Serena Locke Receives 2024 Excellence in Public Safety Award

The International Code Council’s Excellence in Public Safety Award recognizes a member of the building industry who consistently demonstrates outstanding qualities, including integrity and professionalism, and represents the spirit of public service in the interest of public safety. Serena Locke, CPT, Building Permit Technician for Jackson County Development Services in Medford, Oregon, is the recipient of the Code Council’s 2024 Excellence in Public Safety Award.

“It is very humbling that the people I work with believe in me that much,” Locke said after learning that several of her colleagues nominated her for the award.

A Career Driven by Helping Others

Since joining the building industry in 2016, Locke has earned her Code Council Permit Technician certification, participated in the Board Shadow Program under Code Council Board Director Jim Sayers and organized the first national Permit Technician Leadership Retreat. She has also been honored as the Jackson County Employee of the Month and has won two Permit Technician of the Year awards — one from PermitTechNation (PTN) and one from the Oregon Building Officials Association (OBOA).

Currently, Locke is the President of two Code Council chapters — the Oregon Permit Technicians Association (OPTA) and PTN — and is developing educational courses to help other Permit Techs learn and grow. In March 2025, she presented a session called Not Just a Permit Tech at the Women Leaders in Code Enforcement Symposium in in Reno, Nevada.

Led by a passion for service, teamwork and mentoring, Locke does all of this and more in a way that makes those around her feel valued, supported and seen.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Serena for the last eight years,” said Ted Zuk, CBO, Jackson County Development Services Director and Vice President of the Region II Chapter of the Code Council. “Serena excels in the Building Permit Tech profession. She has embraced it wholeheartedly and is well known and thought of in our region and nationally.”

“Serena immediately took personal initiative and, through a lot of additional classwork and a very rigorous exam process, gained a Code Council certification as a Certified Permit Technician,” Zuk continued. “This was not a requirement for her job, but a personal goal to become better at her job.”

Zuk said that Locke volunteers her time to help others and is instrumental in bringing Permit Technicians as a group to the forefront. She also helps organize charity events for the Code Council Day of Service and other local projects for Habitat for Humanity. He highlighted her dedication to serving her community, colleagues and the Code Council and her unwavering commitment to excellence.

“Serena makes a significant contribution to our building department operations at Jackson County and the various Permit Tech organizations she is involved with,” said Breck Cook, Plans Examiner for Jackson County, Oregon, and President of the Southern Oregon Chapter of the Code Council. “She is so helpful and informative with customers and coworkers and is always eager to help the public understand the requirements of the permitting process.”

“As a Code Council Certified Permit Technician, Serena truly goes above and beyond what is expected of her on a daily basis,” Cook continued. “I have worked closely with her for a number of years, and she is a pleasure to work with from the moment she walks past my desk in the morning until the end of the day.”

When asked what she enjoys most about her work, Locke said she likes knowing that she is helping others.

“In my role as a Permit Tech, I can make a difference just by spending a few minutes educating people about safety,” Locke said. “It feels good knowing that, if people listen, they’ll be safe.”

She is also passionate about her career and supporting her colleagues. “I’m excited about the Permit Technician job,” Locke continued. “I advocate for it everywhere. This has turned into my hobby.”

Outside of work, Locke enjoys spending time with her husband of nearly 30 years and her 22-year-old son, who is preparing to serve in the military. She also loves to hike. 

“I live in Southern Oregon,” Locke said. “So, we have lots of great hiking trails around here and on the coast.”

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