When disaster strikes, this entrepreneur answers the call

Nobody ever calls Benjamin Haugh on their best day. As the founder of All Nation Restoration, he’s typically the first to arrive when disaster strikes. Flooded homes, fire-damaged businesses and mold-infested walls are his daily reality. And for Benjamin the reward of a job well done goes beyond fixing the structural damage — he’s motivated by how his work restores a sense of security to his community.

“I know what it feels like to have nothing,” Benjamin says. “Now I get to be the person who helps others stand up from that place and rebuild.”

Benjamin sees every call to All Nation Restoration as an opportunity to give others the same chance he once needed.

From rock bottom to restoration

Benjamin’s path to entrepreneurship wasn’t a straight line. At a young age, he was living in a boys’ home in Houston. When he decided to leave the facility, Benjamin found himself stranded. “I had no money, no food and no plan — and I remember being scared in a unique way. I was sitting on a curb in downtown Austin, not knowing what to do next,” he recalls.

It was at this low point that a chance encounter changed everything. “I asked a random person for a job,” Benjamin says. “Turns out, he owned a water damage remediation and crime scene cleanup company.” The work was tough and unglamorous, but Benjamin found meaning in it. “Every client was dealing with loss — and we got to help them put the pieces of their lives back together.”

At just 18 years old, Benjamin made the leap to start his own company. Now, helping others is what fuels him every day. “The strength it took me to get up off that curb is the strength that I try to give my customers,” he says. 

Answering the call when disaster strikes

In the restoration business, urgency is everything. Benjamin and his team at All Nation Restoration often arrive at homes and businesses in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. “By the time we get there, the homeowner is usually panicked,” he says. “Our immediate focus is on minimizing damage, calming them down and giving them a direction forward.”

Benjamin believes that connecting emotionally with clients is just as important as the physical restoration work. “I’ve had customers cry on my shoulder,” he recounts. “I remember one man who had just flown back from Europe to find his living room filled with two and a half feet of water. He started to cry, so I stepped into the water with him, sat down — and just listened.”

These moments aren’t exceptions. “We’re doing more than just fixing a building,” Benjamin explains. “We’re dealing with compassion. These are people’s homes, their businesses, their crises.”

Strengthening foundations — literally and figuratively

“When something happens to your home, it makes you feel vulnerable and violated,” Benjamin says. “Our job is to restore not just the building but that sense of safety.”

One of his most memorable projects to date involved an entire neighborhood that had been devastated by a dam breach. “I’ve never seen the kind of devastation caused by that amount of water moving at that speed,” Benjamin says. “But what stood out to me was how the community came together. Homeowners were more concerned about their neighbors than themselves. It was humbling to witness.”

These experiences reinforce why Benjamin is so passionate about his work. “Without a doubt, the most satisfying part of our job is the emotional impact that we have on individual people’s lives,” he says. “Being part of the power that helps them get their life back on track — that’s the greatest reward.” 

Growing by staying put

All Nation Restoration has grown steadily since its founding over 12 years ago, but Benjamin remains deeply committed to the community that first gave him his start. “A lot of companies in this industry chase storms — they move to wherever the biggest disasters are,” he says. “I decided early on that I wasn’t going to do that.”

Instead, Benjamin has focused on building trust locally. “This community is a part of my life. It’s where I grew up,” he says. “When something happens here, our heart goes out to the people, and we really jump in there to help.”

This approach has been deeply intentional, driven by his belief in cultivating relationships. “Trust is one of those things that takes time to earn,” he explains. “As we look at a growth strategy for All Nation Restoration, my plan is that when we expand into additional areas that we do it strategically.”

Benjamin credits Chase for Business as a crucial partner in this growth. “The relationship with Chase has been pivotal,” he says. “It started small when we were very small, and it has grown at the pace that we were comfortable with.”

Finding an ally in Chase

The relationship with Chase for Business has been transformative for Benjamin, helping him navigate the financial challenges of running a growing business. “One of the most valuable pieces of advice I received was simple but life-changing,” he recalls. “A Chase banker told me, ‘Don’t come to the bank when you need the money. Come to the bank before you need the money.’ That insight helped me understand the importance of planning ahead.”

Chase’s tools and technology have also helped streamline All Nation Restoration’s day-to-day operations. This newfound efficiency has freed up time for Benjamin to focus on what matters most: serving his community and mentoring his team. “With the tools and guidance to help us grow,” Benjamin says, “Chase is literally for business.” 

Reflecting on the overall role Chase has played in his journey, Benjamin adds, “They’ve been more than a bank to us — they’ve been friends. And taking away some of the stigma and the fear of finance and banking has been something they’ve helped me with over and over.”

Looking to the future

As he looks ahead, Benjamin envisions continued growth for All Nation Restoration. “I want to expand, but I want to do it in a way that stays true to our values,” he says. “That means hiring people who care as much as I do and training them to approach this work with empathy first.”

He also credits his family as a crucial source of strength. “My family is a requirement for mental health,” he says. “Getting that recharge from my kids and from my wife is how I’m able to move on to the next day.”

Looking back on his journey, Benjamin feels proud but grounded. “If you had told me 15 or 20 years ago that I’d be here, I wouldn’t have believed you,” he says. “Getting to the point where we are right now gives me a certain level of pride­ — but I think it’s a good kind of pride.”

Ready to build a business with community at the core?

Learn more about Chase’s resources for business owners, get in touch with a Chase business banker to find out how we can help support your journey.

And for a glimpse into All Nation Restoration and to hear from Benjamin Haugh, check out our video spotlight.