Mr. Ballard is one of the Principal Consultants for Zari Consulting Group. As an invaluable member of the ZCG team, Mr. Ballard oversees staff members in the permitting and plan review process from schematic design through construction. He is responsible for ensuring that code issues addressed by the Building and Fire Department are resolved in a timely, cost effective manner. Mr. Ballard is also an expert in the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA Standards, bringing in decades of experience in the industry and serving on numerous code related committees.

Mr. Ballard served as Capitan for the Bureau of Fire Prevention in the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD), where he managed the Plan Review Division and supervised all new city developments from 2001 through 2007. Prior to that, he served as a Lieutenant for the SFFD where he conducted plan review and inspection services, including building code review, automatic sprinkler system design review, smoke control system design review, fire alarm system design review, and field inspections.