The International Code Council has taken another step to advance the quality of its training and education offerings to support learning and career advancement for its Members and other building safety and the construction industry professionals. Long-time ICC instructor, author and technical expert Doug Thornburg will lead an effort to coordinate, review and develop technical content for ICC education programs and seminars.

Thornburg will use the expertise he has developed working as part of a team of specialists who use their technical knowledge to author books that support the codes—handbooks, study companions, inspector guides, significant changes to the codes, building code basics, and Application Guides. Thornburg teaches for ICC and works with other ICC instructors to ensure what is taught in the classroom is consistent with the I-Codes.

"The realignment gives us a great opportunity to tighten collaboration across functional areas and best use each other's strengths to the advantage of the learner," says David Dufresne, Executive Director of Education and Certification. "The closer alignment of the training offerings and development experts in education with our technical subject matter experts will give us a greater ability to continue to advance the reach and effectiveness of our training programs."

In his new role as Vice President and Technical Director—Product Development and Education, Thornburg will have overall responsibility for the coordination, review, development of technical content for I-Code support publications as well as ICC education programs and seminars. His team of technical subject matter experts, which now also includes ICC's technical staff instructors, will drive and support the technical development, release, and delivery of technical content, including publications and ICC's technical education seminars.

The commitment to improve training opportunities is one element of the Code Council's "Year of the Member" initiative. ICC has taken number of steps to reinvigorate its training and education programs, including enhancing the Chapter education benefit.

"The products and services developed, offered and delivered by ICC's Product Development and Education staff have always been closely related," says Mark Johnson, Executive Vice President and Director of Business Development. "The coordination of staff in the two departments and sharing their strengths in a common effort will result in improved products and services."