About

My Story

Hi, I'm Jessica McQuade. Originally hailing from Connecticut, I currently live in Colorado by way of stints in Texas, Utah and France. After completing a degree in Psychology with a specialization in Mental Health and a fulfilling 18-year career in Human Resources, I got lost for a few years fighting for my life against a mystery illness that turned out to be the infamous Mold/Lyme & Co-infections combo.

I'm now fully focused on helping others navigate this often treacherous journey.

My mold journey began in 2015 in Paris, but I didn't actually figure that out until 2021 in Colorado. With a list of 30+ symptoms of mystery illness, I lay in my bed thinking "this is it, I can feel myself dying". That was when we found it: toxic mold in our home. The period that followed was a dark one, to say the least.

Today, I am determined to provide for other people the thing I needed most when I was at my worst: support, guidance and credible information delivered however you need it to make it digestible, useful and actionable.

In addition to my work as Mold Mentor, I also serve my local hypersensitive community in the greater Denver/Boulder, Colorado area as a Residential Mold Inspector: MoldEase LLC .

How can I help you navigate your mold journey?

My Qualifications

Professional Certifications

- ACAC Council-certified Structural Mold Investigator (CSMI)

- IICRC Certified Water Restoration Technician (WRT)

- IICRC Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT)

- NORMI Certified Mold Assessor (CMA)

- NORMI Certified Mold Remediator (CMR)

- NORMI Certified Remediator for Sensitized Individuals (NCRSI)

- NORMI Certified Microbial Professional (NCMP)

- PMII Certified Residential Mold Inspector (CRMI)

- MICRO Certified Mold Inspector (CMI)

Professional Training

- IICRC Contents Processing (CPT)

- IICRC House Cleaning Technician (HCT)

- McCrone Research Institute: "Indoor Air Quality: Fungal Spore Identification"

- NORMI Mold Assessment Report Writing

- We Inspect: "Mold Finders Method" (Mold Inspection training)

- We Inspect "Mold Masterclass"

- Dr. Jill Crista's "Mold Training Course for Medical Practitioners"

- NORMI Intro to Assessor/Remediator Training

- NORMI Assessor Best Practices

- NORMI IAQ Basics 101

- Dwell Well (Cheryl Ciecko) Mold Expert Masterclass in progress

Professional Memberships

- IICRC Certified Firm

- IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association)

- NORMI (National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors)

- NAMRI (National Association of Mold Remediators and Inspectors)

Readings

- Toxic, by Neil Nathan

- Mold Medic, by Michael Rubino

- Break the Mold, by Dr. Jill Crista

- Mold Illness: Surviving and Thriving, by Paula Vetter, Laurie Rossi and Cindy Edwards

- Development of an Environmental Relative Moldiness Index for US Homes (ERMI), Vesper et al.

- ERMI: It's Not About the Score, We Inspect

- Mycotoxins: Critical Information for Mold Remediation Contractors and Occupants, Real Time Labs

- A quick primer on the perils of using ERMI samples for post-remediation verification of mold projects, Wonder Makers Environmental

- Effective Cleaning, by John Banta

- IEP Panel of Survival Mold Consensus Statement for Microbial Remediation 2020

- A Condensed Remediation Plan for Small Microbial Particles, aeroBiological Solutions, Inc.

- Understanding and Dealing with Mycotoxins, WonderMakers Environmental

Other Programs/Learnings

- The Gupta Program

- MoldFinders Radio Podcast

- Change the Air Foundation's "mini classes"

Air testing
Surface samples
ERMI
EPA 36

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

Mold detection, remediation and treatment are all very rapidly evolving fields. My goal is to keep up with the recognized thought leaders on these topics and efficiently share related information with you.

However, please be aware that I cannot always be on top of every piece of this very large and often disjointed puzzle. Please also be aware that there is competing, and sometimes even fully contradictory information, being published on these topics by well-respected sources. I will do my best to sort through it and based upon my training, personal experience and information gained from various experts across these fields, share what I believe to be the most current and accurate information.

That said, I encourage you to always do your own research and follow directly the thought leaders that resonate most with you. Find your own web of trusted inspectors, remediators, medical practitioners, etc. that YOU trust and heed their advice above all others, including mine.

In my capacity as Mold Mentor, LLC, I am not practicing as an Inspector nor a Remediator. I am not a Medical Practitioner.

Mold Mentor’s website and social media content are provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for medical advice or professional services, such as mold inspection or mold remediation.

The information provided, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website, should not be used for diagnosing or treating any health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on or accessed through Mold Mentor LLC’s website or social media pages. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. No physician-patient relationship is created by this web site or its use.

The information provided should not be used in lieu of professional mold inspection or mold remediation by a properly trained, licensed and insured mold inspector or remediator. Mold Mentor, LLC is not responsible for decisions made by the reader pertaining to health or property. Mold Mentor, LLC assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained on or available through this website or social media account, and such information is subject to change without notice. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources.

Aside from all that, I hope you find this content useful on your journey!

About

My Story

My Qualifications

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