SILENT AUCTION QUESTION OF THE DAY:

Q: What do a HEPA air scrubber, an autographed Elvis record, a weekend getaway, a signed Wayne Gretzky Jersey,  a spa day for two, and a first edition Hemmingway all have in common? 

A: They all make FABULOUS donations to the Silent Auction to benefit the Restoration Industry Legal Fund!

Please consider making a donation today - a commitment form and more information can be found at bit.ly/RILFDONATION. Don't have anything to donate? Consider a cash donation, and we'll purchase something on your behalf.  Every bit counts in this most important fight, and we can't do it without you. Please make your commitment today, or pass the link along to someone who can.

Register for the convention by March 31st and save

Registration rates for the International Restoration Convention & Industry Expo go up $100 on April 1, so don't get fooled into paying more. Full registration includes education sessions, access to the exhibition hall, the opening Pool Party Networking Reception courtesy of Sunbelt Rentals, and some meals. Deadline for room reservations is Sunday, March 16^th to get the RIA rate and guarantee room availability.

TPA Panel closes RIA Convention

Don't plan to skip out early on the RIA Convention, or you'll miss a Q&A session with the leaders of three major third-party administrators: Paul Gross, Code Blue; Jonathan Miko, Alacrity Services; and Larry Thomas, Crawford Contractor Connection. As the insurance restoration industry continues to evolve, so does the role of the third-party administrator. The panelists will address the changing role of the TPA, the challenges they encounter, their expectations of contractor vendors, how they handle major catastrophes, and much more.

Annual Awards Banquet

The RIA Awards Banquet will be held on Thursday, April 10, 2014 to highlight the accomplishments of RIA's certificants who have attained their certifications, honor those who have given countless hours of service to the organization, and recognize volunteers and individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their field. Awards presented include the Phoenix Awards for Innovation in Restoration and Reconstruction, service awards, the Martin L. King Award, the Golden Quill Award and the Advanced Certification Induction Ceremony. An additional ticket must be purchased for this event.

J.D. Power recognizes top companies

J.D. Power, in conjunction with FORTUNE Custom Publishing, has recognized 50 companies as the J.D. Power 2014 Customer Champions. Selected based on customer feedback, these companies were the highest performers among more than 600 evaluated brands across nine industries, based on five key areas identified as the J.D. Power 5 Ps: People, Presentation, Price, Process and Product.

NIBS president addresses role of standards development

Standards are playing a key role in making the Nation's buildings safer. Fire deaths have declined significantly and new buildings incorporate lessons learned from previous hazards. These improvements are largely the result of strong building codes and a regulatory system focused at the state and local level and were developed by private-sector organizations. Read this letter from Institute President Henry L. Green, Hon. AIA, to understand the private sector's role in U.S. standards development.