SEAOI BOARD (2019-2020)
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 - Christine Freisinger
President-Elect - Soliman Khudeira
Treasurer - Derek Boeldt
Secretary - Jan I. Blok
Directors to 2020
Johann Aakre
Kevin Conroy
Jon Sfura
Directors to 2021
David Eckmann
Will Kolbuk
Jennifer Traut-Todaro
Directors to 2022
Joseph M. Lowrance
James J. Pawlikowski
Michelle Ryland
Past Presidents
Salvatore DiBernardo, 2016-2017
Tony Shkurti, 2017-2018
David Nickell, 2018-2019
Young Engineers Committee Chairs - Liaisons to the Board
Mary Lou Kutska
David Nauheimer
Christine M. Freisinger (President)
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 (President-Elect)
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., M.S., and B.S. - Civil Engineering - Structures
Licensure: S.E., P.E. Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, ASCE
Derek Boeldt (Treasurer)
Position: Deputy Chief Engineer, Infrastructure, Chicago Transit Authority
Education: Michigan Technological University, B.S., Civil Engineering
Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, ASCE, AISC, AREMA
Jan Blok (Secretary)
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
Johann Aakre
Position: Department Manager, Bridges & Structures - Michael Baker International
Education: The George Washington University, B.S., University of California, Berkeley, M.S.
Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., Illinois, MI
Societies: SEAOI, AISC
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: S.E., Illinois; 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
Michelle Ryland
Position: Associate V, Structures Group, Klein & Hoffman, Inc.
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign, B.S. in Architectural Studies; M. Architecture (Structures Option)
Licensure: Licensed Architect IL; S.E., IL; R.A.
Illinois Societies: SEAOI, AIA, AISC
James J. Pawlikowski
Position: Associate Director, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign; B.A, and M. Architecture with Structural;Engineering Concentration
Licensure: S.E., IL; LEED, AP
Societies: SEAOI, CCHR, ASC, ACI
Joseph M. Lowrance
Position: Senior Engineering Manager, Farnsworth Group, Inc.
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S. Architectural Studies, and M.S., Architecture (Structures Option)
Licensure: S.E., IL; P.E., CO
Societies: SEAOI, NCSEA, ISPE, NSPE, ACED-Illinois, ACI, AISC, CRSI, PCI
Salvatore DiBernardo (Past-President)
Position: 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
David Nickell (Past-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
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., IL, IN, MI; S.E., Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, Women's Transportation Seminar
David Nauheimer
Position: Senior Associate I, Sargent & Lundy, LLC
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S. Civil Engineering; M.S. Structural Engineering
Licensure: P.E., Illinois, Kansas; S.E. Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, AISC