Governor Abbott Appoints Six To Texas Industrialized Building Code Council

TEXAS, July 1 - July 1, 2024 | Austin, Texas | Appointment

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Jorge Olivares and reappointed Suzanne Arnold, Edwin “Scooter” Lofton, Alex Morales, John “Johnny” Scholl, and W.F. “Dubb” Smith to the Texas Industrialized Building Code Council for terms set to expire on February 1, 2026. The council oversees the state program regulating industrialized housing and buildings.

Jorge Olivares of San Antonio is an electrical professional engineer and MEP team leader for HALFF, a full-service engineering consulting firm. He is secretary of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America San Antonio and member of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers and National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Additionally, he is a volunteer for San Antonio Sports. Olivares received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Suzanne Arnold of Rowlett is the chief building official for the City of McKinney. She is a member of the International Code Council (ICC), Building Officials Association of Texas, Regional Codes Coordinating Committee, and the Energy & Green Advisory Board for the North Central Texas Council of Government. Additionally, she is the former president of the North Texas Chapter of the ICC. She has served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Council since 2017. Arnold received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Texas Tech University.

Edwin "Scooter" Lofton of Horseshoe Bay is the owner of Treo Signature Homes. He is a member of the Hill Country Builders Association and a Sunday school teacher and small group leader at the Church of Horseshoe Bay. He has served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Council since 2020. Lofton received an Associate of Business from Austin Community College.

Alex Morales of Houston is a project manager at Cushman & Wakefield. He is a board member of the American Institute of Architects and the Building Enclosure Council Houston and member of the Texas Society of Architects, Structural Engineers Association of Texas Houston Chapter, CoreNet Houston, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and Rice Design Alliance. He has served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Council since 2023. Morales received a Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) from Texas A&M University.

John "Johnny" Scholl of Claude is the chief building official for the City of Amarillo, with over 40 years of experience in the plumbing and mechanical industry. He is a member of the Building Officials Association of Texas, South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource, Texas Panhandle Inspectors Association, ICC, and Construction Specifications Institute. He has served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Council since 2020.

W.F. "Dubb" Smith of Dripping Springs is president of The W.F. Smith Company, an appraisal and consulting firm. He is a member of Texas Association of Realtors, San Marcos Board of Realtors, and the Appraisal Institute. He has over a decade of decade of experience as a gubernatorial appointee on the Council. Smith received a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Economics and Agribusiness from Texas A&M University.