Sam Sapienza, who has served the Town of Blacksburg as building inspector for almost 18 years, has accepted the post of building official, a position made vacant by the retirement of longtime official Cathy Cook.
Sapienza came to the town in July 2002. In July 2014, he was promoted to senior building inspector and served in that capacity until applying for and receiving the building official position.
He began his career in construction in 1988, and through an apprenticeship with the Virginia Merit program became a master electrician with experience in residential, commercial and industrial construction and service. He is a Virginia Certified Building Official and a member of the Virginia Building Code Officials Association, where he serves on the residential and legislative code development committee.
“I enjoy the problem solving that is required of this position and I’m very much looking forward to working collaboratively with permit holders to ensure compliance with the state building codes,” Sapienza said.