles in some of the most demanding corners of construction and restoration. From coordinating complex disaster responses to rolling up his sleeves alongside his crew, he learned early that trust is built one promise—and one tough day—at a time. Now at Surfco, he channels every lesson learned into building systems that work for people, not just on paper. He’s open to new tools like AI, but never loses sight of the human element that holds a team together. In his interview with TradeFlock, Dillon shares the moments that shaped him, the toughest challenges he’s faced, and his vision for Surfco’s next chapter, which shows that real leadership is as much about heart as it is about strategy.

“Leadership isn’t about always having the answer—it’s about being willing to face the unknown, together”

What has defined your professional journey, and which milestones are your proudest achievements?

That’s been the story of my journey. I grew up in this industry—I got my IICRC certification at 13 while my friends were on Xbox, and by 16, I was running crews (family business perks). Surfco started out in a converted meat locker, and now we’re a team of 50+. Earning the IICRC Triple Master Restorer was a proud personal milestone—right up there with meeting some amazing people who somehow still answer my calls. But honestly, building this company alongside my family (and the fact that we still like each other) has been the most rewarding part of my career. Not everyone can say they’ve scaled a business and survived family group texts at the same time.

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

How do you see AI and automation shaping the future of your industry?

AI and automation are already changing the game, and I’m all for it if it means less time buried in paperwork and more time focusing on what matters. If a robot can help estimate, schedule, or pull together job notes from 40 different sites, I say bring it on. But the heart of this business will always be people. No matter how advanced technology gets, robots aren’t about to crawl through attics or squeeze into crawl spaces for restoration work. At the end of the day, our industry runs on human skill, grit, and trust—AI just helps us do it better.

What’s your top advice for upand-coming operations leaders in construction?

Take your work seriously, but never take yourself too seriously. Stay curious, show up early, stay late, and listen more than you speak. My dad always told me, “Working will when wishing won’t”—and it’s true. In this business, nothing worthwhile comes easy. Don’t avoid the tough jobs; get your hands dirty and earn your stripes. And don’t let ego get in the way when you start moving up. Stay humble, uplift your team, and remember that mistakes are part of the journey. Don’t let them keep you up at night—learn from them, laugh them of, and keep moving forward. In the end, it all comes full circle.

What’s the toughest part of scaling Surfco, and how do you keep things on track?

The real challenge is scaling quickly without letting things slip into chaos. We’ve tackled this by building solid systems, bringing in smart people (they’re not hard to find), and letting data guide us. And honestly, coffee keeps us sane.

What leadership lessons have you carried as you advance in your career?

’ve worked my way up from being the shop guy to tech, and eventually into leadership, so I’ve literally done the dirty work—and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. It taught me that as much as you want to do everything yourself, you simply can’t. The real lesson is learning to trust your team and delegate, even when it feels uncomfortable. When things inevitably go sideways, I’ve found it’s far better to skip the blame game, focus on fixing the problem, and then move on. Life’s too short to dwell on mistakes. Oh, and a bonus I’ve picked up along the way: always bring energy drinks to the jobsite— they’re a surprisingly effective morale booster.

Where do you see Surfco headed in the long run? Any big plans for growth or new services?

I’ve always believed that growth is a journey, not a finish line—and we’re just getting started. The long-term vision for Surfco is all about expanding into new markets and continually adding services that make life easier for our clients. I like to think of it as our own “Restoration Avengers” initiative: bringing together top talent and all the right specialities under one roof to deliver a seamless experience. That’s the story I’ll tell my one-year-old when he’s old enough to ask what Dad does for a living. It’s about building something bigger, more versatile, and always client-focused, while never losing the sense of teamwork and fun that got us here.