President's Message: A Look at the SEAOC Year Ahead

Kelsey Parolini

2025-2026 SEAOC President

I’m honored and excited to step into the role of SEAOC President. My journey with this organization began in the late 1990s, during my first month as a freshman at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Participating in a student chapter not only provided exposure to a network of excited, like-minded students but was also a touch point to industry professionals and association dinner meetings. What drew me in at that time is the same thing that keeps me participating today - the shared mission of our members to advance the people, practice, and position of structural engineering. SEAOC has always been about uplifting one another for the betterment of the whole.

I’m especially excited to work with our newly appointed Board of Directors, a group of thoughtful leaders who bring diverse experiences, sharp problem-solving skills, and innovative ideas to the table. Many are serving dual roles, leading at both regional and state levels. Their commitment and enthusiasm reflect the strength and unity of our structural engineering community.

When we met in September, the Board outlined several initiatives worthy of our time and energy - all guided by SEAOC’s mission and values - and settled our focus on six transformative efforts:

SEAOC 3.0 - Evolution for the Future: A continuation of a two-year effort by leaders across the state to re-imagine our organizational structure, built on shared purpose, improved efficiency, and expanded opportunity. If you missed it, check out the discussion in the April 2025 edition of SEAOC Talk and stay tuned for more information in the months to come.
Continued Organizational Improvement: With the retirement of our longtime Executive Director, Don Schinske, we’re entering a new chapter in SEAOC’s leadership. Welcoming new Executive Director Krystinne Mica gives us the opportunity to re-envision our staffing model to better serve our members and mission as well as refresh the ways we connect with members.
Continuing Education: Reassessing our strategic plan to ensure educational offerings meet the needs of members at every career stage.
Technical Resources: SEAOC has a long history of being a trusted resource for practicing structural engineers, and those publications are a product of hardworking and dedicated members. This year we look forward to a new edition of the SEAOC Seismic Design Manuals as well as a few new items on the horizon.
Advocacy: Strengthening SEAOC’s voice and influence in the industry and public policy arenas. This year, SEAOC will continue deepening relationships with policymakers, state agencies, and partner organizations to represent the structural engineering perspective on issues impacting our profession.
Membership: Improve outreach to both existing and prospective members, ensuring SEAOC remains a welcoming and valuable home for all structural engineers.

This is a pivotal moment for SEAOC. Together, we’ll build a stronger, more connected community - one that truly reflects our shared values and aspirations. I encourage all members to get involved, share your ideas, and participate in the exciting initiatives and events ahead. Your voice and engagement are vital to our continued success.

The SEAOC Office has a new address! Please update your records with our new contact information: 1201 J Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814

Building Community Together

Krystinne Mica
SEAOC Executive Director

Hello SEAOC Community!

I am so honored to join you as SEAOC’s new Executive Director. From my first conversations with folks at the Convention, I felt the purpose, passion, and pride that animate this community. You bring such care to your work and dedication to your peers, all in service of a profession that keeps our communities safe and resilient. I’m grateful to Don Schinske for his leadership and mentorship during this time of transition; his steady guidance leaves SEAOC on solid footing as he passes me the baton. He helped shape a legacy defined by collaboration, integrity, and forward momentum. I’m deeply honored to continue it.

As a primer, my background is working with the California community college system, where I spent more than a decade collaborating with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and policy advocates building programs, partnerships, and systems to enrich the educational landscape of California. What drew me to SEAOC is that same spirit of collaboration; what we build together matters. Structural engineering isn’t just about the buildings that stand; it’s about the communities they support, the people they protect, and the collaboration that makes it all possible.

As I step into this role, I’m most excited to listen, learn, and work alongside you to build on SEAOC’s strong foundation, while continuing to evolve how we serve our members and the profession. This year, guided by our mission and values, we’re advancing six organizational priorities: SEAOC 3.0, organizational improvement, continuing education, technical resources, advocacy, and membership. Together, we have an incredible opportunity to strengthen our organization, amplify our collective voice, and continue shaping the future of structural engineering in California and beyond.

Thank you for welcoming me into this community. I can’t wait to see what we’ll build together!

Mark your Calendar - Join us in Scottsdale, AZ

August 26-28, 2026

We’re excited to announce SEAOC Convention 2026: "Celebrating the Why that Drives Us"

Join us Aug 26–28, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona for three days of technical sessions, practical workshops, and targeted networking designed for practicing structural engineers. The program will focus on real-world case studies, code applications, new materials and methods, and hands-on learning that you can apply immediately.

Call for abstracts will be posted soon! Save the date and watch for messaging around submission of abstracts for this year's Convention!

Join the Great California ShakeOut

Oct. 16, 2025 at 10:16 AM

The Great California ShakeOut is an annual opportunity to practice how to be safer during big earthquakes: "Drop, Cover and Hold On." The ShakeOut has also been organized to encourage you, your community, your school, or your organization to review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies, and to secure your space in order to prevent damage and injuries.

Two tangible things you can do during this year's ShakeOut:

Register your office drill at ShakeOut and run the drill at 10:16 AM on Oct 16 (or schedule a convenient day). Use the ShakeOut drill manuals and messaging pack to make it simple.
Sign up for a Cal OES Safety Assessment Program (SAP). SEAOSC is offering a training on October 25, 2025. More information can be found below!

Safety Assessment Program (SAP) Training

October 25, 2025 | 9:00AM - 3:00PM

John A. Martin & Associates, 951 S. Olive Street, 4th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90015 United States

Jointly organized by the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) Disaster Emergency Services Committee and AIA Los Angeles, this training will provide a comprehensive overview of the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Safety Assessment Program (SAP), practical building exercises, criteria for assessing the severity of facility and lifeline systems damage, and procedures for posting and barricading.

To register, click on the button below.

SEAOSD WiSE Speed Mentoring

Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 5:30PM - 8:00PM

BWE

9449 Balboa Ave Ste 270

San Diego, CA 92123

Join the Structural Engineers Association of San Diego (SEAOSD) Women in Structural Engineering (WiSE) for an engaging Women’s Speed Mentoring Event, designed to foster meaningful conversations and connections among women in engineering.

During the event, mentees will be placed in small groups and rotate through a series of short, focused conversations with experienced engineers. This format allows for valuable insight, diverse perspectives, and the chance to ask questions in an encouraging and safe space for open dialogue.

Whether you're a student, early-career professional, or simply looking to expand your network, this is a great opportunity to connect with fellow women engineers and spark mentoring relationships that can last well beyond this evening.

CBC 2025 Code Updates Seminar – Fall 2025

Monday, November 17, 2025 | 7:30AM - 5:00PM

West Sacramento Community Center

1075 West Capitol Ave., West Sacramento, CA 95691

Structural Engineers Association of Central California (SEAOCC) invites you to join us for the CBC 2025 Code Updates Seminar — a full-day, in-person event covering the latest changes in the 2025 California Building Code. This seminar will feature leading experts presenting on structural provisions, code amendments, and design implications.

Confirmed Speakers & Tentative Topics:

Jim Malley – AISC Specification Changes
Chelsea Drenick – Wood Updates
Diane Gould – DSA Amendments
Emily Guglielmo – ASCE 7-22 Wind Provisions
Kurt Siggard – Masonry Updates
Roy Lobo – HCAI Amendments
Hussain Bhatia – ASCE 7-22 Chapter 13 Updates

To find out more information and to register, visit the SEAOCC website link below.

Know a structural engineer doing standout work? Nominate them for our new Member Spotlight!

SEAOC Talk is introducing a Member Spotlight series to celebrate practicing structural engineers and the work they’re doing across California. If you or a colleague have a recent project, case study, hands-on innovation, or mentoring story that demonstrates community impact, we want to hear about it.

To submit: email kmica@seaoc.org with:

a photo (headshot or project photo)
a 2–3 sentence spotlight description (what was done and the impact)
the name(s), title(s), and company/organization

Please submit by October 31, 2025 for consideration in the November issue. Selected spotlights may be lightly edited for clarity; by submitting you grant SEAOC permission to publish the photo and text. Questions? Email kmica@seaoc.org.

PE Structural Exam Webinar

October 22, 2025 | 11:00 AM

NCEES invites you to register for a PE Structural exam webinar on October 22 from 2:00–3:00 p.m. During the webinar, NCEES will provide important updates on the status of the current PE Structural exam as well as the nature and timing of upcoming changes to the exam. Interested parties will gain valuable insights on what to expect for the future of the PE Structural exam.

To register and to submit any questions you have prior to the webinar, click on the button below.

Be Part of the Data that Drives the Profession

NCSEA is leading the charge in capturing the full picture of today’s structural engineering profession. To do that, we’re asking engineers like you to participate in two important surveys. Together, these studies combine data and perspective to create resources that strengthen firms, support individuals, and guide the profession forward.

2025 Compensation & Benefits Study

Help us build the most comprehensive resource on salaries, benefits, and workplace trends. Your input powers an interactive, continuously updated tool designed to support compensation negotiations, benefit selection, and business decisions. Participants receive a significant discount on the final report.

Take the 2025 Compensation & Benefits Study

SE3 Survey

Share your experience of what it’s really like to work in structural engineering. This opinion-based survey explores job satisfaction, career growth, workload, mentorship, equity, and more. The insights drive initiatives that make the profession more rewarding and sustainable for everyone.

Take the SE3 Survey