September 29, 2011

Russ Chaney of New Jersey elected chairman of World Plumbing Council

EDINBURGH

GP Russ Chaney, CEO of the IAPMO Group of the United States has been elected chairman of the World Plumbing Council (WPC) for a two-year term.

Chaney, who previously served on the WPC executive board as a director and then deputy chairman, began his career in the plumbing business as an apprentice in 1974, obtaining his master plumber licence in the state of New Jersey in 1982 and his New Jersey plumbing inspector licence in 1987.

He ran his own plumbing business until he laid down the tools in 1990 and joined the National Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors as director of technical services in 1992.

Chaney served as the secretariat of the national standard plumbing code and the ANSI A40 safety requirements for plumbing code until joining IAPMO as CEO in June 1995. IAPMO joined the WPC in August 1995 and tapped Chaney as its representative.

He was elected to his first three-year term on the executive board in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008 as deputy chairman.

Chaney holds a Bachelor’s Degree in personnel management from Rowan University in New Jersey and an accounting degree from Brookdale Community College, also in New Jersey.

Joining Chaney on the WPC executive board are deputy chairman Sudhakaran Nair of India and honourary secretary/treasurer Hans Tiedemann of Canada. Directors are Hua Mingjiu of China, Richard J. Prospal of the United States, Elmar Esser of Germany and Shayne La Combre of Australia.

“Being elected by my peers to this position, essentially the pinnacle of my career in plumbing is the highest, most humbling, honour I’ve received in my professional career,” Chaney said.

“With the support of my colleagues on the executive board and WPC membership, I hope to put the WPC on a strong footing so that those who follow have the ability to make significant strides on behalf of the international plumbing community.”

Chaney said it is his goal to continue working to advance the image of plumbers, strengthening the public view that plumbers are professional, highly trained individuals who protect health and safety on a daily basis.

He also plans to maintain the WPC’s strong relationship with the World Health Organization, support for the world skills competition and nurture the WPC’s budding relationship with the World Green Building Council.

Chaney assumed office during the recent 9th world plumbing conference.

Established in 1990 and headquartered in Geneva, the WPC maintains NGO status with the World Health Organization and carries out a mission to unite the world plumbing industry and promote its role in improving public health and safeguarding the environment.

DCN NEWS SERVICES

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