Meet our Faculty and Staff

Richard A. Piccolo
President

Richard A. Piccolo is the president and founder of B & F Technical Code Services, Inc., and the Building & Fire Code Academy. He brings knowledge and 30 years' experience to the Hoffman Estates-based building and fire code-consulting firm.

Before Mr. Piccolo decided to focus his attention on code consulting, he spent 18 years as a firefighter and lieutenant at the Elk Grove Fire Department. It was at the fire department that Mr. Piccolo was introduced to the plan review process and importance of code evaluation. With his experience, he has achieved a number of accomplishments.

Among his achievements, Mr. Piccolo has earned the top certification in his field, the rank of Master Code Professional. To be a Master Code Professional, he passed 19 demanding exams testing his knowledge of building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection codes. Along with being a Master Code Professional, Mr. Piccolo is a Certified Building Official, Certified Fire Official, Certified Property Maintenance Inspector, Certified Building Inspector, Certified Plans Examiner, Illinois Certified Fire Inspector, Certified Firefighter and Certified Fire Instructor. Each certification requires separate exams testing comprehension of specific codes.

Mr. Piccolo is active in several industry organizations and has served in a number of distinguished leadership positions. He is currently the president of Illinois Institutional Fire Training, Inc., an establishment that provides inspections and fire protection training for health care facilities in northern Illinois. A past-president of the Illinois Council of Code Administrators, Mr. Piccolo continues to actively participate in the Council. ICCA promotes education, training and certification of code enforcement officials and endorses the development and adoption of a uniform Illinois state code.

His years of experience and training inspired Mr. Piccolo to share his knowledge with other professionals in the industry. As a Certified Instructor, he has authored 13 training seminars that he teaches nationwide. He also served for eight years as an adjunct faculty member at William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Illinois, where he taught building code and fire science courses.

Roger L. Fox
Director of Technical Services and Interim Chief Managing Employee

As a Certified Building Official, Roger L. Fox brings 22 years of municipal experience to the Building & Fire Code Academy as instructor and Interim Chief Managing Employee of the Academy.

Before coming to BFCA and B & F Technical Code Services, Inc., Mr. Fox served as Building and Zoning Director for the Village of Arlington Heights. He had also served as Deputy Director of of Building and Zoning, and as an inspector/plan reviewer in the village. Mr. Fox has a Master's degree in Public Administration from Roosevelt University, and completed the Community Development Program at John Marshall Law School. He also holds a Standard Secondary Teaching Certificate from the State of Illinois.

Mr. Fox has deep roots in the construction industry, having worked in his family's construction business throughout high school and college. He had a brief career as a high school math/science teacher and a football coach before returning to the building trades industry as a multi-unit construction superintendent in the Chicago area.

Kenneth J. Garrett
Instructor

With his profound municipal background, Mr. Kenneth J. Garrett performs his duties based on years of experience in the building code profession. He is a Master Code Professional and a Certified Building Official and is Administrator for B & F Technical Code Services.

Richard A. Blondin
Instructor

Mr. Richard A. Blondin, Director of Plan Review for B & F Technical Code Services, has a notable career that boasts an impressive municipal background, with 25 years' experience in the code enforcement arena. He has been responsible for enforcing the adopted building, accessibility, mechanical, plumbing and electrical codes on local and state levels. He is a Certified Building Plans Examiner, Certified Building Inspector, Certified Fire Inspector I and a Certified Property Maintenance Inspector.

Ray Dean
Plumbing Apprenticeship Supervisor

Mr. Ray Dean brings more than 35 years of contracting, inspecting and academic background to this comprehensive educational program. An Illinois Licensed Plumber, Illinois Certified Inspector and apprentice instructor, Mr. Dean's master's degree in urban planning and public affairs provides the code enforcement education to complement his extensive practical experience in the construction industry, making him a highly qualified authority on both the application of codes and industry standards and techniques. He is a plan reviewer/inspector for B & F Technical Code Services.