Advisors to Leadership in Furtherance of INDEX’s Mission

The Operational Board of the Indoor Exposure Index (INDEX) serves as a trusted advisory body to the organization’s leadership. Composed of experienced professionals and subject matter experts, the Board is committed to advancing INDEX’s mission: safeguarding human health and safety through applied science and specialized training focused on indoor exposure risks.

Our Role

As advisors, the Operational Board provides strategic guidance, shares best practices, and recommends innovative approaches to developing and applying indoor exposure indices. The Board collaborates closely with INDEX leadership to ensure that all initiatives align with the highest standards of scientific rigor, ethical responsibility, and public benefit.

Supporting INDEX’s Mission

INDEX is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing applied science and training in indoor exposure assessment. Our work centers on creating, validating, and deploying indices that address key exposure concerns in indoor environments. These indices include:

Bioload Exposure Metric Index (BEMI): Quantifying biological contaminants to support safer spaces.
IAQ Exposure Index: Assessing indoor air quality to protect occupant health.
Surface Pathogen Exposure Index: Evaluating surface cleanliness and pathogen risks.
Coefficient of Friction Exposure Index: Measuring slip risks to reduce injury potential.
Other Emerging Indices: Identifying and addressing evolving indoor exposure challenges.

Board Responsibilities

Offer expert advice on scientific methods, data interpretation, and training programs.
Assist in the design and evaluation of new and existing exposure indices.
Promote interdisciplinary collaboration to strengthen INDEX’s impact.
Uphold the principles of transparency, integrity, and evidence-based practice.

Commitment to Public Health

Guided by a shared commitment to public health, the Operational Board helps ensure that INDEX’s research and training efforts remain at the forefront of protecting individuals and communities from indoor exposure hazards. Through ongoing dialogue and strategic oversight, the Board empowers INDEX to fulfill its vision of safer, healthier indoor environments for all.

Ken Wertz

Ken Wertz is the Executive Director of the National School Plant Management Association (NSPMA), a national nonprofit association dedicated to advancing the professionalism, education, and advocacy of public-school facilities leaders across the United States. Before taking on this national role, he served for eight years as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Facilities Administrators Association (MFAA), where he built strong partnerships and elevated statewide support for school facility professionals.

Prior to entering nonprofit leadership, Ken worked in both the public and private sectors in construction and maintenance roles, holding licenses as a plumber and builder in Massachusetts. The majority of his public service was spent as Director of Maintenance and Operations for Sharon Public Schools (MA), a position he held for over 18 years.

Ken currently contributes to national initiatives promoting healthy and sustainable learning environments through advisory roles with CAUSE, the U.S. Green Building Council’s EPA-funded grant program, and the HEAL initiative through the Rhode Island Department of Education.

A nationally recognized speaker, he has delivered hundreds of presentations at school administrative conferences across the country.

Jason Marshall

Dr. Jason Marshall is the Laboratory Director at UMass Lowell’s Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI).

He oversees lab services and helps companies, communities and citizens evaluate the performance of cleaning chemistries and equipment.

Recent projects include: the promotion of safer ingredients in cleaning products, recognized by EPA’s Safer Detergent Stewardship Initiative at the Champion Level; establishing a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) cleaning performance evaluation program for DIY household cleaners; evaluation of biobased products for janitorial use in a hospital setting; promoting alternatives to trichloroethylene for business in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Jason has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, Master’s of Science in Environmental Studies, and Doctorate of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.