A Tribute to The Experience Convention & Tradeshow
The Experience: A Celebration of Cleaning, Restoration, and Inspection
By Lisa Lavender M.T.R., M.F.S.R., M.W.R.
The Experience Convention and Tradeshow is not just an event; it’s a tribute to the trades, industries, and dedicated professionals who have shaped and continue to advance the fields of cleaning and restoration. This year, we pay homage to the long-standing history of this great event while embracing the future by highlighting the critical field of inspection.
A Time for Friendship, Camaraderie, and Learning
The Experience is a time for friendship, camaraderie, and learning from each other. It is a melting pot where science and business models intertwine, allowing members of the cleaning and restoration industries to share knowledge, forge connections, and celebrate their achievements. This year’s convention is particularly special as it underscores the importance of inspection within our industry.
Embracing the Discipline of Inspection
Inspection is a discipline in and of itself. It is a crucial aspect that permeates all our work, from initial assessments to final evaluations. Whether identifying pre-existing conditions, establishing protocols, or determining root causes, inspection is an integral step in our processes. This year, we are excited to introduce a dedicated focus on inspection within the Cleaning and Restoration Pavilion, featuring experts on flooring inspection, moisture and water intrusion, roofs, asbestos and more.
Cleaning and Restoration
Through the event, you will experience a wide variety of Cleaning and Restoration presentations and demonstrations. Inspecting and assessing as a general principle is vital as it pertains to everyone in our fields. By inspecting and assessing, we lay the groundwork for all subsequent tasks, ensuring that we address pre-existing conditions accurately and establish effective protocols. We can avoid mistakes and issues that may arise and have meaningful communications that build relationships based on our expertise when communicating with those we serve.
Bringing Together Cleaning, Restoration, and Inspection
This year, The Experience unites the pillars of cleaning, restoration, and inspection, tying together our collective efforts into a comprehensive, industry-wide initiative. This holistic approach underscores the interconnectedness of these disciplines and highlights their essential roles in our work.
We are deeply grateful to the numerous industry professionals who have generously contributed their time, talents, and expertise to The Experience 2024. Their dedication not only enriches the event but also fosters a spirit of unity and collaboration within our industry. By sharing a diverse range of backgrounds and insights, these experts help ensure the success and growth of all attendees. In addition to the formal programs, the exhibition hall is full of products, equipment, and resources that help support success and gives access to additional passion and expertise of the exhibitors.
Here are some thoughts from a few of the experts who will be sharing their knowledge and passion at The Experience:
Industry Expert Insights
Lisa Wagner, Founder, RugChick.com
“The Experience is a ‘mind-meld’ of masters at their craft. An opportunity for specialists in cleaning, restoration, remediation, and inspection to collaborate, share, and learn from one another. The Pavilion Program brings education to life through relevant hands-on demonstrations and critical insights from experts in the care of textiles, flooring, structures, and indoor living environments. This event attracts the BEST from our industries which takes an excellent program and adds even more inspiration, value, and fun to the entire experience of Experience.
What I love about the event is the opportunity for experts in various related fields coming together to collaborate. I learn from taking a deep conceptual dive with bigger brains than mine in other fields. Asking questions and more questions.
With the topic of “strong inspection skills” and their importance in cleaning and restoration, in the cleaning world specifically right now, both flooring and furnishings have more risks than ever before because of manufacturing quality issues. Having strong pre-work inspection skills is a critical skill because the wrong choices in cleaning and care can cause damage to rugs, carpets, fabrics, and floors.”
Claudia Lezell, President, Inspections Too, Inc.
“Lessons learned and continue to learn!
From over 40 years in the design, build, and flooring industry, thirty in floor failure analysis, a lesson at times learned too late is that flooring, by surface area, is the single largest product by surface volume within the built environment and the most misunderstood.
The presentation will cover “A holistic approach to floor failure avoidance.” When is a floor not just a floor?
Understanding the importance of pre-inspection and evaluation before cleaning and restoring flooring is essential. It’s not just a step but a strategic move that keeps you informed and prepared for potential challenges.
Avoid costly floor failure post-analysis (inspection) by avoiding it, as subject matter experts, peers, and colleagues converge to interconnect the interrelated industries at the Experience.”
Branden Adams, Director of Education, Amerestore
“As a species, we put human life above everything. Because without life, there would be no us! Considering this, we constantly try to improve, prolong, and preserve the lives of others. As trade professionals, we all contribute to the indoor environmental health of every building. It’s our job to ensure that every part of a building is safe for occupants, no matter the trade. We have so many safety guidelines for each trade just for this. Whether that be for plumbers, electricians, water restorers, construction contractors, foundation contractors, industrial hygienists, or HVAC contractors. There is a reason why safety is always referred to as the most important aspect of any job, and why we have rules, guidelines, and regulations to make sure our work contributes to the wellbeing of building occupants. Each trade professional is responsible for knowing their respective trade and the safety that goes into it. I would broaden that, however. The more we know about each trade that goes into the indoor environment, the better professionals we can be. Events like the Experience contribute to just that, a gathering of industry professionals from different trades coming together to share information. Over the years this event has broadened from just flooring and cleaning. I look forward to the day where we can have an event experience that brings together all indoor environment trades, allowing us to learn from each other.
Learning, education, and training in every trade that contributes to indoor environmental safety and health should be the goal and aspiration of every individual in any trade. A broad perspective understanding will not only let us become more successful, but it will help us keep the occupants of every building safe, improving, prolonging, and preserving the lives of others.”
Barry Rice, EHS Director, Signal Restoration Services
“In addition to the trades and sciences, there are many complexities related to the built environment that are related to regulated and hazardous materials. Many restorers misunderstand or chose to ignore OSHA and EPA asbestos regulations. My presentation will review requirements as they relate to restoration work. Restorers not completely familiar with asbestos management are encouraged to attend and pick up useful tips to remain compliant and productive. Those already familiar are encouraged to attend, possibly to get a refresher, and also share their experiences and best practices.”
John Perella, Curriculum Manager, Lever360, (Restoration Technical Institute)
“For me, The Experience is about learning and evolving. Adding inspection to the spotlight this year is a natural progression. It highlights our industry’s dedication to quality and precision, ensuring we deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients. In the real world, we see that any given job scenario involves a wide variety of knowledge and expertise. I am thrilled to work with so many people in the industries at large to bring it all together for this convention. Emphasizing the attention to the skills involved in inspection adds immense value to our program. I will lean on a quote from one of my own personal mentors, Destry Ransdell, which says it all: ‘Inspect the first day, to set it up the best way.'”
Annissa Coy, Co-Founder of Firehouse Education and Mobile Clean Systems
“‘As restoration and cleaning professionals, we are caretakers of the human condition.’ ~ Jeff Jones, founder, BioSheen Services
To be a restoration professional is one of the biggest ways you can serve your fellow man in their time of need and provide hope to others.
I truly love how the cleaning and restoration industry has evolved into a caretaking of the human condition and not just restoration or cleaning of tangible items. Most of the time we are working in someone home thus we are in their sacred and safe space. Their refuge and sanctuary. So, it is our primary objective to protect and care for others. We can only do this with the right tools, confidence and capabilities. Quality education and hands on experience is how we equip ourselves for success in this very important work.
I am constantly fascinated by how much importance we as people put on physical material things. Primarily, it is because we associate a memory or a feeling with an item and then that item becomes a part of our life story. When it becomes damaged or tarnished in some way, they need the help of a trained, skilled and knowledgeable professional. As Jeff said, this is where we as “caretakers” come in to help our clients navigate the process.
We as cleaners and restorers become a part of that life story when we restore an item and return it unharmed once again.
There is no greater service.
And there is no greater event to learn about these tools we need, build confidence thru connection and educate ourselves with proper techniques then The Experience Trade Show and Convention.”
By bringing together cleaning, restoration, and inspection, The Experience Convention and Tradeshow 2024 not only celebrates the past achievements but also sets the stage for future advancements. Join us in this unique tribute to our industries and the dedicated professionals who make it all possible.
Call to Action
As coordinator of the Restoration Pavilion, I encourage you to join us in Vegas: REGISTER HERE. We invite all attendees to visit the Cleaning and Restoration Pavilion to engage with our experts, participate in discussions, and gain invaluable insights into the field of inspection. Let’s make this year’s convention a milestone in our journey toward excellence and innovation.
Let’s celebrate the past, embrace the present, and shape the future together at The Experience Convention and Tradeshow.
May embracing and celebrating cleaning, restoration, and inspection as a collective industry bring you much continued Restoring Success.
