Disaster Restoration Professionals-Restoring Community

Disaster Restoration Professionals in Chicago — Restoring Homes, Businesses, and Communities

Sam Simon

September 12, 2025

ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons has been Chicagoland’s trusted disaster restoration professionals for over 40 years. Led by IICRC Master Restorer Sam Simon and CEO Nasutsa Mabwa, our award-winning team provides expert water and fire damage restoration across Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest, Skokie, Evanston, Glenview, and the North Shore. From flooded basements to smoke-damaged homes, we restore property — and rebuild community — with 24/7 emergency service and a legacy of compassion, expertise, and local commitment.

More Than Restoration — Rebuilding Communities

When fire or water strikes, you don’t just need cleanup. You need disaster restoration professionals who understand Chicago, the North Shore, Lake County, and DuPage communities — and who can restore both property and peace of mind.

At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we’ve been helping homeowners and businesses across Skokie, Evanston, Glenview, Oak Park, River Forest, Deerfield, Winnetka, and Highland Park for more than 40 years. But our story starts with something even deeper: a commitment to restoring lives.

From Social Work to Disaster Restoration Leaders

Owners Sam Simon (IICRC Master Fire & Water Restorer) and Nasutsa Mabwa (CEO) met in the 1990s as child welfare workers in Chicago. Their early careers were dedicated to reuniting families and helping children find safe homes.

That spirit of service shaped their journey into disaster restoration. In 2012, they founded ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons — combining technical expertise with compassion. Today, our award-winning company has grown to serve Chicago, the North Shore, Lake County, and DuPage County with the same mission: “Restoring homes, businesses, and lives.”

Our Expertise: Water & Fire Damage Restoration in Chicagoland

Water Damage Restoration

From burst pipes in Skokie basements to flooded condos in Downtown Evanston, water damage can disrupt life instantly. Our certified team provides:

24/7 emergency water extraction
Structural drying and dehumidification
Mold prevention and remediation
Rebuilding damaged walls, floors, and ceilings

We’ve restored properties across West Wilmette, Deerfield’s North Trail, and Glenview’s Swainwood neighborhood — helping families protect their most valuable asset.

Learn more: Residential Water Damage Restoration

Fire Damage Restoration

A house fire doesn’t end when the flames are extinguished. Smoke, soot, and odor linger in Chicago’s bungalows, Northbrook estates, and Lake Forest historic homes. Our fire restoration services include:

Emergency board-up and tarping
Soot and smoke odor removal
Content cleaning and pack-out
HVAC and duct cleaning
Full reconstruction services

We’ve restored homes in Kenilworth Gardens, Winnetka’s Indian Hill, Highland Park’s Sherwood Forest, and Oak Park’s historic districts — preserving both property value and community heritage.

Learn more: Fire Damage Restoration

Community Commitment: Giving Back Locally

Restoration is more than business. It’s about giving back. Over the years, our team has supported organizations like:

A Safe Place – Lake County
The Talking Farm – Skokie
Albany Park Community Center – Chicago
Epic Academy – South Chicago
Lycee Français of Chicago
Goldie B. Wolfe Miller Women Leaders in Real Estate – Chicago

Our team doesn’t just restore homes in Riverwoods, Glencoe, Bannockburn, and Lincoln Park — we invest in making these communities stronger.

Disaster Deployments: National Expertise, Local Trust

ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons has responded to national disasters including Hurricane Ike (2008), Hurricane Harvey (2017), and Hurricane Matthew (2016 in Hilton Head, SC). We’ve also supported recovery after severe freezes across Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Illinois.

This experience brings national-scale expertise right back home to Chicago and its suburbs. When your neighborhood floods — whether in Skokie’s Oakton corridor, Evanston’s Ridge Historic District, or Glenview’s The Glen — you benefit from proven strategies honed during America’s toughest disasters.

Why Choose ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons?

Nation’s Oldest Brand: ServiceMaster, founded in Chicago in 1929
40+ Years of Local Service in Chicagoland
IICRC Certified Firm — verify here: IICRC Certified Firm Verification Tool
RIA Member — committed to restoration best practices
Award-Winning: BBB Torch Award, Stevie® Award, 2025 Inc. 5000, Skokie Business of the Year
Trusted Experts: Led by Sam Simon, IICRC Master Fire & Water Restorer, and Nasutsa Mabwa, recognized business leader

FAQs: Disaster Restoration in Chicago

What does a disaster restoration professional do?
We handle cleanup, repair, and rebuilding after water, fire, and mold disasters — including emergency response, structural drying, soot removal, and full reconstruction.

How fast can you respond in Chicagoland?
Our team is available 24/7/365 for emergencies across Chicago, the North Shore, Lake County, and DuPage County.

Do you work with insurance?
Yes — we coordinate directly with adjusters while keeping you informed at every step.

What areas do you serve?
Chicago (north of Roosevelt Rd.), Oak Park, River Forest, Skokie, Evanston, Glenview, Northbrook, Winnetka, Highland Park, Deerfield, Bannockburn, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Riverwoods, and DuPage suburbs like Elmhurst and Oak Brook.

Conclusion: Restoring More Than Property

At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we believe restoration means more than drying a basement or cleaning soot off walls. It means helping families in Wilmette, businesses in Lake Bluff, and homeowners in Oak Park get their lives back.

When disaster strikes, call the trusted disaster restoration professionals.
📞 Chicago: (773) 376-1110 | 📞 North Shore/Lake County: (847) 316-9145 | 📞 Oak Park & River Forest: (708) 524-0304

Our Services

About ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons

ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons is a multi-award-winning, IICRC Certified Firm serving Chicago, the North Shore, Lake County, and DuPage County. Led by Sam Simon, IICRC Master Fire & Water Restorer, and Nasutsa Mabwa, CEO and community leader, we bring over 40 years of local experience plus ServiceMaster’s legacy since 1929.

Learn more in our book: RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset.

Sam Simon

Sam Simon is the Co-Owner and Managing Director of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a certified MBE/WBE disaster restoration and specialty cleaning firm proudly serving Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties in Illinois. With over 30 years of experience in restoration project management, field operations, and emergency response, Sam plays a vital leadership role in overseeing service execution, technician development, reconstruction, and subcontractor coordination.

He holds the IICRC’s highest technical designation as a Master Fire & Water Restorer, a distinction achieved by fewer than 1% of professionals in the restoration industry. His technical scope includes water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke recovery, mold remediation, and post-disaster reconstruction across both residential and commercial sectors.

Sam has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to helping communities in crisis. He has participated in large-scale disaster recovery efforts across the U.S., providing boots-on-the-ground leadership during Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey, as well as catastrophic floods, wildfires, and deep freeze events throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, and beyond. His dedication to serving distressed families and businesses in the wake of national catastrophes reflects both his personal values and ServiceMaster’s mission of restoring peace of mind.

In 2019, Sam was selected for the HACIA Contractor Training Program, a competitive six-month construction management cohort offered by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association. The program delivers intensive instruction in blueprint reading, estimating, project management, and construction law—skills that support the company’s continued growth in emergency build-back and general contracting services.

Before co-founding ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, Sam built a successful creative career, contributing to notable film and television productions including Chicago Fire (2012), Juvies (2007), and Image Union (1978). His media and videography background continues to shape ServiceMaster’s marketing strategy, digital training resources, and brand storytelling.
→ IMDb Profile

Sam is also the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset—a practical guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water, fire, and mold damage.

Under the direction of partner and CEO Nasutsa Mabwa, and with Sam’s operational leadership, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons has earned numerous regional and national accolades, including:

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Flooded basement? Burst pipe? Don’t wait—water damage spreads fast. ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons provides 24/7 emergency water damage cleanup for Chicagoland and North Shore homes. With 40+ years of local expertise and IICRC-certified crews, we’ll protect your property and start the restoration immediately.