Bryant: The Code Council of today will continue to thrive for many more tomorrows

Before passing the gavel to incoming Board of Directors President Greg Wheeler, CBO, outgoing Board President William Bryant, MCP, CBO, spoke on the Code Council’s accomplishments over the past year and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to serve as president. “I’m proud of what we have accomplished over the past year, and I’m excited for all that we will achieve together in the years to come,” Bryant said. “Your passion for our profession inspires me every day.”

Below are Bryant’s full remarks as outgoing Code Council board president during the Annual Banquet on Oct. 22, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nev.

I am so grateful to the people who have helped me get where I am today.

I want to thank Dominic Sims and the Code Council staff members for their incredible work to make this conference such a spectacular event.

I would also like to extend a special thank you to the Code Council staff members who could not attend our conference and are working hard in our regional offices to keep our association operational.

As Board President, I had the privilege of working closely with staff and seeing firsthand their dedication to our members and our mission. They work around the clock to support our board and our association, and I firmly believe it is because of them that we are one of the best organizations in the world. If you are a Code Council staff member, thank you for your commitment to building safety.

I would like to thank our membership and your spouses for your support over the past years and having the confidence in me to lead our association as your president. It has been an honor to serve you.

Thank you to my employer, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, for allowing me the privilege to serve this association. Without their support, I would not have had the opportunity to serve on this board.

I’d like to thank my son David, his wife Christina, my daughter Julie and my sister Pam for your support and encouragement over the years. It is such a pleasure to have you here tonight. I appreciate the sacrifices that you have made to afford me the opportunities to spend time with the Code Council membership.

Lastly, I want to thank my wife, Sherri, for your unwavering support during this journey. Sherri, you have been my best friend, confidant and mentor, and political advisor. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you.

This past year has been truly inspirational. I have had the honor of traveling across the country and around the world to meet with some of the brightest minds in our industry. From Maine to Washington and Maryland to China, I’ve interacted with building safety professionals of all backgrounds to discuss the important issues facing our communities both here and abroad.

My presidential theme for the past year has been ‘Working Today to Prepare for Tomorrow.’ We’ve made great strides over the past 12 months in planning for the future.

Our association is financially stable, and we have added numerous subsidiaries to our family of solutions which will ensure that the Code Council of today will continue to thrive for many more tomorrows.

Our Safety 2.0 initiative continues introducing new audiences to rewarding careers in the building safety field. Students, young professionals and military veterans and their families now have access to vast educational resources, experienced industry mentors, and step-by-step guidelines on how to enter the field.

We continue to expand our professional development offerings giving you access to the best training to help you prepare for the future. With more online training options than ever, our members have the flexibility to attend the courses they need at their convenience. And, just this year, we signed an agreement with Winn’s Career Education to expand online and in-person training opportunities for the plumbing professions.

In addition to expanding training offerings, we have made testing and certification more convenient through our online exam system, PRONTO. Our members and customers have access to over 80 PRONTO exams, which can be taken from any secure location, at any day or time.

Testing and certification are not the only resources that we’ve made more accessible. Our new digital media strategy leverages cutting-edge technology to put important news and information at your fingertips when you need it.

I’m proud of what we have accomplished over the past year, and I’m excited for all that we will achieve together in the years to come.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve as your president. Your passion for our profession inspires me every day.

As I pass the gavel to President Greg Wheeler, I leave with a renewed vigor for the future. The Code Council will continue to be in good hands under his leadership. Greg, I look forward to helping you however I can and in any capacity that you ask of me.

Godspeed. And thank you.