Mold Remediation

The Hidden Dangers of Mold Toxicity

mold contamination inside a wall — *Credit:* *Escaflowne / E+ via Getty Images*

Mold and its impact on health is a recurring concern in our industry. But what if one experience changed the course of a husband-and-wife duo who are now dedicated to helping others in the same situation they faced just a few years ago?

No strangers to the service industry, AJ and Becky Callegan ran a successful HVAC company for many years until they faced a life-threatening situation involving epilepsy. It struck without warning and hit AJ with extreme force.

AJ’s Exposure Over Time

For years, AJ helped customers with everything from designing HVAC systems to maintaining them. Unbeknownst to him, he was regularly exposed to mold. For 25 years, AJ didn’t realize it wasn’t normal to work on systems with microbial growth. To make matters worse, he lived in a home with no visible signs of mold but it was there, hidden and making him extremely sick. AJ went from being perfectly healthy to suffering multiple seizures a day. Eventually, he sold his business to focus on his health.

Discovering Mold in Their Own Home

AJ, Becky and their daughter lived in what appeared to be a clean home. But after AJ’s health continued to decline, and after countless doctor visits and home inspections, they turned to functional medicine. That’s when their doctor insisted the home was the source of AJ’s symptoms.

This surprised them. Previous inspections had never flagged mold as a concern. Was the entire home infected? No. The mold was isolated to one area, the bonus room, where it thrived on insulation behind the walls. It wasn’t visible and didn’t show up in testing. Even more surprising, Becky and their daughter showed no symptoms.

Importance of Building Science and Collaboration

Once the root cause was identified, AJ and Becky brought in a local industry professional to test and remediate the mold. With the issue resolved, they began the path to recovery, not just for AJ’s health, but for their family.

They didn’t stop there. AJ and Becky wanted to understand the root cause, the signs and the science behind it all. They dove into building science and learned how every trade affects a home’s environment. Their experience inspired them to shift gears and help others in similar situations.

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They discovered a need for professionals to collaborate across industries instead of working in silos. Homeowners also need to feel empowered to ask questions and not blindly trust everyone who services their home.

Passion for Helping Others

AJ and Becky founded ACC Building Performance LLC, where AJ serves as owner and operator. Becky, who holds a master’s in real estate development, is co-owner and assistant program coordinator for the Change the Air Foundation.

A terrifying health crisis redirected their mission back to the service industry, this time with a focus on improving home building, maintenance and indoor air quality. They are passionate about educating others on mold toxicity and the importance of cross-trade collaboration to create healthier environments.

Their goal is simple: help build healthy homes and prevent others from going through what they did.

Conclusion

This story could have ended much worse. But AJ and Becky’s journey transformed their mission into one of service and advocacy. Mold may not always be visible, but its impact on health is undeniable. Today, AJ is seizure-free, running his business, caring for his family and helping as many people as he can.

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Kayla McGowan is the SPAR Partner Manager for PuroClean, where she manages and strengthens the company’s vendor partnership ecosystem. In her role, she serves as a key liaison between PuroClean, approved vendor partners, internal stakeholders, and Franchise Owners, helping connect the network with trusted tools, services, and products that support operational success.

With more than 10 years of experience in marketing and communications within the restoration and cleaning industry, Kayla has built her career around connecting people, ideas, and resources that move the industry forward. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Restoration & Remediation (R&R) Magazine and continues to contribute to R&R as a writer, bringing her industry knowledge and perspective to its audience.

Kayla holds a B.S. in Criminal Science and an M.S. in Public Safety and Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Restoration Industry Association’s Marketing Committee.

Her industry credentials include Microbial Warrior®️, Certified Forensic Operator®️, and High Risk/High Level Decontamination Specialist™️. Passionate about elevating the restoration industry and the professionals within it, Kayla enjoys building meaningful relationships, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities for collaboration. Outside of work, she is a food lover who enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors.