Empowering Women: Kimberly Norman-Rosedam Shares her Experience from the Women Leaders in Code Enforcement Symposium

The Women Leaders in Code Enforcement Symposium (WLCE) was established to help advance improvements in the construction field and to promote a supportive learning environment for women in the building industry. Through training opportunities, networking and industry connections, the program fosters and supports women in current and future leadership roles.

The International Code Council sponsored several building safety professionals from around the country to attend the WLCE Symposium held in San Diego, Calif., from March 21-23, 2023, both in person and virtually.

“It was great to attend the WLCE symposium, and I was amazed and awed by the speakers,” said Code Council sponsorship recipient Kimberly Norman-Rosedam. “I felt so inspired and proud to be part of this industry with so many women who look like me.”

The sponsorships reflect the Code Council’s commitment to diversity and support their Safety 2.0 initiative, which was established to help welcome a new generation of members and leaders into the building safety profession.

“The WLCE Symposium solidified my feelings that I am in the right profession,” Norman-Rosedam added. “I learned that my process and journey to become a code enforcement professional is not just for me, but for others rising in the field. I am proud to help lead more women into this vital and rewarding profession.”

Trailblazing New England Code Professional

While still in school for civil and mechanical architecture, Norman-Rosedam was a commissioner on the zoning board of appeals. She then worked for the city of Stamford, as a construction inspector and senior site superintendent before she started her current position as Guildford’s Building Official, where she is responsible for planning, directing and managing building inspection activities.

Norman-Rosedam is the first African American woman to be licensed as a building official, and the first African American to run a building department in Connecticut and throughout New England. 

Third Generation Contractor and Site Supervisor with Impressive Track Record

Since 2015, Norman-Rosedam has been a Certified Residential Building Inspector, Real Estate Salesperson, State Home Improvement Contractor, and a Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Contractor.

“As a third-generation contractor and site supervisor, I always knew the importance of safety,” she said. “Going into building safety was the next obvious step for my professional career.”

A few of the building and renovation projects Norman-Rosedam has supervised include a new wing at Yale Hospital, an old science building for the Department of Education, a kids’ play café, a sports fitness complex, commercial food retailers, plus community complexes, condominiums, townhouses and single-family homes. She’s also supervised other sites in Connecticut, as well as in New York and New Jersey.

In addition to operations management and construction site maintenance, she’s proficient in competitor analysis, negotiations and estimates, hiring cycles, risk management, budgets, bookkeeping and blueprints.

Regular Meetings, Clear Communication and Mentorship are Key to Code Compliance Work

In her current leadership role, Norman-Rosedam knows the importance of holding morning safety project meetings, plus communicating clear processes and providing appropriate tools for her team.

Her own keys to success in the building industry include a thorough knowledge of construction, excellent customer service for various constituencies and an eagerness to continually learn more about code inspection processes.

“I’m excited about the new, upcoming codes and emerging computer-driven tools,” Norman-Rosedam said. “I’m passionate about new technologies like 3D-printed houses and residences with energy-saving devices.”

She’s currently enrolled in the Certified Passive House Designer training program to learn about the voluntary standard for energy efficiency to reduce the ecological footprint, which results in buildings using ultra-low energy for cooling and heating.

She remains inspired by her dad Wilmoth Rosedam, who is 91 years old and still works in construction for his firm, Rose Construction Company. She’s also in touch with George Gdovin, Guilford’s former building official, who’s been in the industry for over 40 years.

Norman-Rosedam has also become a mentor herself after connecting with Courtney Smith, a young female building professional in Atlanta, on LinkedIn.

Networking Conferences and Continuing Education are Crucial to Building Safety Success

Norman-Rosedam plans to keep current with her continuing education classes to pursue her Master Code Professional certification, including her building plans examiner, accessibility inspector/plans examiner and commercial building inspector certifications.

She also continues to keep clear and consistent communication about new codes and compliance issues among her four part-time inspectors.

“I want to let everyone know that I am here for all of them,” she said. “I also want to assure our customers that we are here to make sure they will have comfort and security by knowing that their homes are secure after a building safety inspection.”

Click here to learn more about WLCE and click here to learn more about the Code Council’s Safety 2.0 program.