The International Area Rug Show

AmericasMart                          Atlanta, GA

ORRA Educational Events and CRA Exam Schedule for July 13-16, 2008

Contact  ORRA  at 804-270-3195 or orraarnold@verizon.net to register for events or for more information.

www.orrainc.com 

Sunday July 13, 2008

11. a.m. - Partnerships for Profit: Thriving in a Tough Economy

Presenters: Steve Boodakian  and Sy Mahfuz

This AMU seminar is for rug retailers and professional designers who want to separate themselves from the competition and grow their business in this challenging economic environment. MERA Consulting will show you the best way to establish and maintain strong dealer/designer partnerships that will lead to lifelong client relationships and make you both more money. Building 1, Room 4-B-1

Sy Mahfuz is a principal of MERA Consulting Group and owner of Persian Rug Galleries in Nashua, NH. He has been selling, appraising, cleaning and repairing Oriental rugs for more than 40 years. Sy has achieved enormous recognition as one of the nation’s foremost authorities on Oriental rugs. He is a Certified Rug Appraiser (CRA); a past trustee of the Oriental Rug Retailers of America (ORRA); and in 1999, Sy was named National Oriental Rug Retailer of the Year. That same year, Persian Rug Galleries was named Retailer of the Year by the NH Chamber of Commerce Executives.

 Steve Boodakian is a principal of MERA Consulting Group and president of Koko Boodakian and Sons Rugs of Winchester, MA. Steve is a Certified Rug Appraiser (CRA); a past member of the Luxury Marketing Council; a founding member of the New England Antique Rug Collectors; a past trustee of both the Oriental Rug Retailers of America (ORRA) and the Oriental Rug Dealers of Massachusetts; and was voted the National Oriental Rug Retailer of the Year in 2000. During more than 30 years as a guest lecturer and industry spokesman, Steve has consulted to numerous industry partners; and delivered talks to audiences at the Oriental Rug Retailers of America (ORRA) annual conferences; the University of Delaware Symposium on Islamic Art; the New England Interior Design Show, and other industry gatherings.

3:00 p.m. – “Walk the Market with Phil “ led by Phil Menendian, CRA

Take a guided tour through some of the market’s showrooms led by ORRA’s Education Chairman, Phil Menendian. This is a fun and informative tour that presents a great opportunity to learn about new innovations in today’s market!

Building 1, meet in front of room 4-B-1 for the tour.

Monday July 14, 2008

9:00 - 10:00 a.m. “Green Rugs: The Latest Environment Friendly Weaving of Qashqai Ladies”.  Presented by Dr. Khosrow Sobhe, MBA; Ph. D in Educational Planning from USC. A lecture and exclusive video presentation of Qashqai rug weaving. Building 1, Room 4-B-1

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe is an educator, lecturer and producer of award winning Iranian carpets. Founder and CEO of RugIdea.com and is a member of the board of the Iranian Carpet Exporter’s Association and Textile Museum Associates of Southern California. He is also Editor in Chief of Iranian Hand Woven Quarterly. He has written numerous articles in Farsi and English on Persian carpets.

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - “Structures of Hand-woven Piled Oriental Rugs” Presented by Val Arbab.  An in depth, hands on study of Oriental rug construction including; materials & their structures; types of weaves; dyes & chemical treatments; designs & shapes; dating; and piled rugs construction (13 characteristics). A valuable course for Oriental rug dealers or enthusiasts and for those studying to become a Certified Oriental rug appraiser!  Building 1, Room 4-B-1

1. Please be prepared to participate fully, both with your mind and your hands!

2. You may bring one piled mystery rug for identification.

3. Dress comfortably.

Val Arbab is an educator and appraiser who has been a student and teacher in the field of Oriental rugs and textiles for the past thirty seven years. She developed an Oriental rugs appraisal course for Indiana University. She holds a senior designation with the American Society of Appraisers; a Certified Appraiser designation with the International Society of Appraisers and is a Certified Rug Appraiser with ORRA and is established as an expert witness in both the Federal and Municipal courts; an arbitrator; consultant to the U.S. Government, insurance and moving industries, attorney’s, other appraisers and the general public.

12:00 noon - Lunch Break

1:30 p.m. - Certified Rug Appraisal Exam – Open to ORRA members only. This certification is generally accepted by the U.S. banking and court systems as well as the U.S. Customs Dept; the I.R.S. and major insurance companies. You will be tested on historical and technical knowledge of hand knotted rugs as well as proper identification of rugs on site. Building 1, Room 4-B-1. To register for the exam

on line www.orrainc.com or for more information contact ORRA at orraarnold@verizon.net or

call 804-270-3195.

1: 30 p.m. – Tips on Proper Rug Appraisal Techniques - Presented by Phil Menendian.

Building 1, 4^th Fl., room 4-B-1 Philip Menendian is owner of the Oriental rug store, K.A. Menendian. The store was founded in 1909 in Columbus, Ohio by Phil’s grandfather, Keteon Ares Menendian. It is one of a handful of continuously family owned and operated Oriental rug firms in the U.S. Phil’s father Raymond Menendian was one of the nine founding members of ORRA. Phil is a third generation rug retailer who started working for his father in 1971 after he graduated with a B.A. in History from Ohio State University. He was elected to the ORRA Board in 1985 and passed the Certified Rug Appraisers exam the same year. Overtime, Phil has been instrumental in developing the CRA program and serves as the Education Chairman and Secretary for ORRA, now as well as in past years. K.A. Menendian Rugs is a full service Oriental rug store that not only sells rugs but offers rug appraisals, cleaning and rug repair/restoration as well. Phil has spent countless hours contributing to the CRA examination program. He is responsible for teaching seminars, administering the exam and personally selects the rugs used in the identification portion of the exam. Phil has just recently updated the CRA Appraisal Guide Book to conform to today’s standards.

2:00 p.m. - Certified Rug Appraiser’s Exam – administered by Phil Menendian, CRA, ORRA’s Education Chairman and owner of K. A. Menendian Rugs in Columbus, Ohio. To register contact ORRA, Inc. , ph: 804-270-3195 on line at www.orrainc.com or e-mail, orraarnold@verizon.net

4:00 p.m. – Oriental Rug Review- Discussion and examination of oriental rugs for current  ORRA Certified Rug Appraisers  only. This is for CRA Re-Certification.