SEAOI upcoming events

2025-2026 SE Exam Refresher Course (September 15, 2025)

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 06:00:00 GMT

2025-2026 SE EXAM REFRESHER COURSE

Live Instruction (via Zoom): September 15, 2025 - March 30, 2026
Mondays and Thursdays, 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM Central
View Full Course Schedule 2025 - 2026

Course Highlights

The SEAOI SE Exam Refresher Course is the longest-running, most comprehensive review of structural engineering principles and applications to prepare candidates for the NCEES SE Exam.

100% Online

Live Stream and On-Demand - Flexible learning options to fit your schedule

Highly experienced instructors with backgrounds in practice and academia

48 Sessions Covering 7 Content Areas - Steel | Concrete | Bridge | Masonry | Wood | Design Loads (Seismic/Wind/Snow) | Geotechnical

Over 80 Hours of Instruction Time

20 Dedicated Instructor Office Hours - Personalized support to address your questions

Lateral only sessions available - See schedule for details

Content Available for Two Years - Includes all recorded sessions and course materials

Additional Tips & Tricks Session - Including computer-based testing (CBT) insights Check out the one for 2025 here!

Licensed engineers can also register for one or more content areas and receive continuing education credits for each hour of class.

More about the SE Exam Refresher Course

We Hear You!

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback regarding their experience talking the new NCEES computer-based test (CBT) – we’re continuing to monitor the situation and provide feedback to NCEES and the Illinois SE Board. In light of the recent changes to the SE Exam and the user experience, we understand that providing support to those taking the exam is more vital than ever before. We have made the following changes to our SE Exam Refresher Course, effective immediately:

Registrants will have access to all course materials (recorded and live) for two years from date of purchase.
Registrants who do not pass the full SE Exam will be able to re-enroll for the SE Exam Refresher Course at no cost within one month of receiving notification from NCEES.

Please contact Staff@SEAOI.org with any questions, or if you would like instructions on how to re-enroll for the course.

NCEES PE STRUCTURAL EXAM WEBINAR - 10/22/25

NCEES PE Structural exam presentation (PDF)

Sample Session Videos

Check out these samples of the course experience!

Course Registration

	Members	Non-Members
Full Course	$1680	$1880
Lateral Only Sessions*	$840	$940

*For all sections. Not available for individual section purchase

Current members of other SEAs receive SEAOI Member pricing - use the SEA Registration option.

Corporate Rate: Contact staff@SEAOI.org for pricing if two or more employees will take the course.

INDIVIDUAL SECTION REGISTRATION

Each subject area of the Refresher Course is available as a stand-alone purchase; pricing for each section is based on the number of sessions:

	Member	Non-Member
Steel - 8 sessions	$360	$560
Concrete - 8 sessions	$360	$560
Bridge - 7 sessions	$315	$490
Masonry - 5 sessions	$225	$350
Wood - 6 sessions	$270	$420
Design Loads - 11 sessions	$495	$770
Geotechnical - 3 sessions	$135	$228

Contact SEAOI if you are interested in registering for one or more content areas only.

CE CREDIT

CE credit is calculated based on the time the course meets. Each class session is scheduled to offer 1.75 hours of content and certificates will be issued at the completion of each section.

Testimonials

"Just wanted to give you all a quick update that I passed the SE this October!!!! I appreciate all of your efforts in delivering a wonderful resource, and I... consider SEAoI to be a huge part of my success!"

"I'm very happy with the course. Not only did I learn a lot, it also helped me build discipline in studying and staying on track."

"This course was extremely valuable to my preparation. The instructors were very knowledgeable and always willing to help answer questions."

"All the instructors were very knowledgeable, had excellent presentation slides, and gave excellent detailed examples to really illustrate how to understand and to do calculations."

Rebuilding Together 2026 (April 25, 2026)

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:45:00 GMT

Call for Volunteers – National Rebuilding Day

Saturday April 25, 2026 – 7:45am to 2:30pm

Join us for Rebuilding Together 2026!

SEAOI is proud to partner with the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) for Rebuilding Together, and National Rebuilding Day is quickly approaching! Rebuilding Together is a national organization dedicated to community revitalization where volunteers join forces to fix up homes that have fallen into disrepair due to lack of resources and/or abilities of the homeowners.

On National Rebuilding Day, Saturday, April 25th, we will be joining hundreds of organizations across the city and across the country in “rebuilding” homes. This year, our team is rebuilding the home of Ms. B. Celebrating 49 years in her home, Ms. B has been a long time Maywood resident building a lasting community with her neighbors. Our goal is to make her home more accessible as the 50th anniversary of her home approaches.

We have one day to accomplish our work scope and would love your help! Everyone is invited to participate, even if you are inexperienced with home repairs, there will be a project for you to help with. Our work scope may include some of the following repairs:

Replace exterior knobs and deadbolts
Install new sweeps on storm doors
Install new refrigerator
Seal cabinet openings
Add pulls to cabinets and drawers
Install grab bars and raised toilet seat
Remount stair railing and repair loose step
Replace basement light fixtures
Install doorbell, railings, detectors, and house number

Volunteers will need to carpool and/or provide their own transportation. To respect the homeowner’s privacy, the exact address of the home will be emailed out before the event to those who sign up. Lunch will be provided and all volunteers will receive a Rebuilding Together t-shirt when they arrive to wear on National Rebuilding Day.

Schedule for the Day:

· 8:00 AM – Volunteers arrive, work day begins at the home (House Captains will be on site before you arrive). Team meeting and safety briefing.

· 12:00 PM – Lunch will be provided at the house.

· 2:00 PM-3:00 PM – Project wrap-up, Volunteers leave.

Family members, friends, and significant others are welcome to join on National Rebuilding Day, but ALL VOLUNTEERS must be registered with both Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago (RTMC) and SEAOI by April 1st 2026. Please complete the volunteer registration steps to ensure you receive a lunch and t-shirt of the correct size:

Register with SEAOI through this event page
Register with RTMC through the Volunteer Organization page https://rtmetrochicago.my.salesforce-sites.com/rtsp__NP_PersonalSiteJobListing
Under “AISC/SEAOI NRD2026”, click “sign up”
Enter the requested information to complete registration (under “Role”, select “General Volunteer”).

Please reach out to Eric Fleet (etfleet@sgh.com) with any questions, or if you are willing to help carpool volunteers.

Looking forward to National Rebuilding Day!

SEAOI YEC Happy Hour (April 30, 2026)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:00:00 GMT

The Young Engineers Committee (YEC) is hosting a Happy Hour to celebrate everyone who recently sat for the PE and SE exams—congratulations on the hard work and dedication!

Join us at The Franklin Tap from 5:00 to 6:30 PM for complimentary appetizers, with drinks available for purchase. Come unwind, connect, and celebrate with fellow engineers.

For sponsors: For $200 per sponsor ticket, the sponsor's logo will be showcased during the Happy Hour on each table and will get a shout out during the event.

Location & Time

The Franklin Tap
325 S Franklin St.
Chicago, IL 60606

April 30th, 5:00-6:30 pm

Registration

Tickets are free for SEAOI members and non-members.

Sponsorship tickets are $200.

Any questions, email staff@seaoi.org.

SEAOI Special Awards Nominations Due (May 01, 2026)

Fri, 01 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

SEAOI Special Awards

SEAOI Awards Nominations are open, and due May 1, 2026!

Nominate your colleague, peer, or yourself for the John Parmer, SEAOI Service, Excellence in Engagement or Outstanding Young Engineer Award!

The John F. Parmer Award is presented to a structural engineer in recognition of outstanding lifelong contributions in the field of structural engineering. This award is presented jointly by SEAOI and the Structural Engineers Foundation. The candidate must be an individual whose distinguished career is acknowledged by his or her peers to be an example of excellence.

The SEAOI Service Award is given by SEAOI to a distinguished individual, whose involvement and career services in design, construction, education, or business related to structural engineering, has made a significant contribution to the advancement and the recognition of the role of structural engineers. The candidate must be active in his or her field or retired for not more than two years.

The Outstanding Young Engineer Award will be awarded to practicing structural engineers aged 35 or younger (as of the date of the awards banquet) who are recognized by colleagues for his/her outstanding achievements in structural engineering.

The SEAOI Excellence in Engagement Award was established in 2019 to recognize individuals striving to improve engagement of current and/or future structural engineers. SEAOI is committed to improving engagement among our members and within the structural engineering community, and we wish to formally recognize others also committed to this pursuit

All entries must be received by Friday, May 1, 2026

The award recipients will be recognized during the

2026 Annual Celebration!

Any questions, email staff@seaoi.org.

May 2026 Dinner Meeting - Finalists Present (May 05, 2026)

Tue, 05 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Finalists Present

Please join us on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, as the Finalists for the Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards make their presentations to our panel of distinguished judges. This event will carry approximately 2.0 hours of continuing education credit, and CE certificates will be emailed to all attendees within a week after the event.

Program

5:00 - 6:00pm Cocktail Hour

6:00 – 8:00 pm

6:00 pm Welcome

Jennie Traut-Todaro (Chair of Awards Committee)

Brad Fletcher, Atlas Tube (Sponsor)

6:05 Presentations

1. Lakewood Welcome Center - Lee Fritz, Meyer Borgman Johnson

2. Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation - Helen Torres, Helen Torres & Associates, PLLC

3. Women’s Leadership Center - Rachel Jackson, Thornton Tomasetti

4. Thomas & Vivian Wong Honor Tower - Paul Endres, Endrestudio

5. Seattle House - Mark Whitely, CKC Structural Engineers

6. Buckled but Not Broken - Bill Ipema, Klein & Hoffman

7. Theodore Roosevelt Library - Ron Klemencic, Magnusson Klemencic Associates

8. Health Science Building - Nolan Mikkila, Rubinos & Meisa

9. SANY IROOTECH HQ - Rupa Garai, Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill

10. Heartland Net Zero Agriculture Complex - John Miller, Nayyar & Nayyar

11. Waubonsee Community College Tech Ed Ctr - Alyssa Fee, IMEG Consultants Corp.

12. UIUC C7 C10 Parking Structure Rehabilitation - Diego Romero, Walker Consultants

13. Spelman College: The Mary Schmidt Campbell Center for Innovation and the Arts - Nate Sosin, Thornton Tomasetti

14. HUB Chauncey - Chris Arjona, SR+A

15. Canal St Viaduct - Anastasia Kotsakis, Collins Engineers

16. 517 Main - John Bodelt, Forefront Structural Engineers, Inc.

17. Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel - Ron Mirahsan, CKC Structural Engineers

7:30 Thank you - Jennie Traut-Todaro

Location

Cliff Dwellers Club
200 S. Michigan Ave, 22nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60604

Menu

Caesar Salad
Choice of Entrée
- Filet Mignon, Mushroom Cap, Merlot Sauce
- Sautéed Lemon Sole with Lobster Sauce
- Ratatouille (vegan/gluten free)
Raspberry Cheesecake

The signature cocktail: Atlas Hub Highball

Thanks to our Judges!

Structural Engineering Judge
Steven Elver, PE, SE
Senior Consultant -GEI Consultants

Construction Judge
Eric Dexter
Senior Vice President, Restoration Division- Berglund Construction

Architecture Judge
Kelly Moynihan, AIA, NCARB, WELL AP, LFA, CPHC. LEED Green Assoc., Fitwel Amb. Principal, Nurture
President- AIA Chicago

Media Judge
Alfred T. Spada
CEO & Executive Director - National Council of Structural Engineers Associations

Government Judge
Dane S. Rankin, PE, SE
Chief Structural Engineer, Codes and Standards - International Code Council

Academia Judge
Thomas Leslie, FAIA
Ralph E. Johnson Professor of Design - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Registration

In Person: Member - $100; Non-Member - $150
Live Streaming: Member - $40; Non-Member - $65

Registration for in-person attendance closes Friday, May 1st at 3 pm.

Registration for online attendance closes Monday, May 4th at 3 pm.

Contact staff@seaoi.org to inquire about registration after the above dates, though note that registration is not guaranteed.

THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSOR,

ATLAS TUBE

Each attendee receives one free drink of their choice!

SEAOI YMG Speed Mentoring (May 13, 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Join SEAOI YMG Speed mentoring, this event is for young professionals that are interested to learn from senior professionals about what their career journey is. Young Professionals will have time to ask questions to mentors. Mentors who volunteer will speak about their experience and help younger engineers understand what they need to focus on to have a successful career path.

Schedule

5-5:30pm Networking Hour

6-6:30pm Introductions

6:30-7:30pm Roundtable Speed Mentoring

60 minutes- (Each Mentor will have 3 young professionals to speak with for 10 minutes)

Location

EXP Chicago Office
205 N Michigan Ave,
Chicago, IL 60601

Registration

Limited Space Available! Please sign up by April 15th.

This event is FREE for everyone!

Innovations Series - Particle Packing Factor (PPF): A Quantitative Parameter for Designing Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) (May 27, 2026)

Wed, 27 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Innovations series

Particle Packing Factor (PPF): A Quantitative Parameter for Designing Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC)

Ultra‑High Performance Concrete (UHPC) delivers exceptional strength and durability, but widely used UHPC systems are often proprietary and prone to high autogenous/drying shrinkage due to very low water‑to‑binder ratios and high binder contents. This webinar introduces a practical, nonproprietary mixture design framework based on particle packing morphology. Using a multi‑binder system (cement + silica fume + ultra‑fine fly ash + slag) and multiple sand gradations, we define a Particle Packing Factor (PPF) derived from composite particle size distributions and packing curve fitting. We show how PPF links to workability (flow normalized by HRWR demand), strength development (3–28 days), open porosity, and drying shrinkage, enabling rational selection of constituent combinations that meet performance targets (e.g., IDOT shrinkage limits) while reducing costs through cement reduction.

Learning Objectives

Define UHPC key performance attributes and explain why multi‑binder, non-proprietary UHPC designs require a packing‑based design metric.
Compute and interpret a Particle Packing Factor (PPF) from constituent particle size distributions and relate PF to flow/HRWR, strength, and open porosity trends.
Apply PPF‑based insights to select binder and aggregate gradations that reduce drying shrinkage while maintaining target mechanical performance for Illinois use cases.

1 hr CE credit

Registration

This is a virtual event on Zoom. All registrants MUST have a free Zoom account to access the webinar and must register with Zoom to receive the link.

Members - Free!
SEA Members - Free!
Nonmembers - $40

Event registration closes 30 minutes before the webinar starts.

About the Speaker

Nishant Garg
Associate Professor - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Nishant Garg is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining Illinois in 2018, he completed his postdoctoral research at Princeton University from 2016 to 2018 and earned his Ph.D. in Nanoscience from Aarhus University, Denmark, in 2015.

At Illinois, his research group focuses on the chemistry of construction materials using advanced characterization techniques. He has pioneered novel methods that accelerate and automate testing of cement-based materials, reducing test durations from several days to a few minutes.

His research efforts have been recognized by numerous awards, including the 2021 ‘Stephen Brunauer Award’ and 2025 ‘Early Career Award’ from the American Ceramic Society, and the 2025 ‘Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research’ at Illinois.

USCG Bridge Program (June 23, 2026)

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

USCG Bridge Program

New Date!

June 23rd, 2026

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) will provide an overview of the Coast Guard Bridge program covering the mission to ensure safe vessel passage under/through bridges over navigable U.S. waters, regulatory authority, and the four core functional areas: permitting regulation, monitoring, and construction.

Note that this presentation will not be recorded.

Specific Topics Include:

USCG Bridge Program 101
Navigation Impact Report/ Preliminary Navigation Clearance Determination
USACE Sections 404 and 408
USCG Permit Application Walkthrough
USCG Plan Sheets
Project timeline development
Post Permit coordination/completion reports/lighting

Learning Objectives

Understand the mission, scope, and regulatory authority of the Office of Bridge Program.
Describe the key steps and requirements involved in applying for a bridge permit.
Recognize how navigation impacts, clearance determinations, and other vessel related concerns influence bridge design and permit approval.
Outline the typical project timeline and stakeholder coordination (including other federal agencies, environmental reviews, and public notices) for a bridge project under USCG jurisdiction.
Identify situations when exemptions might apply (or when liaison with other agencies, such as highway authorities, is required) under the regulatory process.

CE Credit: 5.5 hours

Registration

This event is IN PERSON only.

Location

Follow The Directions For Student Center East:

Student Center East
750 South Halsted Street
Chicago‚ Illinois 60607

Registration

Early Bird Member- $225
Early Bird Nonmember- $325

Receive $50 off both Member and Nonmember ticket prices if you buy in a group of 5 people or more. Email staff@seaoi.org to arrange.

About the Speakers

Crystal Tucker, CIV USCG COMDT
Bridge Management Specialist, USCG

Crystal Tucker is a seasoned professional with over two decades of dedicated service in the U.S. Coast Guard, from which she retired in September 2020. Following her distinguished military career, she transitioned to the federal service, joining the Coast Guard Bridge Program.

Initially, Crystal served as a Bridge Management Specialist for the Coast Guard East District in Portsmouth, VA. In this role, she honed her skills in regulatory compliance and stakeholder engagement, working extensively with state, local, and federal agencies on matters of bridge regulation, inspection, maintenance, and permitting.

In 2023, she transferred to Coast Guard Headquarters, where she continues to apply her project management expertise to update and provide guidance on the bridge program, as well as to review district permit packages. Currently, she is filling in for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) liaison, a position that relies heavily on her skills in interagency coordination to ensure seamless communications and processes for infrastructure projects involving bridges over navigable U.S. waters.