SEAOI BOARD (2018-2019)
The SEAOI Board of Directors is the backbone of the organization. Members are expected to attend the monthly meeting and to spend an additional minimum of 4 hours per month on the activities of the Board and other committees. The term for a new Board member is 3 years.
Click on a Board member's name below to see their affiliations and credentials. To contact the SEAOI Board, please email Stephanie Crain, Executive Director.
Board Officers
President - David Nickell
President-Elect - Christine Freisinger
Treasurer - Soliman Khudeira
Secretary - Derek Boeldt
Directors to 2019
Jan I. Blok
Kevin Conroy
Jose A. Medero
Directors to 2020
Johann Aakre
Homa Ghaemi
Jon Sfura
Directors to 2021
David Eckmann
Will Kolbuk
Jennifer Traut-Todaro
Past Presidents
David Horos, 2015-2016
Salvatore DiBernardo, 2016-2017
Tony Shkurti, 2017-2018
Young Engineers Committee Chairs - Liaisons to the Board
Michelle Ryland
Mary Lou Kutska
David Nickell (President)
Position: Principal, TGRWA, LLC
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S.C.E.; M.S.C.E.
Licensure: S.E., Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, AISC
Christine M. Freisinger (President-Elect)
Position: Associate Principal, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
Education: Illinois Institute of Technology, B.S. Architectural Engineering; University of Minnesota, M.S., Structural Engineering
Licensure: S.E., P.E. Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, AISC
Soliman Khudeira (Treasurer)
Position: Section Chief of Major Projects, Chicago Department of Transportation - Division of Engineering; Adjunct Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology
Education: Illinois Institute of Technology, Ph.D. Civil Engineering - Structures
Licensure: S.E., P.E. Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, ASCE
Derek Boeldt (Secretary)
Position: Deputy Chief Engineer, Infrastructure, Chicago Transit Authority
Education: Michigan Technological University, B.S., Civil Engineering
Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., WI, NM
Societies: SEAOI, ASCE, AISC, AREMA
Jan I. Blok
Position: President, The Structural Group, Ltd.
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S, M.S., Structural Engineering
Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., CT, IN, MI, MN, MS, MO, NY, OH, WI
Societies: SEAOI, SEPAC, AISC, M.ASCE, AWC, CFSEI, PCI
Kevin Conroy
Position: Senior Staff II, Structures, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Education: Illinois Institute of Technology, B.S.; Illinois Institute of Technology, M.S. Structural Engineering
Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., Illinois, DE, IN, MO, OK, TX
Societies: SEAOI, ACI, AISC, ICRI
Jose A. Medero
Position: Associate Principal, Thornton Tomasetti
Education: Pennsylvania State University, Bachelor of Architectural Engineering; Pennsylvania State University, M.S. Architectural Engineering
Licensure: S.E., P.E. Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, SEPAC, ACI, AISC
Johann Aakre
Position: Section Manager, Bridge Design, HNTB Corporation
Education: The George Washington University, B.S., University of California, Berkeley, M.S.
Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., Illinois, MI
Societies: SEAOI, AISC
Homa Ghaemi
Position: Chief Operating Officer / Principal, Klein and Hoffman, Inc.
Education: Northwestern University,Kellogg School of Management, M.B.A.; The Ohio State University, M.S. Civil / Structural Engineering; The Ohio State University, B.S. Civil Engineering
Licensure: S.E., Illinois, NE and NV P.E., Illinois, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IN, MD, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, VA, and WI
Societies: SEAOI, ACI, ASCE, Village of Wilmette Historic Preservation Commission
Jon Sfura
Position: Senior Associate, Wiss Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
Education: Purdue University, B.S.C.E.; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, M.S.C.E., Ph.D in Civil Engineering
Licensure: S.E., Illinois; C.E., CA; P.E., FL, KS, MI
Societies: SEAOI, ACI, AISC, BSSC, EERI
David Eckmann
Position: Senior Principal, Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Education: University of Illinois, MArch, Structural Engineering; B.S., Architecture
Licensure: SE: Illinois; PE: California, Delaware, Iowa, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Wisconsin; Architecture, Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, CCHRB, CTBUH, AIA, AISC
Will Kolbuk
Position: Structural Engineer, Sargent & Lundy
Education: University of Illinois, M.S., Structural Engineering, B.S., Civil Engineering, Structures Emphasis
Licensure: P.E. Illinois, KY, WV
Societies: SEAOI, AISC
Jennifer Traut-Todaro
Position: Senior Steel Solutions Center Advisor, American Institute of Steel Construction
Education: University of Illinois, M.S., Architecture, Structures Option; B.S., Architectural Studies
Licensure: S.E., Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, AISC
David Horos (Past-President)
Position: Director, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP
Education: Louisiana State University, B.S.; University of Texas, Austin, M.S.; Northwestern University, Masters of Management
Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E. Illinois, IN, NY; LEED AP
Societies: SEAOI, AISC, ASCE
Salvatore DiBernardo (Past-President)
Position: Executive Vice President, Ciorba Group
Education: University of Rome, Italy, Civil Engineering Degree; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, M.S. Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering Northwestern University, Master of Business Administration
Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., Illinois, IA, IN, OH, WI, Italy; C.Eng., United Kingdom
Societies: SEAOI, ASCE, IABSE, ICE
Tony F. Shkurti (Past-President)
Position: Fellow and Associate Vice President, HNTB Corporation
Education: University of Tirana, Albania, B.S.; Wayne State University, M.S.; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ph.D.
Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., Illinois, MI, MN, OH, WI
Societies: SEAOI, ASCE, AISC, PPCI
Michelle Ryland
Position: Associate III, Klein & Hoffman, Inc.
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign, B.S. in Architectural Studies; M. Architecture (Structures Option)
Licensure: Licensed Architect, Illinois; EIT,
Illinois Societies: SEAOI, AIA
Mary Lou Kutska
Position: Senior Bridge Engineer, Ciorba Group
Education:University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S. Civil Engineering; University of California, Berkeley, M.S. Civil Engineering
Licensure: P.E., Illinois; S.E., Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, Women's Transportation Seminar