In 2005, Thomas (Tom) J. Phillips, CBO, then building official for the city of Salem, Ore., attended a training session for IAS's newly developed building department accreditation program in Henderson, Nev., where he met IAS President Chuck Ramani. That brief meeting was the spark that brought Phillips and his exceptional knowledge and leadership skills to the IAS community. Soon after that meeting, Ramani asked Phillips to serve on the IAS Accreditation Committee. At the time, Phillips had been in the building community as an official or inspector for 15 years, with experience in California, Idaho and Oregon. An ICC Certified Building Official, Phillips became a full-time member of the committee in 2007 and then took over as Chairman in 2012.
"Since I first met Tom in 2005, I've appreciated his commitment to building safety," said Ramani. "He's been a valued member of our team and I greatly appreciate his wisdom and guidance the last four years as chairman."
When asked what he's found most satisfying about his tenure with the IAS accreditation committee, Phillips readily responds: "I most appreciated that, regardless of the accreditation topic, it was an open and transparent public process that allowed stakeholder input to creating criteria. It is how a highly collaborative forum should work with push and pull from all sides until we arrive at a quality solution."
Earlier this year, after more than a decade of volunteer service to IAS, Phillips opted to step down from the IAS accreditation committee. He continues his work in the building community, serving as the Regional and Local Government Relations Manager for the Oregon State Building Codes Division that provides code development, administration, inspection, plan review, licensing and permit services to the construction industry, as well as the Building Official and Administrator for the city of Salem. Of note, the city of Salem Building and Safety Division of the Community Development Department became the first jurisdiction in the state of Oregon to achieve IAS Building Department Accreditation in 2012.
IAS thanks Tom Phillips for his leadership and dedication to the committee, and wishes him the best in his professional and personal endeavors. |
