Industry Person of the Year
Robert “Chap” Thornton
UA LOCAL 286 BUSINESS MANAGER AND FINANCIAL SECRETARY-TREASURER
The recipient of this year’s Industry Person of the Year, Robert “Chap” Thornton, began his career in the plumbing and pipefitting trades through the UA apprenticeship program, where he honed both technical skills and leadership qualities. His early years on job sites across Central Texas laid a strong foundation for his deep understanding of the field. With decades of experience under his belt, he has earned the respect of peers, contractors, and union members alike for his dedication to the industry and the labor movement.
As business manager and financial secretary-treasurer of UA Local 286, based in Austin, Texas, Thornton leads a membership of more than 1,300 plumbers, pipefitters, and HVAC technicians. In this dual role, he manages contract negotiations, apprenticeship programs, labor relations, and union finances — ensuring that Local 286 operates efficiently and with integrity. His leadership has helped maintain strong partnerships with public agencies, private contractors, and training organizations throughout the region.
He is a champion for education and skills training, overseeing one of the most respected UA apprenticeship programs in the state. Under his guidance, Local 286 has expanded its training center and implemented updated curriculum to reflect evolving technologies in plumbing, mechanical systems, and green infrastructure. He works closely with the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) to ensure apprentices graduate with the knowledge and professionalism needed to succeed in a changing industry.
Beyond his work within Local 286, Thornton plays a critical role in broader industry initiatives, advocating for workforce development, fair labor standards, and code compliance. He actively participates in regional labor councils, construction boards, and public policy forums that shape the future of the skilled trades in Texas. His efforts have contributed to improved safety standards and the promotion of high-quality, union-led work on major infrastructure projects across the state.
Thornton has strengthened Local 286’s reputation as a vital civic and economic partner. Under his leadership, the local has increased its outreach to schools, veterans’ groups, and underserved communities, promoting careers in the trades and expanding opportunities for a diverse workforce. His ability to balance strategic planning with on-the-ground engagement has helped Local 286 stay at the forefront of the union construction industry in the rapidly growing Central Texas region.
“I’m not real sure how you follow up an introduction like that, but I’m sitting there thinking, when somebody I don’t know asks me what I do, I always say I’m a plumber because that’s the short answer to it,” Thornton said. “I wear a whole lot of hats and do a whole lot of things that don’t pay, you know? But I want to thank IAPMO, I want to thank John Mata; and never underestimate what a passionate plumber can do in this industry with the help of a great code body and code that IAPMO produces. Thank you.”
Government Person of the Year
Robert Gray
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA, CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL
Robert Gray is a seasoned code official and construction professional with more than two decades of hands-on and managerial experience in the building industry. As a certified building official with multiple specialized certifications, our recipient has built a career marked by technical expertise, public service, and professional leadership.
As chief building official for the town of Los Gatos, California, Gray oversees the full scope of the Building Division and Code Compliance Program. Since 2018, he has led modernization efforts in the town’s permitting process, including the implementation of online permit applications, electronic plan review, and virtual inspections — ensuring uninterrupted services during the COVID-19 pandemic. His work has directly enhanced customer service, interdepartmental coordination, and safety compliance within the community.
Before stepping into his current leadership role, Gray served as senior building inspector for Los Gatos and previously as building inspector specialist with the City of Palo Alto, where he led daily inspection assignments and supported major utility and inspection system initiatives. He played a pivotal role in technology integration efforts, including the development of an Inspection Scheduling App and leadership on the Accela Civic Platform.
A key part of Gray’s professional identity is his commitment to industry collaboration and code development. He is a long-standing member of IAPMO, currently serving as the president of the Central California Chapter — his second go around in the chapter’s leadership.
“This is really a surprise,” he said. “I really, really thank everyone for this honor. It’s a complete surprise for me today. I want to thank everyone who’s mentored me through this organization; it has been a fantastic ride. I look forward to continuing that. Thank you very much for my son. He’s been a great help to me throughout this process, as well. So again, thank you very much, it’s very well appreciated.”
George Kauffman Lifetime Achievement Award
Phil Ribbs
CITY OF SAN JOSE CHIEF PLUMBING, MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR (RETIRED)
In the 99-year history of our esteemed association, only a rare few individuals have transcended membership to become part of the very identity of the organization. Phil Ribbs is one such individual. He is not just a name on a roster or a familiar face at conferences. He is truly an institution within IAPMO — a symbol of our past, our present, and our continuing legacy.
When someone has been active in IAPMO for more than half of the organization’s existence — that’s right, he’s been a member for 51 years; when they’ve helped shape not just policies, but people; when their voice has guided the development of codes and standards across decades, you realize you’re not just recognizing a member; you’re honoring a movement he’s helped build.
Ribbs began his career in public service in 1974 as a plumbing and mechanical inspector with the City of San Jose. Over the years, his role grew, rising to chief plumbing, mechanical, and electrical inspector, managing a staff of 188 and a $23 million annual budget.
He turned his expertise into leadership, within both his city and IAPMO.
During his five decades of membership, Ribbs has served on IAPMO’s Board of Directors, including as vice president, the IAPMO Standards Council, both the Plumbing and Mechanical technical committees, the Career Services committee, the Education and Training committee and chaired numerous tasks groups. And he’s been a fixture on our conference Nominations Committees for as long as anyone can remember. He has also held every officer position within IAPMO’s Central California Chapter. Beyond committees and codes, Ribbs’ impact is deeply personal.
He has taught plumbing code at Local 393 for more than 30 years and introduced countless professionals to the code change process, serving as a mentor, a motivator, and a connector.
As you might guess given his tenure and dedication, he’s no stranger to IAPMO awards. He was named Government Person of the Year in 2004 and was a member of the inaugural class of IAPMO Fellows in 2022. Perhaps he’s best described in the words of his colleagues. Bob Adler said, “To this day, he remains a leader in the plumbing community. His name is synonymous with good codes.”
And Sarah Aguilar praised him by saying, “He helped me — and so many others — understand how to make a difference in the code development process.”
In honor of his five decades (and counting) of dedication, service and leadership that have undeniably helped shape this association and the industry we serve, IAPMO is pleased to present Phil Ribbs with the 2025 George Kauffman Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Well, this really catches me by surprise,” Ribbs said. “I had no idea. And I was told to keep it short, so to my IAPMO family, because you are my family, thank you.”
Joseph Kneidinger Sustainability Professional of the Year
Billy Smith
ASPE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO
Billy Smith began his plumbing engineering industry career in 1981 as a product designer for Jay R. Smith Manufacturing Co., progressing through roles in engineering and sales for a dozen years. He joined the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) as an affiliate member in 1993, later serving on the Board of Directors and earning election into ASPE’s College of Fellows in 2012. In 2014, he took the role of Senior Director for Technical and Regulatory Affairs, before being appointed Executive Director / CEO in early 2015.
With more than four decades in the plumbing and mechanical engineering industry, Smith has established himself as a trusted leader and advocate for the advancement of environmentally responsible plumbing systems. His leadership at ASPE reflects a deep understanding of the critical intersection between plumbing engineering and environmental sustainability.
Since taking the helm at ASPE, Smith has strategically expanded the organization’s focus on sustainability by advocating for the integration of water and energy efficiency principles into plumbing system design. Under his guidance, ASPE has strengthened its involvement in the development of sustainable plumbing codes and standards, ensuring the plumbing profession plays a central role in addressing today’s global environmental challenges.
A major milestone in Smith’s tenure has been his leadership in expanding ASPE’s education and certification programs to include robust sustainability content. He has overseen the creation and enhancement of technical resources, seminars, and workshops that equip engineers and designers with the tools and knowledge to implement environmentally responsible solutions. From greywater reuse systems to high-efficiency fixture design, these programs reflect Smith’s belief that education is key to empowering professionals to make a positive environmental impact.
Smith has also worked to establish and nurture key partnerships with other industry organizations and green building leaders. Under his leadership, ASPE has collaborated with IAPMO, ARCSA International and the U.S. Green Building Council to align plumbing engineering practices with sustainable building certifications and rainwater harvesting initiatives. Just last month, Billy and ASPE renewed a memorandum of understanding with The IAPMO Group to further our numerous mutual interests and aspirations — including the updating of ARCSA/ASPE/ IAPMO standards 63 and 78, which are critical in supporting the safe and effective design, installation, and maintenance of rainwater and stormwater harvesting systems.
Smith represents ASPE on standards and code committees with organizations across the industry —ASME, ASHRAE, NSF, ICC, CSA and of course IAPMO. His involvement spans a broad range of plumbing-engineering standards, emphasizing public health, efficiency, and sustainability. In recognition of these efforts, he received the prestigious Patrick J. Higgins Award and Medal from ASME in June for his role in enhancing plumbing safety and efficiency.
One of Smith’s notable contributions to sustainability is his advocacy for water conservation as a critical component of climate resilience. He has consistently emphasized the role of plumbing engineers in mitigating the effects of drought, infrastructure strain, and resource scarcity. Through public speaking engagements, policy discussions, and publications, Smith has raised awareness about how thoughtful plumbing system design can reduce water waste, promote reuse, and support long-term water availability in urban and rural communities alike.
In honor of a legacy defined by his unwavering dedication to public health, technical excellence, and environmental sustainability within the plumbing engineering profession, we honor Billy Smith with the 2025 Joseph Kneidinger Sustainability Professional of the Year Award.
“Several emotions come to mind,” he said. “I’m humbled, overwhelmed, extremely thankful, and blessed to have the IAPMO leadership bestow this special award this year to me. I appreciate that so much.
“You know, when you think about all of the different things that connect all the points for an award like this, when you’ve spent many decades in this industry working alongside a wonderful association like IAPMO, all of the things that come together are only available because of all the initiatives that IAPMO gives each of us the opportunity to participate in bringing about change. It’s so important. Whether it’s spending many years working in codes and standards development, or whether it’s working right alongside the IWSH Foundation with Community Plumbing Challenges all around the world, all of those are so special. It’s participating with the World Plumbing Council on many initiatives, and we’ll continue doing that, as well; looking forward to that. All of this comes together for one purpose, taking care of our world’s special resources, especially areas of the world where people are far less blessed than we are. Thank you, to IAPMO for giving us those opportunities.
“It brings to mind a presentation that I’ve given many times and is so important to me, and you can use this for any walk of life, any business that you’re in: Why are you here? What are you here for? Who are you here for? You just look around the room, all the people I’ve had the blessings to work alongside, bringing about so much change and sustainability, this award connects all of those dots — the why we’re here, what we’re here for, and especially who that’s for. And I’m so thankful for IAPMO and its leadership for blessing me with this award. I thank you very much.”
President’s Green Oval
President’s Green Oval Doug Marian
DISTRICT COUNCIL 16 ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER (RETIRED)
Doug Marian retired in July, bringing to a close an impactful 46-year career in the trades in which his relationships and influence prioritized people and professionalism in every endeavor.
Marian began his plumbing career as an apprentice with Local 78 in Los Angeles in 1979 and ultimately worked as a journeyman, detailer, foreman, general foreman and superintendent. In 1998, he began instructing apprenticeship classes in the evening at the A&J Training Center in Compton, where he found his calling as a mentor for younger people working their way up through the trades. He taught at A&J for 18 years.
In 2001, he was recruited by Local 78 as an organizer and two years later was elected as a Business Representative. During his four terms as Business Representative, he served as Local 78’s apprenticeship coordinator. He was elected Business Manager of Local 78 in 2016 and reelected in 2019. In the summer of 2019, he joined the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 as the Assistant Business Manager, further cementing his reputation as a respected leader within the trades, working closely with both local members and broader industry stakeholders to advance the goals of labor representation and public safety in the plumbing and mechanical trades.
Over the years, Marian has served on numerous industry committees for IAPMO, ASSE, P.I.P.E. and NITC. In 2010, he was elected to the ASSE Board of Directors, eventually ascending to the office of President. In 2017 and 2018, he served on the IAPMO Board of Directors.
His commitment to IAPMO’s mission extends beyond elected office. Under his leadership, District Council 16 became a Gold-Level Global Partner of the IWSH Foundation, enabling significant joint efforts, including plumbing challenges and sanitation projects on the Navajo Nation delivering public health and sanitation access across underserved communities.
Combining organizational acumen with a strong advocacy for safety and standards, our recipient’s roles in partnership-building, event coordination, and code-development outreach illustrate a career rooted in service — not just to union members, but to communities and public health — making him a standout figure in the plumbing and mechanical industry’s efforts to uphold safe, equitable standards, and richly deserving of this honor.
“One of the things I got from IAPMO is my wife; that’s probably the best thing,” Marian said. “I do want to thank everybody, especially the volunteers. Public safety, betterment of the industry — it all falls on the volunteers, so those of you, especially in the UA, your apprentices and such, please educate the young members coming up, get them involved. We need to keep this rolling. Thank you very much.”
Bruce Pfeiffer Committee Member of the Year
Dan Daniels
CITY AND COUNTY OF PUEBLO, COLORADO, CHIEF PLUMBING INSPECTOR (RETIRED)
This year, the award that bears Bruce Pfeiffer’s name goes to another name that resonates across the plumbing and mechanical industries for the leadership, deep technical knowledge, and decades of unwavering service it represents.
Hailing from the heart of Colorado, Dan Daniels’ journey began more than 40 years ago in Pueblo, where he entered the trade as an apprentice with Local 20. From those early days, he immersed himself in the craft — gaining experience, earning his journeyman license, and eventually securing his master plumber’s license. Each step brought with it not only skill but also a growing reputation for excellence and dedication.
In 1991, the City and County of Pueblo recognized his talents and brought him on board as a plumbing inspector. By 1999, he was named Chief Plumbing Inspector, a role he carried with the same professionalism and integrity that have defined his entire career.
But what truly sets Daniels apart, the reason he’s so richly deserving of this award, is his remarkable legacy of service to IAPMO.
Daniels has been a cornerstone contributor to a number of major IAPMO committees, adding his fingerprints to the codes and standards that shape our industry today. Over the years, he has served with distinction on:
• UPC Technical Committee, which he has chaired since 2015
• Technical Correlating Committee
• UPC Workshop Committee, including as chair
But his influence doesn’t stop at the technical level.
He has been a guiding force at the highest levels of the association — serving honorably on the IAPMO Board of Directors, including as vice president and culminating as president in 2010 and 2011. He has also lent his leadership to the Audit, Career Services, and Publications Development committees over his 24 years of committee involvement.
And we cannot leave out his contributions to the IWSH Foundation, where he has been a charter board member and its chair from 2018-2021, demonstrating his commitment to bringing safe water and sanitation to communities in need around the world.
Daniels’ service is not only vast — it is deeply impactful. His colleagues know him as a voice of reason, a well of knowledge, and above all, someone who shows up, stays engaged, and does the work with humility and purpose.His decades of service, leadership, and technical expertise have helped shape IAPMO into the organization it is today. He truly embodies the spirit of this award and the legacy of Bruce himself.
“I’ve been up here several times on the other side of this, handing these awards out,” Daniels said. “I’m not going to lie, it feels a lot better on this side. I had the pleasure of knowing Bruce for a long time, serving on a lot of committees with him, Board of Directors. Bruce was my buddy. He and I were a lot alike in that we believed in what we did, and what we do for IAPMO, and how important it is. Thank you.”
Legislator of the Year
Tackey Chan
MASSACHUSETTS STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Massachusetts State Rep. Tackey Chan is a long-time legislator in the commonwealth and a well-known friend of the plumbing industry and all the trades.
A lifelong Massachusetts resident, Rep. Chan graduated from Boston College High School in 1991 and received his Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Brandeis University in 1995. After receiving his Juris Doctorate from the New England School of Law in 2003, Rep. Chan was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar.
In 2010, Rep. Chan joined Donald Wong as the first two Asian Americans elected to office in the Massachusetts state legislature.
As House Chair of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Rep. Chan oversees legislation pertaining to all non-medical licensed professionals and consumer protection issues. He has filed the industry’s Drain Cleaning bill in the past and has been very supportive of the plumbing industry on all issues during his six years as chairman of this committee. As well as being a House sponsor of the annual Plumbing Industry Days held at the Massachusetts statehouse, Rep. Chan has been a keynote speaker at this event each year.
In honor of his support of the plumbing industry, its goals and the professionals who advance them on behalf of the commonwealth, IAPMO is pleased to present Rep. Tackey Chan with the 2025 Legislator of the Year Award.
“Thank you very much for this award,” he said. “Clean water, hot water, good drainage is essential not necessarily just for survival, but also for good health. Clean water, good drainage, expands people’s lifespans by decades. … You know, consumers need to be protected by good codes, by good works, by good, trained professionals. I continue to work hard on your behalf, but working on your behalf means I’m working for my own residents, working for my constituents, working for a future that brings us a greater quality of life over time.
“Thank you very much for this privilege, but most importantly, thank you for your work.”
IAPMO Fellow: 2025 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.
2025 IAPMO Fellows: Ron Bauer, Tom Bigley, Charlie Campbell, John Clark, Rick Coffman, Bill Guthrie, Bill Hoffman, Jesse Kealy, Shayne LaCombre, Brian Rogers, Earl Setches and Echo Svoboda.
IWSH Award Winners
Each year, the International Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Foundation — the public charity arm of IAPMO — is proud to recognize individuals whose leadership, commitment, and service exemplify the values of our mission. The IWSH Award honors those who go above and beyond to improve access to safe water and sanitation, while strengthening the communities we serve.
This year, IWSH is especially pleased to present the award to two remarkable leaders. Their dedication and impact remind us of what’s possible when expertise and compassion come together.
Bonifacio Magtibay
TECHNICAL OFFICER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION PHILIPPINES COUNTRY OFFICE
The first award recipient is Bonifacio Magtibay from the Philippines.
Magtibay is technical officer for Environmental and Occupational Health at the World Health Organization’s Philippines Country Office. Magtibay has almost 40 years of work experience in the field of water, sanitation, environmental health, occupational health, food safety and climate change in various government, non-government, academia and United Nations agencies.
Since 2023 he has worked closely with IWSH to develop a pilot Plumbing for Health initiative that highlights the role plumbing plays in improving WASH access in health-care facilities. The Plumbing for Health initiative will expand in the coming years and supports the global WHO-UNICEF WASH in Healthcare Facilities program.
Magtibay has also forged an important and beneficial new partnership between the Philippine Society of Sanitary Engineers and the National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines and secured an official resolution from the Philippines Professional Regulatory Commission in February 2025.
“This recognition is not only a person milestone, but also a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to ensure that safe water, sanitation and hygiene are a right enjoyed by all, not a privilege for the few,” Magtibay said. “This award highlights our work in advancing plumbing for health, a key initiative that has demonstrated how safe plumbing systems are vital in preventing disease, protecting communities and saving lives, which aligns with policies of the World Health Organization. This achievement would not have been possible without the cooperation of key partners: the Department of Health, the Philippines Society of Sanitary Engineers, the National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines, the Professional Regulation Commission, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, and the World Plumbing Council. Together, we have shown how collective action can translate into concrete activities with long lasting impact. Thank you, IWSH Foundation, for this award. God bless.”
Shane DeLong
MASTER PLUMBER IN OREGON AND NORTH DAKOTA
The second 2025 IWSH awardee is Shane DeLong from Oregon.
DeLong is a master plumber in Oregon and North Dakota and is a member of UA Local Union 290. He served as a volunteer for the Navajo Nation Community Plumbing Challenge, where he played a key role installing a unique water heater system, helping fulfill IWSH’s promise to provide safe, reliable hot water for the Baca-Prewitt Chapter House, which had been without hot water for almost seven years.
DeLong had long hoped to join a project — having first applied before the COVID-19 pandemic — and brought with him not only technical excellence, but a deep personal
commitment to uplifting indigenous communities. As a proud member of the Chippewa tribe, he actively mentors indigenous youth, and works to expand access to plumbing services in underserved areas.
DeLong approaches every task with humility, patience, and purpose. And is a solutions-focused leader who elevates everyone around him. He embodies the spirit of IWSH.
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