The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has officially announced the International Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Council of Associations (IICRCA). This international trade association was initially approved by the IICRC executive committee and board of directors in 2010.

The IICRCA is a council of associations that represent the cleaning, restoration and inspection industries. The new association will provide education, legislative, networking and advocacy services to industry professionals, companies and supporting organizations involved in the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries. It will monitor and increase member awareness of government regulatory activities and serve as a voice on behalf of the industry.

“The IICRCA has the goal of unifying the industry and spread the mission and standards of inspection, cleaning and restoration worldwide,” said Tony Wheelwright, the current IICRCA president and chairman. “The association will aim to be a central resource for industry professionals to grow their businesses and better serve their customers.”

The initial board of directors of the IICRCA will be made up of the current executive committee of the IICRC. The IICRCA’s first full board of directors will be elected by the association membership within the next 12 months.

Transparency will be a hallmark of the IICRCA; accordingly, all paid positions of the IICRCA will be selected through an open request for proposal (RFP) process and chosen by a selection committee. Certified, professional candidates will be preferred.

Members will have the right to use the IICRCA logos. Additionally, the IICRCA, in association with its affiliate partners, will provide members will new benefits including:

· Prestige: recognition of professional achievements

· Recognition: awards, fellowships, scholarships

· Information: newsletters, journals, conferences, e-newsletters

· Advancement: training courses, seminars, workshops

· Representation: legislative relations’ and lobbying, regulatory agency relationships

· Business and professional aids: research, surveys, guidelines, resource library

· Networking: social events, meetings, national conferences/trade shows

· Service: opportunities to serve the profession and industry through committee participation, task forces, etc.

· Leadership: hold office, chair committees and serve on boards

· Economic incentives: discounts on purchases, rentals, insurance, admission to the IICRCA trade show, etc.

“The next few months will be an exciting time for the IICRCA as member benefits are finalized and approved,” said Wheelwright. “We will build the association with one thing in mind: what will benefit our members the most?”

To enable networking between association members, the IICRCA has committed to the launch of its first trade show – The Show – and is currently in the planning stages for the fall of 2013. The IICRCA will also support the 2013 trade shows of all of the IICRC’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) partners.

For more information, please visit IICRC.org or contact info@iicrc.org.