Together, Toward Tomorrow: Leading IAPMO into the Next 100 Years
I am deeply honored and humbled to address you as the newly elected president of IAPMO. Thank you for placing your trust in me — it means everything.
This moment is not the culmination of one man’s journey, but the continuation of something much greater — a shared mission, a common purpose, and a family bound by a commitment to protect public health and safety through our collective expertise and dedication.
I owe a deep debt of gratitude to many who helped make this possible. To Steve Panelli, David Gans, David Straub, DJ Nunez, and the late Bruce Pfeiffer, thank you for welcoming me into your brotherhood. Your guidance, acceptance, and example have been the foundation for my growth within this organization.
Serving on the Board of Directors is an honor in itself, but to now lead alongside this incredible group of professionals — the best of the best — is truly humbling. I look forward to what we will accomplish together. The knowledge and dedication within this Board are unmatched, and I have no doubt we will continue building a strong and vibrant IAPMO for generations to come.
Mike Durfee, your encouragement helped shape my path. You saw something in me early on, and you helped me see it, too. Thank you.
To my wife, Sheree, and our family, your sacrifices have allowed me to pursue my passion. None of this would be possible without your love, patience, and unwavering support. I hope I’ve made you proud. I love you.
My own journey began at age 15, when my mother’s sewer line backed up and we called the only plumber she could afford. That service call turned into a life-changing opportunity when Clark Browne, the plumber who came to our home, offered me a job as his helper. I had no idea then that I was stepping into a lifelong calling.
That spark lit a fire. I’ve spent the last 35 years growing within the trades, grounded in the belief that our profession truly makes lives better. IAPMO has fueled that belief and my passion more than I ever could have imagined.
And now on the precipice of IAPMO’s 100th anniversary, by leaning on CEO Dave Viola’s vision and the collective strength of this association, I am confident that IAPMO is positioned to lead our industry for another hundred years.
This role is not about me, it’s about us. It’s about what we can do together to meet challenges head-on, to raise the standard, and to keep pushing forward. I invite each of you — our members, our partners, our friends — to join me in this next chapter.
Let’s continue growing, protecting, and inspiring during IAPMO’s second century at the forefront of public health and safety.
Jeremy Stettler
PRESIDENT
Jeremy Stettler wears many hats in his job at Davis School District, just north of Salt Lake City, Utah. As project coordinator, he and his staff of 35 are responsible for various projects. Davis School District totals more than 11 million square feet of building space and continues to grow. He also serves as plumbing and mechanical inspector for ongoing construction projects within the district, including two 200,000-square-foot middle schools and two 100,000-square-foot elementary school buildings. Stettler performs plan reviews on the mechanical systems. The district works hard to keep its environmental impact to a minimum, whether it’s net zero or Energy Star buildings.
A licensed master plumber, Stettler traces back his career in the trades to a fateful service call.
"When I was 15, my mother’s sewer got plugged,” he says. “Not having much money, we called several plumbers from the phone book until we found one she could afford. Little did I know it would be the start of my career.
"The owner, Clark Browne, came to their home and Stettler took a keen interest in everything he was doing. Browne took time to explain things as he worked.
“I had no idea he was interviewing me, but at the end of the job he asked if I wanted a job being his helper,” Stettler says. “I jumped at the opportunity and worked after school every day for him for two years.
"Browne introduced Stettler to the local high school plumbing instructor, who helped him enroll in the apprenticeship program at Ogden Weber Applied Technical College at the age of 16. One of his instructors, Linc Talbot, worked for Davis School District and helped his teacher’s pet” get a job as an apprentice plumber. He started the day after graduation and 30 years later is still employed with the district.
Stettler has since received his journeyman’s, master plumber’s and inspector licenses.
"Plumbing has given me so many opportunities I could never have dreamed of when I got started as a plumber’s helper,” he says. “I continue to be passionate about my craft through IAPMO.”