Meredith Arnold (She/her)
Managing Partner
PuroClean, Halifax
Learn About My Career
I lead a high-performing team delivering emergency property restoration across the Halifax Regional Municipality.
I was born/grew up in: I was born in Ontario and have lived across Canada, from the West Coast to the Prairies. I've called British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba home at different points before settling in Nova Scotia.
I now live in: I currently live in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
I completed my training/education at: My academic background includes studies at the University of Calgary, Yorkville University, and Harvard Business School Online. In addition to these programs, I’ve completed multiple professional diplomas and industry certifications. I continually pursue advanced education to bring a well-rounded, strategic perspective to specialized restoration and construction work.
I’m a Managing Partner of PuroClean Halifax. I lead a strong team that helps people when their homes or buildings are damaged. We fix problems caused by things like water, fire, mold, biohazards and asbestos. Some days I’m out on-site checking how safe a building is. Other days I’m in the office organizing schedules, setting budgets, and talking with clients. Every day I need to think quickly and make good decisions. I use my skills to help people get their property back to normal
My work needs a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) background. I use ideas from engineering, economics, mathematics, biology, and data analysis all the time. This can be to calculate how much a job will cost to do or to plan repairs. I use my STEM background to decide how to safely clean and fix damaged buildings.
Data-driven decision making is important in my work. I use data like moisture readings or environmental reports. I also use health risk data to create solutions to my customer’s issues. I always make sure my decisions follow industry standards and rules.
I also use what I know about how people think and feel. When someone’s home is damaged, it can be very stressful for them. I use skills from psychology to stay calm and help people feel safe. I have to communicate clearly with clients, my team, and insurance companies.
My leadership style is inclusive and fair. I focus on understanding others. I teach my team how to be caring when we work in sensitive situations. We try to get the job done while still respecting the people we’re helping.
Each day brings new challenges to solve. I lead with curiosity. I use both technical information and people skills to make good decisions. No two jobs are alike! This is why I’m always learning and looking for better ways to do things. I see our work as not just a service or just fixing buildings. We help people feel safe, confident, and supported.
I didn’t set out to work in restoration. In fact, I didn’t even know what it was when I started! My career began in new home construction. Over time, I worked my way through a range of roles and engaged in ongoing education that broadened my skills and knowledge. With age and experience, I discovered that restoration was the rare field that matched both my passions and my skill set. It became a pathway with endless opportunity for growth, leadership, and impact.
Being an autistic woman means that life hasn’t always been simple. But in leadership, I’ve learned to use the way my brain works as a strength. I don’t hide it; I use it! In this industry, my attention to detail helps me succeed. Also, my natural desire to stand u for what’s right guides what I do. This career isn’t just where I ended up—it’s where I found my voice, my purpose, and my mission!
What drives me is the challenge of going beyond what people usually expect in my industry. This includes learning new things and improving how we do work. It also includes helping make property restoration more sustainable and responsible. We get to see the impact of our work on buildings and the environment. That brings both responsibility and opportunity. I’m motivated by the power of education and sharing knowledge. I might be showing suppliers how being sustainable can help their business or mentoring students on the many careers in this field. Or I may be encouraging women to try trades and leadership roles. In everything I do, I try to remove barriers and open new possibilities for people.
Most importantly, I’m committed to educating our clients. There is no keeping secrets in our work—clients deserve honesty, understanding, and trust. When clients know what’s going on, they feel confident and often become our biggest supporters. Every day is a chance to show that new ideas, science, and doing the right thing can work together. This industry can be more inclusive, more forward-thinking, and more aligned with protecting the environment. Being part of that change—while helping people in crisis—is what keeps me motivated and pushes me to keep improving.
We’re not just drying walls or cleaning up mold! We’re helping people feel safe, be back in control, and have peace of mind. I like figuring out the cause of a problem. I enjoy finding creative solutions that stop it from happening again. Instead of rushing to patch things up, I look at the whole situation. I use both facts and people skills to make the best plan.
My job mixes science with helping others. I use knowledge about buildings, biology, and the environment in my work. But it’s the effect on people’s lives that really matters to me. The best part is knowing we made someone feel heard, respected, and cared for during a stressful time. That’s what makes my work meaningful!
Outside of work, I love being outdoors. I enjoy hiking and staying active. I’ve done endurance sports like running marathons, Olympic-style weightlifting, and long-distance training. When I find quiet moments, I like to draw and paint using different media. I also spend time helping with causes I care about. This includes protecting the environment and helping to make workplaces fair and inclusive. I’m committed to making a positive difference, even when I’m not at work.
Any education you get is valuable—every person’s perspective adds something new. This industry needs people with different ideas to make it better. You can teach technical skills, but passion, kindness, and respect for others are what really set you apart. Be curious, stay open-minded, and remember your voice matters.
What I do at work
I’m a Managing Partner of PuroClean Halifax. I lead a strong team that helps people when their homes or buildings are damaged. We fix problems caused by things like water, fire, mold, biohazards and asbestos. Some days I’m out on-site checking how safe a building is. Other days I’m in the office organizing schedules, setting budgets, and talking with clients. Every day I need to think quickly and make good decisions. I use my skills to help people get their property back to normal
My work needs a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) background. I use ideas from engineering, economics, mathematics, biology, and data analysis all the time. This can be to calculate how much a job will cost to do or to plan repairs. I use my STEM background to decide how to safely clean and fix damaged buildings.
Data-driven decision making is important in my work. I use data like moisture readings or environmental reports. I also use health risk data to create solutions to my customer’s issues. I always make sure my decisions follow industry standards and rules.
I also use what I know about how people think and feel. When someone’s home is damaged, it can be very stressful for them. I use skills from psychology to stay calm and help people feel safe. I have to communicate clearly with clients, my team, and insurance companies.
My leadership style is inclusive and fair. I focus on understanding others. I teach my team how to be caring when we work in sensitive situations. We try to get the job done while still respecting the people we’re helping.
Each day brings new challenges to solve. I lead with curiosity. I use both technical information and people skills to make good decisions. No two jobs are alike! This is why I’m always learning and looking for better ways to do things. I see our work as not just a service or just fixing buildings. We help people feel safe, confident, and supported.
My career path is
I didn’t set out to work in restoration. In fact, I didn’t even know what it was when I started! My career began in new home construction. Over time, I worked my way through a range of roles and engaged in ongoing education that broadened my skills and knowledge. With age and experience, I discovered that restoration was the rare field that matched both my passions and my skill set. It became a pathway with endless opportunity for growth, leadership, and impact.
Being an autistic woman means that life hasn’t always been simple. But in leadership, I’ve learned to use the way my brain works as a strength. I don’t hide it; I use it! In this industry, my attention to detail helps me succeed. Also, my natural desire to stand u for what’s right guides what I do. This career isn’t just where I ended up—it’s where I found my voice, my purpose, and my mission!
I am motivated by
What drives me is the challenge of going beyond what people usually expect in my industry. This includes learning new things and improving how we do work. It also includes helping make property restoration more sustainable and responsible. We get to see the impact of our work on buildings and the environment. That brings both responsibility and opportunity. I’m motivated by the power of education and sharing knowledge. I might be showing suppliers how being sustainable can help their business or mentoring students on the many careers in this field. Or I may be encouraging women to try trades and leadership roles. In everything I do, I try to remove barriers and open new possibilities for people.
Most importantly, I’m committed to educating our clients. There is no keeping secrets in our work—clients deserve honesty, understanding, and trust. When clients know what’s going on, they feel confident and often become our biggest supporters. Every day is a chance to show that new ideas, science, and doing the right thing can work together. This industry can be more inclusive, more forward-thinking, and more aligned with protecting the environment. Being part of that change—while helping people in crisis—is what keeps me motivated and pushes me to keep improving.
How I affect peoples’ lives
We’re not just drying walls or cleaning up mold! We’re helping people feel safe, be back in control, and have peace of mind. I like figuring out the cause of a problem. I enjoy finding creative solutions that stop it from happening again. Instead of rushing to patch things up, I look at the whole situation. I use both facts and people skills to make the best plan.
My job mixes science with helping others. I use knowledge about buildings, biology, and the environment in my work. But it’s the effect on people’s lives that really matters to me. The best part is knowing we made someone feel heard, respected, and cared for during a stressful time. That’s what makes my work meaningful!
Outside of work I
Outside of work, I love being outdoors. I enjoy hiking and staying active. I’ve done endurance sports like running marathons, Olympic-style weightlifting, and long-distance training. When I find quiet moments, I like to draw and paint using different media. I also spend time helping with causes I care about. This includes protecting the environment and helping to make workplaces fair and inclusive. I’m committed to making a positive difference, even when I’m not at work.
My advice to others
Any education you get is valuable—every person’s perspective adds something new. This industry needs people with different ideas to make it better. You can teach technical skills, but passion, kindness, and respect for others are what really set you apart. Be curious, stay open-minded, and remember your voice matters.
When I was a student I enjoyed:
- Art
- Business & Economics
- Industrial Arts
- Literature and Language Arts
- Physical Education / Health
When I was a student, I would describe myself as someone who:
- Always wanted to be outside
- Liked helping people
- Played on a sports team
- Enjoyed working with my hands
- Was motivated by success
- Liked being given free range to explore my ideas
- Was really creative
- Liked to take things apart to see how they worked
- Learned Best by Doing
- Liked to design or build things
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