ICC People in the News

Neale named VP Fire Service Activities, Ochoa selected as VP Government Relations for Federal Activities, Soukup hired as Government Relations Regional Manager and National Resilience Liaison

The International Code Council (ICC) announces three new staff have joined the ICC Team to serve Members and stakeholders, and reinforce its commitment to building safety.

Robert (Rob) A. Neale will join the Code Council team in late-July as Vice President of Fire Service Activities. Rob will be responsible for developing, coordinating, directing and implementing programs related to fire safety and the fire service. He will also lead efforts to adopt the International Fire Code and maintain strong, productive working relationships with other partner organizations in the fire service community.

Prior to coming to ICC, he was Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy. His professional experience also includes Fire Chief of Whatcom County Fire District 3 in Bellingham, Wash., Fire Chief of the Lynden, Wash., Fire Department, and Fire Marshal and Firefighter at the Bellingham, Wash., Fire Department.

Neale received the 2012 FEMA Administrator’s Award for Innovation. His certifications include ICC Fire Inspector II, Certified Uniform Fire Code Inspector, Fire Service Instructor III, Fire Service Instructor I, Fire Fighter I, Pennsylvania Construction Code Fire Inspector and Emergency Medical Technician.

He holds a master’s degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., and a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Western Washington University.

Christopher (Chris) E. Ochoa Esq., is Vice President of Government Relations for Federal Activities. He is responsible for developing and fostering relations and communications with federal administrators and agencies, Congress, congressional staff, congressional committees and professional organizations.

He was a partner in the Ochoa & Moore Law Firm in Sacramento, Calif., serving as Director of the Legislative, Administrative and Sports Representation Divisions. Ochoa represented ICC in Sacramento as outside counsel for 18 years, working closely with ICC Government Relations on many issues including adoption of the I-Codes. He has extensive experience analyzing legislation, and interacting with legislators and governmental agencies. Prior to his law practice, he served on the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) government relations staff.

Ochoa holds a juris doctor degree from the University of California at Davis and a bachelor’s degree from UCLA.

Bryan J. Soukup, Esq., is Manager of Government Relations for the mid-Atlantic region. He will build and maintain relationships with state and jurisdictional code officials, elected officials, ICC Chapters, contractors, building owners and managers, and private companies in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. He also serves as the national contact for ICC resilience initiatives and special projects.

He is the former Manager of State and Local Government Relations for the American Institute of Architects, Manager of Government Affairs at the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, and Director of State and Federal Legislative Advocacy for the Southern Sudan Project. He has served as a judicial clerk, law clerk, legal advisor for Wings over Haiti, and a legislative fellow for the city of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Federal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations.

He earned his juris doctor degree at the University of Richmond (Va.) School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Vanderbilt University.

About us: The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.