Jay Stake – IAQA President – A New Chapter in the IAQA Story; After ASHRAE & Hurricane Florence Update

Air Date: 10-5-2018|Episode 519

Jay Stake is the new Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) President for 2018-19. He is also the owner of J&J Consultants a total indoor air quality assessment company and President of Structural Sciences, Inc. Structural Sciences provides indoor air quality consulting services to the relocation industry throughout North America. Mr. Stake uses a network of 269 inspectors to assist with the relocation of clients in the network. The majority of the inspectors in his network are IAQA members. He has been a member of the IAQA Board of Directors for 3 years and prior served as Vice Chair of the IESO before it became inactive under the ASHRAE umbrella.



Mr. Stake is going to give us the scoop on the upcoming transition of IAQA away from ASHRAE and to the new management company Association Headquarters (AH) of Mount Laurel, NJ. Jay believes that IAQA has to be very open with its membership and do a better job of keeping them informed about plans for the future. He joins us today to tell listeners about the next chapter in the IAQA story.

Z-Man’s Blog:

There’s much at Stake

Jay Stake is the new IAQA president for 2018-2019. He is the owner of J&J consultants an indoor air quality assessment firm and Structural Sciences, Inc., which provides IAQ consulting services to the relocation industry throughout north America.

Nuggets mined from today’s episode:

After becoming a licensed home inspector, Jay Stake’s interest in IEQ piqued with mold

He is a 20 year member of IAQA

What ever happened to the old management company and executive director? Those interested in the details can search Montgomery County Circuit Court in Maryland for documents related to Glenn Fellman.

ASHRAE is a society. [Wikipedia-A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) seeks to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession and the public interest.]

IAQA is a trade association. [Wikipedia-A trade association, also known as an industry tradegroup, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry. Many associations are non-profit organizations governed by bylaws and directed by officers who are also members.]

IAQA’s merger with ASHRAE provided the potential of promising opportunities.

IAQA joined ASHRAE as a separate entity.

ASHRAE took over the management responsibilities for IAQA through the bylaws not by a written contract. The standards writing group IESO was also rolled into the merger with ASHRAE. ASHRAE then controlled IAQA’s destiny.

ASHRAE, while large, successful and self-managed, ASHRAE wasn’t experienced or skilled in association management. Without the right people in the right places to support IAQA and its members;IAQA experienced a decline in membership and revenue under the ASHRAE umbrella.

ASHRAE has been willing and cooperative allowing IAQA out of the merger. Three person ad hoc committees for each group are working on the dynamics.

ASHRAE had previously entered into an agreement with AHR to run the annual tradeshow, a mega event from which ASHRAE receives a percentage of revenue. Booth space was limited to only certain types of exhibitors, was very costly, resulting in the IAQA pavilion was lost in the crowd. IAQA also lacked the freedom to exchange event booth space with other groups. IAQA is committed to co-location in 2019. The IAQA conference committee will meet soon with AH to plan their freestanding 2020 event.

IAQA decided to seek and obtain a suitable management organization. IAQA decided to retain Association Headquarters akaAH [Mt. Laurel, NJ}. Effective Nov. 1, management will be switched to AH.

AH is the 6th largest company of its type in the world.

The compensation arrangement with AH will be a percentage of dues and should show a financial savings, costs with ASHRAE were 72%-80%. AH also runs NADCA.

AH will provide IAQA with an executive director.

According to Jay, to diagnose and repair an electrical problem you need an electrician, not a “Chuck in a truck”. AH is experienced in trade association “turn around”.

Jay is optimistic about IAQA, the best Board of Directors (BOD) ever.

The association still has funds, not as much as in the past.

IAQA is writing a mold assessment standard for schools which has gone through 2 public reviews. IAQA has been working on a fire standard with RIA. Standards can be published prior to achieving ANSI certification.

IAQA was previously known for its education, networking and the annual conference. The board is exploring all options to re-excel in these areas.

The bylaws were changed with the ASHRAE merger, creating some technical difficulties. The bylaws are being changed to improve efficiency and simplicity. Some bylaws are being shifted into policy.

The association elected the board of directors to do the right things. Associations aren’t a democracy where the members vote on everything; it’ssometimes necessary for the board to act quickly.

Jay and the BOD want to do everything right and believe in transparency. They plan to release financials to the members. They solicit member input through phone calls and emails.

The board has fiduciary responsibility and wants to provide a good return on the members’ investment of dues and time.

Board meetings will be open to members. Members who wish to have questions answered will need to send them in writing prior to board meetings.

Board meetings will be held adjacent to annual convention to improve access for interested members.

The board is exploring all options for improving member communications (publications, regional events, etc.)

Members will be given what they need regarding education, certification and standards.

The focus will be on improving the home front first before international expansion.

IAQA chapters will be given the tools they need to grow.

Impact of Hurricane Florence on the Charlotte area

Charlotte floods with 1” of rain. Jay lives 50 miles from Charlotte where the area received 12” of rain, fallen trees due to wet ground,lost power. Heart goes out to people in eastern part of the state. Waters still rising weeks after the hurricane. Volunteer groups such as Baptist Disaster Relief are assisting those in need

 Global Watchdog

Pete Consigli reported after talking with serval RIA members who had responded to HurricaneFlorence. The storm which hovered over the coast caused most of its damage in the Carolinas. Vacant cities and towns subjected to looting such as in Myrtle Beach.

The large restoration firms and national networks had mobilized in biggest cities closest to the damage.

There is more damage in costal and rural areas than in big cities.

Fewer numbers of commercial losses as was the case with hurricane events from the past two years. Many projects pending until financial commitments are established.

Some storm chasing restoration firms, desperate for work have offered to absorb client deductibles and take the risk of accepting whatever compensation can be negotiated with insurance carriers just to get their people and equipment working. This reflects poorly on the restoration industry.

There may be an excess supply of contractors and equipment.

Receding of water takes a long time. Claims may come in months afterward, as was the case with Hurricane Matthew in 2016 which caused severe flooding in North Carolina.

Consigli’s closing comments

The watchdog opined that after 15 years of ANSI standards development and 3rd party certification, how has this often contentious and agenda pushing process benefitted industry stakeholders?  Organizations such as NADCA and ASCR (RIA) have had respected standards and guidelines through a self-imposed rigorous consensus process.  Many industries have alternative 1st or 2nd party certification programs to establish competency requirements and create public confidence.

Perhaps the industry should reconsider its present path in the standards and certification arena as it appears the present models are being used to divide the industry and advance organizational positions and personal gain for those overseeing the process.

Jay’s closing comments:

Allied Industry Partnerswill receive an MOU from IAQA within 1-2 weeks

Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA)

Restoration Industry Association (RIA)

American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)

National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA)

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)

Environmental Information Association (EIA)

National Air Filtration Association (NAFA)

American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA)

Lead and Environmental Hazards Association (LEHA)

IAQA will remain part of the IEQ-Global Alliance.

The ultimate goal is consumer protection and making the industry a better place.

Jay said: “I’m accessible to you. Don’t hesitate contacting me. I promise to return your call. It’s my job and the job of the board to ensure that IAQA members have the answers and info they need.”

Jay Stake’s contact info jnjgivethanks@yahoo.com   704-232-0077

Z-Man signing off

Trivia Question:

What do Hurricanes: Florence 2018, Fred 2015, Emily 2005, Ivan 2004 and Hugo 1989 have in common?

Answer: They are all Cape Verde hurricanes.

Answered by: John Lapotaire