Ruth has a B.S. degree in Textiles from the University of Tennessee and has attended most of the major cleaning and restoration industry courses.
She has over 25 years experience in maintenance and restoration of carpet, rugs and upholstery. In addition, she is a flooring inspector and performs corrections for some of the major carpet mills. She has traveled throughout the US and abroad sharing her knowledge with other cleaners, inspectors and restorers.
Ruth is an active volunteer in the cleaning, restoration and inspection industry. She served as the IICRC as Marketing Committee Chairman and President/Chairman of the Board of Directors for two years and is the past Chairman of the IICRC’s Color Repair Committee. She is also on the IICRC Rug Cleaning Technician Committee and was one of the editors of IICRC S-100 Carpet Cleaning Standard and S-300 Upholstery Cleaning Standard. She was a member of the S520 Mold Remediation Standard Committee.
Ruth also serves as Past President of the Society of Cleaning and Restoration Technicians.
After fulfilling her responsibilities as President of the IICRC, Ruth was named the Director of the WoolSafe Organization in North America.
Work Experience
• 2001 to present – R.L. Seminars, LLC, IICRC-Approved Rug Cleaning and Color Repair Instructor; carpet inspector and industry consultant; creator of rug ID Flash Cards
• 2008 to present – Director of WoolSafe North America
• 2009 to 2012 – Rug Care Consultant and sales for ProCare of Nashville
• 2011 to 2018 – Carpet, Rug and Fabric Care Consultant and sales for Chase Carpet and Rug Care, Denver, CO
• 2000 to 2003 – Chemical Technologies International Instructor and Account Manager
• 1988 to 2001 – Owner of Interior Care, Inc., – A carpet, upholstery, rug and drapery cleaning and fabric protection service.
• 1995 to 1999 – Owner of The Rug Exchange and Gallery, Inc. – A retail rug store.
• 1987 to 1988 – Interior Design Consultant for T.H. Payne – Office Furniture sales and design consultant.
• 1985 to 1987 – Manager of FiberSeal office in Chattanooga, TN
• 1974 to 1985 – Stay at home mother and community volunteer
Education
Bachelor of Science – The University of Tennessee, 1972
Major – Textiles, Minor – Business
IICRC Certifications
• Senior Carpet Inspector
• Carpet Cleaning Technician
• Commercial Carpet Cleaning Technician
• Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technician
• Repair and Re-installation Technician
• Color Repair Technician
• Odor Control Technician
• Floor Care Technician
• Water Damage Restoration Technician
• Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician
• Master Textile Cleaner
• Master Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician
• Journeyman Water Damage Restoration Technician
• Applied Structural Drying Technician
• Health and Safety Technician
Association of Rug Care Specialists
• Certified Rug Care Specialist
Additional Training
• Master Rug Cleaner
• PRISM, Dyco and Flying Colors Side Match Color Correction
• Mannington Vinyl Flooring Claims Adjuster
• Pergo Laminate Flooring Inspector
• Universal, Award, Pickering and Formica Flooring Inspector
• Indoor Air Quality – Clean Care Seminars
• Hardwood Floor Refinishing
• Master Blend Oriental Rug Cleaning
• Leather Master – Leather Cleaning and Repair
• Advanced Flooring Specialists-Commercial Carpet Inspection
• Advanced Flooring Specialists-Laminate Flooring Inspection
• Mold Remediation Technician – Restoration Consultants
• Emergency Structural Drying – East Tennessee Restoration
Volunteer Experience
Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification Organization (www.iicrc.org)
• Chairman/President – 2006-2008
• IICRC Board Member or Committee Chairman from 1993 to 2008
• Vice-Chairman
• Secretary
• Marketing Chairman
• Long Range Planning Chairman
• Color Repair TAC Chairman
• Paid President’s Task Force
• S100 Carpet Cleaning Standard Editing Committee
• S300 Upholstery Cleaning Standard Editing Committee
• S500 Water Damage Restoration Standard Committee
• S520 Mold Remediation Standard Committee
• Rug Cleaning Technician Committee Vice Chair
Carpet and Rug Institute
• CRI 104 Revision Committee
• CRI-Seal of Approval Committee
• CRI Cleaning and Maintenance IMT
Society of Cleaning and Restoration Technicians (www.scrt.org)
• Board member – 1991 to 2008
• President – 2002 to 2006
• President – 1994 to 1996
• Membership Chairman
• Convention Chairman
Professional Association of Cleaning and Restoration
• Board member 2012
Published Articles (Monthly Columns)
CleanFax Magazine (www.cleanfax.com) – “RugLady Report”
• “Color Correction”
• “Controlling Mold”
• “Reappearing Spots”
• “New Carpet and IEQ Concerns”
ICS Magazine (www.icsmag.com) – “The Inspector Knows”
• “Background Checks for Employees”
• “Naming Your Business”
• “Professional Appearance”
• “How and Where to Find Good Employees”
• “The Importance of Documentation”
• “Inspection Misimpressions”
• “Color Correction”
• “Dyeing to Make More Money”
• “Rug Discolorations from Urine and Mold”
• “Colorfastness Testing”
• “Buffering Blame”
Professional Presentations made in the U.S., Australia, Japan and England include:
• “Add-On Sales”
• “Carpet Spot Dyeing”
• “Carpet Color Corrections”
• “Commercial Upholstery Cleaning”
• “Desktop Publishing”
• “Guaranteed Pet Odor Removal”
• “Specialty Spot and Stain Removal”
• “Introduction to Rug Identification”
• “IICRC Marketing”
