The slogan “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” once again proved true in a manner of speaking as IAPMO’s 95th annual Education and Business Conference returned to “sin city” for the third time in a 17-year span, providing an always festive backdrop for the code development, training seminars and networking events that are staples of any IAPMO conference.
I commend IAPMO staff for producing one of the most enjoyable conferences in recent memory. I extend my appreciation to President Steve Panelli for his spirited moderation of the proceedings.
Congratulations also to Steve, as well as Jeremy Stettler, on their re-election as president and vice president, and to Brad Elliott and Eric Gilbreath, who won election to the Board of Directors. I extend my gratitude to Allen Becker and Claudio Spagnuolo, who completed their terms on the board.
The following section of this issue of Official provides a glimpse of all that was accomplished at this year’s conference, with links to online resources if you want to take an even deeper dive. I appreciate the expertise of the instructors and presenters and extend heartfelt gratitude to the following sponsors for their contributions to the success of this conference: California State Pipe Trades Council; Rainwater Management Solutions, Inc.; Plastic Pipe Institute; Watts Water Technologies; District Council 16; NITC; UA Plumbers Local Union 78; Plumbers Local 68; Southern Nevada IAPMO Chapter; South Jersey Mechanical Contractors Association; UA Local 398; Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 9; TLD Time-lockdocs; California Central Chapter of IAPMO; 1st Tee; Western States Pipe Trades Council; American Water Works Association; American Society of Plumbing Engineers; and PHCC.
I look forward to seeing you all at IAPMO’s 96th annual Education and Business Conference next year in Palm Springs!
Dave Viola
IAPMO Chief Executive Officer
Industry Person of the Year
Mike Hartley
CALIFORNIA STATE PIPE TRADES COUNCIL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The recipient of this year’s Industry Person of the Year is renowned for his leadership and advocacy. With a career spanning several decades, he has become a respected voice in the field and a key influencer in shaping policy for our industry.
Mike Hartley joined the United Association in 1996 with Local 230 in San Diego. During his career he has served on various committees, the Pipefitter Examining Board, been an organizer, business agent, business manager/ financial secretary, Pension Health and Welfare trustee, Apprentice and Journeymen Training trustee, Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 Executive Board member, P.I.P.E. Trust Fund Executive Board member, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council Executive Board member, and vice president of the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO.
As executive director of the California State Pipe Trades Council, Hartley represents more than 30,000 union plumbers, pipefitters, sprinklerfitters, welders and HVAC/R technicians at UA Local Unions throughout the state of California.
Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong dedication to training and education, emphasizing the importance of skilled craftsmanship in the trades. By championing rigorous training programs and professional development opportunities, Hartley has played a crucial role in ensuring the next generation of tradespeople is well-prepared to meet the evolving demands of the industry. His efforts have helped to elevate the standards of workmanship and safety, benefiting both the industry and the communities we serve.
Hartley has advocated and supported IAPMO at both the state legislative and regulatory levels, often providing support for initiatives at the California Building & Standards Commission, and the California State Water Regional Control Board on such important initiatives as the recognition of ASSE 5000 for inclusion into the Cross Connection Control Policy Handbook update. He has also supported adoption of IAPMO’s Appendix M water demand calculator into the California Plumbing Code and provided support for FEMA’s inclusion of the Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes in their Specifications and Standards for Public Assistance policy.
In honor of his powerful advocacy and the impact of his contributions on everyone from first-year apprentices to legislators in Sacramento, IAPMO is pleased to recognize Mike Hartley as the 2024 Industry Person of the Year.
Government Person of the Year
Steve Hart
PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY BUILDING OFFICIAL AND SENIOR PLUMBING PLANS EXAMINER
Steve Hart is a longtime well-regarded figure in the Seattle plumbing industry, known for his extensive experience and exceptional service. As the owner and operator of his own plumbing business, Hart built a reputation for delivering high-quality solutions to residential and commercial clients across the Pacific Northwest, eventually becoming a certified building official and senior plumbing plans examiner with Public Health Seattle and King County.
Over the years, his deep understanding of plumbing systems established him as a leading expert in the field, not only through his hands-on work, but increasingly as an educator, respected for his knowledge and ability to explain complex systems in an accessible manner.
Hart’s Plumbing Systems Interactive Work-shop stands out as a premier educational offering designed to bridge the gap between theory and practical application. The workshop provides participants with hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge of advanced plumbing systems and techniques. Through a combination of interactive demonstrations, real-world problem-solving scenarios, and detailed technical discussions, attendees gain valuable insights into the latest innovations and best practices in the field.
The workshop succeeds due to its engaging format, which encourages active participation and fosters a collaborative learning environment. By incorporating state-of-the-art tools and equipment, our recipient ensures that participants not only learn the theoretical aspects of plumbing systems but also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a practical setting. This approach helps attendees to better understand complex concepts and develop the skills necessary to tackle challenging plumbing issues in their own work.
Hart’s commitment to education and professional development is evident in the success of his interactive workshop. By providing a platform for industry professionals to expand their expertise and stay current with emerging trends, he contributes to the overall advancement of the plumbing trade. The workshop not only enhances participants’ technical abilities but also builds a sense of community among plumbing professionals, fostering a network of support and collaboration that extends beyond the class itself. IAPMO is pleased to present Steve Hart with the 2024 Government Person of the Year Award.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized by anybody when you spend some time and put a little bit of effort into what you do,” Hart said, “so I’m very appreciative to have received this award. Thank you.”
American Flag Award
Bruce Pfeiffer (POSTHUMOUSLY)
IAPMO’s American Flag Award is a prestigious honor that recognizes exceptional contributions to the advancement of plumbing and mechanical standards, particularly those that align with the values of innovation, safety, and public welfare. The award is bestowed upon individuals or organizations that have demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment to enhancing the industry through significant achievements or groundbreaking initiatives. By celebrating these outstanding efforts, the American Flag Award underscores IAPMO’s dedication to promoting excellence and ensuring the highest standards within the plumbing and mechanical sectors.
This year, IAPMO honored Bruce Pfeiffer’s legacy — a legacy that lives on today through Kim Pfeiffer’s continued participation in our annual conference, carrying forward Bruce’s impact on IAPMO, our industry and on so many of us who were fortunate enough to know him and even more fortunate to have called him a friend.
We keep Bruce’s memory alive not because he checked some number of boxes along the way, but because his contributions rose to a level only the absolute finest in our association’s nearly 100-year history ever attained. He was truly the best of us. So, this year we present Bruce Pfeiffer, posthumously, with the 2024 American Flag Award.
“I thought I was going to do this without crying today, but I did not succeed because this is a total surprise,” Kim Pfeiffer said. “Thank you very much. He would be honored.”
George Kauffman Lifetime Achievement Award
Marty Cooper
FOSTER CITY, CALIF., CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL (RETIRED)
Marty Cooper is obviously a familiar face in the IAPMO world — and not simply because of all the honors he received at conference. He seems to be unwittingly making up for lost time because he was supposed receive a different award last year but was unable to attend the conference in San Antonio. So, he received two more awards in Las Vegas.
One of the unique and quirky characteristics of IAPMO members, especially those who serve on our committees, is that they live a bit of a double life. Not in a nefarious or mysterious manner, but meaning their day job back home and their IAPMO job don’t often cross paths — even though they are, of course, connected intrinsically. Sure, they bring all of their knowledge and expertise to their committees, and the committees produce work that impacts their job back home, but the individuals themselves have one identity to folks at their day jobs and another to all their colleagues with IAPMO.
The most wonderful aspect of this is that very often when they retire from their primary job, they go right on working for IAPMO. Sometimes taking on additional responsibilities now that they’re no longer encumbered by their 9-to-5.
Cooper is one such individual.
A 40-year veteran of the trades, he graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in business administration before beginning an apprenticeship with UA Local 38 in San Francisco. Cooper established his own plumbing company and operated it for 10 years before moving to the public sector as a building inspector for Foster City, California, a position he held for nearly 19 years before retiring in 2023.
During the past 20-plus years of that time, he has dutifully served on numerous IAPMO committees, as well as in chapter leadership with the Central California chapter and on the IAPMO Board of Directors. He began his committee participation as an alternate member of the UMC and UPC technical committees, frequently finding his way to the audience microphone to propose code language or add his thoughts to the discussion. He later served on the since disbanded Certification Committee, and was an IAPMO Board member from 2012-2019, serving as secretary/treasurer at the end of his tenure.
Despite his retirement from Foster City, Cooper remains chair of the Mechanical Answers and Analysis and Publication Development committee, as well as serving on the Evaluation Services Committee. And he chairs the IAPMO Standards Council. On top of all that, he also serves as technical advisor to Official magazine, reviewing content for accuracy prior to publication along with another well-known double-lifer, Rex Crawford. You know, the typical retiree.
The winner of the 2012 Government Person of the Year and recipient of last year’s Committee Member of the Year, which he also received in Las Vegas, Cooper has gone above and beyond on behalf of IAPMO for two-plus decades, and for that we are thrilled to honor him with the 2023 Committee Member of the Year and 2024 George Kauffman Lifetime Achievement awards.
“I’m really overwhelmed by this,” he said. “I’d like to thank President Steve Panelli, the Board of Directors, and all of IAPMO. It has been my honor and privilege to be able to work with you all these years.
“I’ve gotten so much more out of it than any time I have put in. My daughter always joked that I was flying down to Ontario to be with my other family — and you are my other family.
I am just honored to receive these two awards. Thank you very much.”
Joseph Kneidinger Sustainability Professional of the Year
David Crawford
FOUNDER AND CEO OF RAINWATER MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
David Crawford, founder and CEO of Rainwater Management Solutions, worked in healthcare for many years prior to forming RMS. It was there that he recognized large commercial laundries used a significant amount of water each day cleaning hospital linens. Concerned by the inefficiency of utilizing drinking water in such commercial and residential settings, Crawford became an outspoken advocate for water conservation and management. His interest in these endeavors led him to research methods for conserving drinking water by utilizing available rainwater, laying the groundwork for his now significant contributions in the fields of rainwater harvesting and sustainable water management practices.
In 1999, Crawford created a prototype rain barrel for rainwater collection using empty laundry soap barrels. After refinements and experimentation, he succeeded in creating a system that worked for rainwater harvesting. He advertised the system at a home show and, as a result, sold several residential home systems.
RMS has since evolved from the rain barrel days into an industry-leading supplier, system integrator, and professional services firm specializing in turnkey solutions for rain-water and stormwater management. Its knowledgeable staff boasts more than 100 years of combined experience in the rainwater harvesting business, providing professional design and consulting services for clients’ residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural projects.
As water conservation and management become increasingly urgent concerns worldwide due to intensified water shortages, rapid population growth, aging infrastructure and the effects of global climate change, RMS is leading the charge to make rainwater catchment a viable and life-renewing solution in the face of these issues.
For introducing and championing a commonsense, cost-effective approach to addressing the escalating issue of water conservation and management through innovative rainwater harvesting system designs, IAPMO is pleased to present David Crawford with the 2024 Joseph Kneidinger Sustainability Professional of the Year Award.
IWSH Award
Sam Woolsey
WOOLSEY PLUMBING & HEATING, UA LOCAL 400
For those who are not familiar, IWSH stands for the International Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Foundation, and it serves as the social impact arm of IAPMO. In this capacity, IWSH coordinates the resources of the plumbing industry to implement projects around the world that improve access to clean water and safe sanitation services.
The IWSH Award is given to a person who exemplifies the mission of IWSH, a person who uses their trade skills to improve the lives of others who are in need.
This year’s IWSH Award honors an individual who spent years crafting his skills in the family business, which he eventually took over. Sam Woolsey stepped out of his comfort zone to venture into an unfamiliar part of the world, where he played a pivotal role in two recent IWSH projects. These projects were crucial in safeguarding the health and safety of entire communities and educating decision-makers on improving service delivery.
Woolsey has a unique skill, one that many people in metropolitan areas don’t have to worry about, but nevertheless is an issue that plagues millions of people living in the United States: inadequate sanitation and failing septic systems.
Woolsey is a licensed soil tester —an incredibly hard certification to obtain — and he put that credential to work to help IWSH determine appropriate sanitation solutions for an under served community. He led the design and construction of four brand new septic systems in the Navajo Nation, taking time away from his family and business to provide critical services for a community — expecting nothing in return, but knowing he used his talents to help others.
IWSH is thrilled to honor a proud Wisconsinite, a member of UA Local 400, and someone who has a deep passion for the plumbing trade and takes immense pride in being part of the plumbing industry — Sam Woolsey.
“It’s such a pleasure to work on an IWSH project,” he said. “I appreciate Randy Lorge pushing me out of my comfort zone to do something like this. This is an honor. Thank you very much.”
President’s Green Oval
Jeremy Diaz
UA LOCAL 78 BUSINESS MANAGER
Jeremy Diaz doesn’t hide his gratitude for the opportunities he was afforded as a young person, opportunities that opened doors to his rewarding and successful career in the trades. His gratitude is so strong, in fact, that he has committed much of that career to ensuring others have the same opportunities, no matter their gender, race or means.
A proud second-generation plumber, Diaz began his apprenticeship with UA Local 78 in Los Angeles in 2006 and after turning out began quickly ascending the ranks of the local, from serving on the Finance and Apprenticeship committees to election to the Executive Board. In 2014, he started as an organizer for Southern California Pipe Trades and two years later was elected business representative and apprenticeship coordinator. And in 2019 he became business manager of Local 78.
Diaz joined IAPMO 10 years ago and his impact has been noteworthy. Elected to the Board of Directors last year, he chairs IAPMO’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. His leadership and advocacy efforts have been pivotal in fostering a more inclusive environment, ensuring that all members have equitable opportunities regardless of their background. With Local 78, Diaz has championed initiatives that promote diverse hiring practices, support underrepresented groups, and create a workplace culture where everyone feels valued and respected. His work in this area reflects a deep commitment to not only improving representation but also addressing systemic barriers that may hinder the progress of diverse individuals in the trade.
Recently, he was instrumental in maintaining IAPMO student memberships for the plumbing apprentices throughout Southern California’s local unions as well as implementing ASSE International student memberships for Local 78 apprentices. His work has been especially progressive where it concerns promoting women in the trades — he serves as board secretary for Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles. He also sent one of Local 78’s most accomplished female plumbers to participate in IWSH’s most recent project on the Navajo Nation and ensured her attendance at this conference here today.
By advocating for fair practices and supporting underrepresented groups, Diaz has helped foster a more collaborative and supportive workplace. His leadership in DEI efforts underscores a broader vision of a unified and forward-thinking industry that values every member’s contribution and perspective.
In honor of his efforts, IAPMO is very pleased to recognize Jeremy Diaz as the recipient of 2024’s President’s Green Oval Award.
“This is obviously a big surprise, thank you all,” he said. “I’m lucky enough to do this for a living and I believe every person should have the opportunity to do what we do.”
Bruce Pfeiffer Committee Member of the Year
Dan Rademacher
VIEGA TRADES EDUCATION NETWORK PROGRAM MANAGER
During the 95th annual Education and Business Conference, IAPMO recognized committee members who have attained milestone status for their service to IAPMO. The recipient of this year’s Bruce Pfeiffer Committee Member of the Year is one year short of the 20-year milestone, but we gave him an award anyway.
A 19-year member of the Education and Training Committee, Dan Rademacher has time and time again proven to be one of IAPMO’s most reliable, knowledgeable and effective educators, and his contributions to he committee are immeasurable. His strong work ethic, unrivaled knowledge, and welcoming personality are all part of what makes him such a great teacher. What truly distinguishes him, however, his overarching philosophy that we should always be learning — and by extension, always be teaching. He lives by an ethos that says, “If I know something, I want you to know it, too.”
After serving his five-year apprenticeship with UA Local 41, Rademacher obtained his journeyman license in 1995 and worked in the field for another year before joining the Montana Building Codes Bureau as the plumbing and mechanical inspector for western Montana. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Chief Plumbing/Mechanical Inspector, a position he held for eight years.
In 2001, he received from the UA and Michigan State University the title of Certified Instructor of Journeyman and Apprentices after completing the five-year curriculum in instructor training. In 2005, Rademacher was appointed as a National Seminar Instructor for IAPMO and joined our Education and Training Committee, which he now chairs.
Since winning IAPMO’s 2014 Industry Person of the Year, Rademacher joined Viega as program manager of its Trades Education Network, which partners with training directors and instructors through local union halls, training centers, and trade programs to enrich their programs and provide them with the curriculum, tools and fittings they need to teach their students how to press. Under his leadership, the program itself has seen a significant shift from teaching skills to teaching how to teach skills.
In 2019, he won the World Plumbing Council’s Education and Training Scholarship award, using the proceeds to travel to Rwanda to share his knowledge of the plumbing industry with local plumbers and meet with government officials to advocate for the adoption of plumbing codes and standards.
Elected president of ASSE International in 2020, it should be obvious that Rademacher is pretty relentless in his desire to be a font of knowledge for our industry, well deserving of this honor even if he is a few months short of his 20th year of committee service. And we’ll honor him next year when he gets there!
For forging a career championing education and working hard to ensure that IAPMO members always know what he knows, we say thank you by honoring Dan Rademacher with the 2024 Bruce Pfeiffer Committee Member of the Year.
Legislator of the Year
Jane Bloomingdale
IOWA STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Prior to the start of the 2024 legislative session, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds championed a bill that would reduce the number of state boards and commissions, an effort intended to streamline government, reduce bureaucracy, and improve efficiency statewide. As proposed, however, this legislation would weaken the protections such boards provide to Iowans through their advocacy and oversight by combining them with other competencies.
For instance, the governor’s proposed legislation would have removed the Iowa State Plumbing Board’s autonomy by combining it with the Electrical Board. State Rep. Jane Bloomingdale didn’t allow that to happen. The former mayor of Northwood, Iowa, and since 2016 the representative for House District 60, Rep. Bloomingdale was concerned about the heavy-handed approach to terminating state oversight. She took a bold stance, rejecting the governor’s version of the bill and introducing her own legislation reflecting the objections of many groups and organizations whose boards would be eliminated or combined.
Rep. Bloomingdale put the health and safety of Iowans ahead of politics. Despite pressure from the governor’s office and the Senate, she and her committee held strong. HSB 710 split the difference by achieving the governor’s vision of increasing efficiency and removing redundancies while preserving stalwarts of Iowan safety. We thank Rep. Bloomingdale for her courageous work and honor her with the 2024 Legislator of the Year.
“I want to say thank you for your help and I appreciate all IAPMO has done,” she said.
“I am honored to be named Legislator of the Year. I’m a little taken aback; I don’t get these honors very often.
“The one thing I don’t want to forget to say is thank you to your lobbyists. You can’t do this without them. You’ve got great lobbyists and I can’t run a bill without their help. You’re lucky, you’ve got terrific people.”
IAPMO Fellow: 2024 Recipients
The Board of Directors introduced the IAPMO Fellow in 2022 as a means of recognizing not only longtime significant contributors to the IAPMO mission, but also newer difference makers who may not yet be on everybody’s radar, but we believe absolutely should be.
Not focusing on any one segment of our industry, the IAPMO Fellow recipient is somebody working in cooperation with staff or the Board of Directors, starting a chapter, investing time and effort effectively in IAPMO’s mission, or any other noteworthy contribution deserving not only of recognition, but encouragement to keep up the good work.
Recipients are welcome to tout the accomplishment on their business cards and professional online profiles.
Dave Viola
Dave Viola is the CEO of The IAPMO Group, a global non-profit membership-based organization focused on the development of codes that govern plumbing quality standards. He has more than 25 years of senior management experience within the plumbing and mechanical industry. He joined IAPMO in 2007 and, served as IAPMO’s chief operating officer with strategic and operational responsibility for the comprehensive array of IAPMO Group programs and services. Dave also serves as Deputy Chairman of the World Plumbing Council. Dave previously worked as Technical Director for the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI) from 1998 until 2007. He serves or has served on many industry committees and boards in the United States and Canada, including AWE, ASME, ANSI and ASHRAE.
Last modified: December 12, 2024