Meet Nasutsa Mabwa: Restoration Leader Named One of the 100 Women to KNOW in America
Sam Simon
June 20, 2025Nasutsa Mabwa, CEO of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, was honored as one of the 100 Women to KNOW in America. Learn how she leads with purpose, mentors others, and advances the disaster restoration industry.
When the KNOW Women organization released its annual list of the 100 Women to KNOW in America, one of Chicago’s own was front and center: Nasutsa Mabwa, President and Co-Owner of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons. The prestigious national list, presented by JPMorgan Chase, recognizes influential female leaders in business and community impact across North America.
At the KNOW Women Summit in Phoenix, Nasutsa joined other top leaders from around the country to celebrate not only her own achievements but also the power of women entrepreneurs driving change in their industries.
Why This Recognition Matters
Nasutsa’s recognition is more than just an award. It reflects a career of leadership, service, and strategic growth in an industry not always led by women.
As the President of an MBE/WBE-certified restoration firm, she:
- Oversees daily operations across ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons’ multi-location service areas in Cook and Lake counties
- Leads internal initiatives to mentor women in the emergency services field
- Builds partnerships with local nonprofits like A Safe Place, The Talking Farm, and the Evanston Arts Center
- Actively develops relationships with commercial real estate professionals to expand construction and restoration services
Her background includes a Master’s in Urban Planning and Policy from UIC and an MBA in Real Estate Development from Roosevelt University, giving her a rare blend of policy expertise and business acumen.
Her Vision: Business That Builds Communities
While many view disaster restoration as a technical industry, Nasutsa sees it as a human-centered profession. Under her leadership, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons continues to:
- Empower employees from all backgrounds
- Offer a responsive and compassionate experience to customers in crisis
- Deliver elite restoration services backed by certifications, trust, and 40+ years of local knowledge
She and her husband, Sam Simon, co-authored RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset—a practical guide for homeowners navigating water and fire disasters.
A Role Model for Future Leaders
Nasutsa doesn’t just lead a company—she opens doors for others. From mentoring emerging entrepreneurs to speaking at local chambers of commerce and industry events, she champions the role of women in restoration and construction.
Her message is clear: being of service is as powerful as being successful.
About ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons
ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons is a multi-award-winning, woman-owned disaster restoration firm based in Chicago, proudly serving Cook and Lake counties. The company provides:
- Water & flood damage cleanup
- Fire & smoke damage restoration
- Mold remediation
- Specialty cleaning
- Commercial construction and disaster response
ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons is MBE/WBE certified, IICRC-certified, and has been recognized with numerous awards, including:
- SB100 Best of Small Business Award Winner
- Stevie® Award for Women in Business
- BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics
- Skokie Business of the Year Honorable Mention
Learn more: https://servicemaster-restorationbysimons.com
Congratulations to Nasutsa Mabwa—one of the 100 Women to KNOW in America—and a leader shaping the future of restoration in Chicagoland.
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 under the name Sam Zabadneh, 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 majority owner and President & 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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