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March 2026 
President's Message
Last month I ran a small experiment in this column and asked people to email me if they actually read the newsletter. To my surprise, quite a few of you did! So this is me waving to the readers who made it this far.
I should also apologize if you didn’t receive a response. I pulled the classic “send the email and run” maneuver. Shortly after sending the newsletter I dashed off to Barcelona for a week, leaving everyone who kindly responded to receive nothing but a cheerful out-of-office reply. When I returned there were miles of emails to sort through, so please accept my sincere apologies if I didn’t manage to respond personally.
Speaking of Barcelona, I think I have found a new favorite structure: the Sagrada Família. What an extraordinary piece of architecture. Of course, the structural engineer in me couldn’t help but spend a good portion of the visit wondering about the engineering behind it. I suspect many of you would do the same. The project began in 1882 and construction is still ongoing—2026 marks 100 years since Antoni Gaudí’s death—and yet the building continues to evolve. I’m reassured to know that the more recent phases of construction are analyzed using modern engineering tools and designed to current codes, with hidden reinforcement and structural systems working alongside Gaudí’s remarkable geometry. It may be the ultimate example of a “long duration” construction project.
Back closer to home, we had a busy February for SEAOCC.
Our February dinner meeting, focused on snow load failures, was very well attended. Speakers Lisa Hartley and Doug Gadow shared valuable lessons learned from real-world failures and design pitfalls. Even for those of us who don’t design for snow every day in California, the discussion was a great reminder of how critical load path understanding and detailing are in preventing catastrophic failures.
On February 26, a group of us visited the Simpson Strong-Tie Stockton laboratory and manufacturing facility. If you haven’t had the chance to see it, the scale and testing capabilities are impressive. It’s always fascinating to see the research, product development, and testing that support the hardware we specify so routinely in our designs. A big thank you to Wendy Allen for helping coordinate this tour and to the Simpson team for hosting us.
Looking ahead, it’s time to start thinking about the SEE Awards. The submission portal is now live on the SEAOCC website, and the deadline to submit projects is April 10. This is always one of my favorite events of the year because it gives us a chance to showcase the incredible work being done by engineers across our region. If your firm completed a project you’re proud of this year, I strongly encourage you to submit it.
Thank you to everyone who continues to participate in SEAOCC events, volunteer their time, and help build our community of structural engineers.
Happy March, and I hope to see many of you at an upcoming meeting soon.
Sonia Eliseo
SEAOCC President
SEAOCC ByLaws
To the Structural Engineers Association of Central California membership:
In April, we will be asking our voting-eligible members to participate in an important vote to ratify Board of Director proposed updates to our Association bylaws. Voting eligible members are those with the grade of Member or Member SE.
Background
Our current bylaws have not been updated since 2013, and they no longer fully reflect how our organization and profession operate today. Over the past 13 years, both our industry practices and the day-to-day operations of our Association have evolved significantly. As a result, portions of the bylaws are now out of date for a variety of logistical and practical reasons.
The proposed updates are intended to modernize the bylaws by:
- Updating outdated language so it better reflects our full membership
- Revising references to how we conduct business and communicate, recognizing that many of our events are now hybrid and that our communications are conducted electronically rather than by mail
- Aligning the bylaws with the current procedures and practices of both the profession and our organization
- Clarify our organization’s connection to the Structural Engineers Association of California and the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations
- Clarify the roles and responsibilities of our members, our committees, and our Board of Directors
An email will be sent on Tuesday, April 14 to all voting-eligible members with a link to complete the vote. Voting will remain open until April 28.
Your Vote Is Essential
For these bylaw changes to be ratified, at least one-third of all voting-eligible members must cast a vote. That means participation is critical. Even if you support the proposed changes, they cannot be approved unless enough eligible members respond.
Please watch for the email on April 14 and make every effort to submit your vote before April 28.
Your participation will help ensure that SEAOCC’s bylaws accurately reflect who we are today and support how we will operate in the future.
Thank you for your time, your engagement, and your support of the Association. If you have any questions, please contact any member of the Board of Directors or the Bylaws Committee.
Laura Rice, SE
Associate Principal
Calendar of Events
Future Meetings
SEAOCC March 26, 2026 YMF Bowling event
March 26, 2026
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Capitol Bowl
900 W Capitol Ave
West Sacramento, CA 95691
SEAOCC March 26, 2026 YMF Bowling event
SEE Awards Application
April 10, 2026
8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
NA
SEE Awards Application
SEAOCC Annual Golf Tournament May 14, 2026
May 14, 2026
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Teal Bend Golf Club
7200 Garden Highway
Sacramento, CA 95837
Venue website
SEAOCC Annual Golf Tournament May 14, 2026
SEAOC Convention August 26 to August 28, 2026
August 26, 2026
12:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Grand Hyatt Scottsdale
7500 E Doubletree Ranch Road
Scottsdale , AZ 85258
SEAOC Convention August 26 to August 28, 2026
Sponsorships
Opportunities for SE firm and industry sponsorships for 2026 is now open for both renewals and new signups online. We offer three annual sponsorship levels for both SE firms and industry sponsors, as well as customizable a la carte sponsorships. For details on renewals, signups, and the benefits included in each sponsorship category, please visit the website at Structural Engineers Association of Central CA - SEAOCC Sponsor Information
Attention 2025 sponsors: those who do not review by the next newsletter publication in early March will have their sponsorship logos removed from the newsletter and website at that time. Thank you to those who have already renewed!
Welcome New Members
New Members Posted Members March 10, 2026
Sarah Outzen, Henkel - Industry
Jonathan Kotyakov, Heavenly Coffee - Student
Taneil Evans, Structuary Engineering, Inc. - Member
New Members Approved Members
Nathan Tourtellotte, Malcolm Drilling - Associate
Alexander Daddow, FD Thomas - Member
New Posted Members and Approved Members are posted to the SEAOCC website after the board meetings.
SEAOC News
2026 SEAOC Pathways Cohort
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network with colleagues and practicing professionals throughout the state of California
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learn key issues impacting the SE profession, including the need to improve workforce equity and diversity
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meet trade representatives who may assist them in future practice
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help shape the future of Structural Engineering in California
Committee Reports
Structural Standards Chair – Update
Roy Lobo
The Structural Standards Committee (SSC) provides a forum through which the five SEAOC Technical Committees (Existing Buildings, Resilience, Seismology, Sustainable Design, and Wind) and the MOs develop consensus positions on the content of provisions contained in building codes and national consensus standards that affect structural engineering practice in California. This year all the technical committees have been very active reviewing and/or developing and ballot proposals that could result in changes to the model codes including IBC, HSBC, EBC, CALGreen, and ASCE 7.
The SEAOC Seismology committee (Chair: Gabrial Acero) was very active reviewing ballot proposals from the BSSC Provisions Update Committee (BSSC PUC) and provided valuable feedback on the proposals. Ballots passing the PUC are then balloted in the ASCE 7 Seismic Subcommittee and if successful, are passed to the ASCE 7 Main Committee for voting. Passed ballots are then incorporated into the next revision of ASCE. Ballot proposals varied from design methodologies, ground motions, material standards, and functional recovery. Even with shortened review timeframes, the seismology committee through its seismology committee MOs provided valuable comments and feedback which was relayed back to the PUC for adjudication.
An ad-hoc committee of the Seismology committee, Seismic Isolation and Energy Dissipation (SIED) committee has been working on a design guide for a few years and are in the final stages of development. A published version is expected to be available to the membership by the convention in Arizona.
The SEAOC Existing Buildings Committee (Chair: Russell McLellan) is looking at proposed changes to the California Historic Building Code. They are reviewing potential ballot proposals related to recommended CHBC change proposals related to use and implementation of ASCE-41 within the CHBC. The committee is also looking at reviewing and updating past change proposals submitted to the CEBC which did not make it into the code in the last cycle.
The SEAOC wind committee (Chair: Meaghan Halligan) is proposing a series of webinars this year to inform the membership on several topics related to wind. These range from wind damage to structures, cladding and components, and an inside look at wind tunnel testing to highlight information gained from performing such tests. They are looking at updating the wind design manual as well.
The SEAOC sustainability committee (Rachelle Habchi) is also very active and meets monthly. They met with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to discuss their public comments submitted in response to CARB’s reporting requirements related to embodied carbon regulations that will affect industry across the State. These reporting requirements were pursuant the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and Assembly Bill (AB) 2446 (Holden, 2022) and AB 43 (Holden, 2023) which requires CARB to develop a comprehensive framework for measuring and reducing the "embodied carbon" of building materials used in construction of new buildings including residential uses. The law targets a 40% net reduction in carbon intensity for new construction by 2035, with an overall goal of 80% by 2045.
There are transitions happening in the SEAOC resilience committee as the past chairs Anna Lang Ofstad and Jonathan Buckalew who have been holding this position for many years now take on less active leadership role have passed the reigns to Jakub Valigura. Jakub has been very active in the resilience committee and has leadership roles in the new functional recovery standards being balloted through the PUC and ASCE 7. We look forward to his leadership and enthusiasm that he brings to this committee.
For more information and how you can get involved in one of our technical committees, please contact your local committee chair, or the SEAOCC executive director, for more information.
NCSEA News
We'd like to remind our members to take a few minutes to complete the NCSEA SE3 Survey (SE3 (Structural Engineering Engagement & Equity) Survey - NCSEA), which will close at the end of the month. The SE3 survey collects data regarding engagement, benefits, work environment, mentorship, and other important aspects of the current structural engineering industry experience. Please note that this is a separate survey from the Compensation and Benefits Survey many of you completed in the fall. This data will inform publications, webinars, and other content throughout 2026; make your voice heard!
Job Forum
Job Posting for Members
Job listings are submitted for SEAOCC approval before being posted. Once approved by SEAOCC your listing will be posted for two months from the approval date. For listing to be reposted please resubmit your job listing.
The member fee for a 2 month posting is $150. You will be prompted for a credit card payment after clicking on the "Submit" button.
Job Posting for Non-Members
Job listings are submitted for SEAOCC approval before being posted. Once approved by SEAOCC your listing will be posted for two months from the approval date. For listing to be reposted please resubmit your job listing.
The nonmember fee for a 2 month posting is $250. You will be prompted for a credit card payment after clicking on the "Submit" button.
Submit an Ad - members Submit an Ad - Non-Members
Structural Project Manager
LPA, Inc.
Job Posting
Feb. 10, 2026
Ask SEAOCC Leadership
What have you let go or added within this past year that's made a positive change in your life?
"I have started working a minimum of 5k steps every day...I hope to increase it to 10k steps a day over the course of the year." - Megan Chang
