VANCOUVER, Wash. – October 31, 2007 – The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification elected the 2008 Executive Committee during its Board of Directors’ meeting on October 19-21, in Vancouver, Wash.

Ruth Travis was re-elected for a second term as president/chairperson of the Executive Committee. During the past year, the IICRC experienced an unprecedented nine percent increase in IICRC Certified Firm registrations (currently at 5, 276), a record number of certified registrants (currently at 42,289), the development of two new certification categories, (Applied Sewage Remediation and Commercial Drying Specialist), and increased media coverage for the IICRC and its registrants.

“The wealth of expertise and leadership on the Executive Committee is tremendous,” said Travis. “The IICRC will continue to set clear goals, including growing the organization, adding new certification categories, reaching out to new industry partners as well as working toward meeting and exceeding the expectations of our registrants.”

All seven of the current committee officers were re-elected to the committee and will maintain their current roles. Returning to the IICRC Executive Committee are: First Vice President, Darrell Paulson; Second Vice President, Mike Reed; International Vice President, Paul Pearce; Treasurer, Ed Hobbs; Secretary, Barry Lichtenstein; and Certification Council Chair, Joe Dobbins. The new committee term began on October 21, 2007.

Representing their shareholders within the IICRC, newly elected board members include: Brian Kornet, representing the New York Rug Cleaners Institute (NYRCI) and Jim Pemberton representing Lee Pemberton, an original shareholder of the organization. Members-at-large are Barry Costa, Doug Bowles, Jim Holland, Paul Thompson and Howard Wolf. Cy Gantt, Carey Vermeulen and Lee Zimmerman were named honorary board members.