Board of Directors: Seated left to right: Steve Fernlund, Keith Bonenfant, Steven Panelli, Jeremy Stettler, Brian Hamner, Kevin Tindall and Rick Garcia Standing left to right: Daniel Rademacher, Brad Elliott, Eric Gilbreath, John Nielsen, David Ledda, Barry Ramsey and Carlos Flores III. Not pictured: Rick Moreno, Jeremy Diaz and Tamara Kuykendall. PHOTOS BY BRIAN GADBERY
Jeremy Stettler
PRESIDENT
Jeremy Stettler wears many hats in his job at Davis School District, just north of Salt Lake City, Utah. As project coordinator, he and his staff of 35 are responsible for various projects. Davis School District totals more than 11 million square feet of building space and continues to grow. He also serves as plumbing and mechanical inspector for ongoing construction projects within the district, including two 200,000-square-foot middle schools and two 100,000-square-foot elementary school buildings. Stettler performs plan reviews on the mechanical systems. The district works hard to keep its environmental impact to a minimum, whether it’s net zero or Energy Star buildings.
A licensed master plumber, Stettler traces back his career in the trades to a fateful service call.
“When I was 15, my mother’s sewer got plugged,” he says. “Not having much money, we called several plumbers from the phone book until we found one she could afford. Little did I know it would be the start of my career.”
The owner, Clark Browne, came to their home and Stettler took a keen interest in everything he was doing. Browne took time to explain things as he worked.
“I had no idea he was interviewing me, but at the end of the job he asked if I wanted a job being his helper,” Stettler says. “I jumped at the opportunity and worked after school every day for him for two years.”
Browne introduced Stettler to the local high school plumbing instructor, who helped him enroll in the apprenticeship program at Ogden Weber Applied Technical College at the age of 16. One of his instructors, Linc Talbot, worked for Davis School District and helped his “teacher’s pet” get a job as an apprentice plumber. He started the day after graduation and 30 years later is still employed with the district.
Stettler has since received his journeyman’s, master plumber’s and inspector licenses.
“Plumbing has given me so many opportunities I could never have dreamed of when I got started as a plumber’s helper,” he says. “I continue to be passionate about my craft through IAPMO.”
Brian Hamner
VICE PRESIDENT
Brian Hamner is the Senior Plumbing Inspector for the City of Des Moines, Iowa’s capital: he started as a Plumbing Inspector there in 2007. Born and raised in Winterset, Iowa, Hamner began his career as a sprinkler fitter with a small company for several years before switching to plumbing after some encouragement from his then future wife, Shannon. In 1996, he started with Cook Plumbing Corp., obtaining his Journeyman and his Master Plumbing licenses during his tenure. In 2005, he went to work for Golden Rule Plumbing and Heating before moving onto his current position with the city.
He is a certified IAPMO Plumbing Inspector and Plumbing Plans Examiner, and as an IAPMO member since 2013, he has served on the UPC Answers and Analysis, Education and Training, Circuit Vent Ad Hoc, and chaired the Bathroom Design Committees since joining the association. He has served as the Chairman of the Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel Gas Committee for the Central Iowa Code Consortium, a group of 17 communities that have joined together to adopt codes for the Central Iowa metro area. He also serves as the Vice Chairman/Treasurer for the Iowa Chapter of IAPMO.
“I am truly honored to serve on the Board of Directors,” Hamner says, “it is an opportunity I will never take for granted. IAPMO is a great organization to be a part of. It is a world leader in plumbing and mechanical codes. I look forward to helping the association move forward in providing safe plumbing and mechanical systems, along with other services IAPMO has to offer.”
He and Shannon have been married since 1997 and have two adult children, Tobias,
and Olivia. Hamner’s father worked for 33 years as a journeyman gas serviceman with the local gas union. He enjoys riding motorcycles, bow hunting, cooking, and spending time with his family.
Keith Bonenfant
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Keith Bonenfant is a plumbing and mechanical inspector with the California Department of General Services. He started working in the plumbing industry in 1984 in his home state of New Hampshire, where he completed a four year apprenticeship program. He acquired his journeyman plumber license and just two years later achieved master plumber’s license status.
Bonenfant relocated to San Diego County in 1990, working as a journeyman, foreman, and general foreman on many types of projects ranging from prisons, schools, and hospitals, as well as federal projects at the surrounding military bases. He has taught plumbing and mechanical project inspector overview classes for the California Department of General Services, Division of the State Architect (DSA). He is a proud member of UA Local 398 Plumbers and Steamfitters in Pomona, Calif.
Bonenfant is an IAPMO-certified plumbing and mechanical inspector, ACIA Division II building inspector, and ASSE 6020 Medical Gas inspector. He holds several California
contractor’s licenses; General Building (B), General Engineering (A), and Plumbing (C-36). He also holds a California Real Estate Broker license.
Bonenfant serves on two IAPMO committees — the Publication Committee and the Mechanical Workshop Committee.
He enjoys running, hiking, wood working, and spending time with family. He and his wife, Melanie, have four children: Gaston, Chase, Sidney, and Paige.
Tamara Kuykendall
DIRECTOR, SOUTHERN DISTRICT
Tamara Kuykendall brings nearly three decades of hands-on experience in the plumbing and mechanical industry. As New Mexico’s Mechanical Bureau Chief within the Construction Industries Division (CID), she oversees the enforcement and interpretation of state mechanical and plumbing codes, ensuring public safety and industry compliance across a wide spectrum of projects — from residential inspections to high-profile commercial developments.
Kuykendall’s journey began as a plumbing apprentice in 1996, ultimately earning her journeyman certification in 2000. She spent 10 years working in the field, primarily on residential and light commercial projects. That foundational experience shaped her practical understanding of job site challenges and the importance of code compliance. In 2006, she joined the State of New Mexico as a mechanical/plumbing inspector, where she quickly advanced through the ranks to become chief mechanical/plumbing inspector in 2009. By 2022, she was appointed Mechanical Bureau chief, overseeing licensing, inspection processes, employee development, and code adoption and implementation statewide.
Over the years, Kuykendall has conducted and overseen inspections on some of New Mexico’s largest and most complex projects, including expansions at the University of New Mexico Hospital, CNM campuses, and the Facebook Data Center in Los Lunas. Her role has extended well beyond inspection, however, as she has been deeply involved in drafting administrative rules, managing continuing education programs, training inspectors, and collaborating with stakeholders at every level of the construction process. Her commitment to professional development and industry integrity has earned her multiple awards, including Inspector of the Year.
A respected leader in both state government and the broader construction community, Kuykendall has served as chair of IAPMO’s New Mexico chapter for four years and served as a sergeant at arms at the 2017 Education and Business Conference in Albuquerque. She is also active in organizations such as the Associated General Contractors Association and the American Subcontractors Association, and she frequently gives back to the next generation through her involvement with ACE Leadership School and Women in Construction events.
Kuykendall’s roots in the industry stretch back to childhood; her mother worked at a plumbing supply house, and her father held various roles in city and county government overseeing major construction projects. That legacy continues through her own family. Her husband, Trey, has also built a distinguished career in the mechanical industry and currently serves as director of Capital Projects at Yearout Mechanical. Their oldest daughter now works alongside him, continuing the family’s dedication to the trades. Their two other children are not in the industry… yet.
“Being elected to serve on the IAPMO Board of Directors is a great accomplishment,” she says. “I know I’m not the first woman to serve on the board, but I would never have imagined this could happen.
“I will do my best to serve on the Board, learn from my fellow board members and complete the tasks that are expected of me, as well as hopefully being able to teach them. I have always found code interesting, and it has been part of my life for a long time, and to have this opportunity is truly great.”
IAPMO
IAPMO develops and publishes the Uniform Plumbing Code®,the most widely recognized code of practice used by the plumbing industry worldwide; Uniform Mechanical Code®; Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code®; and Uniform Solar Energy, Hydronics and Geothermal Code™ — the only plumbing, mechanical, solar energy and swimming pool codes designated by ANSI as American National Standards — and the Water Efficiency Standard (WE-Stand)™. IAPMO works with government, contractors, labor force, and manufacturers to produce product standards, technical manuals, personnel certification/educational programs and additional resources in order to meet the ever-evolving demands of the industry in protecting public health and safety.
Last modified: November 3, 2025