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SOUTHERN NEVADA ICC NEWS

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October 4 , 2022

ICC Honors Sam Palmer, Alan Ellis

The International Code Council presented Chapter Past President Sam Palmer, pictured above, and Past President/EduCode Director Alan Ellis with top awards during the ICC Annual Conference in September in Louisville, KY.

The Gerald H. Jones Code Official of the Year Award was presented to Sam Palmer, PE, CBO/CFM, a former deputy director at the Clark County Building Department. The Code Official of the Year Award is given to an individual who has helped promote the code enforcement profession and carries out the Code Council’s mission.

Al Ellis, director of the EduCode Conference and Expo, was named the 2022 Educator of the Year for his leadership in organizing the first, all-virtual EduCode Conference and Expo in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 restrictions and closure. The award acknowledges excellence in promoting professional development and is given in memory of Brent Snyder, a renowned Code Council educator, and past presiding officer. Congratulations to Sam and Al!

Also, SN-ICC promoted the 2023 EduCode Conference and Expo during the ICC gathering. A salute to members who volunteered at the Chapter's table and participated in other ICC activities during the convention, especially the code hearings.

Pictured from the left are Joel Ritchie, Arben Dema, Jeff Grove, Terry Kozlowski, Matthew Brewer, Benita Crook, Dana MacAllister, Linda Gallant, Jim Gerren, Michael Cunningham and Nathan Ball.

Building Official Kevin McOsker Retires; Joins ICC

City of Las Vegas Building Official and past Chapter Secretary/Treasurer Kevin McOsker retired from his duties in early September. SN-ICC President Michael Cunningham is the new City of Las Vegas building official. Pictured above, Cunningham presented a retirement gift, a personalized barbecue set, from the Chapter to McOsker at his retirement party at City Hall.

McOsker has joined the Government Relations Department at the International Code Council as vice president of technical services. He will help manage and develop the Code Council’s efforts toward advancing existing building inspections and will support strong relationships with government agencies that advocate for the adoption of the International Codes (I-Codes). Click here to read the ICC announcement.

Chapter Names John Blomquist New Executive Director

SN-ICC President Michael Cunningham announced to the membership that the board has selected John Blomquist as the new executive director, effective February 1, 2023. Blomquist replaces Monica Caruso, who has served as executive director for nearly five years, and is retiring at the end of January.

Blomquist received a “Government Member of the Year’ award at the Installation and Awards Banquet in January for his outstanding and exemplary service on the first, all-virtual EduCode Conference and Expo in March 2021.

He is a building and fire safety technical analyst for the City of Henderson.

Chapter Members Enjoy Special Baseball Game

Some 60 members and their guests attended the complimentary, members-only “SN-ICC Night at the Pacific Coast League Championship Game” the evening of September 30 at the Las Vegas Ball Park. Attendees enjoyed the amenities of a private suite, including food and beverages. The PCL West Division winners, the Reno Aces, went on to victory against the East Division winners, the El Paso Chihuahuas, with a score of 6-2. SN-ICC salutes the Membership Committee, chaired by Andrew Kelly and co-chaired by Brian Wolfe, for organizing this outstanding event for the members. Click here to view more photos from the game.

Code Pros Meet With Builders,Trade Contractors

The Chapter was pleased, once again, to participate in the annual networking event of member, Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, on September 22 at the Orleans Hotel Conference Center.

President Michael Cunningham, building official for the City of Las Vegas; Linda Gallant, combination inspector for the City of North Las Vegas, and Nathan Ball, building official in Boulder City, were the “code pros” on hand to talk with builders and trade contractors who stopped at the Chapter’s table.

The Chapter promoted the 2023 EduCode Conference and Expo, its Scholarship Program and SN-ICC membership at the event.

EDUCATION

The Chapter hosted a class on fire-retardant- treated wood, its technical characteristics, and its code-related applications and the International Building Code and the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code on August 25 at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas.

The instructor was Mike Eckhoff, PhD., codes and education specialist at Hoover Treated Wood Products.

About 50 members attended the class that was approved by ICC for 4 CEUs.

The Chapter hosted a class, "2018 IBC Accessibility and Usability Residential Facilities," on September 27 at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas.

The instructor was Kimberly Parrlberg, RA, senior staff architect at the International Code Council.

About 60 members attended the class; it was approved by ICC for 4 CEUs.

Public Outreach Benefits Students, Shelter

During the 3rd quarter, the Chapter's generous community spirit was on full display. The Public Outreach Committee, chaired by Boulder City Building Official Nathan Ball, conducted supply drives for a deserving elementary school and women's/children's shelter, and made a generous contribution to a local scholarship fund.

In July, the Public Outreach Committee organized a back-to-school supply drive to benefit Fredric W. Watson Elementary School in North Las Vegas.

Pictured to the right, the members donated generously at the Chapter Luncheon on July 14 at Sierra Gold. In addition to supplies, they contributed nearly $1,000 in cash and checks toward the purchase of supplies for the Watson school.

Pictured above, Nathan Ball, Linda Gallant, to the left, and Michael Cunningham, to the right, delivered the supplies to Watson educators before the start of the school year.

The Public Outreach Committee conducted a collection drive for supplies for the Shade Tree shelter for homeless and abused women, children and their pets. Members who attended the Chapter Meeting on September 8 at Sierra Gold contributed hygiene products, clothing, linens and non-perishable foods for the shelter. They also contributed more than $425 in cash and checks for the shelter.

Also in September, the Chapter donated $2,500 to the scholarship fund of the Professional Women in Building Council, an affiliate of member Southern Nevada Home Builders Association.

Chapter Meetings

Ross E. Armstrong, Esq., executive director of the Nevada Commission on Ethics, was the guest speaker at the Chapter Meeting on September 8 at Sierra Gold. His topic was “Ethics in Government Law: NRS 281A Public Officials and Employees."

At the Chapter Meeting on August 11, Ox Engineered Products representatives Ken Vermilion and Michelle Miller gave a presentation on alternative sheating products, including technical advances in sheating and code implications.

Susan Dowty, PE, SE, a regional manager of government affairs at the International Code Council, discussed a variety of ICC topics at the Chapter Meeting on July 14. Topics included the updated ICC website, the upcoming annual conference in Louisville, KY, an update on the 2027 I-Code development process and the Digital Code Premium.

EduCode 2023 Registration Under Way

Registration for the 2023 EduCode Conference and Expo has begun.

Please don't delay registering for the classes, which will be offered in-person and online, from February 27 to March 3 at the Orleans Hotel & Casino Conference Center.

All classes are approved for CEUs by the International Code Council Preferred Provider program; many are approved for CEUs by the American Institute of Architects.

There are several important changes for 2023.

First, unlike last year, the in-person classes and online classes will not be offered simultaneously. If you are interested in the in-person classes, select the orange matrix; for online classes, select the blue matrix.

Also, ICC Training, which handles registration, has set up a new voucher system for group registration - the goal is to simplify the process and reduce enrollment and billing errors for group registration. The system of submitting your group registration via a spreadsheet is still available.

Certification and testing exams will be offered beginning at 5:30 p.m., on March 1 and March 2.

EduCode is presented annually by the Southern Nevada Chapter of the International Code Council. SN-ICC salutes its EduCode partners - the Southern Nevada Building Officials and ICC.

CLICK HERE FOR THE EDUCODE 2023 REGISTRATION SITE.

For questions or additional information about EduCode registration, please contact the ICC at 1-888-422-7233, Ext. 33821, or learn@iccsafe.org.

SN-ICC Salutes the 2022 EduCode Sponsors

American Association of Code Enforcement (AACE)

Bureau Veritas

Clariti Government Permitting and Licensing Software

Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute

England Training Division

e-PlanSoft

4 Leaf Inc.

Granicus

Hoover Treated Wood Products

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)

International Code Council (ICC)

International Firestop Council

Interwest Group

McKeon

Megaflex

SAFEbuilt

Shums Coda Associates

Single Ply Roofing Industry

Smoke Guard Systems

Spears

True North Compliance Services

West Coast Code Consultants

Willdan

In Memoriam

The Chapter regrets to inform the members of the passing of member Kevin Ofenloch on August 17 from pancreatic cancer. He was 66. He was a drafter and, later, a residential designer.

The Chapter extends sympathy and condolences to Kevin's family and friends at this sad time.

Click here to read his obituary.