Dear SEAOI Members,

Last Thursday, architects, engineers, contractors, and friends of the AEC industry gathered for a screening of Engineers at Ground Zero, a documentary film produced by the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY). The film highlights the crucial yet often overlooked role that structural engineers played at the World Trade Center site following the attacks. Serving as “second responders,” structural engineers worked alongside firefighters and rescue teams to stabilize damaged buildings, assess safety, and prevent further catastrophe in Lower Manhattan.

We were fortunate to be joined by Ed DePaola, a founding member of SEAoNY and president of the organization on 9/11. Ed’s personal anecdotes of that day and the months that followed elevated the evening and inspired several thoughtful questions from the audience. If you were unable to join us, the film is now available for online streaming. I encourage you to view it with your family and friends.

As we transition into October, we have several events that may be of interest to you.

Our October Dinner Meeting on October 6th will explore the particularly complex challenges encountered during the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital Kamin Bed Tower expansion and highlight practical lessons learned and strategies that can inform future healthcare projects with similar complexities.

The SE Exam Refresher Course is in full swing. Topics cover steel, concrete, masonry, wood, geotechnical, bridge, and design loads, with each topic available as a standalone purchase. As a former attendee of the course, I can personally attest that it helped me pass the exam. Since I took the course in 2012, many important changes have been made to ensure that it remains one of the best in the industry.

Our Tips and Tricks to Passing the CBT SE Exam virtual event on October 8th is also invaluable, especially for first-time test takers. This panel discussion is provided free to members and non-members alike. Be sure to submit your questions ahead of time!

If you’re licensed in Illinois, you should know that licensure renewal with IDFPR requires a minimum of one hour of Sexual Harassment Prevention Training. SEAOI is pleased to offer this training at no cost to our members on October 13th.

Finally, YEC is hosting a shop tour of Chicago Metal Rolled Products on October 15th. Although registration is full, you can still join the waitlist. If there is enough interest, a second tour will be planned for a later date. When I attended my first shop tour as a young engineer, I was surprised to learn just how much I didn’t know. Understanding how raw materials are manufactured and fabricated is important in helping us make better decisions as structural engineers.

With so many opportunities to connect in the next month, I do hope SEAOI will see U soon!

With purpose,

Michelle Ryland, SE, RA

SEAOI President