SEAOC Talk May 2025

President's Message

Steven Crook, SE

2024-2025 SEAOC President

When we talk about the value of SEAOC Membership, one of the things that consistently rises to the top is Convention.

This year’s Convention Registration is open. Last year we had a very successful Convention, and we are looking to build upon that success for this year. Not only will there be multiple tracks of Technical and Professional Development topics, there will also be optional fun events like dinners and a harbor cruise.

Nothing against webinars; but the opportunity to get together as a community, and to hear and participate in technical topic discussions in person is worth every penny. Follow the link above, check out the list of speakers and technical sessions, register now and book your room for the best possible discount.

I won’t make promises for the weather, but you’ll be hard pressed to find somewhere nicer than Coronado. Don’t forget the sunscreen, and I’ll see you at Convention!

Register Today for the 2025 SEAOC Convention

Loews Coronado Bay Resort

Coronado, California

September 3-5, 2025

Early Bird registration rates available until June 16th.

This year's convention features:

4+ Tracks of Technical and Professional Development Topics, Robust Pathways Program
President's Cup, Business Lunch, Fellows Induction & SEE Awards
Thursday Dinner and Harbor Cruise & Friday Convention Dinner
The Trade Show is Sold Out! Contact us ASAP to get on the waitlist and see below about other sponsorship opportunities!
Plus Much More!

Learn More & Register Today!

SEAOC has arranged a discounted room rate of $279 per night plus taxes and fees at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort. You must register for the Convention to receive the link to the room block.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Learn more and sponsor today!

Become A Sponsor!

Thank You to Our Anchor Sponsor!

SEAOC College of Fellows Scholarship Awardee

By Kelly Cobeen

The SEAOC College of Fellows is pleased to announce the selection of Khanh Doan of John A. Martin & Associates, Oakland, as the 2025 SEAOC College of Fellows Scholar. The scholarship committee was impressed by Khanh’s robust work experience and active engagement and leadership in professional organizations including SEAOC and EERI. The committee noted that Khanh is exactly the type of awardee that was envisioned when the scholarship was developed.

Khanh will be attending Oregon State University starting Fall 2025, dual majoring in Structural Engineering and Wood Science (Masters of Science).

The SEAOC College of Fellows Scholarship is awarded to a SEAOC member who holds an undergraduate degree in civil, structural, or architectural engineering and has chosen to return to school for a graduate degree in engineering, after having spent a year or more in practice. The objective of the scholarship is to raise the level of structural engineering by promoting the educational development of California structural engineers through advanced degrees. Funding for the scholarship is provided by SEAOC College of Fellows member donations to the SEAOC Foundation.

Thank you to the College of Fellows Scholarship Committee: John Coil, David Cocke, Jon Heintz, Simin Naaseh, Mehran Pourzanjani, Kelly Cobeen, and Executive Director Don Schinske. Thank you to Veronica Timpane for her participation in judging of applications.

SESOC-SEAOC Collaboration Committee Travel Scholarship Winner 2025

The SESOC-SEAOC Collaboration Committee has named Jessica Chen, SE, as this year's winner of a travel scholarship to join the Structural Engineering Society of New Zealand's Conference June 25-27, 205 in Wellington, New Zealand. Funding for the scholarship is provided by SEAOC member donations to the SEAOC Foundation. The intent of the scholarship is to help build long-standing bonds between two of the world’s premier structural engineering societies, SESOC and SEAOC, through collaboration in technical, practice, engineering engagement and equity, and other areas of common interest. Jessica will make a presentation at the SESOC Conference regarding professional organization engagement of young members.

Jessica is a licensed Structural Engineer in California based in Los Angeles, with project experience ranging from complex steel and concrete structural design, seismic assessment and retrofit, and industrial project design and management. She previously chaired NCSEA Young Member Support Committee from 2023 to 2024, and SEAOSC Young Members Committee from 2020 to 2022. She also serves on the ASCE 7-28 Seismic Sub-committee for ASCE/SEI 7 in the 2028 code cycle. Jessica was named SEAOSC Young Engineer of the Year in 2022 by SEAOSC and ASCE’s New Faces of Civil Engineering in 2018 by ASCE.

There is still time for other interested SEAOC members to join SESOC Conference 2025 “Navigating Change.” Look for information on the SESOC Conference website. Thank you to Joyce Fuss, Laura Whitehurst and Kelly Cobeen for their review of applications.