This month we had a chance to catch up with Christie Schwab, founder of Next Gen Remediation, a locally owned and operated business specializing in non-destructive mold remediation services in attics, crawlspaces, and interiors. Serving the Vancouver, Washington area and all the way down the I-5 corridor to Eugene, Oregon

 

In addition to mold remediation, Next Gen provides interior demolition services and asbestos testing. “Our talented team performs everything from a routine flood cut in order to remove compromised drywall to a complete demo of a room down to the studs,” commented Schwab.  “Also, our AHERA-certified inspectors take asbestos samples and have your test results back as quickly as 24 hours!” 

 

Schwab brims with pride as she describes building her business from the ground up. “We started from scratch, obtaining a list of the roughly 9,000 real estate agents in the Portland Metro Area and literally dialed for dollars,” laughed Schwab. “I made a significant investment in human capital so my team could have a steady income and not feel the pains of becoming an entrepreneur, and it has paid off tenfold. Together we have built a solid reputation for our work ethic, professionalism, and expertise and have become a serious contender in the industry.”

 

Coming up on the two-year mark, Schwab launched Next Gen with a core team consisting of the “cream of the crop” professionals who worked together in a previous environment. They are all experts at their craft and committed to making the customer feel both well-informed and comfortable with our services. “Let’s be honest, nobody says yeah, I found mold!” said Schwab. “I have continued to build a trusted team, adding three family members who do scheduling, remediation, and business development.  

 

We asked Schwab what differentiates Next Gen from its competitors, to which she replied, “Our project managers are the first to engage with our customers, meeting them onsite to inspect each property and provide a quote for the scope of work,” explained Schwab. “Rather than handing the job over to technicians, our project managers remain with the customer until completion, going above and beyond to provide before and after photos.”

 

Schwab’s more than 20 years in the real estate industry as a mortgage broker and licensed REALTOR® precedes her ten years in the remediation business. Her previous experience gives her a keen understanding of her client’s perspective. “I can empathize with all the stress involved in that business,” said Schwab. “My understanding of the sales process, ability to review contracts, repair addendums, and home inspection reports is a tremendous asset to my clients.”

 

When Schwab isn’t busy running her business, she enjoys spending time with her husband of thirty-four years, her kids, and her two granddaughters. One of her favorite pastimes is hosting meals.  This includes every Sunday brunch with the family to multi-course dinners with friends. Outside of that, Schwab cherishes her time with her whip-smart network of women. “Having a glass of wine with girlfriends is my salvation,” exclaimed Schwab. “I have a very strong tribe of women in business, all with diverse backgrounds and positions that serve as extremely intelligent sounding boards.”