President's Message - September 2026

As my year as SEAOC President comes to a close, I keep returning to a question we explored together at the convention last month: Why do we do what we do? Our answers to that question are as varied as our members. Some are drawn to technical challenges and lifelong learning. Others find purpose in serving their communities, belonging in the relationships built through our profession, or satisfaction in creating opportunities for themselves and their families. Together, those motivations strengthen SEAOC and make structural engineering a more resilient, thoughtful, and connected profession.

For those of you who were able to join us in Scottsdale, Thank You.  It was great seeing so many new faces amongst our long-time participants, including our colleagues from the SEA of Arizona who joined us for the event. And a special thank you to the Convention Committee chaired by Tim Kaucher and Lorena Arce for all the volunteer hours it took to make such a successful event.

For those who were unable to join us, the convention kicked off with a keynote screening of the film “Engineers at Ground Zero” where participants were able to see how SEs responded in the immediate aftermath of the attack on the Twin Towers twenty five years ago. This was followed by two days and four tracks of technical presentations, intermingled with a tradeshow of 62 exhibitors sharing their latest product developments. At Friday’s lunch, leaders from our four MOs joined a panel discussion on the SEAOC Modernization, sharing their perspectives on the work underway to strengthen how SEAOC and the MOs can evolve into the future. Alongside this programing was the popular SE Pathways program supported by our anchor sponsor CSI, with a cohort of about 40 students and entry level professionals who came to learn about the profession in an energizing, intimate setting with specially curated content.

In addition to enlightening content, the convention is a time when we come together to celebrate all the hard work that our volunteers have put forward this year in the name of Structural Engineering.

At the Annual Business Lunch, we recognized three members whose contributions reflect the very best of SEAOC. Rachelle Habchi received the Emerging Leader Award for building practical pathways into sustainable design, creating a three-part embodied-carbon webinar series, engaging partners across California, and bringing her committee’s expertise into policy discussions. Joyce Fuss received a Service Award for decades of steady leadership in continuing education, including this year’s fabulous programming, as well as her work sustaining SEAOC’s relationship with SESOC in New Zealand. Roy Lobo also received a Service Award for his long-standing leadership of the Structural Standards Committee and for coordinating SEAOC’s thoughtful, unified voice in the national code-development process. Congratulations to Rachelle, Joyce, and Roy, and thank you for service whose influence reaches far beyond any single program or year.

During the Business Lunch I also had the opportunity to share all the accomplishments of SEAOC this year, none of which belongs to one person. SEAOC’s progress is made possible by volunteers who chair committees, develop technical resources, review legislation, organize programs, mentor students, and make space for new voices. It is supported by companies that encourage their employees to participate, sponsors and exhibitors who invest in our programs, and student volunteers who bring curiosity and energy to our gatherings. I am deeply grateful to our committee leaders, Board of Directors, Member Organization leaders, and every member who raised a hand to say “yes” this year. A special shout out to our outgoing board members - Steve Crook, Joyce Feng, Garrett Mills, Laura Rice, and Steve Kerr - for the time, judgment, and care they have given to SEAOC during their tenure on the Board.

We also celebrated the four newest inductees into the SEAOC College of Fellows: Krista Looza of SEAOCC, Gary Mochizuki of SEAONC, Kevin O’Connell of SEAOSC, and Gwenyth Searer of SEAONC. Election to the College of Fellows is SEAOC’s highest individual honor, recognizing distinguished service to the association and outstanding contributions to structural engineering. Each of these leaders has strengthened our profession through technical achievement, service, mentorship, and leadership. Please join me in congratulating them on this well-deserved recognition.

This has been a very special year for me. The people I have had the opportunity to work with are remarkable, and I thank you for entrusting me with your association. I have often said that the relationships we build and the experiences we gain through SEAOC leadership far exceed the commitment that volunteering asks of us. After this year, I believe that more strongly than ever.

Now it is time to turn the page. I am thrilled to welcome Devon Lumbard as SEAOC President. Devon is a strategic leader who cuts through complexity, brings people together, and keeps meaningful work moving forward. I know SEAOC is in excellent hands, and I look forward to supporting him and all of you in the next chapter.

It was a privilege to serve SEAOC as your President this past year. Whatever your reason and motivation for “your why”, thank you for continuing to build the confidence, community, and future that make our profession so important.