Women in Code Enforcement and Development of Virginia Honored with Code Council’s Chapter of the Year Award

During the Chapter Presidents Meeting at the International Code Council’s 2024 Annual Conference in Long Beach, CA., the Chapter of the Year Award was bestowed upon the Women In Code Enforcement and Development of Virginia (WICED).

The Chapter of the Year Award is presented to a Code Council chapter that best promotes the goals and mission of the organization.

Supporting Building Safety and Creating Safer Communities

Maryia Lackansingh, President of WICED of Virginia and the newly-elected Vice President of WICED “National,” expressed her excitement about the chapter’s recognition. Among their many accomplishments, WICED of Virginia achieved the highest number of Code Council-certified members across all chapters and saw a 50 percent increase in overall Code Council membership.

The creation of their first subchapter at Norfolk State University was another exciting milestone, complementing the group’s ongoing outreach efforts, including their active involvement with Habitat for Humanity.

The WICED of Virginia chapter also sponsored the 2024 Building Safety Month event in the City of Alexandria as well as co-hosted the annual Day of Service at the Code Council’s Annual Conference.

Read about the 2024 Annual Day of Service here. 

WICED demonstrates a consistent dedication to building safety and creating safer communities, and Lackansingh confirmed that achieving this level of success is the result of championing accessibility, communication and connection.

Accessibility is Everything

For Lackansingh and WICED of Virginia, accessibility is everything – not only in facilitating equality for disabled locals or camaraderie for organization members, but for the WICED student members at Norfolk State University.

Lackansingh began her career with Paralyzed Veterans of America, where she worked in the architecture department reviewing accessibility plans. Her personal connection to the needs of disabled individuals, shaped by experiences with her own family, gave her a unique perspective. This role not only deepened her understanding of accessibility but also helped her build a strong foundation in communication and fostering meaningful connections.

Lackansigh would eventually transition into commercial building code enforcement where she currently works as a Code Specialist III (Senior Plans Examiner in Commercial Building) for Fairfax County.

Through this work, Lackansingh is exposed to different types of projects which allows her to strengthen her knowledge of code enforcement across a host of building plans.

“You can read that code all you want, but you won’t really know how to apply it until you’ve got that project on your desk,” she said.

Lackansingh stays current with industry changes by teaching building codes for the state of Virginia through the Department of Housing and Community Development. Reflecting her strong advocacy for innovation, she shifted how WICED of Virginia members engage by introducing music and games to meetings, creating excitement and boosting attendance.

“Last year, we created vision boards for what we wanted to put out into the universe – what we wanted personally and/or professionally. We played music and had a blast,” she said. Their prioritization of connection didn’t stop there, it expanded to local youth. “It’s not what you know, but who you know. It’s about connection and we want [WICED] to be that for them.”

Expanding Representation in the Building Safety Industry

In 2023, Lackansigh and WICED of Virginia established a subchapter at Norfolk State University where women students in the engineering technology and construction management departments maintain a campus club.

WICED of Virginia has also awarded 16 scholarships to attend the Virginia Building Code Officials Association Annual Conference and the Code Council Annual Conference. Facilitating accessibility to youth, through community and connection, is what Lackansigh believes will keep their industry alive.

“With over 60 percent of the industry retiring in the next year to two years, I think it’s important that WICED has connected with the youth.”

Now, in an industry that’s expanding with regards to representation, WICED of Virginia is ensuring that incoming code enforcers, architects and interior designers can be what they see.

“We’re a group of women that come together to educate and celebrate ourselves within this industry. There are so few of us, but we’re growing.”

WICED is made up of not just plan reviewers, but architects, engineers, professors of building code – all industry professionals.

“We’re not siloed in life. Everything that we do is connected to other things and other people.” 

The Code Council celebrates Maryia Lackansingh and WICED of Virginia winning the 2024 Code Council Chapter of the Year Award. To learn more about the Code Council’s annual awards, visit the dedicated webpage here.