Developing a Partnership with NSBE
NCSEA is pleased to announce an active partnership with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Through this developing relationship, NCSEA looks forward to sharing opportunities to partner on initiatives, programs, scholarships, speakers, and membership at both the National and State levels. As this partnership develops, look for future announcements on collaboration opportunities. 
As structural engineers continue to address diversity within the profession, NSBE has an upcoming event aimed at firm leaders to raise awareness of NSBE. The NSBE ALL IN Summit will be held this Wednesday, November 18, from 6-7:30pm EST. Click here for more information about the event and to register. 
Welcome to the third installment of Read.Watch.Listen: a monthly forum hosted by the NCSEA SE3 Committee to share and promote conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion within the structural engineering profession. Each month, we will curate a series of articles, audio-visual and digital media to facilitate self-education in matters that affect our professional practice as structural engineers. Whether you choose to read, watch, or listen (or all three!), we hope you will join us in this important conversation.
This month, we explore the business case for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The resources provided demonstrate that a welcoming, diverse atmosphere fosters greater creativity, better critical thinking, and a more profitable company. For leaders looking to take steps toward growth, we recommend attending the free, virtual NSBE ALL IN Summit, hosted by the National Society of Black Engineers on Wednesday, November 18th, from 6-7:30pm EST. Speakers Jocelyn Jackson and Dr. Karl W. Reid will discuss actions our industry can take to become more inclusive. 
Missed the previous issue? Check out the NCSEA SE3 Committee News and Publication page.
Share your thoughts and/or recommended resources for the next issue at [email protected].
READ
Written for Forbes Magazine by journalist Karsten Strauss, the article summarizes multiple studies into business profitability based on diversity representation within corporate management structures. McKinsey & Company and the Peterson Institute for International Economics collected data on over 1,000 companies worldwide. The research concluded that culturally and ethnically diverse executive staff were more profitable than previously studied.
WATCH
Danielle Civitillo is a civil engineer and corporate design technology specialist at VHB with over 12 years of experience. She makes the case for diversity and inclusion within the AEC industry by presenting both the "Why?" and the "How?" to increase the retention of engineers. This Autodesk University webinar covers term definitions (e.g. what are microaggressions?), benefits of diverse design perspectives, and a how-to on building employee resource groups among other topics.
LISTEN
In this episode of the Build Better podcast, Alicia Washington, director of marketing for HRP Associates, shares her story as a person of color navigating the industry. She discusses the business benefits of diversity and offers insight on how to improve policies within your company that promote inclusion.
Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety in the US
In the second half of 2019, the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of ASCE launched Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety – US (CROSS-US), a system for sharing lessons learned on structural failures and safety issues. Through the CROSS-US web portal, www.cross-us.org, knowledgeable AEC professionals may confidentially submit a report on a structural failure, near miss, or general safety concern. That report is “anonymized”, and then CROSS’s Expert Panel will review it and offer commentary on lessons learned and recommendations for improved practice. 
The CROSS system was developed in the UK in 2005, and in its fifteen years of operation has been shown to have direct and positive influence on structural practice there. CROSS-US’s Directors are Glenn Bel([email protected]) and Andy Herrmann ([email protected]). They would be pleased to make a presentation to your Member Association or company to describe how CROSS works, and how you and your organization may improve practice though lessons learned and contribute to CROSS-US’s success.
Don't forget that the 2020 Summit has two more days of Bonus Content: tomorrow, Tuesday, November 17th and next Tuesday, November 24th.The Bonus Content is a new feature for the 2020 Virtual Summit. These additional sessions are what would have been part of the In-Person Summit, giving attendees access to sessions they would not have had the opportunity to view before. Sessions on these days will cover mass timber, marketing, seismic provisions, and more! Not registered? Register for access to all session recordings, Bonus Content, and the Exhibit Hall!
2020 NCSEA SEA Grant Program Open for Applications
The NCSEA Grant Program was developed in 2015 to award SEAs funding for projects that grow and promote their SEA and the structural engineering profession in accordance with the NCSEA Mission Statement. This program is funded by the NCSEA Foundation, which was established earlier this year to further support the non-profit activities of NCSEA and its Member Organizations. The goal of the Foundation and the Grant Program are to advance the structural engineering profession through technical development, education, and outreach.  
The 2020 Grant Applications are due December 1, 2020. Click here to apply.
MO Public Outreach Challenge
NCSEA’s External Communications Committee is expanding last year’s MO Public Outreach Challenge to allow members, delegates and SEA leadership to submit their Member Organization’s most effective program for achieving NCSEA’s goal that: Practicing structural engineers are recognized by clients, media, policymakers, educators, students, and the public for the value of their contributions to society.
The purpose of this competition is to give SEAs a platform to be recognized by the SE profession for their work and dedication to the field. What do you consider your MO’s biggest Public Outreach accomplishment in the past year (November 2019 through December 2020)?
Each SEA may submit up to one entry for each of the following categories:
Submissions are due December 15, 2020. Click here to learn more. Submitters may enter in all four categories, but only one entry per category will be accepted for each SEA.
Upcoming Webinars
All NCSEA live webinars offer 1.5 hours of continuing education credits. Most NCSEA webinars are Diamond Reviewed and accepted for SE continuing education in all 50 states. To view other upcoming webinars, click here.

November 19, 2020
Professor Sudarshan Krishnan

December 3, 2020
Professor Sudarshan Krishnan

December 10, 2020
Bruce Brothersen, PE, SE, and Walter Worthley, Jr., PE 

December 15, 2020
Erik Kneer, SE, LEED AP BD+C, and Megan Stringer, P.E., LEED AP BD+C

Recorded Webinars can be purchased here.
Subscribe to education with NCSEA's Live & Recorded Webinar Subscription. Available to NCSEA members only! This exclusive plan includes:
  • At least 30 live webinars per year featuring high-quality speakers.
  • An unlimited number of free CE certificates for each webinar; multiple viewers at the same location can receive credit for every live webinar.
  • Unlimited 24/7/365 access to NCSEA's Recorded Webinar Library
Call for Information
We'd love to hear about your SEA! Have you hosted an event recently that you'd like to share with the rest of the organization? Are you hosting an upcoming event that you would like featured in Structural Connection or NCSEA News? Please let us know! If you have any news, events, or accomplishments you'd like to share, please reach out to Dana Long at [email protected]. Also, remember to add your upcoming events to NCSEA's Calendar. Just visit this link and fill out the details of your event, it is really that easy!