Felix Zemel

As Principal and Founder of Pracademic Solutions, Felix combines over a decade of experience in the public sector with his academic knowledge to provide his clients with a unique set of skills that help him navigate through the construction, environmental health, and public health permitting and policy processes. Previously, as Chief of Building Inspections and Director of Code Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Department of Public Safety, Felix oversaw the development, enforcement, and interpretation of the Massachusetts State Building Code.

While holding these positions, Felix also served as a voting member of the Board of Building Regulations and Standards, Building Code Coordination Council, Board of Registration of Sheet Metal Workers, Building Code Appeals Board, and Interagency Permitting Board. His leadership assisted the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with retaining its top ranking for energy efficiency by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and led the Department of Public Safety into a cooperative relationship with the MA Department of Fire Services after over two decades of public disagreements.

Prior to employment with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Felix served in various public health and building safety positions in the Towns of Framingham, Cohasset, and Sherborn. He also served as a member of the Executive Committee for the MA Health Officers’ Association and currently serves as the Academic Chair of the American Academy of Sanitarians. He has also served as Technical Advisor in Land Use Planning and Design for the National Environmental Health Association and as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Environmental Health.