Inspector Ryan Celestino Receives 2025 Raising the Profile Award

The Raising the Profile Award was created to honor individuals and organizations whose acts or contributions raise awareness for the ways in which code personnel improve public safety through the built environment. This year’s recipient, Ryan Celestino, has gone one step further by helping others raise the profile and by helping newcomers learn the ropes of the vital building safety industry. 

“I was very humbled and honored to receive the award from [former ICC Director at Large] Jim Sayers,” said Celestino, a Combination Electrical Inspector and Amusement Device Inspector for the Department of Codes Compliance with Newport News, Virginia. “I was presented the award at the Independent Alliance of the Electrical Industry (IAEI) Southern Chapter banquet, and to receive it in front of all my peers and friends was such a great honor.” 

As his title suggests, Celestino inspects electrical work as well as bounce houses, trampolines, waterparks, go karts, rock walls and more. He has been a member of IAEI since 2015; he joined as a young inspector and relished the opportunity to meet others in the field.  

Celestino has since participated in the code development process in Virginia through IAEI-sponsored code change proposals and served as President for the IAEI Virginia Chapter (2023-2024). He still serves on the IAEI Virginia Chapter Board of Directors and is the President of the IAEI Eastern Virginia Division. 

“Building safety is at the forefront of Ryan’s mind both during his working hours as well as his off hours,” said Corian ‘Cory’ Carney, CBO, Building Official, Planning & Development Services, Division of Building Safety for York County, Virginia. “We often discuss things that he or I have seen while out and about in any given place and use these examples to bring awareness to our respective jurisdictions on issues of which we may not have yet been aware. Ryan raises the profile by using every opportunity he can to learn, engage with others and educate as many as will allow him.” 

Keeping Kids Safe at Home and At Play 

Building safety isn’t limited to traditional homes and structures – it applies to amusement devices as well. For example, bounce houses must be anchored properly outdoors to prevent them from blowing around in the wind. Each stake must be a certain length and placed in a specific spot according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. 

Celestino takes the time to verify that the impact attenuation mats are installed at the entrance and exit when required. And if the playing area is over a certain height, he said the bounce house must be equipped with a deflation alert system to alert the attendant if power is lost.  

“They’re supposed to deflate slowly, so it’s not like an instantaneous thing where it’s there and then it’s not,” Celestino explained. “But if people were left in there, that inflatable weighs so much, it could potentially suffocate someone, so that alert system is another thing we look for.” 

At trampoline parks, Celestino makes sure that the trampolines are high enough to prevent impact with the surface underneath. He ensures that the springs are covered with the necessary padding and that any foam pits are high enough (and have enough foam) to prevent injury. 

When inspecting a rock wall, Celestino pays special attention to the harnesses and the auto belay, which will slowly lower climbers if they fall. 

“Typically for the waterparks you would have two inspections, pre-opening and mid-year,” said Celestino. “On pre-open, all the water would be drained and you would walk the slides. You’re looking for sharp edges – something that, if you’re coming down, it could potentially cut somebody. You’re looking for pinch points so little kids’ fingers can’t get trapped or injured. Also, bonding is a really major thing for waterparks. You want to make sure all your metal parts are bonded, that way if there was any kind of potential voltage, it would trip the breaker.” 

A Career of Helping Others Grow 

Celestino’s passion for building safety growth and education includes the ICC Electrical Exam Development Committee. He and other committee members refine questions for the E1, E2 and E3 exams and write new questions as the code evolves. 

This work is especially important to Celestino. He has nearly completed his second term, and while committee rules only allow each member to serve two consecutive terms, he intends to return for a third term after the required break. 

“Between the mentorship he has provided me, as well as many others, and his involvement on the local, state and national levels of code development and education, I’d say he has left quite an impact on the industry in a relatively short time,” said Carney. 

Carney credited Celestino with some of the success he has had in his career with IAEI, as well as his job as Building Official in York County, Virginia. He said that Celestino was “instrumental” in his early development of code enforcement.  

“He took me under his wing within our local Electrical Inspectors Association and helped me navigate some of the ins and outs of what we do, opening the door to a multitude of other opportunities for advancement in my own career,” Carney recalled. “He’s been a great mentor, and I now consider him to be a great friend as well. He often spends more time in conversations as a listener than a speaker, and that attribute makes him incredibly easy to work with.” 

When Celestino left York County for an opportunity in a neighboring jurisdiction, Newport News, Carney became his replacement. 

“He has been deeply involved in multiple facets of code development and education throughout his career in building code enforcement,” Carney added. “His passion and work ethic has extended outside of his typical daily duties as an inspector [and] prompted me to recommend him for this award.” 

View all 2025 ICC award recipients here.          

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