Steve Van Note honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

Award recognizes ICC managing director’s outstanding commitment, service and contributions to promoting safe buildings and communities through building codes and standards

The Iowa Association of Building Officials (IABO) recently recognized an individual that has more than 20 years of experience in the construction field, including project planning and management of residential, commercial and industrial building projects. International Code Council Managing Director of Product Development Steve Van Note, CBO, was presented with the chapter’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award during its Annual Banquet on Jan. 11, 2018, in West Des Moines, Iowa. The award is given to an IABO chapter member in recognition of their outstanding commitment, service and contributions in promoting safe buildings and communities through building codes and standards.

During the time as building official for Linn County, Iowa, Van Note was treasurer for IABO from 2002–2006 and was highly active in the chapter, promoting and scheduling training events for the IABO membership. As the IABO chapter nears its 60th anniversary, it reflected on its members and their contributions. Van Note has contributed significantly over the years to make IABO’s education successful, has worked alongside industry and has generously given his service to the community.

“Over the years, our chapter has benefited greatly with the educational events that Steve coordinated for IABO,” explained IABO President Roger Schemmel, building official for the city of Urbandale, Iowa. “His involvement has now increased to a new level as exampled by his development of handbooks and training workbooks for education of other chapters. It is an honor to present this award to Steve for his many years of contributions to our chapter, his service to the community and his continuing contributions to the mission of ICC.”

As a building official, Van Note furthered his experience and refined his code official, educator and writing skills. His uncanny knack of gathering or attracting people for education did not go unnoticed by the Code Council, and in 2006, he took a position with ICC. Currently, Van Note is the managing director of Product Development for the Code Council, where he is responsible for developing technical resource materials in support of the International Codes. His role also includes the management, review and technical editing of publications developed by ICC staff members and other expert authors. In addition, he develops and presents code seminars nationally.

“The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to someone who has dedicated themselves to advancing the built environment through positive code interpretations and enforcement,” said IABO First Vice President Tim Hennes, senior building inspector for the city of Iowa City. “Steve has always been an advocate for code education, as evidence[d] from his years of service on the IABO Education Committee and now in his position as managing director of product development with ICC. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the Lifetime Achievement Award than Steve Van Note.”

A certified building official and plans examiner with more than 40 years of experience in the construction and building code arena, Van Note also holds certifications in several inspection categories, including Certified Building Code Official, Combination Inspector—Legacy and Mechanical Inspector—UMC. He is also the author of several publications and training manuals, including Significant Changes to the IRC; Building Code Essentials—Residential; and Inspector Skills, a near biography of his years as carpenter, code official and educator.