Fostering a culture of leadership and professional development should be a top priority for every building department. Such opportunities are especially important for counter technicians, as they play a critical role as liaisons between the public and building safety services, supporting various staff members and acting as the central hub of department operations.

Launched in October 2023, the Permit Technician Career Advancement Academy represents the latest leadership academy developed by CALBO. For more than a year, the CALBO Training Institute and a group of committed CALBO member volunteers worked tirelessly to create a set of curriculum that cultivates the technical and interpersonal skills of participants, aiming to strengthen building department operations and the careers of building-safety professionals at the counter.

Academy participants acquire essential insights for their roles at the counter, exploring effective methods to apply their skills in aiding customers and assisting their colleagues. Key topics covered include plan reviewing for permit issuance, code enforcement, zoning considerations, new computer systems, GIS, and strategies to enhance customer engagement – each essential as counter technicians advance in their departments. The curriculum is also crafted to push participants to evaluate their professional journey, addressing long and short-term goals. The academy is intended for active engagement, encouraging shared discussions and coursework to facilitate collaborative learning among instructors and attendees, building networks for ongoing support.

With a diverse cohort of twenty-three participants from throughout California, the first-ever Permit Technician Career Advancement Academy will be recognized at the upcoming Annual Business Meeting in Indian Wells on Thursday, April 25, 2024. For those who wish to go beyond the drive to pass an examination or maintain certification, consider joining the waitlist to receive updates about next year’s academy.

A special thank you to the CALBO Training Institute Commissioners, Ciara Barnett, County of Los Angeles, Jesse De Anda, City of Thousand Oaks, and Carla Campos, City of Roseville for their curriculum development and contributions.

Congratulations to the following academy participants for taking the next step in their building-safety careers:

• Rebecca Apresa, City of Bakersfield
• Michelle Carney, County of Tuolumne
• Brenda Clemens, City of Thousand Oaks
• Orshi Corpos, City of Palo Alto
• Lisa Crosswhite, City of Roseville
• Traci DiPinto, City of Davis
• Nichole Houstone, County of Marin
• Krystal Hwang, JAS Pacific
• Gloria Jauregui, City of Indio
• Erica Levy, City of Jurupa Valley
• Richard Lopez, City of Beaumont
• Zoila Luna, City of Corona
• Janet Nunez-Aguilar, City of East Palo Alto
• Sally Phompong, Cardinal Code Solutions
• Janice Poirier, County of El Dorado
• Gina Ruiz, City of Carlsbad, Fire Department
• Tara Rustenhoven, City of Willows
• Shelly Tavitian, City of Pasadena
• Angie Teanio, City of Carlsbad
• Janette Vasquez, City of Riverbank
• Ivette Velasco, City of Beverly Hills
• Violetta Verduzco, City of Santa Ana
• Esmeralda Villalobos, City of Manteca

What to Learn More? Join the Wait List for next year’s Academy!