Board Profile: Stephen Jones
 “We have made great strides over the past few years. Three separate organizations have merged into one, and the reality of that needs to hold true. We need to continue to move forward and understand that we have a new organization, with a dedicated and motivated membership and we need to continue to work as a whole."
Since he was old enough to pick up a hammer, Stephen Jones has been involved in construction. Now, Jones will juggle his new role as an International Code Council Board member along with his positions as Milburn Township’s and Florham Park Borough’s Construction Official.
This affluent area of New Jersey, which boasts an average home listing price of $636,000, is also rich in history, dating back to the very early days of the United States. Its location is prime, situated about 20 miles west of Midtown Manhattan, providing unique professional challenges for Jones. He describes his jurisdictions as “small but busy,” issuing about 4,000 combined permits each year.
“We are built-out here, and home values are at a premium. There are many more discerning buyers that have started to look closely at what they are getting for their money,” Jones said.
With such a large number of premium homes, many with a value well into the seven figures, Jones has seen first hand the role that technology plays in the construction and code field. His reactions are mixed, specifically where it comes to the debate of technological innovations versus quality.
 “Innovation in construction techniques doesn’t necessarily mean that the level of the installer has been raised. In certain circumstances, it can allow you to have a contractor that doesn’t possess the knowledge to do something the traditional way.” Jones said. “In some cases it has made things easy, maybe too easy. With any innovation in technology there is usually opposition to it until it finds a level of acceptance with the trades. Today more than ever before it is critical to balance quality with speed and code compliance.
“Unfortunately some contractors are willing to cut corners in order to increase production and it is something we have to look out for, especially when dealing with code enforcement.”
Jones felt that his strong beliefs on paving a positive future for the building and code industry, along with his desire to have a front-line representation for New Jersey with the Code Council, was reason enough to seek a position on the Board.
While he hopes to accomplish a multitude of goals as a Board member, one he considers a top priority is improving representation and giving a larger voice to the Council’s membership.
 “I hope to represent the needs of the members and show them that their opinion matters,” Jones said. “The communication between ICC and its members has to be a two-way street with both sides effectively voicing their concerns, ideas and issues.
“Of course I realize that there is no realistic way to make everyone happy, but if all of us are looking at it with the attitude 'What is best for the organization?' we will be able to move forward and have a bigger impact.”
Jones also hopes that as a Board member, he can help the Code Council grow as its own entity, and continue to work at putting aside any remaining issues related to the legacy organizations. We are now getting new members that don’t have any history with a “legacy” organization and they aren’t coming into the ICC with any pre-conceived notions; therefore, they are fully embracing the ICC model instead of anything else. These are exciting times for this organization and I have a very positive feeling about the impact we are going to make on this profession.
“We have made great strides over the past few years. Three separate organizations have merged into one, and the reality of that needs to hold true. We need to continue to move forward and understand that we have a new organization, with a dedicated and motivated membership and we need to continue to work as a whole.” Jones said.
 Outside of work and his involvement with the Code Council, Jones finds plenty of ways to keep busy. He admits to being a student in one form or another for most of his life. Currently, he is enrolled in an AAS degree program in Applied Technology (code enforcement) at Essex County College in Roseland, N.J. “Degrees like this one help raise the profile of code officials and give us the respect we deserve.”
Jones also enjoys spending time with his wife of “19 glorious years,” Paula and their three children, Brian, 16; Colleen, 14; and David, 9. He chairs the local Planning and Zoning Board for East Hanover, N.J., and lends a hand to volunteer work at his church.
For their support of his professional endeavors and work with the Code Council, Jones thanks: Bill Howard, his first “code” instructor and friend; Richard Van de Velde, first boss; Gary Lewis, for encouragement to become active at the state and national level; Joe Montemarano, who shepherded career from being “wet behind the ears” to first county, and then state president and ultimately to the Board; the NJ DCA staff — Bill Connolly, Cindy Wilk, John Terry and the rest of the gang; the ICC staff; and his friends, his brothers—Andy, Bobby, Ed, John, Jimmy, Marty, Sal and Walter—“who stood behind me and believed in me even when I doubted myself.”
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