The Road to Recovery Aeret Restoration helps clients spring back from tough situations

Water, mold, smoke or storm dam­age is never something a property owner wants to face. But when it happens, they need someone they can trust to guide them through a stressful situation.

That’s why Ken Brown, CEO of Bonita Springs–based Aeret Restoration, draws inspiration from his family. “It comes down to: be respectful, be kind and be fair,” he says. “A lot of great things can come from that.”

That philosophy extends to Aeret’s internal culture. Founded in 2017, the company serves clients from Marco Island to Sarasota, with plans to expand in other parts of Florida over the next two years. “Our company culture is second to none,” says Brown.

Aeret is built on four core values: respect, humility, positivity and integ­rity. “We do what we say—always,” says Brown, who brings nearly 30 years of experience in the building industry. “If we say we’re going to do something, we follow through.”

“We’re humble—we don’t pretend to know everything,” he continues. “And while we’re not perfect, we respond quickly when something goes wrong. We fix it fast.”

At Aeret, positivity means approach­ing every project with a solution-first mindset. “There’s always an answer,” says Brown. “We love solving problems for our clients.”

Communication plays a central role in Aeret’s success. The team uses a ro­bust internal job management system to keep everyone—staff and clients—on the same page.

“Our clients always know what’s happening at any given moment,” says Brown. “We’re intentional about ensuring communication is clear and expectations are consistently met by our field team.”

“We aim to deliver not just what the client expected—but more,” he adds. “We strive for a high level of consistency between what we promise and what we actually deliver.”

Aeret serves both residential and commercial clients, operates 24/7 and maintains a 30-minute average response time for inquiries. Relationship-building is a top priority, and that commitment shows in customer feedback, which con­sistently highlights the team’s empathy and professionalism.

Clients often describe Aeret as “com­petent and professional in every detail,” and praise the team’s “willingness to go above and beyond.”

The company also offers an exclusive CARE Priority Program, a pre-disaster planning service for a select group of clients—typically luxury high-rises, medical facilities and other large-scale properties. Due to high demand, there is often a waiting list.

“We take the time to know the prop­erty and the people who manage it,” says Brown. “We digitally document every­thing. In the event of an emergency, our team and the property’s facilities staff are already aligned—we know what to do, how to do it and what protocols apply to that specific building.”

With Southwest Florida experiencing increasingly active hurricane seasons in recent years, Aeret has helped many businesses recover quickly.

“Being organized and having a well-executed plan is crucial,” says Brown. “Every day and every hour matters when a business is down. Our goal is to get them back up and running—fast and safe.”

“They’re very loyal to their custom­ers,” says Jacob Damouni, resort man­ager for Naples Grande Beach Resort, which Aeret Restoration helped reopen within 14 days after 2022’s Hurricane Ian. “Their dedication level is unbeliev­able. Every time you call, or you meet, you feel their full attention. I feel like, OK, I’m the most VIP person that they’re talking to at this point.”

GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS QUICKLY

Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach took steps to prepare for 2024’s Hurricane Helene, expecting to have some damage from the storm. However, the property was inundated by more water than anticipated, and more than 3.5 million pounds of sand wound up inside the resort’s Fins Up! Beach Club area.

Aeret Restoration got the call and sprang into action. “Our first step was to go out and assess the damage and come up with a game plan on how quickly we can get this put back together,” says Zach Licursi, business operations integrator at Aeret Restoration.

The work involved removing mucky sand from the resort’s beachfront areas without damaging its pool or any tiles on the pool deck, which would delay the recovery. “We really are trying to avoid any further damage, because even if that could get us done a day quicker, the repairs on the back end would bring us a bigger delay,” says Licursi.

Within four days, the resort’s Beach Club and Lah De Dah Beach Bar & Grill were operational. Then, just over a week later, Hurricane Milton started the storm preparation and recovery process all over again.

“With Milton, the job was even bigger,” says Yenier Marrero, general manager of Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach. “Because of how many other trades were involved in the cleanup process and restoration, this time it took us 14 days. But with all the dam­age we got from Milton and how fast we were able to recover, it was unbelievable. We’re still talking to people that don’t believe we were able to open the hotel in 14 days.”

Marrero has found that when Aeret Restoration makes a promise, the com­pany will deliver. “After hurricanes Mil­ton and Helene, Aeret Restoration went above and beyond in restoring the resort,” he says. “Their team worked efficiently, showing dedication and professionalism throughout the cleanup process. Thanks to their incredible effort, we were able to get the resort back up and running quickly. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner in this challenging time.

“If we get to the point where we need their services again,” says Marrero, “for sure we’ll call them.”

Another hurricane season is upon us, and Brown advises property owners to extensively document their sites ahead of any loss or damage. You’ll want to have photos, videos and other documentation of pre-loss conditions ready to assist with a speedy recovery.

Brown recommends opting for a lo­cally based restoration company instead of one that comes in after a storm from outside the area. “They’re working in the community every day,” he says. “So local companies are going to be the best bet.”

Aeret always focuses on the needs of the customer when putting a recovery plan together. “It’s always about doing what’s best for the client,” says Brown. “They trust us to guide them through difficult situations, and that trust comes with serious responsibility. When people are unsure of their next steps, it’s our job to provide clear, honest advice—espe­cially when the stakes are high.”

“We care deeply about our com­munity and treat everyone like family,” he says. “At the end of the day, our reputation and our name are what matter most. Everyone at Aeret takes pride in their work, and the positive feedback we receive from clients and partners reflects that. Maintaining that trust starts—and ends—with treating people the right way.”