The spotlight was on the International Association of Building Officials (IABO) during the 2011 ICC Annual Business Meeting and Code Development Hearings. Leading the Association, your Board of Directors was seen all week long in wide variety of leadership activities throughout the conference and during the hearings held in Phoenix, Arizona.

Sunday, IABO Chairman Jerry Mallory, through the generous support of our conference hosts, the Arizona Building Officials (AZBO), secured an informational booth. It was located in the most visible portion of the conference registration area, directly across from the entrance to the main ballroom where the opening session, annual business meeting, and first days of the code hearings were held. We want to give special thanks to AZBO for their commitment and support of IABO, as well as their outstanding hospitality, which was enjoyed by everyone attending the 2011 conference.

That evening, the IABO Board of Directors met for the first time face-to-face. Each Board member made an introductory presentation, biographical in nature. The commitment and passion each Board member felt for the Association and our organizational goals was revealed as the evening progressed. The Board’s clear, unified vision of a dynamic organization empowered by dedication to the interests of the membership was a powerful and exciting testament to the Association’s future.

During the Annual Business Meeting, the IABO endorsed candidate, Steve Jones from New Jersey, was successful in his campaign for election as the ICC Secretary/Treasurer. IABO received support pledges from newly elected ICC Directors Rich Truitt of Maryland, and Bob Boyer of Florida. Director Ravi Shah of Texas joined IABO and was re-elected to his second term. We congratulate these individuals and pledge our support to them as they take on the challenges before them on the ICC Board.

Vice Chair of IABO Bill Duck from Georgia and Board member Randy Childers from Texas actively engaged in testimony related to proposed bylaw changes, specifically, the proposed bylaw amendment that would eliminate sectional seats on the board of directors. IABO proposed the amendment in order to preserve the work of the previous presidential committee that established sectional seats in order assure regional/geographical representation on the board. Further, sectional seating allows more opportunities for building officials from smaller jurisdictions to ascend to the level of board members.

Steve Thomas, IABO Board member from Colorado spearheaded IABO’s involvement in the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) code development hearings. Steve successfully testified on proposed changes which negatively impacted building officials relating to enforcement issues, provisions lacking clarity, and provisions which make the IGCC unadoptable.  

The IABO Board achieved several critical benchmarks during the ICC conference. IABO Chairman Jerry Mallory met one-on-one with ICC CEO Rick Weiland. Jeff Bechtold, Secretary/Treasurer of IABO, working in partnership with ICC CEO Rick Weiland, arranged a meeting between the IABO and ICC Boards of Directors. While the meeting was brief, all involved agreed it represented the crucial first step towards building a constructive working relationship between the Association and Council. The IABO Board members also met with international building officials and representatives of the American Institute of Architects during the week.