April 2025 SEAOCC President's Message

As we head into spring, I’ve been reflecting on the past year and everything we’ve accomplished together as a community. It’s been a rewarding season of growth—both in how we connect with each other and how we engage with the broader industry.

We’ve expanded our reach by showing up and stepping up—whether that was volunteering with Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build or co-sponsoring the Women in Construction Conference. These events are great reminders of the strength of our profession and the importance of visibility, advocacy, and inclusion.

Our connections with students and young professionals have grown stronger, too. This year, we increased outreach to our student chapters and hosted more events aimed at engaging our young members. Their energy and curiosity continue to inspire, and it’s exciting to see these relationships deepening.

Closer to home, I’m proud of how we’ve continued to build and strengthen our own bonds. Attendance at our dinner meetings has been steadily growing, and it’s been wonderful to see so many of you showing up, catching up, and contributing to meaningful conversations.

And we’re not done yet! We’ve got one more technical dinner meeting coming up in May, along with our much-anticipated annual golf tournament. This event is always a highlight—whether you're a seasoned golfer or just there for the fun and sunshine, it’s a great way to unwind, connect, and celebrate our community. Keep an eye out for an announcement about a pre-tournament event the week before where you can brush up on your skills!

Also on the horizon: our Structural Engineering Excellence Awards. Entries are open for this year's program, and I’m looking forward to seeing all the incredible projects you’ve been working on. This is our chance to showcase the innovation, creativity, and impact of structural engineers across our region—and to celebrate what makes this profession so special.

Finally, as we near the end of the 2024–2025 term, board elections will be coming soon. Several positions are opening up and we are looking for volunteers to serve the organization. If you or someone you know are interested, we will be accepting nominations via email through Monday, April 28th. Nominations will be accepted for the following positions:

• Vice President

• Central District Director

• North District Director

Thank you all for your continued energy, generosity, and commitment to our profession. It’s been a great year, and I’m excited to see what’s next.

Warm regards,

Laura Rice, S.E.
2024-2025 SEAOCC President