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• B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 1983

• Graduate course in microbiology, Montana State University

• Water Treatment Plant Operations Specialist Certificate, California State University, Sacramento

• Engineer-in-Training license, State of Indiana (#83906)

• SHEA/CDC Training Course in Healthcare Epidemiology

• Certified Water Specialist II (Water Quality Association), with disinfection specialty

• One- to three-day courses on water treatment, microorganisms, and indoor air quality

• 1989-1995: Founder and President, Alpha-tech Inc. (indoor air consulting)

• 1995-present: Founder and President, HC Information Resources Inc (consulting, publications, seminars, and training pertaining to Legionella and other waterborne pathogens)

Work Experience Related to Waterborne Pathogens

• Assessments of hundreds of building water systems for factors promoting growth of Legionella and other waterborne bacteria, including the inspection of plumbing systems, cooling towers, whirlpool spas and baths, and water features at hospitals, hotels, and office buildings, under both outbreak and non-outbreak conditions

• Management plans written for building owners for minimizing the risk of Legionella and other waterborne bacteria

• Chemical, physical, and microbiological analyses of plumbing (potable water) systems for the purpose of recommending disinfection and remediation strategies

• Sampling of various water systems, followed by interpretation of Legionella test results, including the analysis of Legionella presence or absence in several buildings over a three-year period

• Review and interpretation of Legionella environmental test results for thousands of samples collected by others

• Research (field trials) to evaluate laboratory culture proficiency, testing technologies, and remediation methods

Current Work

• Consultant -- Legionella risk assessments, management plans, investigations, and remediation

• Instructor -- training courses on Legionella and other waterborne pathogens

• Legionella expert in litigation related to Legionnaires’ disease -- retained by both plaintiffs and defendants in more than 20 cases since 1999, in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, KY, MD, NC, NE, NJ, NV, NY, PA, SC, SD, and TX, with deposition and trial testimony

• Research – field studies to determine the efficacy of point-of-use filters in removal of Legionella, Pseudomonas, and other bacteria

• Editor of Legionella E-news, an international electronic newsletter

• Content manager for hcinfo.com, a web site referenced and linked by government agencies, professional societies, and news media throughout the world

Industry Memberships

• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

• American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE)

• International Water Association (IWA)

• Water Quality Association (WQA)

Industry Presentations on Legionella/Waterborne Pathogens

• Water Quality Association, March 2008, Aquatech USA Convention, Las Vegas

• National Facilities Management & Technology Conference, March 2008, Baltimore

• International Water Conference, October 2007, Orlando (panel discussion)

• Hospitality Construction Expo, May 2007, Chicago

• Healthcare Building Expo, May 2007, Chicago

• Water Quality Association, March 2007, Aquatech USA Convention, Orlando

• National Facilities Management & Technology Conference, March 2007, Baltimore

• NACE International, March 2007, Annual Corrosion Conference, Nashville

• Kansas City Area Healthcare Engineers (KCAHE), October 2006

• New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), September 2006, Albany

• The Pennsylvania Public Health Association (PPHA) and Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) Joint Conference, October 2005, Pittsburgh

• International Water Conference, October 2004, Orlando (Discussion Leader)

• American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 2005, Anaheim

• American Society for Healthcare Engineering, International Conference and Exhibition on Health Facility Planning, Design, and Construction; March 2005, Nashville

• International Water Conference, October 2004, Pittsburgh

• ISH North America, October 2004, Boston

• Water Quality Association, March 2004, Annual Convention, Baltimore

• ISH North America, October 2003, Las Vegas

• Association of Water Technologies, September 2003, National Convention, Phoenix

• Water Quality Association, March 2003, Annual Convention, Las Vegas

• ISH North America, October 2002, Toronto

• Association of Water Technologies, September 2002, National Convention, Orlando

• American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 2002, San Diego

• Association of Water Technologies, October 2001, National Convention, Dallas

• EC Summit, September 2001, National Conference, Las Vegas

• American Society for Healthcare Engineering, July 2001, National Convention, Tampa

• American Industrial Hygiene Association and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, June 2001, Joint National Conference, New Orleans

• American Society of Plumbing Engineers, November 2000, National Convention, Nashville

• 1997 Small Press Book Awards finalist

• Fully reviewed or highlighted in professional journals worldwide

• Sold in more than 30 countries

• Legionnaires' Disease: Facts, Legal Issues, Risk*

• How to Make Plumbing Systems Less Conducive to Legionella and Other Bacteria*

• Disinfecting Plumbing Systems of Legionella: Solving Problems Without Overspending*

• Minimizing the Risk of Legionella in Cooling Towers and Other HVAC Equipment*

• Sample Water for Legionella? Weighing the Benefits against the Costs*

• Legionella Environmental Sampling Guide*

• Getting Help with Legionella Problems: Guidance for Good Decisions*

• How to Reduce Your Risk of Legionnaires’ Disease in Public Places

• Spas, Hot Tubs, and Whirlpool Bathtubs: A Guide for Disease Prevention

• Home Plumbing Systems: How to Reduce Your Risk of Legionnaires' Disease and Other Bacterial Infections

• Dental Water Line Contamination

• Home Humidifiers: Reducing Your Exposure to Harmful Bacteria

• Legionella Management Plan for Hospitals

• Legionella Management Plan for Nursing Homes and Senior Living Facilities

• Legionella Management Plan for Hotels

* Composed primarily of information excerpted and adapted from Legionellae Control in Health Care Facilities: A Guide for Minimizing Risk

• “Eight Ways to Keep Legionella Out of Your Air Distribution.” Engineered Systems (Feb. 2008), Business News Publishing Co.

• “Around the Legionella world in 20 Minutes.” Power Plant Chemistry (June 2007)

• “Seven Steps Needed to Reduce the Risk of Legionnaires' Disease.” Hospitality Construction (March/April 2007), D & D Communications.

• “Combatting Legionella in Hospitals.” Hospital (July/August 2006), European Association of Hospital Managers.

• “Ten Ways to Minimize Stagnation in Domestic Water Systems.” PM Engineer (May 2006), Business News Publishing Co.

• “Legionnaires' Contamination Preventable at Reasonable Cost.” Hotel & Motel Management (April 17, 2006), Questex Media Group, Inc.

• “Minimizing the Risk of Legionella.” Facility Care (Feb. 2006), Douglas Publications

• “Ebb & Flow: Ten Ways to Minimize Stagnation in Domestic Water Systems.” Health Facilities Management (Jan. 2006), Health Forum, Inc., an American Hospital Association company

• “Formulating a Risk Reduction Strategy for Waterborne Pathogens in Hospital Water Systems.” American Journal of Infection Control (June 2005), Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

• “The Word on Water: New CDC Guidelines Recommend a Proactive Approach to Legionella.” Health Facilities Management (Oct. 2004), Health Forum, Inc., an American Hospital Association company

• “A Management Plan for Legionella and Other Waterborne Pathogens.” Occupational Hazards (Aug. 2004), Penton Media, Inc.

• “Pure+Easy: Selecting a Domestic Water Disinfection System.” Health Facilities Management (Sept. 2003), Health Forum, Inc., an American Hospital Association company

• “Testing the Waters: Facts to Consider When Deciding Whether to Sample for Legionella.” Health Facilities Management (Oct. 2002), Health Forum, Inc., an American Hospital Association company

• “Eight Deadly Blunders: Common Mistakes in Protecting Against Legionella.” Health Facilities Management (Mar. 2002), Health Forum, Inc., an American Hospital Association company 

• “Legionella and the Plumbing Engineer: Responsibility, Liability, and Opportunities.”  PM Engineer (Feb. 2002), Business News Publishing Co. 

• “Preventing Legionella in Home Plumbing Systems.” Plumbing & Mechanical (Jan. 2002), Business News Publishing Co.

• “Developing a Management Plan for Waterborne Pathogens.” Environment of Care News (May/June 2001), Joint Commission Resources.

• “New Standard Requires Legionella Management Plans for Hospitals.” The Analyst (Spring 2001), Association of Water Technologies.

• “Inspecting spas and hot tubs.” The ASHI Reporter (Mar. 2001), American Society of Home Inspectors Inc.

• “Something in the air: Groups turn their attention to Legionella control.”  Health Facilities Management (Mar. 2001), Health Forum, Inc., an American Hospital Association company

• “Waterborne Pathogens: Reducing Risk of Legionella and Other Bacteria in Home Plumbing Systems.” Water Conditioning & Purification (Feb. 2001), Publicom Inc.

• "Legionnaires’ Disease: An Update for Plumbing Engineers." PM Engineer (July 2000), Business News Publishing Co.

• "Update: The latest on Legionnaires’ disease." The ASHI Reporter (May 2000), American Society of Home Inspectors Inc.

• "Concern About Legionnaires’ Disease Rising." Building Operating Management (Feb. 2000), Trade Press Publishing Corp.

• "Legionnaires’ disease Update." ASHRM Forum (Jan./Feb. 2000), American Society for Healthcare Risk Management.

• "Legionnaires’ disease: It has not gone away." Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigerating News (Jan. 24, 2000), Business News Publishing Co. Reprinted in Air Conditioning and Refrigerating Journal (Apr.-June 2000), Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, Mumbai, India

• "Update: The latest on Legionnaires’ disease." Engineered Systems (Jan. 2000), Business News Publishing Co.

• "Legionella in Cooling Towers: Reasonable ways to minimize risk." Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigerating News (Jan. 25, 1999), Business News Publishing Co.

• "Legionella in Cooling Towers." Engineered Systems (July 1998), Business News Publishing Co.

• "Legionella: Preventive Measures for Domestic Water Systems." PM Engineer (Nov. 1997), Business News Publishing Co.

• "Legionnaires': a prescription for prevention." Health Facilities Management (Oct. 1996), American Hospital Publishing, Inc. Reprinted in Health Estate Journal (June 97), The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management, UK

• "How to minimize the risk of legionnaires' disease." Healthcare Risk Management (Aug. 1996), American Health Consultants

• "To sample or not: The Legionella debate." Hospital Infection Control (Sep. 1996), American Health Consultants

• "These 10 tips help everyone breathe more easily (Improving Indoor Air Quality Can Reduce Risks)." Hospital Risk Management (June 1994), American Health Consultants

In addition to the above presentations and articles, Matt Freije has been interviewed by newspaper, magazine, radio, and television media as an expert source for stories related to Legionnaires' disease.

Courses Taught on Legionella/Waterborne Pathogens (excluding private training and Internet seminars)

• Detroit – July 13-14, 2001 – Sponsored by the Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors of Detroit

• Johannesburg, South Africa – Aug. 13, 2001 – Sponsored by South Africa's National Centre for Occupational Health

• Baltimore – Oct. 16-17, 2001

• Atlanta – Nov. 13-14, 2001

• San Diego – Nov. 28-29, 2001

• Dallas – January 30-31, 2002

• Montreal – March 7-8, 2002

• Chicago – May 1-2, 2002

• New York City – June 5-6, 2002

• Fairfax, VA – Dec. 5-6, 2002 – Hosted by the Virginia Department of Mental Health

• Dunkirk, Maryland – October 29-30, 2003

• San Diego – November 5-6, 2003 – Hosted by the US Navy (Naval School of Health Sciences)

• Ann Arbor, Michigan – September 14, 2004 – In conjunction with NSF International

• Boston area – June 17, 2004 – Sponsored by the American Society of Plumbing Engineers

• Columbus, Ohio – March 7, 2006 – Conference for the Ohio Association of Plumbing Inspectors

• Chicago – April 27, 2006

• Baltimore – Sept. 29, 2006 – Hosted by Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center