September 2025 SEAOCC President's Message

Dear SEAOCC Community,

I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful summer! We closed out the 2024–2025 year with a memorable evening at Mulvaney’s for the SEE Awards Dinner, a celebration that truly highlighted the talent and dedication of our structural engineering community. The event would not have been possible without the hard work of our dedicated judges, the leadership of our SEAOCC Board, the guidance of our outgoing president Laura and past president Doug, and—most importantly—the local engineers and firms who shared their outstanding projects with us.

Now, as our 2025–2026 SEAOCC term begins, I am honored to serve as your president this year. Looking back at the many passionate leaders who have guided SEAOCC before me, I feel privileged to carry that tradition forward.

We started our new term on a high note in July with a lively Young Members Forum event at Tipsy Putt. It was a fun evening, and I want to especially thank our YMF chairs, Catherine and Francesco, for the energy and passion they bring to every event. The future of SEAOCC lies in the hands of our younger members, and it is wonderful to see their commitment in action.

We also have an exciting calendar of events ahead. The SEAOC 2025 Convention is just around the corner, and if you are attending, I encourage you to join us for the SEAOCC meet-and-greet during the Welcome Reception on Wednesday at 6:00 PM. Come find me—I’ll have some SEAOCC swag on hand, and I look forward to playing Santa. We are also still looking for a few more President’s Cup team members, so let me know if you would like to represent our chapter.

Following the convention, we will gather again on September 9 for our first dinner meeting of the term, where Greg Richards, SE, will share insights into the National Urban Search & Rescue Response System and the critical work of California Task Force 7, including their response to the Palisades Fire. In October, we’ll mix in some friendly competition with Trivia Night at Jack Rabbit Brewing in West Sacramento, thanks to the efforts of Francisco, Catherine, and Doug. Then, on November 11, we are excited to welcome Ronnie Medlock, the 2025 AISC T.R. Higgins Award winner, who will speak on excellence in fabricated structural steel.

A few days later, on November 17, we will host our Code Update Seminar, featuring an outstanding group of speakers bringing the latest code changes to our membership. Volunteers are still needed to support both the seminar and the Continuing Education Committee, and committee members receive free entrance to the seminar—so it is a perfect way to contribute while benefiting from the event. My thanks go to Daryl for his leadership and hard work in coordinating this important seminar.

Beyond these events, SEAOCC is proud to once again partner with the Women in Construction Seminar on October 15–16. This is a wonderful opportunity to champion diversity in our profession, and I want to emphasize that participation is open to everyone—you do not need to be a woman to attend. Special member pricing is available for SEAOCC members, and there are also volunteer opportunities for those who would like to get more involved.

I would also like to introduce some new members of our 2025–2026 SEAOCC Board. Julio Silva has stepped into the role of North District Director, Jake Gruber is now serving as a Central District Director, and Kevin Logsdon has taken on the role of Treasurer, already proving himself invaluable. These appointments fill previously vacant positions, and our membership will have the chance to vote on board members during our next official election. Please join me in welcoming Julio, Jake, and Kevin.

None of this would be possible without the countless hours contributed by our volunteers. SEAOCC is a truly member-driven organization, and I am grateful to each of you who give your time, talent, and energy to make our chapter strong.

As I begin this term, my goal is to help SEAOCC continue to thrive and deliver real value to our members. But that can only happen with your input. I would love to hear from you—what do you gain from SEAOCC? What would you like to see more of? How can we serve you better? Please don’t hesitate to reach out; my inbox is always open.

I am looking forward to an inspiring and active year together. Let’s continue SEAOCC’s tradition of excellence.

Warmly,

Sonia Eliseo

President, SEAOCC