The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), in recognition of their work expanding The IAPMO Group’s capabilities and influence worldwide, has promoted Gaby Davis to chief administrative officer and Tom Palkon to chief technical services officer, incoming IAPMO CEO Dave Viola announced.

“Gaby’s unrivaled institutional knowledge of IAPMO’s history and operations have served the association immeasurably for the past 25 years, while Tom’s expertise and initiative have opened numerous new opportunities for The IAPMO Group to grow and thrive commensurate with his fast rise within our organization,” Viola said. “IAPMO is blessed to have such talented individuals already within our family from which to promote to these positions of importance. Congratulations, Gaby and Tom.These promotions are well deserved and will strengthen IAPMO for years to come.”

Davis joined IAPMO in 1995 and has served roles integral to every shared service that supports The IAPMO Group’s various business units, most importantly serving as Standards Council secretary since 2000, where she’s been essential to the administration of IAPMO’s ANSI-accredited consensus code development process, also serving on the ANSI Board of Standards Review up until 2019, when she finished her term as chair. As executive vice president of Global Operations Davis has ensured all business units have the resources they need to service customers and members and supported all IAPMO Group staff individually.

“It’s been an honor to work at IAPMO for as long as I have and to play a small part in the unprecedented growth over the last two decades,” Davis said. “In IAPMO’s Official magazine last month, I mentioned the family feel of our organization and how important that is to foster growth of our staff. With Dave Viola as our new CEO, I look forward to working closely with him to expand on all that is good about our professional staff and our organization.” 

Palkon joined The IAPMO Group in 2014 to lead its new Water Systems division following 18 years at the Water Quality Association (WQA), the Illinois-based not-for-profit international trade association representing the residential, commercial and industrial water treatment industry. In addition to growing Water Systems into a leading provider of certification for drinking water treatment units, drinking water systems and microbioligical filters, Palkon assumed the role of executive director of the ASSE International chapter of IAPMO, an ANSI-accredited standards developer and product certification body, in 2017.

“Since joining IAPMO in 2014, it has been an incredible learning experience to get a complete understanding of the Uniform Codes developed by IAPMO, along with all the incredible work that The IAPMO Group conducts each year,” Palkon said. “IAPMO has many departments and several companies around the world, but they all have a common goal — to improve and protect public health and safety. The codes and standards we develop, and programs and services we offer, help achieve this goal. Over the past six years, I have enjoyed helping IAPMO and ASSE International expand and grow our services and I look forward to helping lead the organization with Dave Viola as our new CEO.”