Last week, Hoover’s Jim Gogolski and Christopher Athari took the stage at the Indiana Code Education Conference to share their expertise in building code and fire prevention. Jim and Christopher, have dedicated much of their careers to educating industry professionals and code officials. Their six-hour program on Tuesday covered a wide range of critical topics designed to support building officials throughout Indiana.
This marked the first time Hoover has presented at the Indiana Code Education Conference, a major opportunity for local officials to gain necessary continuing education credits and network with industry peers.
“Indiana is unique in that they only have one statewide conference for code officials,” shared Jim. “It’s a great chance for us to not only educate but also help build connections within the community.”
The presentation was a collaborative effort between Jim and Christopher, which allowed them to engage with their audience in dynamic ways.
“Having both of us there really makes a difference,” said Christopher. “We can break up the day and provide a range of perspectives, tapping into our 75 years of combined field experience. It also makes it more engaging for the attendees when they can hear different voices and viewpoints.”
In their talks, Jim focused on the technical aspects of wood construction and wood panels, drawing from his deep expertise. “We keep things practical, focusing on what’s most useful to the audience,” he explained. “Even if the content isn’t always directly tied to Hoover products, we want to be seen as a trusted resource that code officials can turn to.”
Christopher covered fire-retardant-treated wood and preservative treatments, topics of high importance to building officials in Indianapolis and beyond. “Whether they use our products or not, it’s important for us to build relationships with those who shape the codes,” Christopher said. “Hoover offers its expertise and is happy to help local communities and keep them safe.”
Presenting together also brought a welcome change to the long hours spent educating. “We’re used to being on our own for these conferences,” Christopher added. “But when we’re together, we can share the load. It’s more effective for the audience, and frankly, it’s more fun for us too.”
Hoover is proud to have experts like Jim and Christopher leading these efforts, not only building trust within the industry but also fostering a spirit of public service. As Jim noted, “We’re happy to play our role in this larger ecosystem, educating and supporting the people who are making these critical decisions day in and day out.”
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ABOUT CHRISTOPHER ATHARI
Christopher is a chemist with more than 30 years of experience in the building products industry. He has significant experience formulating coatings for wood products and in research and development of gypsum innovations. Currently, he provides FRTW design consultation to architects, engineers and regulators, is an active participant in the standards and alternative code criteria development process and is a member of ASTM and ICC. He is a proud alum of West Virginia University where he earned his degree in chemistry.
ABOUT JIM GOGOLSKI
Jim is a wood technologist with more than 45 years of experience. He has held positions with APA – The Engineered Wood Association, a wood preservative supplier, and the Southern Forest Products Association. Currently, he provides FRTW design consultation to architects, engineers and regulators, is a member of ICC and NFPA, and is an active member of a number of fire committees. He earned a BS in Wood Products Technology from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Xavier University.
