Five Questions with John Rybski

By:
C&R Editor
on Thu, 10/26/2017
  1. What drew you to the restoration industry?

    I was drawn to the restoration industry by my high school woodshop teacher, Mr. Jerry Toler. He was the type of mentor who inspired people to do their best and enjoy what they do. Upon graduating high school, I started my own furniture refinishing and antique restoration business. Soon after, I began subcontracting for Quality Awning and Construction (formally INRECON and now BELFOR) where I met the Fentons and Yellens, who continued to encourage me to develop skills and expand my horizons. In the early 90s, I participated in the Certified Restorer program under the direction of Marty King and learned an advanced level of structural and content restoration. Using my newly acquired knowledge to help people restore their property and rebuild their lives after a disaster was very gratifying. I knew this was the industry that would continually challenge me throughout my career.
     
  2. As the former chair of the CR Redevelopment Committee and Restoration Council, what key initiatives are you most proud of and why?

    I am most proud of the work the CR Redevelopment Committee did to bring the Certified Restorer (CR) program into the 21st century. It was especially rewarding for the entire group to be able to retrace the footsteps of our mentor Marty King as we worked toward strengthening the CR curriculum. What we found most amazing was much of the curriculum Marty wrote so precisely, and with such detail, on his own, decades earlier was still accurate and usable training material today. It was especially gratifying for the group to present a final draft of the new CR curriculum to Marty. We were all very proud when he gave his approval.
     
  3. Looking ahead, how do you see the industry evolving?

    I see the industry evolving and becoming much more detailed and scientific. Years ago, you could agree in concept and with a handshake start a job. Today, everything needs to be processed in a very systematic and well-documented way. Relationships between adjusters and contractors are becoming a thing of the past as the third-party administrators become more involved in claims processing. In general, the maturation of the industry has been significant, and as a result caused us all to become more professional and detail oriented.
     
  4. What is the greatest challenge facing restoration professionals today?

    I believe the greatest challenge facing restoration professionals today is time management. With the advancement of technology, more and more requirements are placed upon them to document the job electronically. Much like the medical profession, we are no longer able to spend the time with our clients, rather we need to be in front of our computer. It becomes a delicate balance to document the file while satisfying the needs of the policy holder.
     
  5. What is your number one piece of advice for young restorers just entering the industry?

    My greatest piece of advice for young restorers entering the industry is to learn all you can about the restoration industry. Participate in the Certified Restorer program and gain as much technical experience as you can working in the field. Your knowledge and professionalism will carry you well into the future where you can become leaders of our industry.