National Mentoring Month: Inspiration Through Building Safety Mentors

January marks National Mentoring Month, a month dedicated to amplifying, encouraging and strengthening mentorship opportunities.

Mentors can be a vital resource to the next generation of professionals who are seeking guidance and to current professionals who are looking to take the next step in their careers. They can offer advice on best practices, share their experience in mitigating potential risks and be a source of motivation to reach your full potential.

Best of all, your mentor can become a lifelong friend.

Advocating for Mentoring

Having a mentor can help establish yourself in the building safety profession and be a stepping stone toward achieving long-term success.

Here are some reflections from industry professionals whose mentors have significantly impacted their careers.

Aaron Murg

Fire Plans Examiner, Oceanside Fire Department

“I have been in fire prevention for eight years now and am a fire plans examiner for the Oceanside Fire Department in San Diego County, Calif.

My ever-present mentor has been Ret. Fire Marshal, Paul Villalobos. He has always been a kind, insightful, empathic and encouraging figure in my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”

JC Hudgison, CBO, Associate AIA

Construction Services Control Manager & Chief Building Official, Development & Growth Management

“My building safety mentor is Dwayne Garriss. Dwayne was the Georgia State Fire Marshal and President of the International Code Council Board of Directors when I first became a building official in 2016. I took every opportunity at the Georgia State Code Advisory Committee meetings to ask him questions about building safety and the Code Council.

With his busy schedule, he could have chosen to dismiss my questions and go about his day, but if you know Dwayne, he loves to help. He even went so far as to appoint me as his board shadow for the 2017 Code Council Annual Conference in Columbus Ohio –  an experience that will always stay with me.

Dwayne has sat down and helped with several Emerging Leaders Membership Council initiatives over the last five years. He frequently checks in on me to see what I am doing and if there is any way he can help me during my building safety journey. This type of mentor is a rare find and I am honored that Dwayne has chosen to continue to foster this relationship. My mentorship experience has inspired me to help by mentoring others who are looking to join the building safety industry.” 

Eric Cavallo

Registered Agent, Earthly Infrastructure – Building and Infrastructure Development Inc. 

“At the time when I was taking courses, I really wasn’t certain as to how valuable they would be to me later in life –  I just knew I was interested in a career with the Fire Service. 

As I got older and made the decision to utilize my experience as a builder/developer to become a licensed contractor, I’ve thought back many times to the nights I spent in that class taught by Chief Waters. This was at a time shortly after 9/11 and it didn’t click with me yet why this man would be pushing himself so hard to be there teaching us until 11:00 at night after having worked all day at another job.  

I think I now fully understand how important this industry is and I’m still inspired by Chief Waters’ tenacity to this day.” 

Jack E. Applegate, CEO, CBO, COSS, CPI

International Code Council, Board of Directors 

“I have been blessed to have many mentors throughout my career. My first mentor was long-time code official, now retired Gary Lampella. Gary was always available to new and experienced code officials to answer the tough questions.  

He was a master at the soft skills and teaching the importance of relationship building. He encouraged networking, joining Code Council committees and understanding the meanings behind the code. I will always appreciate his dedication to the Code Council and his many years of service on code committees creating the codes that are used worldwide.” 

Mentoring Opportunities Through the International Code Council

The Code Council offers mentorship opportunities through our Safety 2.0 program to building safety professionals who are early in their careers. 

The Safety 2.0 Mentoring Program allows professionals the opportunity to find a mentor or become a mentor to help strengthen the future of construction trades. 

Additionally, watch this space for the relaunch of the Code Council’s Annual Conference Shadow Program. This program provides a unique opportunity for aspiring members to engage with conference attendees and ICC leaders.

Get to know our 2022 Board Shadows here. 

For more information, visit the Safety 2.0 webpage.