Reins CEO to tackle succession planning at Service World Expo

Chris Buttenham will share how contractors can build a business that can run without them, whatever comes next

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Reins, which gives contractors the tools to grow what their business is worth and their key people a real stake, announced its CEO and co-founder, Chris Buttenham, will be a featured session leader at Service World Expo in Las Vegas Nov. 9-11.

Buttenham's hourlong learning session, "Start Your Succession Planning Today," is designed for business owners at every stage, from growth through transition or exit. He will share how giving key employees a real stake can tie their incentives to strategic business targets, improve retention and build leadership depth needed for a successful transition. The session will be held from 10-11 a.m. in Alliance 16-18 on Nov. 11.

"Too many contractors wait until they're thinking about retirement or selling their business to start planning for what comes next," Buttenham said. "But if the company can't operate without the owner making every decision, that limits their options. Developing people who can take on more responsibility needs to start years before an owner is ready to leave."

Launched in 2016, Service World Expo is the largest residential contractor conference in the U.S., annually convening more than 1,000 HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other service trades business owners and decision makers. In addition to Buttenham's session, Reins will be exhibiting at Booth 713 PI in the Summit Ballroom on Nov. 10-11.

Reins recently launched Valuation, an AI-powered tool built on contractors' own financial and field data that helps contractors understand what their businesses are worth and identify opportunities to increase that value. The product complements Reins' Incentives platform, which allows owners to reward key employees for helping the business meet its goals without giving up ownership or control.

"A business owner may have a sale price in mind when it comes to selling, but that doesn't mean the company is ready for a transition," Buttenham said. "Understanding what drives its value gives owners a better idea of what needs attention now, whether they plan to sell in a few years, hand the business over to someone already on their team or keep running it themselves."

For more information about Service World Expo, visit https://www.serviceworldexpo.com.

For more information about Reins, visit https://www.myreins.com.

About Reins
Reins is the ownership operating system for independent businesses, giving owners the tools to understand and grow their business value while giving key employees a real stake in the value they help create. Through Valuation and Incentives, Reins helps owners understand what their business is worth, identify opportunities to increase its value and create long- and short-term incentive plans without giving up ownership or control. Reins works with hundreds of owner-operators in the trades, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, restoration and landscaping, who have granted more than $50 million in incentives to key employees through Reins. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Reins is backed by Album, Better Tomorrow Ventures, Torch Capital and Animo Ventures. Learn more at myreins.com.

SOURCE Reins