Dear Members,
In the practice of structural engineering, I often find myself coming across a problem that I don't have the ability to solve — I don't have the knowledge, I don't have the tools, I don't have the expertise. I know enough to identify the problem and I usually believe I could spend the time to figure it out — but that would take a lot of time and resources. That's when I turn to colleagues at SEAOSC that do have the knowledge, tools, and expertise for guidance. Knowing that not having the answer myself is not a weakness but an opportunity is incredibly freeing. I have yet to come across a colleague from SEAOSC that is not willing to share openly to help solve my problem. In the past few years, I have approached SEAOSC colleagues for help in addressing my challenges in non-ductile concrete, dynamic analyses, adaptive reuse, low-carbon concrete, type III wood construction, ASCE 41, ERP software, and even advice on managing staff. The trade of structural engineering is not full of trade secrets, it is full of knowledge-sharing.
At SEAOSC, we celebrate this knowledge sharing and collaboration throughout the year with technical and leadership seminars, but our next two events will truly highlight the extent to which our knowledge-sharing is at the core of our identity. Next week, we celebrate Structural Engineering Excellence Awards. As a spectator, these awards are inspiring as they exhibit the best of our ingenuity, collaboration, and knowledge. The "how did they do that?" is explained and celebrated. I can only assume that every project and project team can trace the excellence of structural engineering on display back to a moment (recently or years ago) when they reached out to a colleague for help and can acknowledge the pioneers in structural engineering that came before them that made the achievement possible. I am proud to be part of this profession where we are more prone to share our knowledge with each other than to keep it to ourselves.
In June, we again celebrate excellence, by acknowledging our members that have greatly contributed to our profession at the annual President's Lunch. The individuals being honored cannot imagine a SEAOSC where we would hold on to trade secrets and not share them widely — they are givers and doers and they make our association and our profession excellent. Our morning technical seminars will focus on the way that SEAOSC and our industry partners have given back to our communities' recovery after fire and landslides. I hope to see you at both these events where we celebrate excellence.
If you haven't read it yet, our SEAOC Executive Committee's message on the proposed reorganization of SEAOC exhibits the best of the givers and doers among us at the state level. SEAOC 3.0 reimagines the way we work together to be key influencers, expert resources, and innovative leaders in our profession and community. I encourage you to read the message (https://www.seaoc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=32108&module_id=727503).
Garrett Mills, SE | SEAOSC President 2024-2025
