Ben Venktash, Marina's Director of IAQ receives international recognition. IAQ in a Nutshell
	City of Vallejo's Safety Officer, Jonathan Sims and Marina's Indoor Air Quality Manager, Ben Venktash take a break from fine-tuning a fire engine's exhaust ventilation system.

“I am not in my office very much,” Jonathan Sims says with a smile, as he dons his coat to drive with Marina’s Ben Venktash to inspect the ventilation system in Vallejo’s Fire Station #1. Jonathan is the City’s Safety Officer.

Marina’s work for Vallejo has ranged from a detailed analysis of indoor air quality for one of the city office buildings to optimizing ventilation at the Public Works maintenance facilities. “In every project Ben and I have worked on,” Jonathan says, “Ben has taken a sincere interest in the whole picture. He employs total quality management from beginning to end.”

 Ben is a California Registered Environmental Assessor, and a Certified Hazard Control Manager seasoned by 23 years of experience.

 When Marina evaluated the ventilation system for the Public Works garage and welding plant, Jonathan continues, “Ben took the time to take the measurements required for a good engineering analysis, always following a protocol for doing it the right way. This was in refreshing contrast to many vendors, whose knowledge seems limited more to the mechanical systems than to the broader scope of indoor air quality.”  Jonathan and Ben clearly enjoy their business relationship, and it has expanded beyond the limits of the job at hand. Jonathan explains, “I have grown to trust his knowledge and integrity and, because I am new to the California regulatory environment, he has become an important mentor.” 

 Jonathan’s hands-on approach stems from a Midwest upbringing and his days at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. When he decided to study Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), the fact that the school didn’t have such a curriculum didn’t deter Jonathan at all. Before each semester, he and his Department Administrator designed an EHS program based on field study at sites such as the Joplin, Missouri Airport; Johnson County Wastewater Treatment Facility and a nearby power plant.

After graduating, Jonathan gained valuable private-sector experience as a Regulatory Specialist for Dymon chemical company and as EHS administrator in two of Knight Ridder’s newspaper plants. He then moved to his present position with the City of Vallejo. One of his first acts was to bring in Marina to help meet the City’s goal of maintaining a high standard of IAQ.

Ben says Marina’s work for the City of Vallejo reflects the company’s approach to every project. “We are concerned about every aspect of our client’s indoor environment.” He continues, “Our multidisciplinary approach considers design, installation and maintenance of all the parts: HVAC, automated temperature control, and indoor air quality. By ensuring that they all work together as a whole, we bring a synergy that translates into added value to for our clients.”

“The City of Vallejo is proactive about its employees,” Jonathan observes. That obviously suits his style. “The fire department is a good example. The employees expressed a concern to management about potential shortcomings of the garage ventilation system. I brought in Marina, and they provided out-of-the-box solutions that were realistic and upheld the IAQ guidelines.”

“Ben’s approach was systematic and precise. He employs the most current methods and technologies. You need that with IAQ,” Jonathan says. “You’re not just fixing a mechanical system. When the health of occupants is involved, you must cover your bases with a well-thought-out well-documented professionally engineered solution.”

“I have trusted Ben with our most sensitive issues,” Jonathan states. “That’s because I know he will do things the right way. I don’t worry.”