The NEBB Professional 2025 - Quarter 3

the Generations NEBB Across

Since 1971, NEBB has been serving firms and individuals that deliver high performance buildings and systems. As the premier international certify ing association in the building industry today, NEBB thrives as a result of collaboration across various generations that all bring different experiences and perspectives to the table. We sat down with Tennessee EBB Chapter Coordinator William Bailey to discuss his personal journey with NEBB below::

test, you had TAB Fundamentals, Air, and Hydronics. I did not pass any of the categories and had a pitiful score on hydronics, but the other fields were really close to a pass ing score of 70. I then studied further, and in more detail, with a friend that was studying for his PE exam at the same time in order to test again in the spring of 1996. This time, I passed all three categories with time to spare. I per formed my Practical testing for the Chapter Coordinator and I became a NEBB Certified TAB Professional. NP: When you reflect on your NEBB journey, what was the turning point that inspired you to take on a leader ship or volunteer role? WB: After I became a NEBB TAB Supervisor for the com pany, they assigned me as a manager and I started grow ing a TAB group. After meeting the Middle Tennessee TAB chapter members, they asked me to step in as the Secretary Treasurer of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of NEBB. I later served as Vice President, and President as the years passed. When the Middle Tennessee Chapter merged with West Tennessee and we became the Tennessee Chapter of NEBB, I continued to work on the board, serving in various positions, including an appoint ment as TCC and Chapter Coordinator. Currently, I serve as the TEBB Chapter Coordinator since I have retired to a part-time role and no longer work for a certified firm. NP: Can you share a moment during your time with NEBB that felt truly transformational—either personal ly or for the organization? WB: While working with NEBB National, I realized that this was a very recognized organization and it made me

The NEBB Professional (NP): What generation do you identify with? Mark Wasmund (MW): Well, I definitely fall into the Baby-boomer generation. I was born in 1963. NP: Briefly explain your journey with NEBB. How did you initially get involved? WB: I started in the HVAC field as a residential installer while still in high school in the late 70s. I graduated high school and went to work in the trade of HVAC and did not attend college. I left the residential trade in 1981 and start ed in the commercial field of sheet metal installation, and then began working in TAB in the mid-1980s. I worked as a design-build sheet metal installer doing tenant buildout and remodels here in Nashville, TN. I would do the design and duct layout (engineering), relocate VAVs and air dis tribution, complete all the pneumatic controls, finalize in stallation, and perform the TAB work. During this process, we verified thermostat calibration and VAV functionality for air, water, and electric heat depending on the type of installation. This was referred to as a typical start-up re view before it began to be called commissioning. I had attended a TAB school for Environmental Engineering Consultants by Ernie Choat in the late 80s and early 90s. However, I realized that the education and training I received was not recognized, nor did it meet the specifications for project installations. I approached my manager on this and he asked me to pursue NEBB TAB Certification. I started studying for NEBB and thought I was a fairly knowledgeable guy until I took the TAB test in the fall of 1995 for the three categories. When I took the

The NEBB Professional | Quarter 3 | 2025

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