A Passion for Building Safety Starts Early for 14-Year-Old Peyton Shepherd

On April 15-17, 2024, Peyton Shepherd attended the Tennessee Building Officials Association (TBOA) conference in Gatlinburg. Building safety is important to Shepherd, so he was delighted to attend several classes at the event and network with various building professionals. Although Shepherd aspires to become a certified building safety inspector, he hasn’t achieved certification yet for one simple reason: he’s only 14 years old.

Shepherd was born in Knoxville, TN, and now resides in Seymour, TN, with his older sister Paige, his dad Phil and his mom Pam. Their home is in Sevier County, near the Great Smoky Mountains and the popular vacation destination of Pigeon Forge, known for Dollywood Theme Park and the Titanic Museum.

“We also have the fattest cat ever,” Shepherd said. “Named Fran Sisco after a line in the movie Elf.” He enjoys spending time with his family playing games at their lake house, and with his friends, especially collaborating on coding and gaming. “Currently, I moderate an online Discord server,” he said. “I enjoy helping other players and keeping the games running smoothly.”

Realtor Parents Provide a Bird’s-Eye View of the Building Inspection Industry

With both of Shepherd’s parents working as realtors, he developed an interest in becoming a building inspector after accompanying them to work. He spent time assisting them in assessing listings before the houses went on the market.

“I would watch what they did and learn about potential issues that could possibly be hazardous to potential home buyers,” Shepherd said. “That’s when building safety became more and more interesting to me.”

His parents arranged for their son to meet with Ron Hampton, a family friend who also serves as a Board Member of the International Code Council, in Kentucky.

“Mr. Hampton helped me get the ball rolling and provided me with materials to create a building inspection class as part of my homeschooling,” Shepherd said.

After seeing Hampton and others at the TBOA event, “I confirmed the importance of building codes for saving lives, and that is the work direction I’d like to pursue,” Shepherd added.

Code Conference Mentorship Crucial to Young Building Inspection Careers

While at the conference, Shepherd met over 200 building trade professionals, many of whom invited him to job shadow them in the future to learn more about the industry. He intends to seize these opportunities, aiming to visit as many of these professionals as possible. Additionally, he plans to observe a local, highly regarded contractor from the inception to the completion of a construction project this summer.

“I learned about the friendships these building inspectors have formed throughout the years,” Shepherd said. “It’s like a large family instead of just a group of people with a common profession. These are people who care about public safety and do their jobs at their best. I appreciate these professionals who strive for excellence and won’t settle for mediocrity.”

In July, Shepherd will attend a building code event in Knoxville to learn about wood frame construction updates. “Keeping up with revised codes is important because products and ideas are changing all the time,” Shepherd said. “Knowing what those changes affect can make a difference during inspections. All aspects of a building must remain up to current codes.”

Pursuing Educational Opportunities for a Career in Building Safety

In addition to shadowing a variety of building safety mentors in all aspects of construction, Shepherd will start dual enrollment college classes this fall to continue to pursue a career in the inspection field. He also encourages primary and high schools to show students how building codes support everyday safety, and that this profession is a solid option for those not necessarily interested in a four-year college.

“My sister has three college degrees, but that’s not for everyone,” Shepherd said. “My mom says that every job is as important as the next, from municipal workers to gas station attendants. And, if you find something you’re interested in, you will excel.”

The Code Council’s Technical Training Program is a great option that provides high school students with the opportunity to better prepare themselves for careers in the construction and building field.

“Being a Master Code Professional is my ultimate goal,” Shepherd said. “It will take a lot of hard work, but I hope to reach my goal.” 

He plans to stay in Tennessee too. “I love Good Ol’ Rocky Top, so, although I love to travel, I want to continue to live in the great state of Tennessee.” 

Visit the Code Council’s Safety 2.0 webpage for resources to support the next generation of building safety professionals here.