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Have you worked with Speight Marshall Francis' Senior Structural Engineering Technician, Sean E. Chapman? Take a minute to get to know him, professionally and personally, in today’s Speight Marshall Francis Employee Spotlight.
The foundation of our business at Speight Marshall Francis is rooted in building and maintaining meaningful personal relationships with you, our valued clients. In that spirit, we created “Employee Spotlight,” an informative feature about the employees who make up our team at Speight Marshall Francis. Today we shine a spotlight on Sean E. Chapman, a Senior Structural Engineering Technician in his 15 th year at Speight Marshall Francis. Sean’s drafting abilities include using both AutoCAD and REVIT to produce engineering drawings.

Sean’s interest in drafting was initially sparked in an industrial arts class in high school when he encountered an original pen plotter. After high school Sean decided to join the U.S. Army, however his career path took a turn after 2 years when he had to be medically discharged. Faced with a life change, Sean took Studio Arts and Art History courses at Tidewater Community College and an Architectural Drafting class at Norfolk State University before finally deciding his new path –a Computer Aided Drafting and Design Associates Degree from ITT Technical Institute (a decision we are thankful for)!

Sean has acquired a total of 20 years of experience on his resume as a drafter and being able to see how projects progress from 2-dimensional drawings to real life still intrigues and excites him on a daily basis. Throughout his 15 years of important work at SMF, he has obtained immense respect for the crucial role structural engineering plays in ensuring public safety and his part in the process of creating structurally-sound buildings. Some of his favorite projects to draw are wood construction, especially residential homes because of the altruistic feeling he gains from contributing to homes provided for others.

We asked Sean to name a few of his most enjoyable projects of his career. That list includes Eastern Shore Public Library Renovation & Expansion, New Residential Facility at Norfolk State University, and Elkhardt-Thompson Middle School in Richmond. Of the hundreds of projects Sean has worked on, he credits Additions and Renovations to John B. Dey Elementary School for Virginia Beach Schools as the unparalleled endeavor on which he has contributed to date. The unique classroom pod concept, designed by HBA Architecture & Interior Design, features rooftops that resemble wings of birds in flight. Sean also deeply appreciates the numerous environmentally friendly and sustainable features that were incorporated into the design and construction. 
Sean cites The Art Institute of Virginia Beach (Ai) located in Virginia Beach Town Center as one of his most personally meaningful projects. It was his first solo project where he served as the primary drafter from start to finish. This steel framed building challenged him by taking him out of his comfort zone and advancing his skills . In addition, this project has a deeper connection for Sean because his oldest daughter Taylor attended the art school. Serving as the primary drafter on a building his daughter personally appreciates made him a proud father and earned him some “Dad points!” 
Personal Notes:

Sean was born in Skokie, Illinois but lived in several different states on the East Coast and Midwest while his late father served in the Navy for 20 years. After settling in Virginia, Sean met and married his wife of 21 years, Heather, and fathered three beautiful and creative – now adult – daughters, Taylor, Gabrielle and Veronica. Sean and Heather’s daughters are each taking different approaches on life. Taylor is currently engaged and is working on becoming a first-time homeowner with her fiancé; Gabrielle currently works at a music studio as an engineer and producer while writing, arranging and producing music with groups of hip hop musicians, the G.O.D.S. and Unified Sounds; and Veronica, the former Rush soccer star goalie, has decided to serve our country as an USAF Airman in Medical Management. As a family, throughout quarantine, they indulge in binge watching T.V. series together and sharing their thoughts/doing commentary.

When he gets some time to relax, Sean is still quite a busy man! He especially unwinds by reading, writing and drawing science-fiction comics. And (fun fact) he is proud to say that “back in the day” he was even a published cartoonist for Tidewater Community College Virginia Beach Campus’ newspaper! During football season, Sean makes it a priority to kick back and catch the games, especially when his childhood favorite team “Da Bears” are playing. Outside of his personal hobbies, Sean is active in his church of nearly 30 years, The Herald of His Coming COGIC. He volunteers with youth outreach through the youth ministry and has handled the church’s A/V needs for 28 years. He is passionate about the topics of civil rights, criminal justice reform and education reform and strives to better his community. In everything Sean does, he says he embraces the scripture of Proverbs 3:1-7 and puts his unequivocal trust in God because there are no limits to what God can provide for someone with faith. If you know Sean, it is evident he embodies this model for living throughout his personal life and his work.
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