Industrial Resources Incorporated (IRI) was founded by Jay Follman in 1986 when he worked with a retiring Bill Harris to reorganize Industrial Refractory Installations, a company Bill had formed in 1970. Jay Follman began working for Bill sporadically in the mid-seventies on guinite crews, then, after the reorganization, became his business partner. In 1987 Jay bought IRI in full, keeping its ‘IRI’ initials, but rebranded and renamed it as Industrial Resources Incorporated. Under Jay’s leadership the modern IRI changed its focus from refractory work to mechanical and welding projects in mills, refineries and on marine vessels.