News & Updates

It is with great pride that we announce the 2024-2025 CALBO Awards Recipients. We are grateful for these CALBO members contributions to the building-safety community.

Building Department of the Year

City of Beverly Hills

The City of Beverly Hills Building and Safety is the 2024-2025 recipient of the Building Department of the Year Award, honored for its operational excellence and steadfast commitment to serving its community.  Through a year marked by efficiency, innovation, and outreach, the department has distinguished itself as a model for jurisdictions throughout California.

Over the past year, the department served more than 7,200 residents, architects, and contractors; issued more than 6,200 permits; and completed over 13,600 inspections – all while maintaining a careful balance of safety standards, departmental policies, and customer service. From guiding the transformative ONE Beverly Hillsproject, a 1.9 million-square-foot mixed-use development, to overseeing permits for 749 high-profile events, including the Golden Globes and Vanity Fair Oscar Party, their staff have been instrumental in large-scale, high-impact development across the city.

The City of Beverly Hills Building and Safety has also leveraged technology to streamline service delivery, including over 1,900 electronic plan reviews, a new online permitting system, and integration of SolarAPP+ for solar projects.  Its Preapproved ADU Program simplifies approvals and supports housing access for its community at large.  Additionally, the department has shown leadership in sustainability and seismic safety through its role in shaping the California Green Building Standards Code, conducting site-specific fault investigations, and issuing 27 seismic retrofits that surpassed state requirements.

The department’s community-focused initiatives, such as “Coffee with Code,” annual Building Safety Monthevents, and outreach at Beverly Hills High School, promote education and engagement with the public.  Its disaster preparedness efforts within their community, including training Emergency Operations Centerpersonnel and advising hillside residents, further demonstrate a proactive commitment to public safety and community outreach. 

CALBO commends the City of Beverly Hills Building and Safety for its outstanding service, technological advancements, and leadership in our profession.  Please join CALBO in honoring this department and its staff.  Congratulations, Beverly Hills!

Building Official of the Year

Jesse Cardoza, City of Irvine

CALBO proudly recognizes Jesse Cardoza, Deputy Director of Community Development and Chief Building Official at the City of Irvine, as the 2024-2025 Building Official of the Year.  This prestigious award honors his exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication to the building safety profession.

Over the past year, Mr. Cardoza has championed technological advancements within the City of Irvine, most notably through the creation of its Community Development Assistance Center (CDAC), a streamlined, one-stop resource that has processed over 4,800 submittals, issued more than 6,400 permits, and approved over 10,000 business licenses, significantly reducing wait times for the community at large.  Under his leadership, he oversaw further technology and service transformations through the launch of Permits-DIRECT, a platform that enables real-time permitting for solar and energy storage systems.  This innovation earned national recognition with a City Government Experience Award from the Center for Digital Government.  Mr. Cardoza has also led a department-wide software modernization effort and created a concierge team to improve service for capital projects.

Mr. Cardoza’s approach to management is hands-on, regularly engaging with staff through meetings, ride-alongs, and department-wide events to foster collaboration, encourage feedback, and strengthen team development.  This level of involvement and dedication helps maintain clear communication and keeps him closely connected to day-to-day operations.  A strong advocate for proactive governance, he established the City Projects Team, embedding staff within Public Works to improve coordination and regulatory efficiency across departments.  He has also ensured the city’s municipal codes and staff training remain current with the latest California building standards, for the benefit of his team and the Irvine community.

Beyond his administrative accomplishments, Mr. Cardoza’s dedication to community engagement shines through initiatives like One Irvine, which provides permit fee holidays to residents, and the Workforce Apprenticeship Program, supporting the next generation of public service professionals.  In addition, his participation in the Orange Empire ICC Chapter and mentorship of industry members highlights his deep investment in strengthening the broader building safety community.

Jesse Cardoza exemplifies the qualities of an innovative, collaborative, and community-centered building official.  CALBO is proud to honor his outstanding contributions and his leadership within our organization and the City of Irvine.

Congratulations, Jesse!

Fire Official of the Year

Deputy Chief Robert Marshall, San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department (Retired)

CALBO is proud to recognize Deputy Chief Robert Marshall, recently retired from the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department, as the 2024-2025 Fire Official of the Year.  This award honors his remarkable contributions to fire and life safety, extended leadership in code development, and commitment to public service at the local, state, and national levels.

With a distinguished career defined by collaboration and leadership, Deputy Chief Marshall has been a driving force in shaping fire code policy and training.  He currently serves as Chair of the International Code Council (ICC) Fire Code Action Committee, where he works closely with building officials and industry representatives to advance fire safety standards that benefit communities worldwide.

Deputy Chief Marshall’s contributions also extend across California’s code landscape.  He co-chaired the State Fire Marshal Task Group that developed the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, integrating CBC Chapter 7A, CFC Chapter 49, Title 14 and various other statutes.  This groundbreaking code has been approved by the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) Building, Fire, and Other Regulations Code Advisory Committee to be adopted statewide in the 2026 Code Cycle.

A champion of professional development, Deputy Chief Marshall served as President of the California Fire Prevention Institute (CFPI), guiding its transition into the premier West Coast fire prevention and community risk reduction conference.  Under his leadership, CFPI grew in size and capacity, expanding professional development and networking opportunities for both fire and building code officials that continue to enhance the organization’s reputation and impact.

Whether through code leadership, mentorship, or educational advancement, Deputy Chief Robert Marshall has exemplified what it means to be a collaborative partner to building officials and a leader in fire life safety.

CALBO proudly congratulates Deputy Chief Marshall for his outstanding service and his well-deserved recognition as Fire Official of the Year!

Industry Achievement

California Department of Housing and Community Development

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is the recipient of the 2024-2025 CALBO Industry Achievement Award.  Established in 1965, HCD has been a cornerstone in shaping California’s housing landscape for nearly six decades.  As a vital partner to CALBO and the broader building safety community, HCD continues to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to a safer California by supporting code officials and fostering strong relationships with local jurisdictions across the state.

Whether through building standards, funding, or housing policy, HCD’s work touches nearly every aspect of residential development in California.  This broad reach complements the role of code officials making us partners in the shared goal of ensuring safe and resilient housing across the state.  HCD continues to demonstrate a proactive approach to building safety, anticipating the changing needs of residential housing, by collaborating with other state agencies and partner organizations to advance and improve initiatives such as CALGreen sustainability, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and affordable housing funding – just to name a few.

HCD’s efforts to provide guidance and technical support for their standards, policies, and programs have made a lasting impact on California building departments.  CALBO members greatly benefit from HCD’s presence at the CALBO Annual Business Meeting and CALBO Training Institute Education Weeks, where their staff regularly offer critical updates and trainings.  HCD has taught an annual ADU course at the Education Weeks helping to bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring building department staff are ready for rapidly evolving housing policy and legislation.

CALBO is proud to honor HCD with this year’s Industry Achievement Award for their commitment and service to promoting safety, sustainability, and resiliency in housing while maintaining a continued partnership with California code officials.

Congratulations to the team at the California Department of Housing and Community Development!

Course Development Merit Award

Mostafa Kashe, County of Los Angeles
Dave MacLean, Tartan Education

CALBO is honored to present the 2024-2025 Course Development Merit Award to Mostafa Kashe of the County of Los Angeles and Dave MacLean of Tartan Education for their outstanding contributions to the CALBO Training Institute (CTI) curriculum serving CALBO members and industry professionals through all training modalities.  

Recognizing the rapid growth of the solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage system (ESS) industries, Mr. Kashe and Mr. MacLean have developed timely trainings to help jurisdictions navigate evolving regulations and code standards year after year.  Their instruction provides critical guidance to building department staff who are on the front lines ensuring that these technologies are implemented safely and effectively in our communities.  By collaborating with CALBO and local agencies, they have expanded the reach and impact of their work, making it a trusted resource statewide.

The coursework developed by Mr. Kashe and Mr. MacLean stands out for its technical clarity, practical relevance, and clear explanation of California-specific amendments, offering students a comprehensive understanding of the safety considerations surrounding solar PV and ESS.  Given the complexities of these systems, their lectures and handouts, grounded in real-life inspection and plan check examples, are essential resources for CALBO members.  Whether offering trainings in person or virtually, they consistently engage their audiences and ensure that code officials stay informed, prepared, and aligned with current standards and best practices.

CALBO congratulates Mostafa Kashe and Dave MacLean for their commitment to education and outreach, helping jurisdictions safely and confidently navigate solar PV and ESS standards across California.

Hall of Fame

Frank Bush, City of Los Angeles (Retired)

Mr. Frank Bush is the 2024-2025 inductee to the CALBO Hall of Fame.  With a distinguished career in building safety that spanned decades, Mr. Bush has dedicated his professional life to advancing code administration, enforcement, and leadership in one of the nation’s most complex jurisdictions – the City of Los Angeles.

Mr. Bush served as the General Manager, Superintendent of Building for the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), where he oversaw a wide array of operations critical to the city’s growth and public safety.  Prior to this role, he served as Executive Officer and Code Enforcement Bureau Chief, positions in which he led enforcement efforts and helped shape the policies that govern safe building practices throughout Los Angeles.

From residential neighborhoods to large-scale commercial projects, Mr. Bush’s leadership has left a lasting impact on the safety and resilience of the built environment in Los Angeles.  He has also earned deep respect for his leadership roles and contributions to the CALBO community, even in retirement.

A strong advocate for education and mentorship, Mr. Bush continues to serve as a CALBO Training Institute Commissioner, Education Week contributor, and Building Officials Leadership Academy (BOLA) instructor.  Through these roles, Mr. Bush has guided countless code professionals and remains a trusted voice within the CALBO community.  His unwavering commitment to service exemplifies the core values of our organization and the building safety industry at large.

CALBO is proud to induct Mr. Frank Bush to the distinguished CALBO Hall of Fame recognizing his outstanding leadership, career achievements, and long lasting contributions that will benefit our community for years to come. 

Congratulations, Frank!

Congratulations to all!

For a complete list of CALBO Award Recipients from years past, please visit the Award and Hall of Fame page located on the CALBO website.