(Front row seated left to right:) Rick Moreno; Steve Fernlund, secretary; Rex Crawford; David Gans, president; Steven Panelli, vice president; Jeremy Stettler; and David Straub, immediate past president.
(Back row standing left to right:) Barry Ramsey, treasurer; Jason Shank; Rick Garcia; Claudio Spagnuolo; Carlos Flores; David Ledda; Ray Boyd; Keith Bonenfant; Brian Hamner; Kevin Tindall; and Allen Becker.
President Steven Panelli is chief plumbing inspector for the city and county of San Francisco. As chief plumbing inspector of a large metropolitan city, Panelli has been directly involved in the conception and framework for water conservation, storm water management, and other Green legislation and city polices.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Panelli attended Sacred Heart High School and graduated in 1989. Two days after graduation, he was given the opportunity to work for a family friend at Heiro Plumbing. He then applied to Local 38 and completed the apprenticeship program, working at Columbia Mechanical for all of his apprenticeship. Shortly after becoming a journeyman, he again had the privilege to work for one of the most respected companies in San Francisco, Servadei Plumbing.
Panelli was hired in 2000 as a plumbing inspector for the city and county of San Francisco and was subsequently promoted to senior inspector in 2005 and chief plumbing inspector in 2009.
“Without the support and professionalism of my inspectors, I would not be able to be the chief I am today,” he says. “They have always had my back no matter what and I appreciate all the hard work they perform every day.”
Panelli has been a contributing member of IAPMO for the past 15 years. He is always willing to volunteer his time for his IAPMO chapter and has been an alternate for the Plumbing and Mechanical Technical Committees. Panelli has represented the Western Pipe Trades at IAPMO’s annual conferences, as well.
Panelli is an apprentice instructor for the JATC of Local 38.
“I feel very fortunate to be a part of this organization and look forward to working with President Pfeiffer, my fellow Board members, IAPMO staff and, of course, our members,” Panelli says.
Besides his dedication to the plumbing industry, Panelli enjoys playing golf, bowling, pool and sometimes a friendly game of snooker. He would have never have made it to where he is without the love, support and patience of his loving wife of 27 years, Lorena. His children, Steven and Daniela, have always been two of the most important people in his life, as well. Steven has graduated college and is starting a career as a project manager. Daniela is attending college at San Jose State and pursuing a career in communications and African American studies.
Jeremy Stettler wears many hats in his job with Davis School District, just north of Salt Lake City, Utah. As foreman, he and his staff of seven maintain the mechanical systems for just more than 10 million square feet of building space. He also serves as plumbing and mechanical inspector for all ongoing construction in the district, including a 200,000-square-foot middle school facility and a 100,000-square-foot elementary school building. Stettler performs plan review on the mechanical systems. The district works hard to keep its environmental impact to a minimum, whether it’s a net zero or Energy Star building.
A licensed master plumber, Stettler traces his career in the trades to a fateful service call.
“When I was 15, my mother’s sewer got plugged,” he says. “Not having much money, we called several plumbers from the phone book until we found one she could afford. Little did I know it would be the start of my career.”
The owner, Clark Browne, came to their home and Stettler took a keen interest in everything he was doing. Browne took time to explain things as he worked.
“I had no idea he was interviewing me, but at the end of the job he asked if I wanted a job being his helper,” he says. “I jumped at the opportunity and worked after school every day for him for two years.”
Browne introduced Stettler to the local high school plumbing instructor and got him enrolled. At 16, he enrolled in the apprenticeship program at Ogden Weber Applied Technical College. One of his instructors, Linc Talbot, worked for Davis School District and helped his “teacher’s pet” get a job as an apprentice plumber. He started the day after graduation and has been there ever since.
Stettler has since received his Journeyman’s, Master Plumber’s and inspector licenses.
“Plumbing has given me so many opportunities I could never have dreamed of when I got started as a plumber’s helper,” he says. “I continue to be passionate about my trade through IAPMO.”
Brian Hamner is a Plumbing Inspector for the City of Des Moines, Iowa’s capital, a post he’s held since 2007.
Born and raised in Winterset, Iowa, Hamner has 20 years of experience in the plumbing trade. He began his career as a sprinkler fitter with a small company for several years before switching to plumbing after some encouragement from his then future wife, Shannon. In 1996, he started with Cook Plumbing Corp., obtaining his Journeyman and his Master Plumbing licenses during his tenure. In 2005, he went to work for Golden Rule Plumbing and Heating before moving onto his current position with the city.
He is a certified IAPMO Plumbing Inspector, and as an IAPMO member since 2013 he has been serving on the UPC Answers and Analysis committee since joining the association. He has served as the Chairman of the Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel Gas Committee for the Central Iowa Code Consortium, a group of 15 communities that have joined together to adopt codes for the Central Iowa metro area. He also serves as the Vice Chairman/Treasurer for the Iowa Chapter of IAPMO.
“I am truly honored to serve on the Board of Directors,” Hamner says, “it is an opportunity I will never take for granted. IAPMO is a great organization to be a part of. It is a world leader in plumbing and mechanical codes. I look forward to helping the association move forward in providing safe plumbing and mechanical systems, along with other services IAPMO has to offer.”
He and Shannon have been married 22 years and have two children, Tobias and Olivia. Hamner’s father worked for 33 years as a journeyman gas serviceman with the union. He enjoys riding motorcycles, bow hunting, cooking, and spending time with his family.
Immediate Past President David Gans is chief building official for the city of Oceanside, Calif., where he manages the building department, and performs plan reviews and inspections for the Southern California coastal community. A dedicated public servant, Gans serves as the plumbing and mechanical expert within his division and enjoys being a resource to others in his department, as well as to the city’s residents and contractors.
Holding a bachelor of Science, Public Administration, from the University of La Verne, Calif., Gans began his career as a plumbing and HVAC technician in the Building and Maintenance Division, city of Pasadena, Calif., and with Fallbrook Elementary Unified School District in Fallbrook, Calif. A licensed Los Angeles city and county plumbing journeyman since 1996 and a California licensed C-36 plumbing contractor, Gans is a member of several labor unions, including the UA, AFSME and the OCEA. He is IAPMO certified as a plumbing plans and mechanical plans examiner, as well as a residential and commercial combination inspector and plans examiner.
Gans has served as chairman of the IAPMO San Diego County chapter since 2008, on the UMC Answers and Analysis Committee since 2009 and worked on the IAPMO task group for access requirements of the 2006 UMC. He is a plumbing instructor for the California Association of Building Officials, the Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors Association San Diego, and the California State Contractor’s License School.
He and wife Tracey have three children. Gans enjoys fishing, surfing, free diving, spear fishing and motorcycle riding.
“I absolutely love the plumbing and mechanical industry,” Gans says. “I have especially enjoyed meeting people from all parts of the industry and country that share my enthusiasm for the plumbing and mechanical industries. As my career in the industry has evolved, I have found it particularly rewarding to teach and mentor our next generations of plumbers and HVAC techs..
“I have great respect for the codes and standards that IAPMO produces. The members of IAPMO have done an incredible job creating quality codes reflect diverse participation during code development. As we all move into the future together, I have confidence that IAPMO will continue to grow and have success because of the quality efforts of staff and our membership. “
Jason Shank has been the training director for Plumbers Local 55 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) in Cleveland for the past 14 years. As training director, Shank is responsible for training plumbing apprentices, residential trainees and plumbing service trainees.
Shank is president of the Northern Ohio Chapter of ASSE International, chairperson of the Code Development Committee, and a member of the PQ Standards and Instructor/School Committees, among others. He is also a trustee for the northeast area of the Ohio Association of Plumbing Inspectors, secretary of the State of Ohio Joint Apprenticeship Committee for Plumbers, Pipefitters and HVACR, chairman of the Northeast Ohio Apprenticeship Council Committee and a board member of the Apprentice Skills Achievement Program for the city of Cleveland.
Allen Becker is a combination plans examiner with the city of Henderson Building and Fire Safety Division in Nevada. This is his 20th year working for Henderson following three years with the city of Las Vegas.
Becker joined the Southern Nevada chapter of IAPMO in 1999, serving on its Board of Directors from 2002-2004 and 2006-2015, including as chapter president from 2009-2015. In 2007 he was awarded the chapter’s Government Person of the Year award and in 2015 was IAPMO’s Government Person of the Year.
A member of UA Local 525, Becker holds numerous plans examiner and inspector certifications and has served on both IAPMO’s UPC Workshop and Uniform Evaluation committees since 2013. He is a founding member of the EduCode Steering Committee and has served on the Southern Nevada Building Officials’ Plumbing and Mechanical Review Committee.
A skilled archer and defensive pistol shooting trainer, Becker enjoys the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and spending time in his shop working with metal. As a young man, he trained for the United States Olympic Boxing Team and served as a race official for the American Motorcycle Association.
He and his wife, Dixie, have four sons — Stephen, Travis, Ryan and Cody — and two, soon to be three, granddaughters.
“IAPMO is made up of passionate and dedicated professionals whose goal is to provide access to good health and sanitation for the entire world’s population,” he says. “I am honored to be elected by such incredible people to serve on the IAPMO Board.”
Keith Bonenfant is a plumbing and mechanical inspector with the California Department of General Services. He started working in the plumbing industry in 1984 in his home state of New Hampshire, where he completed a four-year apprenticeship program. He acquired his journeyman plumber license and just two years later achieved master plumber’s license status.
Bonenfant relocated to San Diego County in 1990, working as a journeyman, foreman, and general foreman on many types of projects ranging from prisons, schools, and hospitals, as well as federal projects at the surrounding military bases. He has taught plumbing and mechanical project inspector overview classes for the California Department of General Services, Division of the State Architect (DSA). He is a proud member of UA Local 398 Plumbers and Steamfitters in Pomona, Calif.
Bonenfant is an IAPMO-certified plumbing and mechanical inspector, ACIA Division II building inspector, and ASSE 6020 Medical Gas inspector. He holds several California contractor’s licenses; General Building (B), General Engineering (A), and Plumbing (C-36). He also holds a California Real Estate Broker license.
Bonenfant serves on two IAPMO committees — the Publication Committee and the Mechanical Workshop Committee.
He enjoys running, hiking, wood working, and spending time with family. He and his wife, Melanie, celebrated their 28th anniversary in October and have four children: Gaston, Chase, Sidney, and Paige.
Jeremy Diaz is the business manager/financial secretary treasurer of United Association Plumbers Local 78 in Los Angeles. UA Local 78 has a rich history in the plumbing industry. It was chartered in 1892 and has been a champion of IAPMO since the association was founded in 1926.Diaz became a member of IAPMO in 2014 and is currently chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He loves working with members, sharing information about the trade and how IAPMO is a vital part of our industry.
In his spare time, you will find him either at home barbecuing with his family and friends or on the softball field. He enjoys traveling and is an avid sports fan.
Born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, Secretary/Treasurer Steve Fernlund graduated from St. Bernard’s High School in the spring of 1988 and decided to enroll in St. Paul Plumbers UA Local 34’s plumbing program that fall.
Now a 32-year member of Local 34, Fernlund spent 16 years at a service, remodel and small commercial shop, four years performing commercial and industrial work, and one year at St. Paul’s School District 625 before becoming a plumbing inspector with the city of St. Paul’s Department of Safety and Inspections in February 2008.
Fernlund has spent 10 years with IAPMO’s Minnesota chapter, six as an officer, and is a member of IAPMO’s UPC Answers and Analysis committee. A 10-year executive board member/vice president of Local 34, Fernlund serves as a plumbing instructor for Local 34 JATC.
“I’m excited to serve on the board and further my support of IAPMO’s world leading plumbing and mechanical codes, as well as its dedication to health and sanitation,” Fernlund said. “I am thankful for the support and patience given to me by my wife, Cindy, whom I married 26 years ago in September.” The Fernlunds have three children: Dominic, Brenden and Natalie.
Fernlund enjoys playing “old guy” hockey, snowmobiling and spending time with his family.
Carlos Flores is the assistant chief plumbing inspector for the city of Houston, a post he’s held since 2014. During his 25 years with Houston, he spent the first 10 as an inspector and the following 10 as a senior inspector.
A second-generation plumber and the oldest of three children, Flores got his start working during the summers with his father, himself a plumber for more than 40 years.
“He taught me the value of a good day’s work and to take pride in our craft,” Flores says.
A member of IAPMO since 2012, Flores serves on the IAPMO Answers and Analysis Committee in addition to his appointment to the Board of Directors. He is also an active member of the ASSE International Chapter of IAPMO and Plumbers Local 68 in Houston.
“I have enjoyed working with my fellow committee members and the knowledge I have gained has proven to be invaluable,” he says. “I am proud to be a part of IAPMO and play a small role in giving back to the trade that has served me and my family well.”
Flores and his wife of 34 years, Diana, have three children — Thomas, 38, Candace 33, and Dana 23.
In his free time, Flores enjoys golfing, fishing and photography.
Rick Garcia is the senior mechanical inspector for the city of San Diego. He supervises the commercial plumbing and mechanical inspectors in the United States’ eighth most populous city.
Garcia began working in the plumbing industry in 1984 as a laborer/helper for Beyerle Plumbing, a family owned plumbing company that enabled him to learn all phases of the trade underground, rough and finish. The experiences and knowledge gained then have led him to a fulfilling career in the trades.
Garcia has spent the past five years as an instructor at the PHCC San Diego chapter.
"I have developed a true passion for teaching,” he says. “It is a highly rewarding experience teaching students the language of the Uniform Plumbing Code and the minimum code requirements. The industry is in desperate need of qualified plumbers to fill the need for affordable housing in the city."
Garcia says he is honored and excited to have been elected to the IAPMO board.
“I will serve the responsibilities with care, loyalty, and to the best of my ability,” he says.
Rick and his wife, Lee, have been married for 33 years. They have two children, John and Richard.
David Ledda is a senior plumbing inspector for the city and county of San Francisco. During the past 20 years in the San Francisco Department of Building Inspections, he has worked as a district plumbing inspector, working on many large projects, including Chase Center. He has also served as a member of the San Francisco Code Enforcement Task Force, working with various city agencies to ensure properties throughout San Francisco are safe for their residents and neighbors.
Ledda is a second-generation United Association plumber, who started working for his family plumbing business while in high school. He later joined the UA in 1984, where he learned the value of “Doing the Job Right the First Time.”
Ledda has been a member of IAPMO since 2000. He served as a local chapter officer from 2004-2007 in IAPMO’s Central California chapter. He was named Local Government Person of the Year in 2008. He serves on the Mechanical Workshop Committee and has served as an alternate on the Plumbing and Mechanical Technical committees.
Ledda enjoys working with committee members and continuing to grow the knowledge he has gained through his time as a member of IAPMO. He also enjoys sharing the lessons he has learned as both a union plumber and an inspector with IAPMO members.
Ledda has been married to his wife, Carolyn, for 36 years; together they have two grown sons, Dominic and Anthony. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, hunting and fishing.
Rick Moreno is the president of Astro Mechanical Contractors, Inc., provider of construction services, products and solutions to commercial and federal government clients for more than 60 years and specializing in heating, cooling, ventilation, pluming and general construction management.
A native southern Californian, Moreno advanced in his career from journeyman plumber to general foreman, project manager, operations manager and president/CEO. His vast experience has provided him with expert skills in the construction trades, project management, business development, contract negotiations, communications and leadership. An adaptive, hands-on leader, Moreno has ably navigated Astro Mechanical through both good and bad economic environments.
Moreno is a member of and serves on multiple industry boards:
Moreno and his wife, Jenny, have been married 40 years and have three children: Sabrina, 38; Capri, 36; and Jordan, 18. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, boating, traveling, classic cars and participating in his church, Shadow Mountain Community in El Cajon.
“It has been great serving on the IAPMO technical committee for the past three years,” he says. “Great organization with awesome people. I look forward to serving as a board member and continuing to support the leadership that works so hard to improve the quality of life for our great nation. The relationships I have developed have been priceless.
Barry Ramsey is chief plumbing inspector for St. Louis County, Missouri, a post he’s held since 2012.
After starting his plumbing career working in commercial plumbing as an apprentice with Plumbers Local 35 in St. Louis (which later merged with Local 562 Plumbers & Pipefitters) in 1987, Ramsey’s apprenticeship was interrupted when his U.S. Marine Corp reserve unit was activated for the Gulf War (Desert Shield, Desert Storm) in November 1990. Ramsey’s unit was deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for nine months. Upon his return home, he completed his apprenticeship in 1992.
Ramsey became a part-time instructor in 1996, providing training to apprentices on various topics and later becoming a certified instructor through the UA Instructor Training Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
During his career journey, Ramsey has worked as a journeyman, foreman, general foreman, service plumber, project manager, estimator, and master plumber. In addition to his responsibilities as chief plumbing inspector, Ramsey also sits on the Plumbing Board of Examiners and Plumbing Code Review Committee.
An IAPMO member since 2012, Ramsey serves on the Education and Training and UPC Answers and Analysis committees and is also an ASSE Backflow Certified Trainer and Proctor.
Ramsey has three adult children and enjoys golf, cooking and traveling in his spare time. He’s devoted more than 25 years volunteering with Rebuilding Together, working with members of the other trades and individuals who volunteer their time helping disadvantaged residents of the St. Louis County community with much needed repairs to their homes.
“I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors and plan to be a contributing member, striving to maintain IAPMO’s elite level of excellence and commitment to industry,” Ramsey says.
Claudio Spagnuolo is a plumbing inspector for the city of Brampton in Ontario, Canada. Brampton is the ninth largest city in Canada, with a population of approximately 600,000 people — a number that is growing rapidly. He has been an inspector with the city of Brampton for 23 years and is also an ongoing member of the Ontario Plumbing Inspector Association (OPIA) advisory committee.
Spagnuolo started working just after high school as he pushed a broom around for a mechanical contractor in his prefabrication shop. This led to an opportunity for an apprenticeship in the plumbing industry and thus started his career. He became licensed and continued his education by completing courses through the Local 46 night school, then achieved his Master Plumbing Certificate at Local 46. During the Ontario recession of 1989 and after a year of unemployment, he obtained the position of plumbing inspector with the city of Brampton.
In 1997, Spagnuolo started teaching night school with Local 46 and enrolled in the United Association (UA) Instructor Training Program. He taught various courses to apprentices, including basic plumbing, code updates and regulations, and backflow prevention. In 2000, during Instructor Training in Ann Arbor, Mich. IAPMO CEO Russ Chaney approached him and asked if he was interested in participating in a plumbing certification committee and standards review committee.
Spagnuolo has been a member of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), serving on multiple committees, throughout the past two decades. In late 2008, he accepted a seat on the CSA-CIPH (Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating) committee for the Canadian Plumbing Inspectors Education and Training Program Steering Committee. This committee initialized and implemented a program for national standardization of plumbing inspectors across Canada. Prior to this, in 2004, he was asked to sit on the plumbing sub-committee to update and rewrite the Certificate of Qualification Provincial Exam due to his knowledge and expertise regarding the plumbing trade. This led to Spagnuolo participating in the draft and validation of the “Plumber” Interprovincial (Red Seal) examination.
In 2015, he was presented with the Canadian Standard of Excellence award at the Red Seal Occupational Standard (RSOS) Workshop for significant contributions in the development and review of the plumber trade. Furthermore, the UA National Apprentice Competition recruited him to judge plumbing apprentices’ skills and knowledge primarily in 2015 and again in 2017. UA Canada relies on Spagnuolo as a resource person for plumbing-related issues due to his experience within the trade.
Recently, he became a Green Professional Building Skills Training (GPRO) Certified Instructor through the U.S. Green Building Council for Fundamentals of Building Green, Plumbing, and Mechanical Systems.
“The plumbing industry has become a big part of my life,” he says, “I have passion and respect for the trade and the people within it because they are guiding and shaping the future.” Spagnuolo is looking forward to working directly with President DJ Nunez and the IAPMO Board of Directors.
Claudio’s oldest son, Michael, has followed him into the trade and is a licensed plumber with Local 46. His second son, Alfredo, has completed his bachelor and graduated with honors from Wilfrid Laurier University and is now completing a Masters of Environment and Sustainability program at the University of Western Ontario. His youngest son, Spence, is a seventh-grader with a strong passion for hockey.
Many of Spagnuolo’s recent achievements and awards have been accomplished with the support and dedication of his loving girlfriend, Janice Stewart.
Kevin Tindall is the president and owner of Tindall & Ranson Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, established in 1992. He has been a member of the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractor Association for 25 years, serving on the board of directors and various committees at the local, state and national level, including 2014-2015 national president.
The recipient of IAPMO’s 2012 Joseph Kneidinger Green Professional of the Year Award, Tindall works closely with IAPMO on the WE•Stand Committee and the Standards Council.
In July 2008, he testified before Congress in Washington, D.C., on behalf of small businesses and “The Role of Green Technology and Ensuring Economic Growth” as a representative of the National Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association.
In January 2009, again representing PHCC, he signed a memorandum of understanding between the administrator of the U.S. EPA, National Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association, IAPMO and Alliance for Water Efficiency to set up a consortium to study flow reduction and high efficiency in appliances.
Tindall was named Contractor magazine’s 2012 Contractor of the Year.
In December 2017, at the request of the White House, Tindall attended a roundtable discussion with the president’s advisors and cabinet members about how federal regulations have impacted American businesses and then attended a press conference with the president of the United States in the Roosevelt Room.
Tindall and his wife of 43 years, Kathy, have two daughters, Heather, 40, and Nicole, 36, and one grandson, Liam, 5. In his free time, Tindall enjoys spending time on his boat and at his beach house.
