"Serving on the ICC Board gives me an opportunity to look beyond the day-to-day activities of administration and code adoptions on the state level," Leyden says. "It exposes me to other ideas and approaches that are implemented on the national level."

In 1979, John P. (Jack) Leyden began developing a unique view of the construction industry. "I started working with my father when I was in high school," Leyden explains. "He was a superintendent who traveled across the country working on construction projects, one of which was the Windows on the World restaurant in New York City."

In the early 1990s, that elevated construction landscape led Leyden to a career in code enforcement that includes his current position of Rhode Island Building Code Commissioner and as a Section E representative on the Code Council Board of Directors.

In 1994, Leyden joined the city of Providence, Rhode Island, Department of Inspections and Standards as a Structural Building Inspector. From 1999-2003 he was Director of Building Inspections/Building Official for the city of Cranston, Rhode Island, before returning to Providence from 2003-2004 as the Chief of Structures & Zoning and Alternate Building Official. In 2004, he joined the town of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, as the Director of Building Inspections/Building Official.

Leyden has served as State Building Code Commissioner since 2006, where he is responsible for statewide code adoptions and construction projects, state certifications and education programs for building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical inspectors, and oversees the state’s amusement ride safety program and contractor registrations.

Leyden also is responsible for legislative issues pertaining to codes and standards, and he led support for a state law that requires all inspectors to obtain Code Council certifications. “I think it is extremely important for our state’s code officials to be as educated as possible,” Leyden explains. “A certified code official says you are top notch and raises a good profile about our profession. I think it is important to get the word out to our citizens and elected officials that their safety and well-being when they enter buildings is because of certified code officials.”

Leyden also supported Rhode Island’s efforts to become the first state to recognize the International Green Construction Code as an option for the design and construction of public facilities. “It was exciting to see that we were one of the first states to recognize the IgCC,” he says. “I think the IgCC is perfect for state and local governments wanting to implement green building programs to study and see if it fits into their code adoption and enforcement efforts."

Leyden currently serves on the New England Building Officials Education Association Board of Directors, is Past President of the Eastern States Building Officials Education Association, and is a member of the Rhode Island Building Officials Association. He is a current member of the ICC Building Code Council and a past member of the ICC Building Code General Committee and the ICC Membership Ad Hoc Committee. He is one of five individuals who are Certified Building Officials with the Code Council and the State of Rhode Island, and serves as Executive Secretary of the state’s Building Code Standards Committee.

During his term on the ICC Board, Leyden says monitoring the organization’s finances is a top priority. “One of our biggest challenges is the budget, which is something cities, towns, counties and state governments across the county have had to do during this economy,” he says. “At some point I hope we can grow our finances and develop a better organization for everyone.”

One way to accomplish that goal, Leyden reiterates, is to listen to new ideas and methods and to connect with ICC Members on the national level. “I think it is extremely important to hear what our Members think of ICC,” Leyden says. “I look forward to meeting code officials across the country, to interact with them and to show them that their opinions matter. I will continue to work on having better communications between the ICC Board and our Members and to be an effective voice of the concerns, ideas and issues that our Members have.

“I understand the importance of getting involved in organizations,” Leyden concludes, “and I believe serving on the ICC Board is the next step toward serving the code enforcement community.”

Away from the office, Leyden and his wife Maureen enjoy nights and weekends working on their 50-acre Christmas tree farm, where they recently began growing blueberries and strawberries.