IAQ Radio

Kevin Kennedy, MPH, CIEC - The Healthy Homes Initiative: Where has it been? Where is it going?

Kevin Kennedy has over 30 years’ experience as an environmental health scientist, including 21 years’ working at Children’s Mercy Kansas City (CMKC), where he retired in 2023. At CMKC he led the establishment of the Environmental Health Program (EHP). The program has assessed thousands of homes and schools, providing patient families, childcares, and schools with resources to assist them in identifying and reducing indoor environmental exposures that may result in health problems for children.
During his time there, the program received over $7 million in program and research grants and won three national awards, including the HUD Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes. Grant funding also supported a variety of research projects focusing on indoor environmental health issues, environmental allergens, home environmental interventions, exposure assessment, and more recently on geospatial analysis of health disparities and social determinants of health. Kevin is a co-author on more than 30 academic research publications and the primary author of the Building Performance Institute’s Healthy Housing Principles Reference Guide. He teaches professional courses in environmental health assessment and investigations, environmental measurement and sampling, building science, and healthy homes.
Mr. Kennedy is a Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant and previously worked as an environmental analytical chemist, research scientist in extractive metallurgy, and in a previous life, was a historic home restoration carpenter and woodworker. Over his 20+ years advocating for children’s health he has served on many national and local coalitions and committees advocating for the environment, better housing, climate change action, and understanding the community factors that have led to health disparities affecting children in the Kansas City region and across the US.

Joe Spurgeon, PhD - Write a Mold Assessment Report, Not a Data Report

Good Day and welcome to IAQ Radio+ episode 737. This week we welcome Joe Spurgeon, PhD. If you ever write a mold report and it goes to court Dr. Joe Spurgeon could well be the expertonmold.com that reviews your report. Dr. Joe has retired his CIH and does not get out in the field much these days but he still reviews reports and testifies in mold related case s on a regular basis.
This week he has volunteered to tell us what makes a quality report and how to write a mold assessment report and not a data report. If you don’t know the difference this is the show for you. In addition to the presentation he put together for us this week Dr. Spurgeon has put up a special free link https://expertonmold.com/product/iaq-radio-presentation-free-digital-download/ with his IAQ Radio presentation plus 38 new slides, copies of field sheets, "Notes on Writing a Mold Report", an example mold report and a mold site inspection list.
You can also order any of Dr. Spurgeon's books from his website expertonmold.com.
Another great show for continuing education credits learn more here https://www.iaqradio.com/ce-credits/
Joe Spurgeon, PHD, has a multidisciplinary doctorate degree in Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Health from the University of Pittsburgh; and was a Certified Industrial Hygienist from 1993 – 2013. His career has included working as a research chemist on the NBS Lead-Paint Poisoning Program, directing the FAA’s Combustion Toxicology Laboratory, performing Health Assessments for CDC/ATSDR, implementing US EPA’s Laboratory Exposure Assessment Project, and working as a consultant specializing in microbial indoor air quality for US PHS. He has performed numerous residential and commercial investigations involving water intrusions and microbial contaminants; has taught courses on mold investigations, sampling, and data interpretation methods; and has served as an expert witness in numerous mold cases. His books are available at http://expertonmold.com/

Tess Eidem, PhD - IEQ, Bioaerosols and Worker Health in Cannabis Manufacturing

Dr. Tess Eidem a practitioner and researcher working with the cannabis industry. She is interested in IEQ issues from a very broad perspective such as relative humidity and ventilation to very specific topics such as Bioaerosol exposures when cultivating cannabis. This week we will explore cannabis production, the worker health issues it poses and how we can learn from this new and quickly expanding area. Her most recent paper with Tara Nordgren and Mark Hernandez is on Bioaerosol Exposures and Respiratory Diseases in Cannabis Workers. 
Tess Eidem’s doctoral research focused on developing novel antibiotics against bacterial pathogens, and her scientific career has centered on bringing modern microbiology and RNA biology practices to promote human health. Leveraging her scientific expertise, Dr. Eidem transitioned into the cannabis industry where she spent four years working directly in cannabis production and quality management. This unique experience allowed her to combine her hands-on skills in manufacturing with microbiology and product safety as a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) to help cannabis cultivators minimize potential hazards within their facilities and in their products.
Having witnessed firsthand the challenges of microbial contamination in the cannabis industry, Dr. Eidem returned to the University of Colorado Boulder, where she currently works as a Senior Research Scientist in the Aerobiology and Disinfection Laboratory, with a focus on practical building science. Her research investigates bioaerosol persistence associated with cannabis environments, including airborne molds, allergens, and pathogens. She is driven to connect unbiased scientific research with environmental engineering principles and applying them to the cannabis space to improve worker well-being, plant health, and consumer safety.

Don Weekes, CIH, CSP, FAIHA - Bioaerosol Sampling Plans, Indoor Air 2024, ASHRAE/AIHA MOU

Good Day and welcome to IAQ Radio+ episode 735 this week for our last show prior to our summer break we welcomed long time friend of the show and frequent guest Don Weekes. Don will be talking about his chapter in the ACGIH Bioaerosols 2nd Edition on Developing a Bioaerosols Sampling Plans plus highlights from Indoor Air 2024, the ASHRAE/AIHA MOU and the Global IEQ Alliance. LEARN MORE this week on IAQ Radio+.
Mr. Weekes has over forty-eight (48) years of comprehensive consultation expertise and project experience in the implementation and management of inspections for hazardous materials in numerous buildings throughout Canada and the United States including universities, colleges, governmental offices, and commercial and residential buildings. During the course of Mr. Weekes’ career, he has served in numerous senior management positions in both the consulting and insurance industries.
As a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Mr. Weekes has served as an environmental health and safety professional for various international corporations. His extensive capabilities in health and safety audits have enabled him to work in facilities involved with manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics.

"Whatley" - Fostering a Collaborative Environment between Restoration Contractors and Insurance Carriers

Mark Whatley is an influential voice in the property restoration and insurance technology sectors. He co-founded Sureti, a company that provides third-party fund control services aimed at accelerating property claims payments, ensuring faster and more efficient resolution for restoration contractors and insurance carriers.
Whatley is also the founder and board president for Actionable Insights (AI), a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the property restoration industry by clarifying billing standards and training on modern claims settlement tools. AI focuses on fostering a collaborative environment between restoration contractors and insurance carriers, ensuring industry wide best practices are maintained.
In addition to his entrepreneurial adventures, Whatley has served in various leadership roles, including Senior Vice-President of Claims Operations for CORE Group, where he contributed to the development of advanced claims settlement processes using 3D technology.
With over a decade of experience in the restoration industry, Whatley is recognized as a thought leader and innovator. He holds certifications as an Xactimate and Matterport trainer and is a licensed general contractor, bringing practical experience to his leadership roles.

David Krause, PhD, MSPH, CIH, FAIHA - Remediation of Microbial Contamination & Legionella

This week we welcomed Dr. David Krause for a discussion on remediation of microbial contamination and Legionella. We have wanted to get Dr. Krause on the show for a long time now and the stars have lined up.
Dr. David Krause is the founder of Healthcare Consulting and Contracting (HC3). He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist and Toxicologist, with 30 years of experience in public health, occupational hazard assessments, and indoor air quality. David received his Doctorate in Environmental and Occupational Health and Master of Science in Public Health Toxicology from the University of South Florida, College of Public Health in Tampa, FL. He is a nationally recognized expert in risk assessment, workplace exposures to pathogens and hazardous chemicals, health care facilities, Legionnaires’ disease, combustion products, flame retardants, indoor air quality, and mold. From 2008 to 2011 Dr. Krause served as the State Toxicologist for the Florida Department of Health.
During his tenure as State Toxicologist Dr. Krause led state-wide investigations into the potential health effects of corrosive emissions from Chinese Drywall, sources of carcinogens in the Acreages Pediatric Cancer Cluster, and human health risks throughout the Deep Water Horizon oil spill response. Dr. Krause reviewed and approved all of the state’s ATSDR program health hazard evaluations and fish and seafood consumption advisories. Florida’s fish and seafood consumption advisories considered human health risks due to mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Developing health advisory levels for chemicals in drinking water and human health screening levels for petroleum products and PAHs in coastal waters and beach sediments were among the responsibilities of Dr. Krause while serving as the State Toxicologist.
In 2009 he co-authored the Guidelines for the Surveillance, Investigation, and Control of Legionnaires’ Disease in Florida. As a volunteer for the American Industrial Hygiene Association Dr. Krause co-authored and edited the AIHA Guideline for the Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Legionella in Building Water Systems, in 2015 and the 2nd edition in 2022.
David is a member of the ACGIH Bioaerosols Committee and was a contributing author for the ACGIH 2021 White Paper on Engineering Controls for Bioaerosols in Non-Industrial/Non-Healthcare Settings. Dr. Krause is past chair of the AIHA Indoor Environmental Quality Committee and coordinated AIHA’s efforts to develop guidance on reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the workplace through engineering controls and effective cleaning & disinfection.

Seth Harrison - Executive Director Actionable Insights - Scoping with Accuracy: The Actionable Profile

This week we welcomed Seth Harrison the Executive Director of Actionable Insights for a discussion on scoping and billing restoration projects. Actionable has built a product that helps ensure restoration contractors get all the money they deserve. Don’t leave money on the table! LEARN MORE on IAQ Radio+.
After learning the ins and outs of claims settlement as a project manager/program estimator, Harrison joined Actionable Insights in 2017 to co-author a 3000+ page book of Xactimate invoicing templates. As an Xactimate Certified Trainer and Matterport Certified Trainer, Harrison has traveled the country to help estimators and adjusters adopt remote/centralized job processes to improve industry efficiency and reduce claims friction. With our newest and most impactful resource yet, the Actionable Xactimate Profile which provides live estimating guidance while you work, Harrison works to ensure all property insurance professionals have access to the resources and tools that will help them love what they do.

J. David Miller, PhD - Bioaerosols, Health Effects, Secondary Metabolites, Endotoxins, & More

Prof. J. David Miller has focused his research on mycotoxins and damp buildings and health for the last 40 years first at Agriculture Canada and then at Carleton University in Ottawa.
Dr. Miller has published over 370 papers on fungi and fungal toxins and has co-written 10 books on the public health aspects of exposures to fungi and fungal toxins, and has several patents. Miller has served on many national and international committees on the regulation of mycotoxins as well as on mold and dampness in the built environment. This includes on the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology committee that produced practice parameters for environmental allergens. He was chief editor of the American Industrial Hygiene Association “Green Book” (2008, 2020) and “Field Guide” (1996, 2005) that lay out guidelines for addressing mold and dampness in public buildings. He drafted several chapters of the recent ACGIH Bioaerosols guidelines, second edition.
In 2013, Miller was elected as a Fellow of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. In 2021, he received the inaugural Philip R. Morey award from the ACGIH for contributions to bioaerosol guidance.

Mark Springer, CEPA, CR - The Life and Times of Mark Springer; Restorations Renaissance Man

Mark Springer is a highly regarded and experienced President/CEO skilled in successfully expanding a multi-location residential and commercial services company across a broad geographical region. Mark has a demonstrated ability to drive market-leading performance, dynamic growth, and profitability. He grew his company from 1 to 7 profitable locations through several acquisitions and greenfield growth. He led the acquisition of the company by private equity in 2020, positioning it as the platform company for FLEET Response, which surged from $20mm to over $150mm in less than 18 months.
Mark is renowned for exceptional leadership capabilities, adept strategic planning, and consistently delivering outstanding results through the oversight and guidance of high-performing teams. He is recognized as President of a prestigious international organization in the property restoration industry, further validating leadership skills. Mark authored the influential publication "Our Greatest Need," which served as a catalyst for industry-wide transformation within the Global Property Restoration Industry. Mark has been a central force in driving greater cohesion and collaboration across this challenging industry.
Mark lives in Bozeman, Montana with his wife of 25 years, Angie. He is a proud father of 5 daughters and one granddaughter, and he is an active community member

Tony Havics, Cheri Marcham, Jack Springston - ACGIH Bioaerosols Assessment and Control, 2nd edition; It's Here!

Mr. Havics is an Honors graduate from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), and a registered Professional Engineer (PE) with over 35 years of experience in environmental, health and safety, building science, and materials science consulting. He is a limited lecturer at Purdue University.  He was formerly adjunct faculty at for both IU School of Medicine and IUPUI...
Dr. Cheri Marcham is an Associate Professor and Program Chair for the Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management degree program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is a CIH, CSP, a CHMM, and a Fellow of AIHA. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Arizona State University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Department of Occupational and Environmental Health...
Jack Springston has over 36 years’ experience in industrial hygiene and occupational health. He has been a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) since 1993, and is one of less than 50 active CIHs who also hold a sub-specialty certificate in Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). He has also been a Certified Safety Professional since 1999. Jack currently is a technical consultant and subject matter expert for Atlas Technical Consultants in New York City and Long Island...