Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon was a guest speaker during the Opening Session of the Code Council's 2012 Annual Conference in Portland. Blumenauer (left) has represented Oregon's 3rd District since 1996, and protecting Oregon and its environment is a passion for Congressman Earl Blumenauer.

"People love Oregon for its leadership in the land use planning area, but I think they don't appreciate the significance that the building code itself played in our heritage of a well-planned state," Blumenauer said. "The center of a variety of liveable communities in what we think is an approach that forced sustainability for common sense; squeezing more economic value out of our investments. The building code, at its core, is the foundation of a liveable community. The work that you do for the safety of a family, a business, dealing with fire dangers, seismic standards, energy efficiency, wildlands, sanitation; these are things that most Americans take for granted. You know that the work that you do saves lives, saves money, it creates value for you and your neighbor, it helps communities function in the most elemental way."

A lifelong resident of Portland, the Congressman as a college student spearheaded the effort to lower the voting age both in Oregon and nationwide. He served as a state legislator, County Commissioner, and Portland City Councilman before his 1996 election to the U.S. House of Representatives. As a Congressman he created the unique role of chief spokesperson for Livable Communities: places where people are safe, healthy and economically secure.

From 2007 to 2010 he served as vice-chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. He is currently a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Budget Committee.

A leading environmental advocate, the Congressman has authored and co-sponsored legislation to preserve and protect public lands, shift the nation’s energy policy toward renewable energy and energy efficiency, curb global warming and clean our nation's water bodies.

He was a sponsor of the Flood Insurance Reform Act; a past American Planning Association Legislator of the Year; recipient of the National Building Museum's Apgar Award; and an honorary member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the American Institute of Architects.

U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) Chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso (left) shared his thoughts on the shared missions of the Code Council and the CSB with conference attendees during the Opening Session of the Code Council's 2012 Annual Conference on October 22 in Portland, Ore.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is an independent, federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. In its pursuit to provide public safety, the International Code Council often interacts with the Chemical Safety Board. A recent example of this collaboration is an amendment to the International Fuel Gas Code and International Residential Code after a natural gas explosion at a North Carolina plant.

"The International Code Council and the CSB have a shared mission: to closely examine the facts about accidents and safety issues and then figure out the best way to prescribe practice that will prevent accidents and save lives," Moure-Eraso stated. "CSB has found that in several recent accident investigations, the intervention of local citizens and authorities have been powerful incentives to develop ways to work closely and directly with local industries to ensure compliance with codes. We can depend on code officials to protect our communities. The CSB strongly commends the International Code Council for all the careful work you do to produce such effective long-time concensus I-Codes and for its willingness to consider CSB recommendations."

Rafael Moure-Eraso was nominated by President Barack Obama in 2010 and confirmed by the Senate. His background includes various positions with the School of Health and Environment at the University of Massachusetts, the Harvard School of Public Health, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and as an industrial hygienist engineer.

This year's Annual Conference featured informative educational sessions for building safety, fire prevention, sustainability, and other construction industry professionals. These sessions, which were sponsored by Target, were designed to help attendees increase their understanding and application of the International Codes.

Tom Phillips of Target Corp. stated, "On behalf of Target I want to personally thank the ICC Board and the Members for your unwavering commitment to this organization and its mission. Starting in 2012, we are refocusing our support of education to develop programs and engage current technology and establish the foundation for the emerging practices of tomorrow. Target is taking a look ahead into the industry in 2022, just 10 years from now, and are committed to providing the tools and resources to help you, the Member, succeed not only today, but in the years ahead. Government, corporations and organizations do not thrive without talented people to carry out the vision and represent the mission in everything they do every day. You, the ICC Member, ensure the vision to create safe communities that is evident in every state, local jurisdiction and across the country. Target is here to commend you and support you in that effort."

Director Patrick Allen of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, which includes the state's the Building Codes Division, was a guest speaker during the Opening Session of the Code Council's 2012 Annual Conference in Portland.

"We're just about to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a statewide code in Oregon. It's a fairly unique system that we're very proud of," Allen said. "In 1973 at the behest of the building industry, construction trades and consumer organizations, we created a system in Oregon that is relatively unique around the country. We have a single statewide code, that is delivered through 134 cities and countries across the state. That means we have a single predictable building standard that builders are able to use consistently across jurisdiction lines without questions. We deliver that through a partnership with dozens of code professionals in those cities and counties that are the point of contact for those builders as they deal with the requirements when they get on the ground in those individual cities and counties."

"Oregon has been a leader nationally in energy efficiency standards. Today, we have the third of fourth most energy efficient construction codes in the country behind states like California and Massachusetts that have significantly higher energy costs. We've been able to push those codes so impressively in the face of historically cheap energy here in the pacific northwest and that’s due to a progressive building community of professionals."

"Also, we worked with your platinum level sponsor Accella government software to develop a first of its kind in the nation online statewide building permit system that is used by 134 cities and countries across the state. We've created a system where using an online portal a builder can purchase permits, submit plans electronically, review the status of plan review inspections and receive information back from participation building construction jurisdictions. It's a unique statewide system that helps make compliance easy."

Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, serving his fourth term, welcomed ICC Annual Conference attendees to Portland during the Opening Session. Commissioner Saltzman is committed to investing in children and fostering the principles of sustainability to enhance the quality of life.

"On behalf of the mayor and the entire city council, we're thrilled you're having your annual conference here in Portland, Oregon," Saltzman told attendees. "This is really where the rubber hits the road in terms of making modern-day cities stronger in code enforcement. Code compliance is really the key to modern urban-day life. It wouldn't be possible without you and I hold your work in high regard."

"For years, the city of Portland has been recognized as a leader in all facets of sustainable living: green building, transit, land use planning, recycling and bicycle use. For over 40 years, the city of Portland has been committed to producing and enhancing a cleaner and more sustainable lifestyle, producing a city and region at the forefront of alternative transportation use, green and energy-efficient buildings, and promotion and usage of non-carbon-based energy sources. We are pleased to be proclaimed one of the greenest cities in America by creating a cleaner environment and living in a more sustainable manner."

Bestselling author and Chief Strategy Officer for The Center for Generational Kinetics, Jason Ryan Dorsey, otherwise known as the "The Gen Y Guy," shared his advice and knowledge of how code professionals could cross the "generational divide" during the ICC Foundation Luncheon.

For the first time in world history, four different generations are working side by side—and a fifth generation is on the way, according to Dorsey. Each generation brings a different perspective, strengths, and priorities to the workplace. These differences can be a frustrating challenge (you leave a voicemail and they reply with a text) or a strategic opportunity depending entirely how you respond.

Dorsey entertainingly revealed each generation's workplace mindset, including surprising statistics, laugh-out-loud stories, and frontline-tested, creative strategies that can quickly increase cross-generational performance. Luncheon attendees left motivated with ready-to-use actions that they could apply immediately.

Dorsey closed his remarks by relating a personal story from his childhood that emphasized the important work of code officials. "I grew up in a small town in Washington County, Texas, and when I was young, I was in my bedroom and our family heard this large explosion, and I'll never forget it. it was one of the scariest days of my life. There had been a natural gas leak that had come up underneath the salt dome and collected in this depression along the highway. A car drove by and a spark from the car caused it to ignite and explode. And it absolutely decimated the homes that were right there, Which is where our family's friends lived. We were about a mile away. it shook our house, cracked the walls, things fell, and I'll never forget. It's one of those events you cannot shake. Why it's important for me to speak to you is that our house was okay because of somebody like you. Somebody like you made sure that it was safe. So I wanted to be here on behalf of my mom, my dad, my brother and sister, and I want to thank you for what you guys do. It's really important."

Ernest Mitchell, Jr., Fire Administrator United States Fire Administration, keynote speaker at the ICC 2012 Annual Conference Banquet in Oregon, told attendees that working together between the fire official and the building official results in safer, stronger communities. He also reflected on the opportunity he had to work with Bob Fowler, first chairman of the Code Council Board of Directors. They often discussed proposed projects and how they could make them safe for both the public and for firefighters.

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency's United States Fire Administrator, Mitchell began his tenure on December 5, 2011, and is responsible for managing the United States Fire Administration, the programs and training activities at the National Emergency Training Center. During his career, Chief Mitchell has either chaired or been a member of many working committees that contributed to the progress and development of communities as well as local, state and national fire and emergency services. He is a past recipient of the International Association of Fire Chiefs' (IAFC) President's Award for Service and has received several other community awards for service. In 2012 Chief Mitchell received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the IAFC Black Chief Officers.