Jim Kendzel is named new ASPE Executive Director

CHICAGO, IL —At the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) Convention in Philadelphia last month, Jim Kendzel, MPH, CAE, was introduced as the Society’s new executive director/chief executive officer, officially starting Jan. 1, 2011.

“I am humbled and honored to assume this position, and I look forward to serving the membership, achieving the vision of the Society, and advancing the plumbing engineering profession,” Kendzel says.

Jim comes to ASPE from the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), where he served as the executive director as well as the lead executive for the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. His knowledge of standards, research, education, and accreditation services will help strengthen ASPE’s Certified in Plumbing Design (CPD) program, as well as further the Society’s goal to bring professional development opportunities to a wider range of plumbing industry professionals.

“I am looking forward to working with Jim, and I feel that he will bring fresh ideas to the Society,” says ASPE President William F. Hughes Jr., CPD, LEED AP, FASPE. “Having Jim as our new executive director will bring to ASPE different opportunities and open new doors that will further promote ASPE and develop new contacts for the Society.”

Prior to ICE, Jim had more than 25 years of leadership experience in developing national and international product and system standards and providing conformity assessment services based on those standards to a wide range of industry sectors, including the plumbing industry, with NSF International. Jim has held volunteer leadership positions with the American National Standards Institute, ASTM International, the International Code Council, American Council of Independent Laboratories, and National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation. He also has served on committees responsible for the development of international standards through the International Organization for Standardization.

Based on his background of working within code- and standards-development organizations, one of Jim’s first goals will be to further relationships with such associations, particularly the International Code Council (ICC) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), with whom ASPE recently signed memorandums of understanding. ASPE plans on working with ICC and IAPMO to help advance the plumbing engineering profession within the international code community, as well as to utilize the resources of all three organizations to create quality educational programs for everyone in the plumbing industry.

Jim replaces Stanley Wolfson, who has been the Society’s executive director for 15 years. “Working with Stan was an educational opportunity for me, as his knowledge and understanding of so many different aspects relating to the industry were second to none,” says Hughes. “I can say that I consider it a great honor and privilege not only to have known Stan, but also to have been able to work with him.”