Helping Build a Safer Arizona

September, 2023

Greetings AZBO Members and Friends,

I know we are all excited about the summer heat moving out and the fall season moving into the state. We continue to be challenged by record-breaking heat each year and unfortunately, this trend will most likely continue. Fortunately, ‘pay-back’ weather is right around the corner!

Behind the scenes at AZBO, we have been working feverishly on training new staff and identifying roles and responsibilities. The AZBO website has been reorganized and is now on track to stay updated with upcoming events, news and relevant educational offerings.

If you have not had a chance to recently visit the website (Arizona Building Officials - AZBO), I encourage you to take a few minutes and become familiar with the extensive amount of information provided.

We now have a new Executive Secretary on board, Shelly Franco-Westacott. Shelly is a ball of energy, knowledge and expertise, and I have been tasked with trying to keep up with her! Her extensive professional background is in education, project management and professional development, so she has immediately begun to positively impact our AZBO association! Welcome, Shelly!

Additionally, we have two new Education Committee Co-Chairs; Christopher Guzman (City of Tolleson) and Brad Mecham (City of Phoenix) have graciously taken on this leadership role.

As an education-driven association, the work and planning achieved by the AZBO Education Committee is without dispute, the most critical driving force of our organization. With the leadership of these two individuals, AZBO will continue to achieve its mission of providing high quality training opportunities to Arizona code and building communities; leveraging the collaborative input and expertise of many AZBO members.

To this end, the Fall Education Institute is coming to Mesa, Arizona, October 23^rd through the 26^th.
Classes are filling up fast, so I encourage anyone wanting to attend to get registered today.

Over the upcoming months, the AZBO Board will meet monthly to outline the 2024 budget, discuss new training venues and courses for 2024 and beyond, and focus on restoring the work of multiple AZBO committees back to pre-pandemic functioning. I encourage each of you to consider joining a committee, volunteering to work events and/or teach, and to attend chapter meetings. AZBO board meetings link and agendas can be accessed via our website under, ‘Events’.

It is leadership volunteers like yourselves that do the work of AZBO and we need your support and involvement. Again, please visit our AZBO website to sign up in order to bring your expertise to our collective!

I would like to thank some people that have made my transition to Chairman, and the development of new staff much easier for me. Who knows where we would be today if not for Pat Headington, Patti Schechter, Mike Baxley, Randal Westacott, Cheryl Mullis, Steve White, Mike Grubbs, Ray LaHaye and especially my wife Christine. Without her permission, I would not be able to come out and play with all my friends.

Best Wishes,

Don

Don Brown - CBO
AZBO Executive Chairman

Don.brown@phoenix.gov