Super Symposium- Bridge Track
Event Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Old Post Office, 433 W Van Buren St.
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
SEAOI is pleased to announce the 2026 SEAOI Super Symposium, a newly enhanced, one-day event featuring two separate education tracks—Bridges and Buildings. Held on April 16, this expanded program brings together the very best of our long-running Bridge Symposium and Structures Symposium while preserving the distinct technical focus each audience values.
This new structure honors the uniqueness of each discipline while amplifying the professional community that connects them.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Exhibitor Opportunities
Program
Full program times for the Bridge Track are TBD.
7:30am-8:00am Registration/Breakfast
Shear Transfer Mechanisms in Composite Steel Bridges
Alana Alves de Moraes, PhD; Michael Baker International
Flexible Bridge Design Strategies to Manage Environmental Constraints and Late-Stage Utility Conflicts
Jarrod Cebulski, PE; Krishna Patel, EIT; RINA
Landmark - 10-4 Engineering - Hemal Patel
Break - visit exhibitors
CTA Harlem Bus Bridge Rehabilitation - Superstructure Replacement
Irsilia Colletti, PE, SE; David Budzik, PE, SE; HNTB
Pearl Sessions (short presentations):
- Brace Yourself: The New Stability Bracing Requirements in AASHTO LRFD
Hemal Patel, PE, SE and Bhushan Selvaraj, PhD; 10-4 Engineering, PLLC
- Engineering Knowledge by Design — Smarter Sharing for Stronger Teams and Better Projects
Dan Schriks PE SE; Mead & Hunt
Landmark - JLK Architects - Meg Kindelin
Break - visit exhibitors
Structural Investigation of H-Piles in Integral Abutment Bridges
Mark Shaffer, Illinois Department of Transportation
Improving Structural Resilience: Rehab Strategies for I-55 Bridges over Meramec River
Kamlesh Kumar, SE, PE; EXP US Services, Inc. |
11:50am-12:50pm Lunch
Keynote Presentation - Ronald J. Watson, President & CEO, RJ Watson
Break - visit exhibitors
Landmark - HNTB - Tony Shkurti
A Bridge is Not a Building – Applying the SOI Standards to Working Historic Structures
Meg Kindelin; JLK Architects
CDOT Bridge Program Update - Moira Kent, Chicago Department of Transportation
Collaboration Beyond Borders: An Owner’s Engineer Perspective from the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project
Claire Heumann, PE, PEng, ENV SP; Parsons
Break - visit exhibitors
CCDOTH Update
Development of a Simplified Methodology for Designing Tie Girders as Internally Redundancy Members
Robert J Connor; Purdue University
5:00pm Adjourn
Location
The Old Post Office
433 W Van Buren St
Chicago, IL 60607
Parking information can be found here.
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Registration
Registration:
Early bird (ends 12pm Central on 3/15/26)
$325 - Member
$450 - Nonmember
After 3/15
$400 - Member
$525 - Nonmember
Government employees:
$200
Students:
$150
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Group Registration: Companies with 5+ attendees will receive $30 off each registration fee. Complete list of attendees' names and addresses must be submitted to fheinzel@seaoi.org to qualify and for registration.
A huge thank you to all of our sponsors and exhibitors!
Lanyard Sponsor:
Moment Connection Partners:
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Landmark Partners:
Bridge
Bridge
Bridge
Bridge
Blueprint Breakfast Sponsors:
Design Build Partners
Bridge
Buildings
Superstructure Partner
Foundation Partner
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About the Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Ronald Watson
President - R.J. Watson
Ron has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil/Structural Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has over 50 years of experience in the design, manufacture and testing of high load multirotational bearings, seismic isolation devices and bridge deck joint sealing systems. He is the author of over 50 technical papers on thes subjects presented at various bridge conferences and seminars across North America.
He currently serves as Chairman of the American Society of Testing and Materials Subcommittee D04.32 on Bridges and Structures. He is the Vice Chairman of the Bearing Committee of the National Steel Bridge Alliance and is a Fellow of the American Concrete Institute. He serves on the Executive Committees for the International Bridge Conference and the American Segmental Bridge Institute. He is the former Chairman of the International Joints and Bearings Research Council.
Ron currently serves as President of R. J. Watson, a company he started in 1992 that manufactures bearings and jointing systems for bridges and other civil engineering structures.
Alana Alves de Moraes, Ph.D.
Civil Associate I - Michael Baker International
Alana has been researching composite steel structures for over 4 years and completed her Ph.D in November of 2025. She is now a civil associate at Michael Baker International in the Chicago office.
Shear Transfer Mechanisms in Composite Steel Bridges
This research examines the effects of friction and adhesion on shear stud demands in composite steel bridges. Data collected from laboratory and field tests, as well as finite element models, shows that friction and adhesion between concrete and steel contribute to shear transfer, resulting in lower shear stud demands than estimated by the AASHTO specifications.
Jarrod Cebulski, PE & Krishna Patel, EIT
Director of Planning & Staff Structural Engineer - RINA
Jarrod Cebulski graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a BS in civil engineering. He began his career at the IDOT where he worked in planning, design, and construction. His last position was head of consultant studies, where he oversaw all consultant prepared preliminary engineering studies in District One. He transitioned to Patrick Engineering, where he is Director of Transportation Planning. Jarrod is a licensed professional engineer in Illinois and several other states.
Krishna Patel is a structural bridge engineer working at RINA, North America. She graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign with a BS and MS in Civil Engineering. She has four years of experience working on planning and design of bridges, retaining walls, and culverts for clients including IDOT, INDOT, and ISTHA.
Flexible Bridge Design Strategies to Manage Environmental Constraints and Late-Stage Utility Conflicts
This presentation explores the Olympic Boulevard/Houbolt Road Improvements in Joliet, Illinois, focusing on flexible bridge design strategies developed to address environmental constraints, stakeholder coordination, and an unexpected major utility conflict discovered during construction. Attendees will learn how designing for construction flexibility enabled rapid redesign, schedule preservation, and minimized environmental and community impacts.
Irsilia Colletti, PE, SE & David Budzik, PE, SE
Project Manager - HNTB
Irsilia Colletti is a Project Manager and licensed structural and professional engineer in the Bridge Structures Department at HNTB. She has 14 years of experience in the industry ranging from small structures to river bridges. She graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and was selected as the Illinois Section Young Civil Engineer of the year in 2021.
CTA Harlem Bus Bridge Rehabilitation - Superstructure Replacement
Transportation to Transit. A bridge project that meets in between vertical and horizontal construction.
Hemal Patel, PE, SE & Bhushan Selvaraj, PhD President & - 10-4 Engineering, PLLC
Hemal Patel, PE, SE and Bhushan Selvaraj, PhD are structural engineers with 18 combined years of experience in bridge design and analysis. Their work has included highway ramps, river crossings, light-rail and freight railroad bridges in major infrastructure projects. Both Hemal and Bhushan are former students of Dr. Helwig at the University of Texas in Austin and have been fortunate to learn from his expertise in stability of steel girder bridges.
Pearl Presentation: Brace Yourself: The New Stability Bracing Requirements in AASHTO LRFD
Brace yourself! This presentation discusses the new stability bracing requirements introduced in the AASHTO LRFD 10th Edition for designing cross-frames and diaphragms. We break down the equations for ensuring adequate torsional stiffness and strength, explaining how they are derived from fundamental theory. Finally, we apply them to real world design scenarios and a bridge case study.
Dan Schriks PE SE
Sr. Structural Project Manager - Mead & Hunt
Dan Schriks is the Structural Group Manager for Mead & Hunt’s Midwest transportation structures practice. He leads bridge engineering teams and supports the delivery of complex highway bridge projects across the region, from early project development through final design and construction support. Dan brings experience in the design of major bridge components, project management, and advanced structural analysis. He recently completed graduate studies at Northwestern University focused on leadership and organizational design.
Pearl Presentation: Engineering Knowledge by Design — Smarter Sharing for Stronger Teams and Better Projects
In civil engineering, knowledge is more than a resource—it’s a strategic advantage. This session explores how intentional knowledge sharing between people and AI tools can improve project delivery, strengthen team collaboration, and preserve critical know-how. Join us to learn how smarter collaboration leads to better technical results in today’s hybrid, tech-driven workplace.
Mark Shaffer
Engineer of Bridge Design, Bureau of Bridges and Structures - Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Mark Shaffer serves as the Policy, Standards, and Final Plan Control Unit Chief in the Bureau of Bridges and Structures at the Illinois Department of Transportation. He has assisted with several IDOT-sponsored research projects administered by the Illinois Center for Transportation.
Mark chaired the Technical Review Panels for Projects R27-115, “Analysis of Superstructures of Integral Abutment Bridges,” and R27-070, “Seismic Performance of Quasi-Isolated Bridges in Illinois.”
Structural Investigation of H-Piles in Integral Abutment Bridges
This study investigates the structural response of steel H-piles commonly used in integral abutment bridge systems through a combined experimental and numerical approach. A comprehensive research program is underway to improve performance-based understanding and design of abutment–pile interaction in jointless (integral abutment) bridge systems. The outcome of this research will help IDOT update its standards on Integral Abutments.
Kamlesh Kumar, SE, PE
Senior Structural Engineer, Project Manager - EXP US Services Inc.
Kamlesh Kumar is a Senior Structural Engineer and Project Manager with EXP US Services. He has over 20 years of experience in engineering and technical management of transportation structures including highways, railways, mass transit, and movable bridges. He has led several projects involving analysis, design, inspection, load rating, and rehabilitation of simple and complex bridges in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Mr. Kumar is a licensed Structural Engineer in IL and Professional Engineer in several states.
Improving Structural Resilience: Rehab Strategies for I-55 Bridges over Meramec River
The I-55 Meramec River Bridge rehabilitation exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to preserving aging infrastructure through targeted improvements. By prioritizing hinge modifications, fatigue crack repairs, and jointless abutment conversions, the project addresses critical vulnerabilities while optimizing cost and constructability. These strategies, grounded in rigorous inspection data and best practices, offer valuable insights for similar rehabilitation efforts nationwide.
Meg Kindelin
President - JLK Architects
Meg Kindelin is the President of JLK Architects. She has studied and restored historic buildings and infrastructure for 27 years, including bascule bridges, steel and concrete fixed bridges, canals, aqueducts, locks, transit stations, and industrial buildings. She earned BS in Cultural Anthropology, MA in Architectural History, and MArch in Architectural Design. She’s a member of Association for Preservation Technology & founded the Chicago Big Shoulders Chapter of the Society for Industrial Archaeology.
A Bridge is Not a Building – Applying the SOI Standards to Working Historic Structures
This presentation will present a methodology to apply of The Secretary of the Interior Standards for Historic Preservation (the SOI Standards) to industrial structures and elements, especially projects where the working structure is itself the historic element, such as the trusses or trunnions of a bascule bridge. Approach will be demonstrated across several Bascule Bridge Projects in Chicago: Lake Street Bridge, Cortland Avenue Bridge, and the Calumet River Bridges.
Moira Kent
Resident Engineer, Project Manager - CDOT
Moira Kent is a civil engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Master of Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota. She has over 25 years of experience in construction and design management on Chicago Department of Transportation projects. She has been the CDOT Resident Engineer or Project Manager on numerous projects including the Lake Street Bascule Bridge, the Bloomingdale Trail, Wells Street Bascule Bridge, North Avenue Bridge over the North Branch, various bridges over Chicago Union Station, the first section of Chicago Riverwalk between Michigan Avenue and State Street and bascule bridge rehabilitation along the Chicago River including Jackson, Adams and Lake Shore Drive. In 2024, she performed the role of Acting Chief Bridge Engineer. Since 2025, when Arsalan Khan began the role of Chief Bridge Engineer, she has retained a large role in the planning and implementation of CDOT’s Bridge Program including the Calumet River Bridge program.
CDOT Bridge Program Update
Claire Heumann, PE, PEng, ENV SP
Project Engineer - Parsons
Claire Heumann is a project engineer, licensed in both the US and Canada. She has 15 years of experience working on bridge, maritime, and offshore projects. She currently serves as the Design-Construction Coordinator for the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project in Michigan and Ontario. She is responsible for communication among stakeholders, timely submittals, client requests, meetings, and hoping she can wrap it all up soon enough to get her kids to swim practice on time!
Collaboration Beyond Borders: An Owner’s Engineer Perspective from the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project
Discover how Parsons, as Owner’s Engineer on the $CDN 6.4 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge, is driving the successful delivery of one of North America’s most ambitious binational transportation megaprojects. This session showcases how innovative engineering, rigorous oversight, and collaborative project management are being applied to the largest cable-stayed bridge in North America and its state-of-the-art border facilities. Attendees will gain insight into proven best practices in project delivery and quality management that enhance trade, mobility, and long-term asset performance for both Canada and the United States.IL Rte 2 over the Rock River – Innovative Construction Engineering Practices and Bridge DeliveryIL Rte 2 over the Rock River – Innovative Construction Engineering Practices and Bridge DeliveryIL Rte 2 over the Rock River – Innovative Construction Engineering Practices and Bridge Delivery
Will Mardauss, PE, SE & John Schneider, PE
Chief Structural Bridge Engineer & Area Manager - Farnsworth Group, Civil Constructors (Helm)
Will Mardauss, PE, SE is a structural engineer with extensive experience in construction engineering and temporary works for complex bridge projects, including bridge sliding, cofferdams, demolition, and erection engineering.
John Schneider is a project manager with deep expertise in heavy highway construction across IDOT District 2, known for delivering complex projects through strategic planning, clear communication, and strong agency coordination from preconstruction through closeout.
IL Rte 2 over the Rock River – Innovative Construction Engineering Practices and Bridge Delivery
Replacement of the IL Route 2 bridge over the Rock River required innovative construction engineering to address limited river access, environmental constraints, and safety concerns. This presentation highlights the design and execution of a large-scale lateral bridge slide used to create a temporary work platform, along with supporting construction engineering for constrained cofferdams and deck pour re-sequencing. Emphasis is placed on real-world decision-making and collaboration between engineer and contractor to reduce risk and improve constructability.
Robert J. Connor, Ph.D.
Professor - Purdue University
Dr. Connor is the Jack and Kay Hockema Professor in Civil Engineering and Director of CAI and S-BRITE at Purdue University. He has 30 years of experience with bridge behavior, laboratory testing, field evaluation, inspection, long-term performance, design, and analytical modeling of steel bridges.
Development of a Simplified Methodology for Designing Tie Girders as Internally Redundancy Members
This presentation will review the results of a project initiated by FHWA at Purdue University to develop simplified yet robust, methodologies that accurately assess the internal redundancy of bolted-built-up tie girders. The ultimate goal was to provide AASHTO-ready specifications for engineers that could be directly incorporated into the IRM Guide Specifications. This presentation will review the research conducted and illustrate the specifications that are going to be proposed the AASHTO Steel and Metals Committee in 2026.
