The five leading trade organizations serving professionals in the indoor environmental quality industry have announced their respective boards approval for the consolidation and unification of their programs and activities. The move is a milestone for the industry because it will result in the creation of the largest, oldest and most powerful, membership organization of its type, with more than 6,500 constituents, representing the entire IAQ and environmental field.
The five leading trade organizations serving professionals in the indoor environmental quality industry have announced their respective boards approval for the consolidation and unification of their programs and activities. The move is a milestone for the industry because it will result in the creation of the largest, oldest and most powerful, membership organization of its type, with more than 6,500 constituents, representing the entire IAQ and environmental field.
Proposals, signed separately by the directors of all organizations, agreed to align their specialized programs, memberships and activities of the five organizations. The Environmental Education Foundation (EEF) will act as the umbrella organization in which all other organizations will merge. Already merged into the EEF, the International Association of Mold Remediation Specialists (IAMRS) Past President, Mr. Bob Allen, applauds the boards’ unanimous decision to merge with the EEF as “a major step forward in the servicing and recognition for our members”. Mr. Allen continued, “This merger was a natural fit as the EEF is recognized globally as the leader in Indoor Air Quality and Mold related issues and now with the addition of the largest and most acclaimed membership in mold remediation, our combined strength and knowledge base is second to none.”
Also merged into the EEF this year was the Texas Association for Indoor Air Quality (TAIAQ). Past President of TAIAQ and existing EEF member, Mr. Greg Becker, RIAQM of Becker Engineering, also applauds the organizations decision to merge with the EEF as “a major step forward in the servicing and recognition for our members”. Mr. Becker continued, “This merger was a natural fit for all groups, it will benefit all members and the industry alike.".
The two newest additions to the merger are the International Association of Mold Management (IAMM) and the National Indoor Air Quality Institute (NIAQI). Both organizations, leaders in their fields with growing memberships, will provide an added depth of knowledge to EEFs existing membership.
NIAQI’s founder and CEO, Thomas Clay stated, “The merger with the EEF and the other organizations is a positive collaboration on various levels. We have researched and studied the offerings of all the various IAQ organizations around the world and the EEF clearly stood out as the world leader with a 17-year dedication to environmental issues. However, the most important factor is that the EEF promotes environmentally friendly solutions, which fits well with our non-chemical, ‘whole systems’ inspection and remediation protocols”.
Outgoing Executive Director of IAMM and current EEF member, Mr. David A. Gilbert, RCMM, REEW, RMI of Orange Coast Inspection, describes the organizations decision to merge with the EEF as “the most legitimate solution for IAMM given the EEFs global recognition as the leader in Indoor Air Quality and Mold related fields and the fact EEF is not beholding to any private training providers or labs. The other IAQ / Mold associations that we considered merging with were more concerned with generating business for the labs or training companies who stared them. With the addition of the largest and most acclaimed membership of mold management professionals, the IAMRS, NIAQI and TAIAQ -- our combined strength and knowledge base is second to none.”
“Unlike the unification of some of the other trade organizations in the IAQ field, who found a need to unite to survive as their membership numbers drop, all of our organizations have been experiencing a rising membership and it only made sense to join forces with the EEF who also has been experiencing tremendous growth” said NIAQI President Thomas Clay.
Concurrent with this merger announcement, the EEF is announcing the release of a New IAQ Training Program. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a contract to the Environmental Education Foundation (EEF) to form a coalition of major players in the building design/construction and property management industry, including insurance and financial institutions. The purpose of the contract was to promote EPA's indoor air quality guidance and encourage its use as the basis for managing indoor environmental quality risks.
EEF is proud to announce the completion of the first revision and the availability of the related training program. Building on the success of their existing IAQ/Water Intrusion and Mold Management program, the EEF has integrated EPA's IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM) software into the new program.
“The EEF is truly a group of inclusion. With the addition of these prestigious associations into the EEF and our roll out of the New IAQ program -- 2005 has been a great year for us,” said Troy Johnson, Executive Director of the EEF. “For the last 17 years, the EEF has built a reputation as a leader in the environmental field, not by trying to tear down other groups, but by building an organization where all members are welcome and focusing on all the positive work we do. We will be announcing several other industry changing events in the coming months and look forward to welcoming all our new members personally at one of our upcoming tradeshows.”
About Environmental Educational Foundation
The Environmental Education Foundation (EEF) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the development and dissemination of information regarding hazards to human health and threats to the environment with particular emphasis on hazards or threats which are associated with occupying, purchasing, selling or owning residential, commercial or industrial property; testing methodologies and procedures to detect such hazards and threats; and programs and measures which mitigate or eliminate such hazards
or threats.
Contact: www.enviro-ed.org ; Phone: 480-659-9356
Troy E. Johnson
Executive Director
Media Contact: Troy Johnson
Ph: 480-659-9356
