Chapter presidents honor peers

At the Chapter Presidents’ Meeting on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, Chapter Merit Award winners — the Washington Association of Building Officials and the Building Officials Association of Texas — and the recipient of the prestigious Chapter of the Year Award — the Virginia Building and Code Officials Association — were announced.

“Chapter presidents, my fellow board members and I understand the time and effort you contribute on behalf of your chapters,” said International Code Council Board Director Stuart Tom, who served as the chairman of the 2018 ICC Awards Committee. “Today’s awards are a small token of appreciation from the board of directors and the entire Code Council membership. Congratulations to all of you, and thank you for your leadership.”

The Chapter of the Year Award is the Code Council’s highest award bestowed upon a chapter and recognizes the extraordinary performance of a chapter in promoting the goals and mission of the Code Council. The recipient of the 2018 Chapter of the Year Award is the Virginia Building and Code Officials Association (VBCOA) for its work to advance participation in the code development process and promote the building safety profession through extensive education offerings.

The Virginia Building and Code Officials Association is one of the Code Council’s most active and engaged chapters and has accomplished some inspiring and exciting things this year. From training to mentoring and community engagement, VBCOA is a true leader in the building safety field. A prominent local and national advocate for building safety and the model codes, VBCOA has worked extensively to advance participation in the code development process. In partnership with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, VBCOA provides training on cdpACCESS across Virginia and helps code officials register and vote on proposed code changes both online and at the code hearings. VBCOA members enthusiastically participate in code development committees and in code adoption activities on a regular basis.

The chapter goes above and beyond to promote building safety professionalism through extensive educational program offerings. VBCOA hosts an annual conference for more than 200 code officials, inspectors and other professionals. The conference includes many sessions taught by instructors or providers approved by the Code Council. Thanks to VBCOA’s leadership, more than 90 percent of its members are ICC certified.

VBCOA is also a passionate advocate for supporting the next generation of building safety professionals. They have been a vocal supporter of the Code Council’s High School Technical Training Program since its inception. Virginia currently has the most participating schools in the nation due to VBCOA’s diligent work in recruiting participants, promoting the codes curriculum and establishing long-term relationships with schools.

On the national level, VBCOA participation in Code Council activities is exceptional. VBCOA members serve on the Code Council Board of Directors and participate in Membership Councils, exam development committees, the Professional Development Council, ad hoc committees and more. From education and certification to code development and adoption, VBCOA is a leader on the local, state and national level.

The International Code Council congratulates the Virginia Building and Code Officials Association as its 2018 Chapter of the Year.

Click here to view past award recipients.

The Chapter Merit Awards recognize chapters that distinguish themselves through activities demonstrating the Code Council’s goals and objectives. The Washington Association of Building Officials and the Building Officials Association of Texas were recognized this year for their commitment to the next generation of code officials.

The Washington Association of Building Officials is a tireless advocate for building safety and the code officials of Washington. They have been actively engaged in state legislative affairs and hosted numerous trainings for their members. On the national level, WABO members participate on many Code Council committees and are heavily involved in the code development process. WABO has demonstrated its commitment to the next generation of code officials through scholarships, a mentor program and educational opportunities for young adults.

The second Merit Award recipient is the Building Officials Association of Texas. 2017 was a tough year for Texas. Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston and other areas along the coast, taking lives and causing extensive property damage. BOAT stepped up to the challenge by conducting structural assessments and helping residents move back into their homes as quickly as possible. Despite the extra workload, BOAT continued its regular busy calendar of activities, including numerous education and training sessions, regional code committees, and state legislative affairs.

BOAT also supports the next generation of code officials, through their summer internship program and annual career development day. Another great example is the event they held this year to educate children about pool safety during Building Safety Month.

The International Code Council congratulates the Washington Association of Building Officials and the Building Officials Association of Texas as its 2018 Chapter Merit Award recipients.

Click here to view past award recipients.