Meet the Experts

Rolf Bergman has been a consultant for over 24 years after retiring from GE Lighting. His last title was Chief Scientist, Lamp Technology. He has consulted for many companies including Apple, the Swedish Energy Agency, EYE Lighting and Venture Lighting. He has been an assessor of NVLAP’s energy efficient lighting products, having assessed over 100 laboratories in US, Europe and Asia.

Rolf is actively involved with IES TPC and Photobiology committees, CIE and CORM. He became actively involved in GUV practices in 2020 and was the PI of a funded project to develop certification training documents on GUV installations for NALMCO. Over his career Rolf has published about 25 Journal articles, with an additional 20 to 30 internal GE reports. He has 19 USA Patents issued.

Paul Jensen is an independent consultant in the areas of Engineering Controls, Airborne Infection Prevention & Control, and Laboratory Biosafety. He is the Cofounder and Chief Engineer of Final Approach Inc and shares his expertise both domestically and internationally. Paul serves as the Secretariat of the End TB Transmission Initiative of the Stop TB Partnership and continues to serve on several IES, IEC, ASHRAE, and AIHA committees.

Before retirement, Paul Jensen served as the lead for Airborne Infection Prevention Control and Laboratory Biosafety in CDC’s Global TB Branch, Division of Global HIV/AIDS & TB, Center for Global Health. He has extensive experience in sampling and analysis of bioaerosols, design and evaluation of ventilation systems and of UVC254 systems, control of airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other pathogens, and evaluation of respiratory protective equipment. He served as chair of CDC working group that revised the US CDC Guidelines for Preventing the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Facilities (2005) and the WHO Guidelines on tuberculosis infection prevention and control, 2019 update.

David Sliney received his Ph.D. in biophysics and medical physics from the University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology. He led an optical safety program within the Army Medical Department prior to retirement. He has been active in promoting germicidal ultraviolet and served as chair of technical standards committees’ efforts in the Illuminating Engineering Society and the International Electrotechnical Commission related to germicidal ultraviolet. He
helped organize meetings and publications on research needs to explore potential safety issues of far UV-C and human exposure. His research interests focus on subjects related to vision, UV effects upon the eye and skin, the importance of ocular exposure geometry to sunlight, eye protection, laser-tissue interactions, and laser applications in medicine and surgery. He coauthored with M. Wolbarsht a 1,000-page handbook, Safety with Lasers and Other Optical Sources (1980), Springer and co-author with S. Trokel of Medical Lasers and Their Safe Use,
Springer, 1993.

Erik brings over 25 years of experience in multifamily and commercial building operations, energy efficiency, and lighting systems. Since 2001, he has been with the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), where he trains building operations and management staff across the public and private sectors to optimize maintenance practices, enhance occupant comfort, and reduce energy consumption. He supports sales and client engagement for CEE’s One-Stop Efficiency Shop, a small business lighting program. Erik has conducted assessments on more than 3,500 buildings, with a focus on lighting controls, indoor air quality, moisture management, and commissioning strategies. His practical, field-tested insights help building professionals implement cost-effective improvements.

Erik currently serves as President of NALMCO (International Association of Lighting Management Companies), contributing to national efforts in advancing lighting and building performance standards. He is also a member of IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) and serves on the Photobiology and Lighting Maintenance committees.

Katja Auer currently serves as Chief of Staff at XCMR, Inc and has been an integral part of the UV-C industry for nearly two decades with focus on pathogen reduction in air and on surfaces. Her area of expertise is broad, bringing extensive knowledge in applications engineering, regulatory, quality management, education, and complex systems leadership processes.

Dr. Auer has been a Member of ASHRAE since 2007 holding various roles, including chairing Technical Committee 2.09 UV-C for Air and Surface Disinfection. She is a recipient of ASHRAE’s Distinguished Service Award. Currently she serves as Chair of SSPC185 Methods of Test To Inactivate Microorganisms In HVAC Systems With UV-C Lights, is a Member of ASHRAE’s Handbook Committee, and Voting Member of GPC 37 Guidelines for the Application of Upper-Air (Upper Room) Ultraviolet Germicidal (UV-C) Devices to Control the Transmission of Airborne Pathogens. Additionally, she is the Convener for US TAG to ISO/TC 142 WG2.

Dr. Auer received her BA degree in Chemistry from Southern Connecticut State University, a Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Arizona and earned her MBA from the University of La Verne. She completed her EdD at the University of Houston, with a focus on Professional Leadership with emphasis in Health Science.

Bill Palmer has 40+ years of experience from the ground up in ventilation and has dedicated 30+ years to environmental infection control. He has designed and brought to the market 25+ HEPA and UVGI products. Bill is a Certified Environmental Infection Control Consultant (CEICC), Certified Air Filtration Specialist (CAFS) and Certified GUV Management Professional (C-GUVMP). He is a member of ASHRAE TC 2.9, and a voting member of ASHRAE GPC 37 Committee, and UL8808 and UL8803 Standards Committees.