State Leadership


President 

Owen Kohasi (SE) 

 

Vice President 

Patrick Lindblom (SE) 

 

Treasurer 

Teresa Krell (SC) 

 

Secretary 

Emily Sackmann (SP) 

 

Past President 

Heather Kline (SP) 

 

Trustees 

Evan Olszko (SW) 

Matt Leslie (SC) 

Jared Plank (SW) 

Kyle Johnson (SE) 

Parker Spotts (SP) 

In this Issue:


Welcome from the Incoming President

Owen Kohashi, Incoming President


2025 SEA NW Conference

Brian Parsons, SEAW NWC


Seattle June Social Presents Awards, Showcases UW Health Sciences Project 

Paolo Bourdeau, YMG


Four SEAW Scholarships Awarded

Kevin Solberg, Scholarship Committee


Changes to the Depth Structural Exam Sections

Marjorie Lund, Past Chair BRPELS


WEC Recaps Recent Activities, Looks Forward to Coming Year

Scott Douglas, Wind Committee


WAsafe Building Safety Evaluation Trainings Scheduled for August

Joyce Lem, DPRC


GCRC Recaps Work Since Inception, Will Present at NWC

Scott Douglas, GCRC


South Central Chapter SEAW is 30 years old!

Jill Shuttleworth, John Tate, and Mark Scott


Calendar | Membership Postings | Job Opportunities

Welcome from the Incoming President

Owen Kohashi

Incoming President

Hello!  I have been serving as the State Board Treasurer for the last two years and am honored to be elected as the incoming SEAW State Board President for the 2025-26 year.  I have just finished up a year being the Seattle Chapter President and look forward to the challenge of being State President.  The State Board is comprised of officers from all 4 chapters as follows:   

 

2025-26 State Board 

  • President & TrusteeOwen Kohashi (Seattle) 
  • Vice President & TrusteePatrick Lindblom (Seattle) 
  • Treasurer & TrusteeTeresa Krell (South Central) 
  • Secretary & TrusteeEmily Sackmann (Spokane) 
  • TrusteeEvan Olszko (Southwest) 
  • Trustee Jared Plank (Southwest) 
  • TrusteeKyle Johnson (Seattle) 
  • TrusteeMatt Leslie (South Central) 
  • TrusteeParker Spotts (Spokane) 
  • Past PresidentHeather Kline (Spokane) 

 

Special thanks to Heather Kline for her leadership as President, and to departing Trustee Jessica Jenness (Seattle) who served as Secretary. The past year was a busy one, and one of the big accomplishments was taking a hard look at our financial situation, making budget adjustments to reduce spending, and exploring ways to increase our income, all in an effort to ensure a healthy SEAW going forward. In the coming year, I am hoping to maintain the good momentum that the Board built this past year, especially with some exciting new developments for members. 

 

Here's what to look forward to this year from SEAW: 

  • Northwest Conference hosted by the Spokane Chapter, September 25-26.  The schedule of events has been posted, so please register to attend soon! 
  • 75th Anniversary of SEAWthis SEAW milestone will be celebrated at the NW Conference in Spokane as well as at the Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, October 21 (revised date).  Mark your calendars! 
  • Merchandise Shopwe will soon be offering SEAW 75th Anniversary merchandise for sale through an online shop if you want to purchase a memento and show off your SEAW pride. 
  • Online Membership Platformwe have been developing a new online membership platform for SEAW that will replace our current website and should greatly improve your membership experience. The WildApricot roll-out is scheduled for the end of August, so be on the lookout for emails from SEAW and WildApricot requesting you to set up your log in credentials. 
  • Sponsorship we will start offering annual sponsorship packages this summer to create a new income stream and allow vendors marketing benefits and exposure to SEAW members through the new Membership Platform, Equilibrium, etc. 
  • Strategic Plan the board has been working on revising the Strategic Plan and we will be issuing it this year. 
  • Policies and Procedures we will start working on updating the Policies and Procedures, especially how they align with the Strategic Plan. 

Finally, I encourage all members to step up and get more involved in your local SEAW chapter or a SEAW committee! Theis may take a few hours of your time each month, but your participation is invaluable, and you will likely find that you get a lot of personal benefit.  Even if you don’t feel that you have any particular knowledge to contribute to a committee, it’s a great opportunity to learn more, build expertise, and network with other structural engineers. 

 

Have a great summer, and I hope to see you in the Fall at the Northwest Conference and the 75th Anniversary Celebration! 

SEAW will be rolling out WildApricot, a new membership platform, this summer. Be on the lookout for emails to get set up! 

2025 SEA NW Conference 

Brian Parsons

SEAW Planning Committee Chair

The detailed conference schedule for the 2025 SEA Northwest Conference is now posted on the website!  We look forward to seeing you all in Spokane!  Please see the links below for registration and hotel information.  We are also excited to announce that CSi, Inc., will be hosting an unforgettable social event after the conference on Thursday evening that you won’t want to miss!  More information to come soon.    

Date: September 25-26, 2025 

Location

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Spokane City Center 

322 North Spokane Falls Court 

Spokane, WA 99201 

 

Reserve your special SEAW room rate here at $170/night!   

 

Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities: 

There are limited sponsorships and only a few exhibitor tables remaining so purchase yours today! 

 

Breakfast Sponsorship | $2,500 

Lunch Sponsorship | $2,500 

Coffee Break Sponsorship | $2,000 

Additional Representative Registration | $400 

Exhibitor Table Only | $1,500 

 

Conference Rates: 

  • SEA Members: $575 
  • Non Members: $675 
  • YMG*: $300 
  • One-Day Members: $325 
  • One-Day Non Members: $375 
  • Students: $150 

*Young Member Group registrants are SEA members of the age 35 and under 

Seattle June Social Presents Awards, Showcases UW Health Sciences Project 

Paolo Bourdeau

YMG

SEAW members had the pleasure of attending this year’s June Social at the beautiful Eventide Lake Union venue. Prior to the keynote presentation, SEAW held an award ceremony to celebrate SEAW scholarship recipients and several of this year’s exceptional SEAW members.  

 

Four scholarship awards were presented to the following outstanding individuals: 

  • Luis Madora-Rivas from Auburn, WA 
  • Matthew Ryan from Seattle, WA 
  • Jamie Zimmerman from Bellevue, WA 
  • Grace Zhang from Renton, WA 

 

Please see their bios also in Equilibrium this month. 

 

A special portion of the social was dedicated to honoring SEAW’s most committed members. This began with recognizing SEAW’s new Life Members, Paul Brallier and Michael Leonard, for their commitment to SEAW. The celebrations continued with the presentation of the Lifetime Service Awards. Paul Brallier delivered a heartfelt introduction for Joyce Lem, who received this award for her contributions to SEAW and its committees. Chun Lau also shared with the audience Scott Douglas’s years of service in reconnaissance and volunteer work as well as his leadership in several of SEAW’s committees, making him a deserving recipient of this award. These exceptional individuals represent SEAW through their dedication, leadership, and service. 

 

Owen Kohashi then presented the President’s Award to Linda Ji for her service on the SEAW Seattle Board. Jessica Jenness was recognized as Engineer of the Year for her accomplishments and expertise, as well as her service as a SEAW member and leader. The Young Engineer of the Year Award was presented to Sebina Kalawadwala for her outstanding efforts as the YMG president. The evening celebrated both seasoned and emerging individuals who exemplify the standards SEAW upholds.  

 

Jessica Westermeyer, P.E., S.E., Associate at KPFF, and Duncan Howard of Lease Crutcher Lewis presented on the University of Washington Health Sciences Education Building, a state-of-the-art facility that will house UW’s dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and social work programs. Their presentation explored the project’s hybrid steel and CLT framing, along with its structural and construction challenges. They also highlighted the floor vibration analyses conducted for the project as well as how it was funded partly through the Wood Innovation Grant. This project was then used as a case study for the U.S. Mass Timber Floor Vibration Design Guide.   

 

The night ended with the “passing of the gavel” to commemorate the new SEAW Seattle board president, Patrick Lindblom, as well as the board for this upcoming year. 


Owen Kohashi (R) recognizes Paul Brailler (L) and Michael Leonard with SEAW Lifetime Achievement Awards. Photo courtesy Paolo Bourdeau. 

Duncan Howard and Jessica Westermeyer offer the keynote address, presenting on the UW Health Sciences Education Building. Photo courtesy Paolo Bourdeau.  

Four SEAW Scholarships Awarded

Kevin Solberg

Scholarship Committee

SEAW, with funding support from the Structural Engineers Foundation of Washington (SEFW), awarded four scholarships at the Seattle Chapter’s Spring Social in June. Kevin Solberg was on hand to present the awards. In total, $15,000 was awarded to the four students. The scholarship program was started in 1985 and has since awarded $258,000 to 92 students. SEFW has been pleased to fund the program since 2012. Funds come from corporate donations, individual donations, and an SEAW contribution from dues.   

Luis Madora-Rivas 

Saint Martin’s University 

Luis Madora-Rivas received a $5,000 SEAW Scholarship. He is a civil engineering master's student at Saint Martin's University. He has interned at WSP USA as a transportation and traffic engineer and at TYLin International as a bridge engineer, gaining hands-on experience in infrastructure development. Having learned about the field of structural engineering through his experience as a laborer on construction sites, Luis would like to expose the field of structural engineering to future generations. Outside of engineering, Luis enjoys biking, rowing, hiking, and working on cars. 

Matthew Ryan 

Gonzaga University 

Matthew Ryan received a $5,000 SEAW Scholarship. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Gonzaga University in May 2025. During his time at Gonzaga, he conducted research on the engineering history and analysis of the Spokane Pavilion. He spent several summers commercial fishing in Alaska and completed a structural engineering internship at DCI Engineers in Spokane. Next year, Matthew plans to pursue a master's degree in Structural Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. 

Grace Zhang 

University of Washington 

Grace Zhang received a $2,500 SEAW Scholarship. She is a senior Civil Engineering student at the University of Washington, specializing in structural engineering. She works as a research assistant in the UW Structural Engineering Testing Laboratory and the M9 Bridge Database project, analyzing seismic performance trends. As Design Lead for the UW Steel Bridge Club, she oversees structural design efforts. Grace currently interns with TYLin’s bridge team and will continue her studies in UW’s Structural Engineering master’s program, focusing on steel structures and infrastructure rehabilitation. 

Jamie Zimmerman 

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo 

Jamie Zimmerman received a $2,500 SEAW Scholarship. She is earning her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She has held leadership roles in the SEAOC student chapter, organizing the annual Structural Forum and launching a resume roundtable event. Her senior project involves designing and constructing a hyperbolic paraboloid shade structure. She participated twice in the SESH program in Jakarta, assisting with seismic evaluations. Professionally, she interned at LPA Design Studios and will join Daedalus Structural Engineering in summer 2025. Originally from the Seattle area, Jamie grew up embracing all things outdoors and hopes to return to the Pacific Northwest in the future. A proud alum of the ACE Mentor Program, she looks forward to giving back as a mentor herself after graduation, with the goal of inspiring more girls to pursue careers in engineering. 

Changes to the Depth Structural Exam Sections

Marjorie Lund

Past Chair, BRPELS  

This is an update to an article in the Spring 2025 Journal from the State of Washington Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors (BRPELS) concerning future changes to the computer-based, four-section, PE Structural Exam. As we reported in emails, LinkedIn, and the Board’s website, the two Depth sections of the exam will be changing in 2026 and again in 2027. These improvements should relieve some of the difficulties working in the testing center environment and the time constraints leading to low pass rates.  

 

Many engineers have complained about the PE Structural Exam to both BRPELS and SEAW. In the last Equilibrium we shared the letters of complaint that SEAW delivered to NCEES, and additionally BRPELS has led a coalition of licensing boards pushing NCEES to make changes. While NCEES is not adjusting as quickly as we would prefer, there are changes planned for next year. NCEES is granting examinees an additional hour for the Vertical Depth and Lateral Depth sections starting in April 2026.  

 

In 2027, the exam content will be updated to reflect the results of a current professional practice survey. This is a normal update that occurs every seven years. NCEES has indicated unofficially that the format of the Depth sections may change in 2027 to have only 48 items instead of the current 60. This means more of the examinees’ work will count towards their scores and is the approach requested by the coalition of licensing boards.  

 

Quick summary of PE Structural Vertical & Lateral Depth Exams: 

  • October 2025: 60 questions, 40 scored, 5.5 hours*  
  • April 2026: 60 questions, 40 scored, 6.5 hours* 
  • October 2026: 60 questions, 40 scored, 6.5 hours* 
  • April 2027 and future (not confirmed): 48 questions, 40 scored, 6.5 hours* 

          * includes tutorial and break 

 

In the coming months, the coalition of licensing boards will continue to push NCEES to make more positive changes to the exams. Updates to this information will be posted on BRPELS.WA.GOV


WEC Recaps Recent Activities, Looks Forward to Coming Year 

Scott Douglas

Wind Committee

In years past, SEAW’s Summer Equilibrium included reports from all SEAW’s State Committees. SEAW’s WEC (Wind Engineering Committee) submits the following report for the Summer Equilibrium:  

  • State of Washington Special Wind Regions (SWR) – SEAW’s primary focus over this past year has been codifying the recommendations in SEAW White Paper WEC #3-2023 Structural Engineers Association of Washington regarding the special wind regions in Washington State. 
  • 2024 Washington State Building CodeCode Change Proposal 24-GP1-004 24-GP1_004.pdf was approved by the Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC) Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and the BFRW (Building, Fire, Residential, and Wildland-Urban Interface) standing committees. This proposed State amendment will be posted for public comment August 20 through September 11. After resolving any public comments and passing the full SBCC, the SBCC staff will file this and other Washington Code amendments for approval by the State Legislature. The updated special wind regions are expected to be approved by the Legislature and officially become part of the 2024 Washington State Building Code in November 2026.  
  • 2024 Washington State Residential Code A Code Change Proposal to incorporate the Washington State SWR recommendations in SEAW White Paper WEC #3-2023 into the 2024 IRC was submitted to the State Building Code Council June 23. SEAW members seldom use the International Residential Code (IRC), but this proposal will align the Washington State Residential Code SWR wind speeds and boundaries with those in the Washington State Building Code.  
  • ASCE 7-28 A yes/no non-persuasive/persuasive vote addressing the one negative WLSC ballot votes for the Washington State and Oregon SWR was completed July 10. The negative comments were voted as non-persuasive. The ballot will now advance to the ASCE 7-28 main committee for voting.
  • Continuing Agenda Items for 2025-2026: With codification efforts for the Washington State SWR relatively complete, the SEAW WEC committee will target the following agenda items for completion in the next term: 
  • City of Bellevue Kzt Map –  A Kzt Wind Load Factor map replicating City of Seattle’s Wind Load Factor Map found at Wind Load Factors - SDCI | seattle.gov will be generated for City of Bellevue’s consideration. If adopted, the map will facilitate an alternate conservative method for rapid determination of Kzt factors and justify use of a Shoreline Exposure C classification in the City of Bellevue. 
  • SEAW/ATC 60 Wind Commentary Update – The effort to partner with the NCSEA Wind Engineering Code Advisory Subcommittee to update the 2004 SEAW/ATC 60 Wind Commentary will continue. 
  • Participation - All SEAW members, whatever their experience, are encouraged to participate in WEC meetings. Please contact the WEC chair, Scott Douglas sdouglasscott@gmail.com, to join the SEAW WEC and receive additional information and announcements on Committee activities and actions.  


Next Meeting – Friday August 22 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Meeting will be virtual via the following Zoom Link : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89289531891?pwd=nTiIm6Iapc6NiVGWC7nMEVAdrXQkH9.1 

Meeting ID: 892 8953 1891                 Passcode: 814598 

Special Wind Region boundary lines are part of the code change proposal currently being considered by the Washington State Building Code Council.  

WAsafe Building Safety Evaluation Trainings Scheduled for August

Joyce Lem

DPRC

All are invited to participate in an in-person training on post-disaster building safety evaluations on Monday, August 18, 2025, 8:30am – 4:30pm. The WAsafe Building Safety Evaluations (ATC 20/45 Plus) is being offered in Tacoma, at the Tacoma Public Utilities Auditorium. Attendees can then join the WAsafe registry to assist Building Officials with evaluating their building stock following an earthquake (or other disaster), providing a great service to the community. The training price is $135 and includes morning coffee and pastries, lunch, and afternoon snack. For details and registration, go to WAsafe BSE Training.  


All attendees who complete the training will receive a Certificate of Completion. Attendees will be able to select the type of continuing education units they receive. As noted in the original announcement, they can receive 0.7 ICC Preferred Provider CEUs. AIA members can receive 7 Learning Units / Health, Safety, and Welfare (LU | HSW). Engineers can receive 7.0 PDHs. Attendees must sign the attendance roster in order to receive the certificate and continuing education credits.

 

WAsafe is the Washington State program that organizes and trains a cadre of engineers, architects, and other industry professionals so they can assist local jurisdictions with the field work following a major disaster, determining whether buildings are safe for occupancy. 

 

If you’re already a member of WAsafe, your enrollment expires 5 years after your last training. See your ID badge for the expiration date. Please take the online Refresher training within 12 months after your WAsafe enrollment expires or you will be required to take the full-day BSE training to stay active in WAsafe. In comparison, completing the Refresher is expected to take 3 to 4 hours. For more details about the Refresher and to register, go to: Refresher Training. Taking the full-day WAsafe BSE class is also an alternative to the Refresher. 

 

For more about the WAsafe program, visit the website: wasafecoalition.org

 

SEAW is a key member of the WAsafe Coalition. If you have any questions about the Disaster Prep/Response Committee or the WAsafe program, please send an email to joyce.seaw@wasafecoalition.org  

This Elementary school in Jojutla, Mexico was heavily damaged by the 2017 Central Mexico Earthquake. Photo courtesy Reid Middleton.  

GCRC Recaps Work Since Inception, Will Present at NWC 

Scott Douglas

GCRC

The General Code Requirements Committee (GCRC) has held six meetings since its inception in February with the following ongoing agenda items: 


  • Washington State Snow Loads 
  • Currently before the State Building Code Council (SBCC) there is an amendment to revise Section 1608.2 of the 2024 IBC. Implementation of the new ASCE 7-22 / IBC.2024 snow load maps have raised concerns about instances where the ASCE Hazard Tool’s “Mapped Elevation” used to determine a specified ground snow load differs substantially from the actual site elevation. The proposed State Building Code Amendment addresses this concern. 
  • The GCRC Committee is considering a public comment to the above SBCC Proposal to address snow drift load design considerations in low lying areas of Puget Sound, and possibly other areas of the State with low ground snow loads. 
  • An amendment to the 2024 IRC has been submitted to improve the clarity and practical application of ground snow load requirements. 
  • The Committee is planning to review and update as required SEAW White Paper #2-2009, SEAW/WABO White Paper #8, and SEAW/WABO White Paper dated August 2000 regarding snow loads. 
  • On Friday September 26 Session 9 of the SEA Northwest Conference in Spokane will feature a presentation on Snow Loads in ASCE 7-22. There promises to be a lively discussion after the presentation so be sure to register for the conference at 2025 SEA NW Conference Registration

     

  • Guard Loadings  
  • A code change proposal to address the issue of guard loadings in crowded areas was introduced to the ASCE 7-28 Subcommittee on Dead and Live Loads (DLSC) June 3. The DLSC made recommendations to revise the proposal. These recommendations are being incorporated and will be presented at the Subcommittee’s meeting this September. The goal is to have a final proposal ready to submit for ASCE Committee ballot by the end of this year.  
  • In addition, the issue of guard loadings in crowded areas was also submitted for the 2027 IBC as code change proposal S74-25 (IBC-Structural Committee Action Hearings (CAH #1). The proposal was disapproved. A revised proposal is likely to be submitted for consideration at the second session of hearings from October 22 through 30. 

 

  • Flood Loads 
  • ASCE 24-24, Flood Resistant Design and Construction, has recently been published. ASCE 24-24 contains significant changes from the previous version, ASCE 24-14. It basically extends the flood hazard from a 100 year to a 500 year flood plain.  
  • State Building Code Proposal 24-GP1-053 is a proposal that is making its way through the SBCC approval process. This proposal adopts Supplements 1 and 2 to ASCE 24-14. It was determined that SBCC adoption of ASCE 7-14 Supplement #2, which includes the 500-year flood plain requirements of ASCE 24-24, would present some challenges and difficulties in design. As a consequence, the part of Proposal 24-GP1-053 to adopt Supplement #2 as a State amendment will be withdrawn during the public comment period August 20 through September 11. 
  • On Friday September 26 Session 12 of the SEA Northwest Conference in Spokane will feature a presentation on Recent Updates to Flood-Resistant Design Standards: ASCE 7-22 Supplement 2 and ASCE 24-24. This presentation will bring attendees up to date on the upcoming flood design standards. Register for the conference at 2025 SEA NW Conference Registration to get up to speed on this significant Code change. 

 

 

Next Meetings – 

             Meeting ID: 678 556 5290     Passcode: 309648 

Meeting ID: 857 5742 0739     Passcode: 870891

ASCE 24-24 was recently published and provides guidance on structural safety in flood areas. Photo courtesy ASCE. 

South Central Chapter SEAW is 30 years old! 

Jill Shuttleworth

John Tate

Mark Scott

In celebration of the SEAW 75th Anniversary this year, we are exploring the history of SEAW in Equilibrium. This month we’d like to highlight the beginnings of the SEAW South Central Chapter. 

 

After months of meeting with Ed Huston, Past President of SEAW, and contacting all people from Walla Walla to Wenatchee who had Civil and Structural PE registration in Washington, the South Central (SC) Chapter held its first meeting on March 6, 1995, with Ed Huston as its first speaker. At the time, five SE members were needed to form a chapter. The original SEs were John Tate, Jill Shuttleworth, Mark Scott, Mike Rubin, Jerry Hopkins, and Dex Lien. About 25 PE members also joined as founding members of the chapter.  

 

After about five years, John, Jill and Mark were the only active SE SC members. By 2003, Mark remained active in helping to arrange and host seminars, although other commitments didn’t allow him to regularly attend monthly meetings. Monthly chapter duties fell primarily to John and Jill. At that time, Ed Huston and Ted Smith became honorary SC chapter members so the chapter could be maintained. Average meeting attendance through the years has had the highest rate of participation of SEAW chapters. 

  

The following comments are memories from some of the charter members of South Central Chapter: 

 

  • JillAfter being active as a non-voting board member of SE Washington SEAW, I really missed meeting with other engineers and having technical presentations that I was interested in the local area. 
  • JohnOne of the initial ideas for the establishing of the Chapter was to help facilitate seminars and speakers to visit the Yakima and Tri- Cities areas. Another plus would be to get working engineers from isolated offices together to talk shop in an informal and relaxed setting. 
  • JillWhen we first established our Chapter there were a group of engineers who worked at Hanford but the remainder of the membership worked in offices with one or two engineers. Having the Chapter provided a safe space to discuss theories and methodologies and provide design examples through our monthly meetings. 
  • MarkHow can it be 30 years old when I’m only 49? Favorite things were setting up training seminars like ACI, Masonry, AISC, and of course having “fast Eddie” was always a treat. The vendor presentations like Simpson and Hilti were educational and the Northwest Conference brought a plethora of information. The Code Change updates were helpful. 
  • JohnThings went pretty much as thought until the winter of 1996-97. The snowfall events of that winter made the 2nd Edition of the Washington Snow Load Design Manual (Prepared by the Snow Load Committee from Spokane Chapter) relevant with regard to snow load design. The SC Chapter took over the snow load committee. The Chapter changed the snow load design examples to reflect the change to the IBC/ASCE-7 from the Uniform “Building” Codes. Also, the Chapter expanded upon the snow load design examples that were within the 2nd edition of the Washington snow load manual. It is my opinion that this document, done by the Spokane Chapter of SEAW, remains the gold standard for snow load design to this day. 
  • JohnI believe that for our membership size, the SC Chapter has had a large influence with SEAW and the promotion of engineering. Further, several members have volunteered to serve with state committees and other SEAW functions. Grading and pretesting for the SE exam are areas where our membership has had significant contributions. Also, our Chapter has consistently supported school and area engineering related functions when asked. 
  • JillIn addition to our monthly dinner meetings, the SC Chapter had some fun social events. Every year until COVID we had an annual family summer picnic. We would meet at a park or a member’s home. SEAW would provide the food. Members would bring their families, and we would socialize. In May 2015, we held a 20th anniversary party. All of us brought our spouses or a guest and we welcomed Ed Huston to be our speaker for the evening. 
  • Mark – Summer picnics and bottle rockets were memorable. 
  • JillSouth Central Chapter has been involved in community service. Members have volunteered to talk about structural engineering at local schools. Also, we have been involved with the Mid-Columbia Regional Science and Engineering Fair since about 1999. A judging committee meets with participants to choose structural engineering awards. In addition, we provide funds to help support the fair and encourage middle school and high school students. In person learning is very important to SC Chapter members. Most years we have had a large percentage of our chapter attend the SEA Northwest Conference. 
  • John/Jill“The South Central Chapter hosted the Northwest Conference on two occasions. 2004 in Lewiston, Idaho, “Dawn of Discovery,” and 2018 in Richland, Washington, “Knowledge is Power.” Both were well received and came off splendidly. As part of these conferences, John believed the Chapter organized two of the most unique and interesting conference activities that have ever occurred at any conference. The first was an evening river sled jet boat ride up the Snake River from Lewiston. It was a big fast noisy real live jet boat that you see in the pictures of in magazines. They took us upriver to a beautiful lodge that served us an outstanding meal (Prime Rib and Salmon as well as a variety of vegetables and salads. They also served some delicious desserts.) The trip up and back are fond memories for our lifetimes. Then, the Richland Conference included a National Parks Tour of the now mothballed B reactor in Hanford, Washington. The B reactor was part of the Manhattan Project that developed plutonium for the original atomic bomb development during World War II. The scale and scope of the site was impressive and information in the extreme. The visit was an education in itself. Note: Nobody glowed in the dark after the visit. 

 

Three state presidents of SEAW have been from the South Central Chapter: 

  • John Tate 2003-2004 
  • Jill Shuttleworth 2012-2013 
  • Daniel Sumerfield 2022-2023 

 

As most of the charter members of South Central Chapter have retired, a new group of engineers are stepping up to keep the chapter moving forward. 

 

If you are interested, Save the Date for the Masonry Seminar to be held in Tri-Cities on October 3, 2025. 

SEAW South Central members tour the Wanapum Dam in 2016. Photo courtesy Harvey Lighthouse.

SEAW members view a demonstration at the 2018 Northwest Conference, “Knowledge is Power” in Richland. Photo courtesy Kristi Shumway.

The celebration just cannot wait – please note the new, earlier date for an SEAW 75th Anniversary Celebration! Join us on Tuesday, October 21st, at the Museum of Flight!

August 12, 2025,  12 PM   

SEAW General Code Requirements Committee Meeting (@Zoom)   

 

August 18, 2025,  8:30 AM – 4:30 PM   

WAsafe Building Safety Evaluations (ATC 20/45 Plus) Training (@Tacoma Public Utilities Auditorium)   

 

August 22, 2025,  12 PM   

SEAW Wind Engineering Committee Meeting (@Zoom)   

 

September 9, 2025,  12 PM   

SEAW General Code Requirements Committee Meeting (@Zoom)   

 

September 15-19, 2025 

19WCSI (@University of California Berkeley) 

 

September 25-26, 2025  

SEA Northwest Conference / SEAW 75th Anniversary Celebration (@DoubeTree by Hilton, Spokane)   

 

October 3, 2025 

Masonry Seminar (@TBD, Tri-Cities) 


Please see the SEAW website for other event dates and information: https://www.seaw.org/calendar

Welcome New Members!

Nicholas Jacoby

SE Member


Luke Bastian

Associate Member

Gustavo Franco

SE Member


Howard Thurston

PE Member

Are you currently seeking employment as a structural engineer, senior manager, or a senior engineer technician? Check out our job board for current employment opportunities.

Associate Principal

Fast+Ep

Seattle, WA


We are currently hiring an Associate Principal with an entrepreneurial attitude and a passion for business development and expressive structural design for our Seattle office. This role is perfect for a senior level engineer who has business development experience and is looking for growth within a firm that challenges norms to create ambitious structures and designs. The ideal candidate contributes to increasing the overall value of the firm through their efforts and shows commitment to the health and viability of the firm. They embody the firm’s core values, leading by example, while fulfilling the responsibilities and obligations that comes with their role. While we are looking for someone with a strong business development background, this role will also lead the procurement, design, and the delivery of projects.

 

At Fast + Epp, our core purpose is to advance structural design and propel architectural imagination. We strive to manifest this core purpose in the designs we produce, the community we have created, and the professional development opportunities we provide our staff. We’re looking for people who approach problems with a sense of curiosity and are not afraid to ask, “is there a better way to do this?” We want people who will bring diverse experiences and viewpoints to our team, those who love to collaborate with others and understand they have something to learn from everyone they meet. We’re searching for individuals who are honest, reliable, and good listeners. If you work with us, we want you to stretch your limits while still ensuring you maintain healthy habits, relationships, and other interests. If this sounds like the career path for you, we encourage you to apply!

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Please consider making a line-item donation to SEFW as part of your dues renewal. Special designation can be placed on the donation, so it can be applied to scholarships, disaster preparedness or research opportunities. SEFW fulfills its mission with the assistance of donations from individuals and corporations. More information on SEFW and its mission to promote structural engineering can be found at www.sefw.org. Thank you for your support!

Structural Engineers Association of Washington 


info@seaw.org | 206.338.7376 | www.seaw.org