Dan Carlson is honored with the International Code Council’s Raising the Profile Award

The International Code Council has a long history of honoring individuals and organizations who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to building safety and their communities. One such honor includes the ICC Raising the Profile Award, which recognizes acts or contributions that raise public awareness of accomplishments by code personnel that improve public safety in the built environment.

This year’s recipient is Dan Carlson, Building Official for the City of Wilsonville, OR. As an educator and former builder, Carlson is dedicated to building safety and the future of the industry. He strives to attract, inform and educate new talent as an adjunct instructor at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, OR. But his most striking accomplishment may be in the way he approaches his work and the way he interacts with homeowners, builders and contractors.

“Always try to treat others how you want to be treated,” Carlson advised. “Customers have no choice but to come to us for service, [but] we have a choice as to what their experience is like. Listen first and try to see [things] from their perspective. Don’t just put yourself in their shoes, walk a mile in them! Then you will be open and in a better position to help them in their journey, or to help them solve a difficult problem.”

His strategy for assisting the public and his determination to help others solve their greatest problems are just two of the ways that Carlson is raising the profile of the building safety profession.

Raising the Profile of Others is Critical to Carlson

Recognizing the employment gap caused by a lack of code professionals, Carlson began teaching building code classes at Chemeketa in September 2016. He had no prior teaching experience but was driven by a desire to pass along the knowledge he had accumulated throughout his career.

“I want to do my part to help bridge this gap by giving back to a profession that has been good to me, and I plan to do this by continuing to help train the next generation,” said Carlson. “I really enjoy giving back and seeing the impact of how the program, and subsequent employment as code professionals, changes lives through meaningful work.”

To help fill the immediate need for well-trained and qualified code professionals, Carlson helped spearhead a scholarship fund for students of Chemeketa’s Building Inspection Technology program in 2022. The scholarship for the program, which offers a two-year associates degree for aspiring building code professionals, raised more than $25,000 in just three months. With the first batch of scholarships awarded in the fall of 2022, Carlson hopes to double the number awarded going forward to enable more students to focus on their education.

“What we do as code professionals matters,” Carlson explained. “The delivery of our services has undergone a paradigm shift through electronic mediums. This shift was sped up dramatically by the pandemic. I try to improve myself so I can be a resource. In 2022 I completed training to become a Bluebeam Certified Instructor. Bluebeam is a robust PDF markup tool that can be used for electronic plan review. This year I incorporated this training into a residential plan review class at Chemeketa. When completed, graduates have the electronic plans markup and review skills to be successful.”

Carlson also completed his FAA Part 107 UAS Certification, which allows him to perform drone inspections within his jurisdiction. Three of his inspectors have also been certified, and now Chemeketa plans to incorporate a drone inspection component into the Building Inspection Technology curriculum.

“Big picture: my objective is to never stop growing, to stay in step with technology whether at work or in teaching and to help others develop their skills for success,” Carlson added.

His unending dedication to the building safety profession has attracted the attention of both the Code Council and the Oregon Building Officials Association (OBOA). In addition to the 2023 ICC Raising the Profile Award, Carlson also received an Honorary Lifetime Membership from the Oregon Permit Technicians Association, the OBOA’s Education Advocate of the Year Award in 2018 and the Building Official of the Year Award in 2013.

Carlson saw his latest award as an opportunity to showcase the Chemeketa program “and to really encourage my peers to do more, to do what they can, to help train this next generation.”

“I think we have an obligation and responsibility as code professionals to do that,” he continued. “To the extent that I can encourage others to raise the profile and get new blood involved in our line of work, that’s what I try to do. That’s what I try to do through the Chemeketa program as well, [to] really bring in new students and coach and mentor them so they can become successful code professionals.”

Michele Linbarger, Commercial Plans Examiner for the City of Springfield, OR, praised Carlson for the significant time and resources he has committed to Chemeketa’s Building Inspection Technology program.

“While working as the City of Wilsonville’s Building Official, he has a time-consuming commitment as an instructor as well as a mentor and advisor to the Chemeketa Chapter of the Code Council,” said Linbarger, Past President of the Oregon Permit Technicians Association. The association received the inaugural W. Scott Copp Chapter Leadership Award in 2023.

“He leads by example of what dedication to building safety looks like both to experienced code officials and the next generation alike,” Linbarger added. “He has been my personal mentor and is always available to answer questions or get feedback on tricky situations and has also become a valued friend.”

Carlson Got His Start by Raising His Own Profile

Carlson’s career in building safety began in 1994 when he enrolled in Chemeketa’s Building Inspection Technology program. He applied (and landed on the extensive waitlist) after a five-year gig with Robert Pauls Construction, where he built custom homes. After one excruciating winter in the hills of Polk County, OR, Carlson took the advice of the county’s inspector, Ted Darling, who urged him to explore Chemeketa’s program.

“From there my life changed rapidly,” Carlson recalled. “I had to figure out how to support my family while putting myself through school. Initially, I took odd jobs to make ends meet. On one hand I was always physically exhausted, and on the other I was mentally thriving in my schoolwork. I was learning the ‘why’ behind the codes I built to and it all made so much more sense. It was incredibly motivating.”

He interned in Darling’s department and later worked part-time as a residential plan reviewer for the City of Dallas, OR. His first full-time gig was with the City of Corvallis, OR as a commercial inspector, a job he almost ignored. Carlson was concerned that he didn’t have enough experience or certifications to make it through the hiring process. But his next-door neighbor, Greg Hall (who was a commercial inspector for Corvallis at the time), encouraged him to apply anyway. Carlson also listened to the advice of his father, who said, “Dan, the door of opportunity won’t open if you don’t knock.”

Carlson did everything he could to prepare for the role, researching Corvallis in every way possible. He visited the city’s website, spoke with his neighbor and took a day off from work for, as Carlson put it, “A little reconnaissance to drive around town.”

His efforts paid off and paved the way for a 20-year career with Corvallis, in which he was promoted to Plans Examiner II, Inspection Services Manager and finally Development Services Division Manager and Building Official.

“Lee March was the Building Official when I was hired,” said Carlson. “With his military background, he ran a tight ship and I learned so much from him. He announced his retirement date as March 2004. For years I served under his leadership and received several promotions up to Inspections Manager. I began to think I might want to be a building official someday, and then I got the wild idea that perhaps I should toss my name in the hat for Lee’s position. This was despite two other internal candidates being much more experienced, educated, and qualified than me.”

Carlson’s persistence and his willingness to try even when the odds were seemingly against him are important life lessons for anyone considering a career in building safety. For example, as he pondered March’s departure, he realized he knew little about the budget, which was a critical part of running a building department. Instead of merely waiting for an opportunity to learn, Carlson asked March for his help and spent the following three months learning everything he could.

“When it came time to interview, I was determined to bring my A-game,” said Carlson. “Every detail was important. I solicited reference letters from prominent contractors and other statewide stakeholders that I’d built relationships with over the years. I had three interview panels: one made up of staff, one of department directors and contractors and the last with the city manager.”

One of the panels included Nancy Brewer, Corvallis’ Finance Director. During the interview, she asked, “Quickly, if I came to you and said you need to cut 10% of your budget, what would you cut?”

This proved to be one of the toughest questions, but Carlson was prepared. He knew that just over 80% of the city’s building department budget was people, so it would be impossible to avoid staff cuts. He also knew Brewer didn’t like to dally, so he cut to the chase and replied, “People.” This proved to be the exact answer Brewer wanted.

“I softened it a bit by suggesting I’d first look at everything before people, but that’s where the question and the scenario led,” Carlson affirmed. “Later, Nancy shared that I was the only one to get the question right. This boosted my confidence, and I became even more grateful to Lee for his wise counsel and excellent teaching. My budget coaching with Lee and my interview preparations paid off. I was offered and accepted the job.”

Carlson’s work with Corvallis provided him with the experience he needed to become the Building Official for Wilsonville and an adjunct instructor at Chemeketa Community College.

“I have served in Wilsonville as the Building Official for seven years and I love what I get to do in serving our wonderful community alongside an incredible team of talented professionals,” he said. “Every day is different and brings a variety of problems to solve. It’s a lot of fun!”

Carlson said that he also feels fortunate to teach at Chemeketa, adding, “What I enjoy the most and find most fulfilling in teaching is being part of something that has a positive impact on our built environment and helps people find a meaningful vocation that positively changes their life trajectory. That’s the good stuff!”

Prior recipients can be viewed here, and don’t miss out on the full list of awards announced at the Code Council’s 2023 Annual Conference and Expo in St. Louis, MO.