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July 2026

Vol. XXX, No. 7

- President's Message

- Anchor Sponsor

- Board Corner

- In Memoriam

- For Your Information

- Committee News

- Job Postings

- New Members

- Membership Updates

- Corporate Members

- Contact Us & Feedback

Hello SEAONC Members!


I will admit to procrastinating on writing this column for quite a while. I follow in the footsteps of a great writer (way to set the bar high, David!) and have to admit to being more comfortable with numbers and spreadsheets. I seriously debated whether it would be acceptable to have my President’s Message written in bullet points. But alas, here goes nothing. Read More

 

Thank you to our Anchor Sponsor, CSI!

Your generosity and support of SEAONC are greatly appreciated.

 
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Meet the 2026–2027 SEAONC Board of Directors

Following the Annual Business Meeting, SEAONC is pleased to introduce its 2026–2027 Board of Directors.


Lisa Cassedy (HOK) steps into the role of President, with Raymond Lui (San Francisco Department of Public Works) serving as President-Elect and Gwenyth Searer (Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates) as Treasurer. David Ojala (Thornton Tomasetti) continues his service as Past President.


This year's membership election brought three new Directors to the Board: Allen Nudel (Forell Elsesser), Kwasi Bempong (Rutherford+Chekene), and Tracy Becker (UC Berkeley). Please join us in welcoming them. Returning Directors Abe Lynn (Degenkolb), Jakub Valigura (Arup), and Megan Vandervort (Martin/Martin) continue their terms.


We also extend our deep gratitude to the outgoing Board members who are completing their service: Joyce Feng (Strandberg Engineering), Noelle Yuen (Maffei Structural Engineering), Badri Prasad (OLMM Consulting Engineers), and Jenna Wong (San Francisco State University). Their dedication to SEAONC's members and mission has made a lasting impact.

June Board Meeting Updates

Our June Board meeting was held at Thornton Tomasetti’s office just ahead of our Annual Business Meeting.  Late in the meeting, we were joined by SEAOC President, Kelsey Parolini and Executive Director Krystinne Mica. Main points of business included:

  • Approving nominations for SEAOC College of Fellows.
  • Approving 2026 SEAOC Convention Support Grants and Giles Scholarship winner.
  • Planning for committee leadership appreciation and learning events for the summer and fall.
  • Approving updates to our corporate and industry sponsorship program for the coming year.
  • Review of membership renewal progress.
  • Review of committee leadership status and planned leadership changes for 2026-27 year.
  • Open discussion regarding status of SEAOC reorganization process and plans for SEAONC transition to new Novi association management and website platform.
 

Graham H. Powell, 1938–2026

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Graham H. Powell, Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley and a Fellow of SEAONC.


Graham was a structural engineering visionary whose career spanned more than six decades of research, teaching, and practice. His work centered on computer applications for structural analysis and design, with special expertise in nonlinear modeling and performance-based design for earthquake loads.


He supervised the development of the DRAIN series of programs for dynamic response analysis of inelastic structures, and later developed PERFORM-3D, which became the industry standard for performance-based seismic design. These are among the many contributions that defined a truly prolific career.


SEAONC is proud to have counted him as a Fellow. His influence as a pioneer in earthquake engineering will be felt for generations.


Our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and the many students he mentored throughout his remarkable career.

 

New for FY '27: Updated Corporate Memberships

The start of a new fiscal year is a good time to take a fresh look at your SEAONC Corporate Membership. This year, for SE Firm Corporate Memberships, we've updated two key benefits: jobs board postings and monetary credits that can be applied to event registrations. Learn more about SEAONC's Corporate Member program here.

 

Business Forum: Officially Relaunching

Good news!  The SEAONC Business Forum is re-starting and will start meeting in September.  If you’re interested in learning and discussing issues related to management and running a structural engineering firm, fill out this survey here to learn more. Everyone is welcome -- whether you’re a designer, project manager, firm leader, or marketing and accounting staff -- and a variety of participation levels are available to suit all time commitments. Feel free to email co-chairs Noelle Yuen and Hagen Tam at business@seaonc.org. We look forward to your participation and your ideas!

Young Members Forum: New Chair, Trivia Night

Members of YMF smile for the camera while seated at a table during trivia night.

We are excited to announce our new SEAONC YMF board, led by chair Camille Roberts! Thank you for the existing board for a great year.


Thank you to NCSEA for hosting the annual Young Member Support Committee Trivia Night! SEAONC YMF took home the gold on this fun, question-filled evening.

Continuing Education: Save the Date!

SEAONC Continuing Education Committee is hosting a seminar THIS FALL on updates to the SEAOC Structural/Seismic Design Manuals. The seminar will be held in person in the Bay Area in September/October with the option to attend virtually. Exact Date & Venue TBD!


Be on the lookout for more info to come!

SE3: Build Out Alliance Happy Hour

The SE3 committee poses for a photo in a room during Harvey Milk Day Happy Hour.

Thanks for attending our joint Harvey Milk Day Happy Hour with Build Out Alliance and AIA BAYA in May! We’re looking forward to a new year with Mason Moritz at the helm :) 

 

Strandberg Engineering —

Project Engineer

Tipping logo

TIPPING —

Structural Engineer

KPFF Consulting Engineers —

Structural Project Engineer

ZFA Structural Engineers —

Proposal and Marketing Coordinator

Senior Engineer

An abstract logo of plants and structures reading Milpitas.

City of Milpitas —

Plan Check Engineer

A round image of a beach with the words "City of Pacifica" wrapped around it.

City of Pacifica —

Deputy Director of Public Works (City Engineer)

A yellow rectangle logo reading "Holmes."

Holmes US —

Senior Structural Engineer

Red logo reading "Mar Structural Design"

Mar Structural Design —

Structural Engineer

DES ARCHITECTS + ENGINEERS —

Structural Engineer

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger —

Consulting Engineer

Senior Consulting Engineer

Waltry Design, Inc. —

Staff/Senior Designer, Structural Engineering

PARADIGM Structural Engineers —

Senior Project Engineer

Project Engineer

Staff Engineer – II

Staff Engineer – I

Verdant Structural Engineers —

Staff Engineer

 

Sara Ahrens

Abache Leo Ateno

Corey Beck

Samuel Benzoni

Jerald Castillo

Pengyu Chen

Maggie Chenoweth

Pascal Conte

Ali Davis

Michael DeRubeis

Fiona Dolan

Thais Emond

Loren Goddard

Matthew Hale

Priya Helle

Charles A. Kircher

Claire Leader-Anderson

Rex Mananquil

Kate Markuson

Chiara McKenney

Michael Nicodemus

Austin Payne

Bob Reed

Camille Roberts

Daniel Silva

Abhishek Vijayan

Darya Yekta

 

Survey: Firm Membership Sponsorship


We want to hear from you! Does your firm sponsor your SEAONC membership and/or event registrations? Take this short 2-minute survey and let us know. 

Explore SEAONC Membership Options for Individuals and Firms


INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP: Apply for a SEAONC membership today and get ready to thrive in a vibrant community of structural engineering professionals. Gain access to essential resources, diverse perspectives, and collaborative opportunities across all specialties, empowering you to excel in your career and make lasting contributions to the field. 


Click to complete your membership application today!


MASTER MEMBER PROGRAM: Our Master Member program simplifies and streamlines your renewal process. Designed for firms with three or more members, this program enables you to receive one complete invoice for your entire roster for membership renewals or event registrations if desired. Please Note: Master Member lists and invoices will be managed and distributed by the Membership team in Club Express. Email membership at office@seaonc.org or call us at 628-626-1725 with any questions or requests.


CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP: Our corporate membership program showcases your firm's dedication to the industry and amplifies your influence. Enjoy increased visibility and exclusive benefits, including opportunities to speak at our events and shape the future of our association.


Need more information? Connect with our Membership Team. 

 
 

We appreciate the generosity and support of our SEAONC Corporate Members!

 

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SILVER

 
 
 
 
 
Paradigm SE green and blue logo
 
 
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BRONZE

 
 
 
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SEAONC welcomes your feedback on our newsletter and on any other Association endeavors. To share your input email us at office@seaonc.org.

Having trouble logging into the SEAONC website?

Most information on www.seaonc.org is open to the public, but a few items, such as access to the SEAONC posting for membership, require a member login. If you have not entered your member login since we created a new website in 2018, you must first reset your password. It's quick and straightforward! Contact the office for assistance.


Structural Engineers Association of Northern California

office@seaonc.org

628.626.1725