About Tommy Dence

Tommy Dence

Owner & Operator | iRestoreFL

For Tommy Dence, restoration is personal. Behind every damaged property is a family, a business owner, or someone trying to make sense of an overwhelming situation. Helping those people regain confidence in their surroundings is what gives his work meaning.

Tommy’s commitment to service began at home. His father, a Vietnam veteran who served 21 years in the military, raised him in a structured, disciplined household where hard work, accountability, and respect for others were everyday expectations. Those values helped shape the man Tommy is today and continue to guide how he leads his team, cares for customers, and approaches every restoration project.

His faith provides the foundation for that purpose.

“I am grateful every morning that God has given me breath. My reward is helping create a safe environment for families to live.”

From construction to restoration

Tommy began working in construction after high school, developing an understanding of how buildings go together. That foundation has served him throughout 22 years of mitigation work, helping him understand how water moves through a structure, where moisture can hide, and what it takes to restore damaged materials properly.

His expertise comes from decades of hands-on work combined with a continuing commitment to education. He attends classes, studies new methods, evaluates equipment, and brings what he learns back to the field. A lesson in the classroom can improve the next project. A difficult project can reveal the next question worth studying.

That ongoing process has helped him refine how his teams dry structures, improving efficiency while using measurements and documentation to verify progress. The goal is to reduce unnecessary disruption and help customers move forward with confidence.

A coach at heart

Teaching has always been part of Tommy’s life. For 20 years, he coached his children and nephews in football and baseball, helping young people develop skills, confidence, teamwork, and discipline. Today, he brings that same care to the technicians he trains.

Tommy has taught classes of up to 50 employees at a time, using PowerPoint presentations, practical explanations, and lessons from the field to help technicians understand water damage and mold remediation. He teaches the reasons behind each step so his team can make informed decisions when conditions become challenging.

His classes reflect how much he cares about the work, his technicians, and the people who will eventually depend on their skills. He wants every technician to leave better prepared, more confident, and more aware of the responsibility that comes with entering someone’s home or business.

He also enjoys a little friendly competition. Tommy takes pride in strong exam results and challenges himself to stay among the top performers alongside his teammates. His enthusiasm sets an expectation throughout the team: keep studying, keep improving, and share what you know.

Mold remediation built on thoroughness

Over many years of working alongside his partner, Brian Bland, Tommy has helped refine a careful, methodical approach to mold remediation. Their combined work includes serving more than 10,000 homes affected by mold throughout Florida. That experience has reinforced a simple belief: the quality of a remediation project must hold up to scrutiny.

Tommy takes particular pride in projects that achieve “none detected” findings in post-remediation samples. Those findings describe the samples evaluated at the time of testing and form one part of the assessment, alongside visual inspection, moisture evaluation, and the project’s established clearance criteria.

He welcomes the detailed examination of an independent third-party assessor who looks closely at the completed work, checks for remaining moisture or visible concerns, and evaluates whether the project meets the applicable criteria.

That commitment to thoroughness has helped earn the confidence of inspectors who recommend him. Tommy understands what that trust means: when someone makes a referral, their own reputation is attached to it. He teaches his team to respect that trust on every project.

Documentation that supports the work

Tommy knows that a successful restoration project requires clear records as well as skilled fieldwork. He emphasizes photographs, moisture readings, drying records, and detailed descriptions of the work performed.

When a third-party remediation protocol is provided, he teaches his team to follow it carefully and document the process. He also emphasizes applicable IICRC standards as a foundation for professional restoration practices.

Tommy enjoys working with insurance adjusters to explain site conditions, discuss the scope of work, and review the technical reasons behind restoration decisions. His goal is to help customers present a well-supported record of their loss and the work needed to restore their property, so covered work can be evaluated accurately under their policy.

Knowing the equipment and how to use it

Years in the field have given Tommy experience with a wide range of drying, air filtration, and remediation equipment. He takes an active interest in selecting equipment, maintaining it, and teaching technicians how to use it properly.

He understands that performance depends on choosing the right tools for the conditions, positioning them effectively, monitoring results, and keeping them in dependable working order. That attention helps his teams work efficiently, control avoidable costs, and deliver consistent workmanship.

Certifications and professional training

Tommy’s professional training spans water damage restoration, mold remediation, and related industry disciplines. His commitment to continued education strengthens both his fieldwork and the knowledge he shares with his team.

Helping people get back to normal

After a major property loss, people often feel overwhelmed. Their routines are disrupted, their belongings may be damaged, and they may be unsure whom to trust. Tommy understands that the way his team treats those people matters as much as the work itself.

He finds his greatest reward in seeing a customer’s relief and hearing a sincere “thank you” – knowing he helped them take another step toward normal life. That is what continues to motivate him: serving others, teaching his team, and taking pride in work that makes a difference.

At iRestore, Tommy brings a lifetime of service to the moments when experience matters most.