2024 W. Scott Copp Chapter Leadership Award Shared by Dawn Neil and Cindi Somers

The second annual W. Scott Copp Chapter Leadership Award recipients are Dawn Neil, Permit Technician for the Township of Bernards in Basking Ridge, NJ, and Cindi Somers, retired Permit Technician for the city of Richland, WA. This honor celebrates the memory of W. Scott Copp, a leader who dedicated his career to advancing building safety at the local, state, regional and national levels.

Neil and Somers have been promoting Permit Technicians for over two decades in New Jersey, Washington State and via PermitTechNation (PTN), where Neil is the current treasurer and committee member. She’s also president of the New Jersey Association of Technical Assistants.

Somers is the past president of PTN and the Washington State Association of Permit Technicians and is currently a PTN board member and education liaison.

New Jersey’s Dawn Neil is a Permit Technician Veteran, Tireless Mentor and Advocate

Serena Locke, President of the Oregon Permit Technicians Association (OPTA) and 2023 W. Scott Copp Chapter Leadership Award recipient, said that Neil’s generosity, encouragement and leadership helped her team strive for excellence.

“Dawn continues to support any crazy idea I have and is there to advise, guide and give tips and tricks to help me achieve goals,” Locke said. “Knowing that I have her in my corner gives me joy.”

Neil, a 29-year industry veteran, said, “I am humbled and honored to receive the W. Scott Copp Leadership Award and to share it with my dearest friend and mentor Cindi Somers. It’s a wonderful feeling to be recognized by your peers and the Code Council for our hard work and dedication to this profession.”

“Dawn is an exceptional leader, mentor and advocate, willing to take on the unglamorous but vital work that keeps organizations running and growing,” said Senior Technology Business Analyst Michele Miller of Bellevue, WA. “Her commitment to the Permit Technician profession goes far beyond titles and recognition. She pours her heart and energy into everything, always with the goal of empowering others and leaving an indelible mark on the profession. Dawn doesn’t just step up when needed. She continually seeks out the roles and responsibilities that others shy away from, ensuring that no detail is overlooked and that no task is left undone.”

Washington State’s Cindi Somers Supports Permit Techs as Vital Code Officials

While working for the city of Richland, WA, Somers helped simplify complex processes to reduce stress for homeowners and support successful outcomes for developers. “Helping others achieve their goals and ensuring projects run smoothly gave me a sense of fulfillment,” Somers said.

“While I never had the privilege of knowing Scott Copp, his motto ‘learn something new every day’ speaks to me,” said Somers, who retired as a Permit Expeditor in 2019. “That aligns with a question I learned from my mentor Steve Burger: ‘Did you take away at least one thing?’ I’m especially proud to accept this award alongside my dear friend, mentor and colleague Dawn Neil. She’s an absolute phenom and I’m incredibly grateful for her guidance, support and friendship. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that the work we have done to promote the Permit Technician career is being recognized and appreciated.”

“Having followed in her footsteps as President of both the Washington Association of Permit Technicians and PTN, I can say without hesitation that Cindi has set an exceptional standard of leadership,” Miller said. “She constantly strives to strengthen and expand her organizations. As a founding member, her PTN contributions are nothing short of remarkable. It’s impossible to overstate Cindi’s drive, dedication and enduring impact on the Permit Technician profession.”

Digitalization Streamlined the Permitting Process

The pair both celebrate digitizing the permitting process. “When I started, we barely had computer software to track permits,” Neil said. “Everything was on paper and in giant ledger books. Now, we submit permits and inspections electronically and use phones and tablets in the field.”

Somers has similar memories of pre-digital days when the process was manual and heavily paper-based. “If the printer was working,” she recalled, “the DOS system would print permits and reports, period. Software for project management, permitting and compliance is a game-changer, especially when an enterprise system is utilized.”

“If your jurisdiction is still relying on paper and funding is lacking, take the Code Council’s ‘Grant Writing Basics for Code Officials’ training,” Somers advised. “After that, apply for a grant to fund a system.”

Permit Technician Careers are Desirable Since College Degrees Aren’t Required

Both Neil and Somers are passionate about promoting Permit Technicians. “For so long, we have been seen as just secretaries or the ‘girls’ in the office,” Neil said. “We are so much more than that! We are Code Officials who know the regulations for our jurisdictions to serve our constituents as the face of the department.”

Permit Technicians positively impact building projects’ successes. “We’re the first and, quite often, the last point of contact for customers,” Somers said. “The guidance we provide can set the tone for the entire process. It’s surprising to some how much knowledge and expertise is required to navigate codes and regulations and ensure a smooth process. Permit Technicians are valuable and indispensable members of the development team.”

“Over the past several decades, there has been significant progress in elevating the perception of the Permit Technician role, including greater acceptance of the position as a bona fide Code Official,” Somers continued.

Somers and Neil actively support Permit Technician careers since those positions can provide a fulfilling career path without a college degree. “You don’t have to put yourselves in tens of thousands of dollars in debt to become a Permit Technician or Master Code Professional, as long as you have dedication and a passion for continuous learning,” Neil added. 

Somers was the subject matter expert for the reissue of the self-paced Permit Tech Career Path course.

“Her collaborative spirit and enthusiasm for the content and materials enhanced the quality and accuracy of the final course,” said Code Council Instructional Designer Kevin Dorcy. “Cindi brought a wealth of practical knowledge and real-world experience, ensuring the content was accurate and relevant. She provided specific industry insights so we could tailor the training to the unique needs of those seeking careers as Permit Technicians.”

Traits of a Successful Permit Technician

Neil cites empathy, passion and a thick skin are necessary for success with construction code work. She also wants to see each state have a Permit Technician chapter and hopes to mentor more in the industry.

“Dawn’s reputation in New Jersey and nationwide is well known,” said Bernards Township, NJ, Construction Official Dennis Bettler. “The first thing many say is ‘Let’s call Dawn.’ She has mentored dozens of permit technicians throughout her career. Many of those PTs have won awards or are working alongside their respective code officials or leading their agencies because of Dawn’s mentorship. Her knowledge of and passion for code enforcement is unwavering. She makes her colleagues better by encouraging them to perform their best.”

Somers advocates for mastering the basics – excellent communication skills and being calm and adaptable. She is pleased that the building industry is becoming more inclusive and diverse.

“I’m thrilled to see these changes paving the way for a more equitable and forward-thinking profession,” she said. “And, of course, another change is the rising recognition and importance of having a well-educated Certified Permit Technician as part of your team.”

Somers and Neil will formally receive the 2024 W. Scott Copp award at the Chapter Leadership Academy which will take place during the 2025 ICC Leadership Week in Orlando, Florida. During the event, Somers and Neil will be presenting on their path to receiving the award and their experiences within the industry. Learn more about ICC Leadership Week, here.

To learn more about the Code Council’s annual awards, click here.