Dear Members,

Our calendar year for SEAOSC goes from July 1^st to June 30^th each year. So, as we enter April, it’s the 4^th quarter. March Madness is in full swing, basketball and hockey playoffs are right around the corner, and if you are a soccer fan like me, European soccer seasons are nearing their seasons end. 

Yes, I am a sports fan, but I also love the competition, drive, and challenge of the fourth quarter of a game, a deadline that is fast approaching or completing everything we can in this calendar year. It’s been a busy 9 months at SEAOSC and we have a lot going on (and a lot still to do!) as we hit our 4^th quarter.

Before we talk about what is ahead though, I do want to thank all our volunteers who helped put on our Emerging Engineers night. And thank you to the SEAOSC Foundation for once again recognizing a number of outstanding students with scholarship awards. It was a great night that was capped by an amazing panel of incredibly talented and distinguished engineers in Susan Dowty, Farzad Naiem, Mel Green and Jeff Ellis. And thanks to our current Treasurer and future President in 2025-26, Maria Mohammed for leading our panel on the night. Congrats to all!

March was also highlighted by a Structural Connections event in Orange County at Degenkolb’s offices as well as a Women Working Together Networking Happy Hour in DTLA at JAMA’s offices. 

One of the most critical aspects of our organization is our committees. There are so many critical discussions that are worked through in these groups as we advocate for our profession. If you are not part of one of the dozen or so committees, please consider reaching out to join. It does involve extra time beyond each of our “day jobs” but trust me in that you will gain just as much as you give.

One committee that has been hard at work is our Sustainability Committee lead by Chair, Rachelle Habchi. And something that everyone may not know is that new embodied carbon reduction mandates in CA are set to take effect on July 1^st. Building code changes are coming that will limit embodied carbon emissions in the construction, remodel, or adaptive reuse of certain commercial buildings. Here is a link to a YouTube recording of the second WBLCA webinar on the updates.

Also of note is the SEAOC SE Pathways initiative. While applications for this years SE Pathways just closed on April 1^st, there is still time to support the initiative by becoming a sponsor. This is a great initiative that supports the advancement of our profession.

Other topics that are at the forefront of our Association right now include:

• Bylaw Revisions – We moved the BOD vote on the latest updates to our April Board meeting where we will review and vote on the latest changes.

• SEE Awards – Thank you for all the applications received this year. We will be reviewing all entries and look forward to the awards event on May 29^th at the Mark Taper Auditorium at the LA Central Library in DTLA.

• SEAOSC Convention committee for 2026. Come join our convention committee as we kick off our work for hosting the state convention in 2026.

• Our annual SEAOSC awards presented at the President’s lunch is fast approaching. If you have any recommendations, do not hesitate to reach out.

• Program and Budget for 2024-25 – We are well into planning for our next year pulling together program and budgets. Garrett Mills will be our President in 2024-25 and I am so excited to see what next year will bring. If you have any recommendations for programming in the coming year, there is no better time than now to speak up! Please reach out Garrett at garrett@tsstructural.com. 

And in addition to all these topics, here are the next events coming up. I hope to see you there!

• April 10^th – Structured Connections in Pasadena.

• April 13^th – ACLA – Design by Diversity Day 2024 (East LA College)

• April 24^th - SEAOSC & AIA Joint Event – Adaptive Reuse Ordinance Expansion

• May 15^th – Webinar from our Concrete Committee (Topic forthcoming) 

• May 29^th – 2024 SEAOSC SEE Awards (LA Central Library)

• June - Presidents Lunch and ½ day technical session

• July – Topgolf event

• August 5^th – Annual Golf Tournament at Friendly Hills Country Club

Have a great April!

Best,

Craig Chamberlain, S.E.
SEAOSC President 2023-24