Good evening everyone and thank you so much for that wonderful ovation.

I want to thank you for allowing me the privilege to stand before you tonight, and for the confidence you have placed in me to serve as your President for the coming year. This is a moment I will never forget. Thank you.

Of course, there are many people I would like to thank, people who have supported and encouraged me every step of the way. There's not enough time to thank everyone, but I would like to recognize a few who have helped guide me to this night.

First, I would like to recognize the members of the G-12 coalition, represented by the gentlemen who stood with me tonight. New York, New Jersey, you are my brothers and my sisters, and I will never forget where I come from.

I would like to thank our Immediate Past President, Bill Dupler. Bill, the vision and wisdom you have imparted, has led us to a position of strength and confidence. I also want to thank you for your friendship. Serving as your Vice President has allowed me to witness firsthand the true depth of your character, and I am very proud to call you my friend.

I would like to thank the other members of your Executive Committee, Steve Jones and Jimmy Brothers. Junior, Senator, thank you for your dedication, your leadership, and for your guidance. It's been a helluva ride.

And I am so pleased to welcome our new Secretary/Treasurer, Guy Tomberlin, to the Executive team. Guy, I have watched you develop and prepare for this moment, and I know you're going to be a great leader.

I would also like to thank all of the Directors who have served on your Board this year. These are challenging times, but we have faced these challenges together, and I know we are poised to continue doing great things for the Code Council.

And of course, it gives me great pleasure to welcome the newest members of your Board of Directors. Jim, Bill, and Greg, thank you for making the commitment to serve our Members. As you begin Board service, I offer two words of advice. . . get ready.

Next, I would like to thank the talented and dedicated staff of ICC, IAS, ICC-ES and the Foundation. Our staff is second to none.

And I would like to extend a special welcome to Dominic Sims, our acting Chief Executive Officer. Dom, I can't tell you how excited I am to work with you this coming year.

I would also like to thank our strategic partners and the many organizations and sponsors who contribute to our building safety mission. The support network that you create around ICC is critical to our success, and we understand strong relationships are not connected by one way streets.

And finally, I want to thank you, our Members and Chapters of ICC. You are the people who inspire me, your Board of Directors and our tremendous staff to excel in pursuit of building safety. You are the people who serve on our Boards, our Councils and our Committees. You are the people who create the International Codes. Thank you for your service to our association.

Next year, the International Code Council will reach a great milestone in our history. 2013 marks the 10 year anniversary of ICC’s consolidation. Can you believe it? Think of all we have been through in the last 10 years. We have much to be proud of, and it is so important that we never forget where we came from.

Over the next year, we're going to take a moment, look back, and remember some of the great accomplishments and achievements that have led us to where we are today.

And we are going to recognize some of our Members, the titans of ICC, our heroes, who have created the greatest building safety association on the planet.

As we pause to celebrate, we must not dwell on the past. My friends, the moment has arrived. It is time, to step across the threshold and begin a new chapter.

It is time, to refocus and re-dedicate ourselves to our core mission, creating the best codes in the world. It is time, to reassemble ALL of our Members, regardless of who you are and what you do, as one cohesive association of Building Safety Professionals.

And it is time to announce for all to hear, we are proud of the work we do. We save lives, and We enrich our communities, and the health and welfare of the citizens we serve.

My friends, my brothers, my sisters, it is time, for the International Code Council Family to stand proud, to join hands, and to move forward.