COLUMBIA, MD.—The Restoration Industry Association (RIA) will hold its annual Fall Conference Series from Oct. 23 to 27, in Garden Grove, Calif. The education event and exhibition has been expanded to incorporate its three professional industry divisions: carpet, rug and textiles; environmental remediation, and disaster restoration.

Recognized as one of the premiere technical conferences in the industry, the program incorporates practical, hands-on information and management issues with presentations on the industry’s hottest topics and plant tours of local facilities. “The fall conference has been a popular education event throughout the industry for many years,” said Don Manger, executive director of RIA. “In 2006, RIA added an environmental program, and based on that enthusiastic response, adding the rug and carpet cleaning component was a logical extension to the program.”

RIA’s fall conference series also includes a comprehensive exhibition with vendors showcasing available technology and tools for all the association’s divisions.

The National Institute of Rug Cleaning Division (NIRC) premieres its first annual conference focused on hard–surface cleaning, the No. 1 add-on service in the industry, giving attendees the knowledge and tools to boost their bottom lines. An additional half- day will be spent at an off-site facility to provide intensive, hands-on training in this area.

RIA’s Environmental Division will hold its one-day event Oct. 24, and will focus on the risks and rewards of dealing with specialized environmental cleaning add-on services. Whether it’s working in the various health care fields, dealing with the maze of chemicals used in microbial remediation or alternative cleaning methods related specifically to mold, attendees will walk away knowing the pros and cons of venturing into several new services, Manger said.

The disaster restoration portion of the event is where industry leaders and professionals will seek the truth as it relates to the issues of drying and best practices based on science.

RIA, which recently adopted a new mission statement mandating that the organization provide industry leadership, support science and promote best practices for the cleaning and restoration industry, has undergone a transformation in the past 12 months. With a retooled council structure, RIA has taken an active lead on serious industry issues such as consumer freedom of choice for insurance-related repairs, and is expanding its services and education offerings for members.

For more information on RIA and its 2007 fall conference, call 443.878.1010 or visit www.restorationindustry.org.