If you’ve been around Durham Region for a while, you may have already met Ian McCutcheon.
That’s because Ian is EVERYWHERE! On top of his previous day jobs, Ian keeps busy helping countless business networking groups, community organizations and charitable causes (but more on that later).
Now, when you see Ian out and about, you’ll be able to admire his shiny new vehicle.
It proudly says Walton Restoration, and that’s because we were overjoyed to bring Ian onto our team at the start of December.
We know, we can’t believe that we landed him either! Ian’s background makes him a perfect fit to join our team, and an even better fit for our clients.
Ian started his career as an insurance adjuster, with nearly 20 years at 2 different companies handling thousands of claims.
That means that he regularly referred to contractors just like Walton Restoration, and he knows every aspect of the claims process and how challenging it can be.
It also means that he spent a career fostering strong relationships throughout Durham Region and the GTA.
“My personality is a huge part of who I am and how I connect with people,” says Ian. “I like to be a good guy.”
That led Ian to shift careers, spending the next decade plus of his career working with local restoration companies doing business development.
It means that Ian got to go out and find his place in the community - going to events, building relationships, or even just dropping by the office with coffee and donuts for the team.
He’s committed to disaster management, but it all stems from his commitment to helping others. That commitment goes back to the 1980s, when he started the George McCutcheon Memorial Golf Tournament in honour of his late father, raising money to help in the fight against cancer. It’s now a signature event in Ian’s hometown of Belleville.
Through the years, he estimates that he’s helped raise over $1M for various charities.
He’s also involved with numerous other organizations, such as the Oshawa West Lions Club, Northumberland Manufacturing Association, the Ajax Pickering Board of Trade (where he won Businessperson of the Year in 2019), the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, and Connecting GTA.
That’s why when we heard that Ian had recently become available, we jumped at the chance to bring him onto the team.
Ian may have been in the field for a long time, but he wasn’t ready to retire! We’re not even sure that he knows the meaning of ‘sitting still.’
For now Ian is only with us part time, but he’ll definitely become part of the public face of Walton Restoration, working at building relationships that strengthen our decades of strong reputation in the Durham Region business community.
Even though he’s only a few weeks in, Ian’s told us that he’s already impressed with the culture that he’s seen at Walton Restoration, and how he’s glad to be on the team.
“I know the business, and I know what it takes to get onto a preferred list and generate more sales and more claims,” says Ian. “I’m excited to take Walton Restoration to another level!”
For our part, we’re grateful to have him on board. Ian’s experience means that even though he’s handling sales and marketing, he can do it all in a pinch.
He may be driving around touring businesses during the week, but if we need an extra set of hands during a difficult claim on a weekend, Ian and his decades of claims experience are there in a flash. “I’m extremely excited to be working with such a winning team here at Walton. Everyone at Walton Restoration is happy, they have a great attitude, and they have no hesitation giving me the tools I’ll need to win.”
With Ian onboard, we’re definitely the winners here.