SEAOI upcoming events

2026-2027 SE Exam Refresher Course (September 10, 2026)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

2026-2027 SE EXAM REFRESHER COURSE

Live Instruction (via Zoom): September 10, 2026 - March 29, 2027
Mondays and Thursdays, 6:00 PM – 7:45 PM Central
View Full Course Schedule 2026 - 2027

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

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

Over 84 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 non-Illinois SEAs receive SEAOI Member pricing - use the SEA Registration option and say which state's SEA you belong to.

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 - 8 sessions	$360	$560
Masonry - 5 sessions	$270	$420
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."

Ethics for Engineers 2026 (November 05, 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Ethics For Engineers

Structural engineers face ethical challenges all the time. This presentation on ethics will assist the structural engineer in learning what state laws require for ethical practice not only in Illinois but for professional engineers in Wisconsin and Indiana.

The seminar will provide 2 hours of continuing education credit. CE certificates will be emailed to participants after the course.

Course materials will be provided electronically.

This course will be recorded and all attendees will receive a copy of the recording, along with a quiz for 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: $60

SEA Members: $60

Nonmembers: $120

Event registration closes 30 minutes before the webinar starts.

About the Speaker

Michael Sever
Foran Glennon
A partner in the firm, Michael Sever concentrates his practice in commercial litigation, construction litigation, casualty litigation, subrogation, products liability and professional liability defense. He has represented companies and professionals in areas involving construction negligence, contract enforcement, trucking accidents, premises liability and personal injury defense. He has drafted, argued and won numerous dispositive motions in jurisdictions across the Midwest.

Michael has been honored on the Best Lawyers list since 2025 for his work in Commercial Litigation and was previously named to the organization’s Ones to Watch list in 2023 for his work in Construction Litigation.

SEF Fall Lecture 2026 (November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 23:00:00 GMT

From Pause to Progress: Engineering the Return of Jeddah Tower

Note: This presentation will not be recorded.

Courtesy Saudi Binladin Group

Using Jeddah Tower—the world’s first skypiercer—as a case study, this presentation examines the challenges of restarting building construction after a several year pause. It covers all the necessary considerations involved in a restart including an as-built condition assessment, structural performance assumptions, updated testing, construction methods, and constructability reviews, with emphasis on integrating revised information into analysis, design, and delivery.

Learning Objectives

Identify the principal technical and decision making challenges involved in restarting construction from an in-place/as-built condition after a prolonged pause.
Explain how a restart can affect structural performance assumptions, including stiffness, dynamic behavior, wind response, creep and shrinkage, and vertical compensation.
Recognize practical strategies for integrating updated testing, construction methods, and constructability reviews into the analysis and delivery of the world's first skypiercer.

1.0 CE Credit (Please note CE Certificates will be emailed ONE WEEK after the event)

Location

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

Complimentary appetizers available: 5 – 6 pm
Presentation time: 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Registration

This event is FREE, and will be both in-person as well as live-streamed. You must RSVP in order to attend, whether online or in person.

Online registration closes 30 minutes before the in person event starts.

In person registration has reached capacity - if you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email Staff@SEAOI.org.

About the Speaker

Jerome "JJ" Tobolski
Principal, Thorton Tomasetti

Jerome (JJ) Tobolski is a Principal at Thornton Tomasetti specializing in tall and complex building design. He has contributed to high profile tower projects around the world including the World Expo 2020 Centerpiece Venue in Dubai and projects domestically like The Row in Fulton Market. His work focuses on developing innovative, efficient, and constructible structural solutions for complex building geometries. Jerome is a licensed Professional Engineer and Structural Engineer in the United States, a Chartered Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers, and LEED AP BD+C certified.

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS!

THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSOR for this lecture:

Innovation Series: Ground Improvement for Structural Engineers (November 12, 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Innovation Series:
Ground Improvement for Structural Engineers

Keller presents ground improvement solutions which are being utilized in current geotechnical constructions. This presentation will highlight how Keller designs and installs Aggregate Piers and Rigid Inclusions and ensure they are adequately constructed. The presenters will also bring a couple of common topics that Keller engineers and project managers often discuss with structural engineers.

Learning Objectives

Identity appropriate ground improvement techniques for given ground conditions and structural requirements.
Determine appropriate load conditions for optimum ground improvement design.
Understand ground improvement interaction with structural requirement.

1.0 hours of CE Credit

(Please note CE Certificates will be emailed ONE WEEK after the event)

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.

Event registration closes 30 minutes before the webinar starts.

Members: Free!

Nonmembers: $60

Current Members of SEAs other than Illinois are always given SEAOI member rates. You will be asked for the state SEA you are a member of at registration.

About the presenter

Sihyun Kim, PhD, PE
Engineering Manager, Keller North America

10+ year of combined academic and industry experience. Sihyun has served as Engineering Manager for Keller, leading design efforts across diverse project types in the private, public, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Sihyun holds PhD and MS in Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and Professional Engineer licenses in multiple States.

Mark T. Howe, PE, JD
Pre-Construction Manager, Keller North America

10+ year of design-build geotechnical contracting. Mark has served as Project Manager and Pre-Construction Manager for Keller, working with Consultants, Owners, and Contractors to develop geotechnical solutions to a wide range of challenges. Mark holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Missouri.

Human–AI Agent Collaboration in Structural Engineering and Code Development (November 17, 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Human–AI Agent Collaboration in Structural Engineering and Code Development

Note: This presentation will not be recorded.

AI agents are large language model systems that plan multistep tasks and execute them using external tools. In structural engineering, these systems can now complete analyses that previously required days/weeks of specialist effort, such as deriving design expressions or computing collapse loads.

This talk examines what these capabilities mean for tackling long-standing problems and for the development and maintenance of building codes. The talk first reviews how agents are being used in structural engineering design workflows. Then, we present case studies from our group in which a lead AI agent orchestrates subordinate agents to derive and verify solutions to structural mechanics problems, while an independent agent audits the resulting claims. These cases include simulation-free analyses of RC columns under fire conditions and a mechanics-based model for the shear strength of steel- and FRP-strengthened beams. Building on these results, the talk outlines how AI agents could support code committees. The talk also covers current limitations of agents in this setting, including fabricated references and unverified numerical output. Accountability and licensure questions are addressed with attention to how agent-generated evidence could enter a consensus standards process. The talk closes with a proposed framework in which agents generate and verify technical evidence while engineers and committees retain responsibility for adoption.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe how AI agents plan and execute multistep structural engineering tasks, including the roles of lead, subordinate, and independent audit agents in a verification workflow.

2. Evaluate the reliability of agent-generated structural analyses by distinguishing certified two-sided bounds from unverified numerical estimates and by identifying common failure modes such as fabricated references.

3. Explain how AI agents can support building code development by tracing the technical basis of existing provisions and checking proposed changes against test data, while engineers and code committees retain responsibility for adoption.

1 hr of CE Credit

CE certificates are emailed out one week after the presentation to give time to verify attendance time.

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 - $45
SEA Members - $45
Nonmembers - $65

Event registration closes 30 minutes before the webinar starts.

About the Speaker

M.Z. Naser
Associate Professor, Clemson University

M.Z. Naser is an associate professor at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences & a member of the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute for Science and Engineering (AIRISE) at Clemson University. At the moment, my research group is creating Causal & eXplainable machine learning methodologies to discover new knowledge hidden within systems belonging to the domains of Structural engineering and Materials science to help us realize functional, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure. Much of my current projects cover the areas of structural & fire engineering, tailoring properties of construction materials, and retrofitting of aging structures. I am humbled to serve as the chair of the ASCE Advances in Technology committee and be among the top 2% of highly cited scientists worldwide, according to the Elsevier-Stanford study (since 2022 - now).

December 2026 Dinner Meeting (December 01, 2026)

Tue, 01 Dec 2026 23:00:00 GMT

NASA's Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2): Connections Built to Launch

This presentation examines the unique structural challenges encountered in NASA's Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) and the pivotal role cast steel connections played in integrating large hollow structural section (HSS) members within one of the world's most demanding launch support structures. Faced with extreme loading conditions and stringent weight restrictions, the project demanded innovative connection solutions beyond traditional fabricated steel approaches.

Attendees will gain insight into engineering and constructability considerations associated with connecting HSS members in this critical aerospace application, as well as how steel castings helped achieve demanding requirements for strength, durability, and precision. Through this ML2 case study, the presentation will demonstrate how cast steel connections reduced overall steel tonnage, enhanced structural performance, and introduced modular solutions while improving tolerance.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the value of combining cast steel technology with HSS construction and the opportunities for addressing complex design and constructability challenges.

Learning Objectives

Describe the structural challenges associated with the Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) tower and the role of cast steel nodes in addressing complex load paths and connection geometries.
Explain how custom designed cast steel nodes and flange fittings simplified the fabrication and erection of the modular assemblies of the tower when compared to conventionally fabricated steel connections.
Assess the impact of steel castings on strength, stiffness, weight, constructability, and overall performance of complex structural steel connections.

(Please note CE Certificates will be emailed ONE WEEK after the event)

Location

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

Menu

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Grilled Chicken Piccata with Lemon Caper Sauce

Hot Apple Tart

Cocktail hour: 5 – 6 pm

Presentation and dinner time: 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Registration

In Person: Member - $75; Non-Member - $115
Live Streaming: Member - $35; Non-Member - $50

Deadline for In Person registration: 11/24/2026 at noon.

About the Speaker

Jacinda Collins, PE, LEED Green Associate
Engineer, Technical Sales,Technical Content Lead, CAST CONNEX

Jacinda Collins, is the Technical Sales Engineer + Technical Content Lead for CAST CONNEX. She provides cast steel connection solutions and architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS) guidance for the design and construction community. She is also responsible for the development and quality control of technical content that educates and influences national and international audiences about CAST CONNEX products and services.

Jacinda previously worked as a Senior Structural Steel Specialist at the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and as a Forensic Graduate Engineer for HDR, Inc. She earned her BS in Architectural Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and is a licensed engineer in the state of Texas.

She is a former chair of the Marketing & Communications Committee and member of the Board of Directors for the Washington Building Congress (WBC). She served as an active member of the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI) Young Engineers Committee, and she is currently highly involved with the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) and serves as the SEAoNY Delegate for the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA).

THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSOR for this dinner meeting: