It feels like I just stood before you, giving thanks for trusting in me to serve as your president. And here I am, two years later, having passed the torch to my successors. (More on them in a moment.)
As I rotate into the position of immediate past president, David Gans will end his service on the Board of Directors. When David was elected as vice president, none of us realized that he would need to step in to help run board meetings and lead the opening session at conference. You see, back then, our friend
Dave Straub was unable to serve, so David Gans stepped up to the plate. And he did a remarkable job. Serving in that lead role as vice president and continuing to do so when elected president, David was an excellent leader of our Board. His wife Tracey was also there to help run the Conference Planning and Special Projects Committee. Both David and Tracey represented IAPMO at various events and did so with professionalism and grace. David and Tracey, we will miss you at board meetings, but we hope you will continue to participate in IAPMO meetings and events. You’re forever part of this family!
As I vacate the presidency, I leave you with two of my best friends and two people who are among the best in IAPMO: Incoming President Jeremy Stettler and Vice President Brian Hamner. I have all the faith in both of them and know they will lead with integrity, vision, and heart. Our organization is in great hands, and I look forward to watching them carry us into the next chapter with the same dedication and passion that has made IAPMO what it is today.
Looking back over the past couple years, I want to share a couple things that were memorable for me because of their importance to the industry.
Focus on the Trades: I had the honor of participating in the WorldSkills global competition in Lyon, France. This competition is like the Olympics for the trades. Seeing young apprentices competing, representing their country, was something I’ll never forget. And this competition puts a spotlight on the importance of the skilled trades not only to the individual, but also to our economy. After all, when the world shut down because of COVID, it was the skilled trades that kept things going. Learning a trade is something that stays with you forever. The skills we learned are not only a great career, but can be used for good.
And this leads me to IWSH. While in Lyon for the WorldSkills competition, I saw the community project the plumbing champions completed at the local training center. And this wasn’t the first time. At ISH in 2023, I saw plumbing apprentices working together to install plumbing at a community sports center in Frankfurt. This is the perfect example of using our skills for good.
IWSH Companion Project: Last year I talked about the volunteer projects the Conference Planning and Special Projects Committee completed on behalf of IWSH. In Tennessee, my wife first spoke about the idea of a hygiene bucket challenge. Thank you to the Special Projects Committee along with staff that were able to make an idea a reality.
Over the past couple years, this committee has volunteered to assemble and deliver hygiene packets to: a homeless shelter in Florida that provides emergency and transitional services to families in the area; a shelter and community center in Boston; a homeless shelter in Puerto Rico that provides services to those in need in 35 counties around the island; and a shelter in Quebec City, Canada, that assists those seeking to restore their independence.
The companions were looking for a way to support the good work of IWSH by helping those in need in areas where IAPMO meetings are held. Committee members, thank you again!
IWSH volunteers, I speak on behalf of the entire board when I say thank you for all you’ve done to help bring plumbing to people’s homes, schools and community centers. You represent the best of us!
Growth: For the past two to three decades, IAPMO has steadily grown. And as you’ll read in Dave Viola’s column in this same issue of Official, IAPMO continues to grow, adding new research expertise, remodeling our existing offices to better handle the additional business opportunities, and new testing capabilities. Incredible!
In closing, I’d like to share my appreciation with some people. Being president has shown me what it takes to run this incredible organization.
Thank you, Board of Directors. We’ve handled some tough things this past year and always come to a solution that is in the best interest of IAPMO. I’m proud to serve with you all.
Thank you, members. Your support, your local chapters, your partnership in code battles and legislation are what helps drive all we do.
Thank you to all our committees. Your work directly contributes to our education, publications and, in some cases, helping a local community.
Thank you, industry partners. We understand the importance of working closely with our industry partners, and it’s our goal to continue to do so. Thank you to those partners who introduce IAPMO to the next generation by funding their annual membership dues.
Thank you to staff. Our staff really is second to none, so thank you for all you do.
And saving the best for last, to my wife, Lorena, you’re my rock, you’re somebody I depend on, you stand beside me no matter what and support me in all that I do. I love you to death, you are my best friend, and I couldn’t have done any of this without you.
Last modified: November 3, 2025