Oct. 27 Conference News

Board Officers, Directors Sworn In

Immediate Past President Adolf Zubia swore in the new officers and directors of the International Code Council Board during Wednesday night’s Annual Banquet at the 2010 ICC Annual Conference in Charlotte.

Sworn in officers and directors are: James L. Brothers, President; William D. Dupler, Vice President; Ron Piester, Secretary/Treasurer; and Directors Dwayne Garriss, John Leyden, Alex Olszowy; Stephen D. Jones, Guy Tomberlin and Jeff Whitney were re-elected.

Following the inductions, Brothers urged the members of the organization to “Go Deep” in the coming year. “The Board is going to go deep on a lot of matters, be out there to catch it. And if there is something we need to catch, throw it us.”

Cobb Recipient of Prestigious Fowler Award

Terrence L. Cobb, Director of the Department of Codes and Building Safety for Nashville and Davidson County, Tenn., was presented the prestigious Bobby J. Fowler Award during the Annual Banquet of the 2010 ICC Annual Conference in Charlotte. The Fowler Award, which honors the memory of the first chairman of the Code Council Board of Directors, is given to an individual whose contributions to the building safety and fire prevention industry advance the Council’s goals in achieving a safer and sustainable built environment. Particular emphasis is placed on the recipient’s focus beyond local or regional concerns to issues and activities that span the globe.

“Bob Fowler was really the driving force that brought us together,” Cobb said of the 2003 Code Council consolidation. “I’d like to thank each of you in this industry — this very special, underappreciated industry. (Former ICC CEO) Bill Tangye once said, ‘Protecting the safety of the public in the built environment is the highest form of public service.’ I believe that and I know that you believe it, as well.”

Cobb, the recipient of several prestigious honors including being named Code Official of the Year by the Tennessee Building Officials Association (TBOA) and the ICC Region XIII Chapters, is a member of the Building Industry of Tennessee Hall of Fame. He is a Past President of TBOA and served on the Code Council and Southern Building Code Congress International Boards of Directors.

“It has been my privilege to serve with Terry during his tenure on the ICC Board of Directors, and to know him as a peer and friend for many years,” said ICC Board of Directors President Ron Lynn.

Cobb, a Certified Building Official, was the first chairman of the International Residential Code Drafting Committee and has served as a Code Development Hearing Moderator. As president of the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee, he led a team that set a Guinness world record for the fastest residential home built—five hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds—that was donated to the Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity. Cobb also hosts an annual golf tournament for charities that serve children with disabilities.

Elbettar Honored for Contributions to Building Safety

Jay Elbettar, Building Director for the city of Newport Beach, Calif., was presented the Gerald H. Jones Code Official of the Year Award during Wednesday’s Awards Luncheon at the 2010 ICC Annual Conference in Charlotte. The Code Official of the Year Award is presented to an individual whose contribution to the code enforcement profession is meritorious. The individual must demonstrate professional abilities and be recognized as an example for all members of the code enforcement profession.

Elbettar was among the first in the state of California to become a Certified Accessibility Specialist. He is a Certified Building Official, a LEED Accredited Professional and a Certified Green Building Professional, and worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the construction of a space shuttle complex. Elbettar serves on the Code Council Board for International Professional Standards and is a Past President of the California Building Officials chapter.

“When individuals buy a home, they can’t see the foundation, nor can they see the plumbing or electrical or the nails in the walls,” Elbettar told luncheon attendees. “They rely on all of us to make sure they are buying a safe building. They expect to live, work and play in their built environment safely because of all of you.

“Your work is in prevention and is therefore immeasurable,” Elbettar continued. “You do it every day and mostly without appreciation. Nevertheless, let’s remind ourselves of how much we impact peoples’ lives, and how many we save in building safety. So thank you very much for this honor, but also pat yourself on the back for what you do every day.”

The Code Official of the Year Award was renamed in honor of retired code official and engineer Gerald H. Jones, who was instrumental in creating the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) at the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), chairing both the NIBS and BSSC Boards, and serving on the NIBS Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council. Jones served for many years as the Building Codes Administrator of Kansas City, Mo., and at Overland Park, Kan.

“Over 40-plus years in this profession, I was privileged to work with many giants,” Jones told attendees. “You’ve heard many of their names before, and I am truly humbled and honored to be included.”

DeCrane Presented ICC Fire Service Award

Cleveland Fire Department Battalion Chief and International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) advocate Sean DeCrane was the recipient of the International Code Council Fire Service Award during Wednesday’s Awards Luncheon at the 2010 ICC Annual Conference in Charlotte. The Fire Service Award is bestowed to an individual for service, professional abilities and leadership that are exemplary in the development of the International Fire Code, and one who has served as an example to all fire prevention and fire protection professionals.

DeCrane was recognized for his efforts to increase the awareness and importance of codes to firefighter safety, and for his leadership of Vision 20/20 Strategy Five—an effort to develop a national strategic agenda for fire loss focused on firefighter involvement in code development.

“I am just a small part of the group that is involved here, and I think everyone in this room does not get involved in this arena to receive an award,” DeCrane told attendees. “But to be honored by your peers and colleagues truly is an honor.”

DeCrane represents the IAFF at the national level focusing on a number of code-related subjects, and has written numerous published articles and teaches classes about fire and building codes as they relate to firefighter safety.

“We have our day jobs that we go through every day, and yet we find time—many times it’s our own time and our own expenses—to be here, to be involved, to ensure that our members are protected, not just the firefighters that enter the buildings, but the public that we serve, so they can work and live in a safe environment,” DeCrane continued. “I look forward to and I cherish the relationships we have established over the last six or seven years—relationships with the building code officials, relationships with my fellow fire service representatives, and also the relationships with the industry representatives that are working so hard. Thank you.”

Fort Smith, Arkansas, Koffel Associates Honored for Service; Gibson Named Educator of the Year

The Code Council Community Service Award, which recognizes meritorious service that promotes public health, safety and welfare above and beyond normal expectations, was presented to the Fort Smith, Ark., Development Services Department during Wednesday’s Awards Luncheon at the 2010 Annual Conference in Charlotte.

Fort Smith was honored for its efforts to educate citizens about the importance of building safety and developing partnerships through a Good Neighbors program to assist property owners. The department works with the local homebuilders association to distribute brochures and information about building, tornado and fire safety, developed a public service video to highlight common code violations, and provides public education through the city’s Citizens Academy. This year, the department’s Good Neighbors program brought 350 young people to the city to upgrade 30 properties.

Fort Smith Director Wally Bailey said the success of the programs is due to the efforts of the 30 staff members of the Development Services Department. “These individuals find ways to get their jobs done while not only being good citizens of Fort Smith, but being good citizens around the world,” Bailey said. “I hope you would agree with me and our mayor, Mayor Ray Baker, who likes to say, ‘These individuals make life worth living in Fort Smith, Ark.”

William E. Koffel, President of Koffel Associates, was the recipient of the Code Council Affiliate Award, which is given in honor of John Fies, Wilbur H. Lind and Alton Riddick, who demonstrated unselfish service to the original model code organizations. Koffel has been active in the Council’s code development process and is known for his role in developing drafts of the International Building Code and International Fire Code. Koffel, a fire protection engineer who started his own firm 25 years ago, is a Past President and Fellow of the Society of Fire Prevention Engineers and is recognized globally in the field of fire protection.

“I’m truly humbled to be listed with the previous recipients of this award, many of which, for 30 years now, I’ve been watching and learning from,” Koffel said. “I see participation in the code development process as an education activity. I’ve learned a lot from it, and I think that enables us to better serve our clients; and secondly, hopefully, we’re providing information to you, the voting members, so that you can make better informed decisions when you cast your votes on the various code changes before you.”

The Educator of the Year Award was presented to John Gibson, a full-time instructor and technical advisor for the Code Council, an online instructor for Red Rocks Community College, and a teacher at the United States Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy. Gibson, who holds 40 professional certifications, previously was the Director of the Department of Permits and Inspections for Frederick County, Maryland, and is an honorary member of the Code Council and the Maryland Building Officials Association. The Educator of the Year Award is given in memory of Brent Snyder.

“Everyone who has been an instructor can probably identify with where I’m coming from,” Gibson told attendees. “Number one, you’ve got a semi-captive audience. Number two, you’re given a microphone. And then what happens? You’re told you only have a minute—I can’t tell one of my good stories in a minute, as most of you know!”

Gibson thanked the multiple facets of his “ICC Family” for their support that leads to the development of education sessions, as well as the code officials who attend. In conclusion, he offered his favorite Irish toast: “To us, may the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends gathered below never fall out.”

Southern Nevada Chapter Named Chapter of the Year; Four Merit Awards Presented

The Southern Nevada Chapter of the International Code Council was presented the Chapter of the Year Award during Wednesday’s Awards Luncheon at the 2010 ICC Annual Conference in Charlotte. To earn this designation, a chapter must demonstrate a high degree of professionalism in promoting the vision, mission and goals of the Code Council.

The Southern Nevada Chapter undertook a program to reduce the high number of child drowning deaths in swimming pools. Results of the initiative included the drafting of the Nevada Child Drowning Prevention Act, which if enacted by the state legislature would make Nevada eligible for federal funding through the Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, and the Toddler Swim Lesson Grant program that awarded $12,000 to parks and recreation departments in Southern Nevada jurisdictions to provide free swimming lessons.

“The work the chapter accomplished this year would not have been possible without the outstanding support we received from the Southern Nevada building officials,” said Southern Nevada President Neil A. Burning. “I would also like to thank our board members and each one of our community volunteers for their outstanding leadership and dedication in the community. We also are very proud of our efforts to increase the awareness of the vital public safety role all code officials play in the built environment.”

Chapter Merit Awards were presented to the Cumberland Region Codes Association in Tennessee, the Laney College Chapter, the Sacramento Valley Association of Building Officials, and the Virginia Building Code Officials Association. Merit Awards are presented to chapters that distinguish themselves through activities that demonstrate the goals and objectives of the Code Council.