WCBO Marks 50 Years of Service and Leadership

The Wyoming Conference of Building Officials (WCBO) celebrated a major milestone this summer as members, guests and industry leaders gathered in Cody, Wyoming, for the organization’s 50th anniversary. From Aug. 4 through Aug. 8 guests attended WCBO’s Conference that included professional development, networking opportunities and celebrations recognizing five decades of leadership in building safety across Wyoming. 

The conference began with registration and welcome remarks from WCBO President Sean Collier, Secretary Valerie Pickard, and other members of the WCBO Board of Directors. Later that afternoon, WCBO’s 50th Annual Business Meeting convened at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center. 

Following the Annual Business Meeting, attendees gathered for a special banquet at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum. The evening brought together WCBO Board Members, Past Presidents, honorary members, representatives from the International Code Council (ICC) and ICC Region II and members of neighboring state chapters. During the event, attendees participated in raffle drawings and had the opportunity to purchase commemorative WCBO 50th Anniversary belt buckles, which remain available through the WCBO website. 

Networking, Recreation and Cody Hospitality 

The second day of the conference showcased the camaraderie and networking opportunities that have become a hallmark of WCBO events. Attendees selected from a variety of recreational activities, including a golf tournament, river rafting excursions, a wild horse and mustang tour, museum visits, indoor shooting range activities and exploring downtown Cody. 

The day’s activities concluded with a memorable Wyoming experience as 52 participants boarded the Cody Rodeo Bus for an evening featuring dinner, live entertainment and rodeo. The trifecta event, hosted by the Cody Cattle Company and the Stampede Rodeo Grounds, provided attendees with an authentic taste of western hospitality and culture. 

Professional Development Takes Center Stage 

Educational opportunities highlighted the third day of the conference. Following opening remarks and announcements from President Collier and Vice President Dan Peters, attendees participated in a full day of training led by instructor Shums Coda. 

The educational program featured three intensive eight-hour courses covering key topics relevant to today’s code professionals: 

• International Building Code® (IBC) Multi-Family Construction 
• IBC for Fire Code Officials 
• 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) Updates 

The training sessions provided valuable continuing education and helped attendees stay informed about evolving code requirements and industry best practices. 

Celebrating Excellence at the Awards Banquet

The annual awards banquet was held on Wednesday evening. President Collier opened the program with welcoming remarks and a reflection on WCBO’s 50-year history of promoting building safety.  

Special appreciation was extended to WCBO sponsors, supporters, affiliate associations, spouses and guests whose contributions help strengthen the organization. The Holiday Inn and Convention Center and its staff were also recognized for their hospitality and support throughout the event. 

Guest speakers included: 

• Pat Vandergriff, honorary WCBO member, mentor and founder of Vandergriff Code Consulting 
• Matt Belcher, ICC Government Relations Manager 
• Tristan Ganskow, the first recipient of the WCBO Scholarship 
• Jack Applegate, longtime honorary member, mentor and member of the ICC Board of Directors  

A live auction added excitement to the evening, featuring a one-of-a-kind custom WCBO 50th Anniversary belt buckle and a three-day, two-night stay at a guest ranch in Ucross, Wyoming. 

Board Swearing-In and Special Recognition 

One of the evening’s highlights was the swearing-in ceremony for newly elected and reelected WCBO board members. Applegate administered the oath of office and later acted as Master of Ceremonies for introducing the remaining guest speakers. 

Joining the WCBO Board during the ceremony were ICC representatives Jim Sayers, David Spencer, Ted Zuk, Lucas Sobeck and Ben Abbey, representing the ICC Board of Directors, ICC Region II and the ICC Montana Chapter. Longtime WCBO friend, mentor, Honorary member and former ICC Board member Jim Brown also addressed attendees. 

During the program, Applegate presented Antony “Tono” Pomerleau with an ICC leadership and service recognition coin. On behalf of ICC, he also presented WCBO with a commemorative CrystalPlus plaque honoring the organization’s 50 years of leadership and dedication to building safety excellence. 

Honoring Outstanding Service 

President Collier, Vice President Peters, Past Vice President Pomerleau and the WCBO Board recognized numerous individuals whose service has significantly contributed to the organization and the code enforcement profession. 

Richard Hauffe, retired ICC Government Relations Manager and longtime WCBO colleague and friend, was announced as an Honorary member and recipient of a service award. 

Additional years-of-service and recognition awards were presented to: 

• Pat Vandergriff 
• Jack Applegate 
• Jim Brown 
• Ken Rogers, WCBO Past President 
• Keith Bower, WCBO Past President 
• Bruce Wilson, WCBO Past President 
• Tom Scranton, WCBO Past Secretary 
• Billy Nunn, WCBO Past Treasurer 

These recognitions highlighted the dedication and leadership that have helped shape WCBO over the past five decades. 

The conference concluded on Friday morning with a half-day devoted to farewells, networking, contact information exchange, and event closeout activities. 

As attendees departed Cody, they carried with them new professional knowledge, strengthened relationships and a renewed appreciation for the organization’s rich history. The 50th Anniversary Conference served not only as a celebration of WCBO’s past accomplishments but also as a testament to its continued commitment to building safety, professional development and service to Wyoming communities for generations to come. 

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