Keynote Announced

RIA is excited to announce our keynote speaker for the 2017 International Restoration Convention and Industry Expo, Randy Hetrick. He is the creator of the Suspension Trainer^® — perhaps the most prolific piece of exercise equipment in history--and the founder of TRX, one of the world’s leading training brands. Over the past three decades Randy built a record of unique accomplishments including: collegiate athlete, 14-year Navy SEAL Officer, bootstrap entrepreneur, multi-patented inventor, and growth company CEO whose company earned multiple placements on the rosters of the Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Companies and Outside Magazine Best Places to Work. As the global leaders in functional training, TRX’s mission is to empower everyone in their pursuit of better.

Prerequisite Courses Offered at Convention

Looking to become a CR or WLS? RIA Education is bringing our advanced certification prerequisites courses to the convention! The 2017 RIA Annual Convention will feature the RIA Project and Risk Management, Contents Science and Theory, and a Mold Remediation Refresher courses.

While the Project and Risk Management course is a prerequisite for those pursuing their advanced certifications, either for the Certified Restorer (CR) or Water Loss Specialist (WLS), it is also open to those who want to obtain continuing education credit and advance their professional knowledge.

The Contents Science and Theory course content is 98% applicable to anything the restoration professional may encounter, dealing with the science of how to restore personal property damaged due to fire, smoke, flood or disaster.

And fungal remediation practices and guidelines have changed dramatically in the past year. This one-day mold refresher course is designed to provide remediators, consultants, inspectors, and property managers with the latest information on:

• Standards and guidelines promulgated at the national and state levels
• Health effects and potential connection between mold and illnesses
• Engineering controls to improve efficiency when isolating and removing mold contamination
• Efficient methods for dealing with complex remediation problems such as crawlspaces, vaulted ceilings, contents, etc.
• Pro-active management of the project through quality control efforts including post-remediation evaluation techniques

2016 RIA Certified Restorer Prep Course Signifies “End of an Era”

The Restoration Industry Association (RIA) held its signature Certified Restorer (CR) advanced certification preparatory course in Roselle, Ill., from Nov. 7-11, 2016. Jon Don hosted the CR prep week again this year at their corporate HQ in their state of the art training center.

The 2016 CR course concludes RIA’s certification grandfathering period as the association prepares to roll out its revised advanced certification programs in 2017 for the CR and Water Loss Specialist (WLS) designations. Changes to the CR program are the first since the designation was first conceived by the late Martin L. King, CR, ASA, in 1980. The Certified Restorer has long been considered the most prestigious and difficult credential for a professional restorer to attain.

The Certified Restorer Body of Knowledge, which has been in development for six years, is expected to be released to the industry in the first quarter of 2017 and serve as the basis for RIA’s updated certification programs to be rolled out in the fall of 2017.

The 2016 CR course had two guest instructors join CR lead instructor Ken Larsen, CR, WLS and facilitator Pete Consigli, CR, WLS.  RIA Education Committee member Josh Miller, CR, WLS, CMP and Lorne McIntyre, CR, WLS, RIA’s Canadian Council education subcommittee chair joined Consigli and Larsen as the association expands its educational team by mentoring the next generation of trainers.

RIA’s growing international presence was on full display. Five members from Australia traveled to the course; the CR class also had three Canadian members and six U.S. members.