Highlights from the International Code Council’s 2023 Annual Conference and Expo

The International Code Council concluded its 2023 Annual Conference in St. Louis, Mo., bringing together building safety professionals from around the world.

This year’s conference was held from October 8-11 and featured educational and networking sessions, the election of the 2023-2024 Board of Directors and new events for attendees to enjoy.

Along with numerous committee and regional meetings, below are some key highlights from the 2023 Annual Conference.

Eight Annual Ron Burton Golf Outing

The conference kicked off on Sunday, October 8, with the eighth annual Ron Burton Golf Outing at the Stonewolf Golf Club. This event celebrates the life and work of William Ronald “Ron” Burton, who was a renowned code expert and worked on many code-related projects for the Code Council, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

The fundraiser tourney included a raffle, prizes for the longest drive and closest to the pin, and a hole-in-one contest.

Building Tours and Volunteer Outing

Building tours were held all day Sunday which highlighted notable architecture and development projects in the St. Louis area. The tours went through the Veterans Community Project campus, the Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 Facility and Training Center and an overview of St. Louis architecture.

Hosted by the Code Council’s Military Families Program, Sunday also provided attendees the opportunity to volunteer at the Veterans Community Project campus to help clean up and beautify the tiny home village. This dedicated village includes 50 tiny houses for veterans experiencing homelessness and provides them with the tools necessary to return to a stable, prosperous and independent life.

SEE RELATED: St. Louis Union Station’s Historical Beauty is a Must-See for Code Council Conference and Expo Attendees 

Code Council Expo

The Code Council’s Expo, which was held on Sunday and Monday, brought together an impressive lineup of exhibitors showcasing the latest building products and technologies. The Expo featured a headshot café, where attendees could get a free professional headshot taken, a visit from Build-A-Bear and a model tiny house.

New this year, the Code Council hosted a Bridge Building Challenge within the Expo. The friendly engineering competition was made up of teams of roughly 30 people who were tasked with designing and building a suspension bridge, a truss bridge and a “mystery” bridge.

“Team Network” won the challenge by building a suspension bridge that was able to hold 72 pounds.

Stump the Bot

Conference attendees had the opportunity to test out the Code Council’s new artificial intelligence features in a game of “Stump the Bot”.

This event, which was held on Sunday and Monday, followed the Code Council’s announcement of two new code intelligence tools: ICC AI Navigator and ICC Premium Answers.  

ICC Premium Answers provides access to a searchable questions-and-answers database on practical code compliance applications, along with interpretations and opinions from Code Council experts. The AI Navigator helps users find content within the International Codes® by answering simple questions. 

First Timers and Building Safety Leadership Experience Welcome

First-time conference attendees and Building Safety Leadership Experience (BSLE) participants gathered Sunday evening for a welcome reception to meet each other, ask questions and speak with several conference veterans.

The BLSE is a new program that provides participants with a unique opportunity to attend a series of events throughout the conference, learning about Code Council governance, the Chapter program and Membership Councils.

Similarly, the First-Timers Program is a new experience that helps first-time conference attendees navigate the events. The program included a pre-conference virtual orientation that provided an overview of the conference and schedule, discussed key events and offered valuable tips.

Welcome to St. Louis

The Welcome to St. Louis event held on Sunday allowed conference goers the opportunity to enjoy a night of food and games at Ballpark Village.

Though first proposed in 1990, Ballpark Village was not officially built until 2014. It serves as St. Louis’ first development designed to convey excitement of the game day experience outside of stadium walls. St. Louis credits the area as its most important development of the past decade. Ballpark Village is recognized for its quality, scale, creative design and community impact.

SEE RELATED: America’s Center Welcomes the International Code Council’s 2023 Annual Conference

Opening Session and Annual Business Meeting

The Opening Session, which took place on Monday, featured keynote speaker, Tamara Robertson, Emmy-nominated producer and star of the MythBusters television series, who shared her passion for STEM, how failure is always an option (until it isn’t) and the importance of mentorship. Her keynote address concluded with a colorful “elephant toothpaste” reaction. After the speech, attendees had the opportunity to meet Tamara one on one.

The Opening Session was followed by the Annual Business Meeting, during which Code Council  CEO Dominic Sims, CBO, provided updates on the development of several new building safety standards, the creation of new digital solutions to better serve building safety professionals in the field and the Code Council’s industry-leading professional training and development programs. 

SEE RELATED: 5 Resolutions Approved By Membership at 2023 Code Council Annual Business Meeting

During the Annual Business Meeting, members welcomed a new slate of officers and directors to its 2023–2024 Board of Directors. Three senior officers were elected to the executive committee and five directors (two sectional and three at-large) were elected or re-elected to serve on the board by eligible Code Council voting members. Read more, here. 

Insight Sessions and Educational Programs

After the Annual Business Meeting, conference attendees broke into six insight sessions that covered the basics and ever-changing hot topics hosted by experts from across the Code Council and the building industry: 

• The Plumbing Industry Today 
• Building Code Enforcement: Global Best Practices 
• Preparing for the 2024-2026 Code Development Cycle 
• Recruiting the Next Generation and Succession Planning 
• ICC Fundamentals 
• Quick Hits on Emerging Building Safety Topics 

Education Programs were also held all day Tuesday for attendees to grow their knowledge and expertise. The programs included topics such as significant changes to the 2024 International Codes, How to be a Better Leader by Practicing Active Listening, Batteries in the Built Environment, and more.

Awards Luncheon

At the Code Council’s Awards Luncheon, held on Tuesday, and the Chapter President’s Meeting, held on Monday, individuals, chapters and organizations were honored for their accomplishments and service to their communities, the building safety industry and the Code Council. 

SEE RELATED: International Code Council Honors Extraordinary Building Safety Professionals at 2023 Annual Conference 

Connections Gala and Blues N’ Schmooze Event

On Tuesday, Conference attendees enjoyed dinner while watching the installation of the Code Council Board of Directors and presentation of awards.

The William J. Tangye Staff Recognition Award was presented to Will Utsey, and the President’s Award was presented to Mark Johnson and Mark Roberts.

Following the Gala, guests unwound and created lasting memories at the Blues N’ Schmooze event where they heard local blues music played by Kalvin Dobbins & The River Roosters, hit the dance floor and enjoyed desserts and drinks with friends and colleagues. 

 The 2023 Annual Conference would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors. Join the Code Council next year in Long Beach, California for the 2024 Annual Conference.