I practically grew up in the restoration industry. From a young age, I was setting up air movers even before my arms were strong enough to carry them properly. My dad, Chuck Dewald Jr., designed and built the world’s first hands-on drying school, but he always taught me to work hard and earn everything myself. When I was nine, I wanted to start mowing lawns for money, so I asked my dad for a lawn mower. He drove me to the bank and told me to go inside and get a loan. Unbeknownst to me, he’d already called the bank's loan officer to let him know about this "lesson in responsibility." After a serious conversation with the loan officer, I walked out with a loan for a $255 lawn mower that took me all summer to pay off. But it was mine, and it taught me the value of hard work and earning what I wanted.

When I decided to join my dad’s restoration company in East Tennessee, despite graduating Summa Cum Laude from East Tennessee State with a degree in Biology/Chemistry and high honors, my dad didn’t give me any special treatment. He told me, “Until you learn the ins and outs of my industry, you’re not worth much to me, and I’ll pay you accordingly.” So, I started at $6 an hour, sweeping floors and cleaning equipment, working my way up from the bottom, just like everyone else.

Working in every part of the business, from fire and water restoration to carpet cleaning, I eventually launched our Mold Division. But water damage always pulled me back, and I couldn't get it out of my mind. After a few years in the field, I noticed what my dad had years before—that this industry was full of gaps in understanding and unanswered questions. I developed a passion for understanding the science behind the drying process and truly enjoyed connecting with homeowners, building owners, and insurance adjusters alike. Although I initially thought I wanted to be a doctor to help people, I realized that I could make an impact by restoring what people value most—their homes.

I started devouring books on Atmospheric Chemistry, Physics, and Advanced Thermodynamics, determined to understand the drying process and psychrometrics better than anyone else. My dad recognized this passion and eventually invited me to join him at his drying school. Once again, I started at the bottom, but in time, I was standing alongside him, teaching industry professionals at the age of 24. People often asked if I got nervous teaching people two or three times my age, but after teaching my dad in a one-on-one session, I was prepared for anything.

Unlike my dad, who had already earned the authority to correct industry errors directly, I took a different approach. I focused on showing people the science and math behind what they thought they knew, with a bit of frankness and honesty I learned from my dad. Over time, I developed new drying methods, techniques, and equipment, helping my dad explain why things worked as they did.

In 2006, I bought the drying school from my father and ran it for five years before taking a break from teaching. Later, I joined forces with a respected partner, Dave Sweet, to open a new drying academy in Indianapolis. Since then, I’ve trained over 6,000 restoration contractors and 600 insurance professionals. I’ve managed and consulted on hundreds of water losses, contributed to the IICRC ASD training class and industry standards, and helped create widely used calculations and classifications for restoration work.

Today, I still wake up driven to find better techniques, methods, or equipment for drying. My goal remains the same—to be the best in the industry and understand the drying process better than anyone, just like my father. And who knows what the future holds? My son, Chuck Dewald IV, is about to turn nine. Maybe soon, he’ll be asking for a loan for his own lawn mower, and the journey will start again.