FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    July 21, 2010 - The International Association Plumbing & Mechanical Officials  has approved the formation of it's newest Chapter with the inclusion of the New Jersey Alliance of Master Plumbers. This newly formed non-profit corporation was the inspiration of New Jersey State League of Master Plumbers 1st Vice President Thomas F. Walsh, who encouraged New Jersey State League 3rd Vice President Anthony Schiavone and 4th Vice President Orlando Oliva to join him as the initial Officers of the new association. 

    Mr. Walsh, who is also a Director for the New Jersey Plumbing Inspectors Association, had been in the process of creating a new, comprehensive cross-connection control program for the members of the New Jersey State League of Master Plumbers for almost 3 years. He asked Sean Cleary, Regional Director of IAPMO to collaborate in designing a training program to teach the membership. Mr. Cleary who is also Chairman of the American Society of Sanitary Engineering's (ASSE) Cross Connection Control Technical Committee agreed and the program was finally launched. The first class of State League members were certified in February of 2010 with all 13 candidates successfully passing the examination.

      Then, in early June 2010 a non-profit corporation bearing the name New Jersey Alliance of Master Plumbers was created by Mr. Walsh to correct the unfortunate mistake of joining IAPMO as an association and not as a chapter. This mistake had caused the training to stop abruptly in March. Then, with support from Anthony Schiavone and Orlando Oliva as the other association inaugural officers. They petitioned the IAPMO Board of Directors, along with 25 other prospective members for permission to form an IAPMO Chapter.

     The Chapter was approved by on July 21, 2010 by the IAPMO Board of Directors. The "Alliance" is the only other New Jersey based IAPMO Chapter aside from the New Jersey Plumbing Inspectors Association, which became a Chapter in the 1970's.