The Restoration Industry Association’s 64th Annual Convention & Exhibition will be held March 10-14 at the Wyndham Palm Springs Hotel & Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, Calif. This year’s convention provides almost 80 hours of continuing education on cutting-edge topics cleaners and restorers need to stay ahead in the industry.

RIA is once again offering pre-convention workshops. Starting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11, there will be three workshops dedicated to help attendees better understand challenges they face daily. Spend the time learning more about specialty rugs and wool care, or the ins and outs of hiring and firing employees and staying in legal compliance, or the 10 steps to working with adjusters.

The convention will feature two keynote addresses this year. The first will take place on Thursday, March 12. Presented by Edward Hallowell, M.D., will be a session titled AD/HD Crazy Busy: Overstretched, Overworked & About to Snap. This presentation is aimed at offering attendees information on how to work with those who have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). Explaining how the brains of those with AD/HD work, Dr. Hallowell will provide strategies and tips that will help with their efficiency and performance.

The second keynote address will be on Friday, March 13. Getting the Attention You Want: Effective Media Coverage for Your Business will be presented by Gary Dietrich of Citizen Voice. In this session, attendees will learn how their companies can allocate marketing dollars to opportunities that provide valuable, new and unique visibility, while protecting members of their communities, increasing their company profile and goodwill, understanding how to improve media coverage, and learning about other successful non-profit partnerships.

Some of the other topics that will be covered include Contracts, Documentation, Litigation Reports from the Restoration Lawyer presented by Ed Cross, Esq., Edward H. Cross & Associates; Innovations in Rug Cleaning presented by Aaron Groseclose, CRS, MasterBlend; Tom Monahan, Centrum-Force, and Stephen “Dusty” Roberts, Rug Badger; Estimating HVAC Restoration Services on Soot, Fire & Smoke, presented by Tom Yacobellis, DUCTZ International; Professional Conduct: What Does it Really Mean?, presented by Charles Cassani, CR, Steamatic of Sacramento; Marketing vs. Advertising: The Differences and Using Both Effectively, presented by Coach Jerry Salmon, management consultant and trainer; and The Hidden Dangers: Bacteria & Their Role in Indoor Health presented by Peter Sierck, CMC, CMRS, CIEC, Environmental Testing & Technologies.

The post-convention workshops on Saturday, March 14 include: Project Management & Risk Assessment Considerations for Restoration and Environmental Contractors presented by Peter Sierck; Pack-Outs lead by Barb Jackson, CR, Total Contentz, LLC; and All New Hires Look Great in the Beginning: Behavioral Assessment for Interviewing Effectiveness lead by Dana Clark, Ph.D., a former operational psychologist with the Central Intelligence Agency.

The RIA Networking and Awards Reception will be on Thursday evening in conjunction with the RIA Certification Induction & Association Awards Ceremony. There will also networking opportunities throughout the entire event in the Exhibition Hall, around the pool and on the golf course. For those who like to test drive equipment before they buy or want more information than can be found on a company website, there will be 150 booths featured with a variety of exhibitors showcasing the industry’s latest tools and equipment.

To register for the 64th Annual RIA Convention, check out full details on RIA’s Web site at www.restorationindustry.org.