Matt Timmers, SE, John A. Martin & Associates

In May 2024, SEU welcomed Matt Timmers, SE, from John A. Martin & Associates, to present Mass Timber Structural Design.  Matt has designated Surfrider Foundation (surfrider.org) for our SEU Speaker Inspires donation for the month.

Matt shared, “The Surfrider Foundation is best known for their advocacy for ocean health, a cause near and dear to my heart and central to global climate change issues. Their mission includes commitment to broad global sustainability goals, including the reduction of plastic waste, ensuring equitable access to coastline, and protecting the health of both coastal and inland water systems. For all these reasons I support their mission and chose them as my SEU Speaker Inspire organization.”

Thank you, Matt, for helping structural engineers with your SEU session, and for your designation of Surfrider Foundation as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SEU began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SEU to make a donation to help improve our world.

Matthew Rechtien, PE, Esq., Walter P. Moore

In April 2024, SEU welcomed Matthew Rechtien, PE, Esq., from Walter P. Moore, to present 2024 Engineering Ethics Update: Engineers’ Duty to Report.  In prior years, Matt has designated Friends of Perryville Battlefield (https://www.friendsofperryville.org) for our SEU Speaker Inspires donation for the month and he has chosen to do the same in 2024.

Matt shared, “On October 8, 1862, nearly 8,000 Americans fell in the drought-parched Chaplin Hills of Kentucky during the Battle of Perryville. Perryville played a pivotal role in our nation’s most impactful event. Although the clash is oft-forgotten, those Americans should be remembered and that sacred ground, one of the most pristine civil war battlefields remaining, should be protected. The Friends of Perryville Battlefield is committed to both missions, which I am humbled to advance.”

Thank you, Matt, for helping structural engineers with your SEU session, and for your designation of Friends of Perryville Battlefield as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SEU began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SEU to make a donation to help improve our world.

D. Matthew Stuart, PE, SE, P.Eng., Partner Engineering and Science, Inc.

In March 2024, D. Matthew Stuart, PE, SE, PEng., F.ASCE, F.SEI, A.NAFE, from Partner Engineering and Science, Inc., presented Building Envelope Deterioration Investigation and Repair – Parts 1 and 2.  Previously in 2023, Matthew nominated the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) (UMCOR – Global Ministries (umcmission.org)) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month, and he has chosen to do the same in 2024.

According to it’s mission statement, UMCOR is the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church and it assists churches to become involved globally in direct ministry to persons in need. UMCOR comes alongside those who suffer from natural or human-caused disasters – famine, hurricane, war, flood, fire or other events—to alleviate suffering and serve as a source of help and hope for the vulnerable. UMCOR provides relief, response and long-term recovery grants when events overwhelm a community’s ability to recover on their own. UMCOR also provides technical support and training for partners to address emerging and ongoing issues related to disaster relief, recovery, and long-term health and development.

Thank you, Matthew, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of the United Methodist Committee on Relief as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SE University began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SE University to make a donation to help improve our world.

Kevin S. Moore, PE, SE, Simpson, Gumpertz, & Heger

In February 2024, SEU welcomed back Kevin S. Moore, PE, SE, from Simpson, Gumpertz, & Heger, to present External Elevated Elements (EEE): Are You Sure That Your Balcony Is Safe?  Kevin has previously designated SEAONC Diversity in Structural Engineering Scholarship (SEAONC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Restricted Fund Endowment – Structural Engineers Association of Northern California) for our SEU Speaker Inspires donation for the month when he presented in 2023, and he has chosen to do the same in 2024.

Kevin shared, “The opportunity to increase funding in a permanent endowed scholarship that financially supports a student from an historically underrepresented minority in structural engineering, preferably with a desire to practice in northern California, is a very small but rewarding privilege. Thousands of capable students desire a rewarding career in our noble profession, but often face unfair challenges and financial shortfalls that fail to cover costs associated with very expensive university programs. Scholarships like this help bring some amount of equity to students that have done so much themselves. I am proud to be a part of a community that cares enough to contribute and even happier that SEU sees the value in doing the same.”

Thank you, Kevin, for helping structural engineers with your SEU session, and for your designation of SEAONC Diversity in Structural Engineering Scholarship as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SEU began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SEU to make a donation to help improve our world.

Scott Walkowicz, PE Walkowicz Consulting Engineers

In January 2024, Scott Walkowicz, PE, from Walkowicz Consulting Engineers, presented Tornado Shelter Design with Masonry. Scott nominated the Clayford T. Grimm, PE, scholarship fund at The Masonry Society (TMS) (Clayford T. Grimm, P.E. Student Scholarship – The Masonry Society) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month.

Scott shared, “I chose the Clayford T. Grimm, PE, scholarship fund at The Masonry Society (TMS) because of the great work that is done by TMS and its members. I obtained my first degree, a BS in Architecture, and I then wanted to learn how to ‘engineer’ masonry. I attended Clemson University and was able to receive not only a BS in Civil Engineering, but also an MS in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on masonry and interaction with one of TMS’s Honorary Members. The Master’s level coursework and the project that I worked on were extremely valuable to me and my career. I’m very happy to help other engineering students who are seeking Master level degrees and doing research that will benefit both them and the masonry industry.”

Thank you, Scott, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of the Clayford T. Grimm, PE, scholarship fund at The Masonry Society (TMS) as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SE University began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SE University to make a donation to help improve our world.

D. Matthew Stuart, PE, SE, P.Eng., Partner Engineering and Science, Inc.

In December 2023, D. Matthew Stuart, PE, SE, PEng., F.ASCE, F.SEI, A.NAFE, from Partner Engineering and Science, Inc., presented Understanding and Avoiding Costly Repairs of Precast Prestressed Thin Slab Parking Structures. Matthew nominated the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) (UMCOR – Global Ministries (umcmission.org)) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month when he presented to SEU in April of this year, and he has chosen to do the same in December.

According to it’s mission statement, UMCOR is the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church and it assists churches to become involved globally in direct ministry to persons in need. UMCOR comes alongside those who suffer from natural or human-caused disasters – famine, hurricane, war, flood, fire or other events—to alleviate suffering and serve as a source of help and hope for the vulnerable. UMCOR provides relief, response and long-term recovery grants when events overwhelm a community’s ability to recover on their own. UMCOR also provides technical support and training for partners to address emerging and ongoing issues related to disaster relief, recovery, and long-term health and development.

Thank you, Matthew, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of the United Methodist Committee on Relief as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SE University began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SE University to make a donation to help improve our world.

Darrell Marchell, PE, Vulcraft

Tim Holtermann, PE, SE, Canam Steel

In November 2023, Darrell Marchell, PE, from Vulcraft, and Tim Holtermann, PE, SE, from Canam Steel, on behalf of the Steel Joist Institute, presented Joists in Lateral Load Resisting Frames.  They selected the Alzheimer’s Association (Alzheimer’s Association | Donate to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month.

According to their website, the “Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.”

Thank you, Darrell and Tim, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of the Alzheimer’s Association as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SE University began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SE University to make a donation to help improve our world.

SE Solutions is pleased to announce the recipients of the SE Solutions + SE Impact structures scholarships at Purdue University as Luis Fernandez and Eliza Mount. This is the eleventh year that SE Solutions has offered the scholarships.

Luis Fernandez received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering at EAFIT University in Colombia in 2019 and his M.S. degree in the Department of Civil Engineering at Purdue University in 2023. Between his bachelor’s and master’s programs, he worked in construction and project management roles for four years. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. at Purdue University. His research interests are the maintenance and inspection of bridges, the application of virtual and augmented reality for infrastructure systems, and the qualification of concrete anchorages for seismic events. After completing his graduate school studies, Luis would like to join the industry through roles that allow him to combine his multiple technical interests with his passion for project management.

Eliza Mount received her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with emphasis in Structures from Purdue University in May 2023. She is pursuing a master’s degree through the 4+1 Program at Purdue with expected MSCE graduation in August 2024. She does research with the Resilient Extra-Terrestrial Habitats Institute (RETHi) at Purdue, funded by NASA. Outside of classes and research, Eliza enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. After completing graduate school, she plans to move to Florida to work as a construction manager or project engineer on a construction site.

SE Solutions would like to congratulate each recipient and wish them future success in their fields of study as structural engineers.

In October 2023, Carol Drucker, SE, PE, from Drucker Zajdel Structural Engineers, Inc., presented Vertical Bracing.  She selected Purdue University’s Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen Laboratory for Large-Scale Civil Engineering Research (Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen Laboratory for Large-Scale Civil Engineering Research (purdue.edu)) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month.

This 66,000 square-foot facility provides the space and technical capability needed to investigate the behavior of large structural models and elements subjected to loads representing extreme events, such as earthquakes, blasts, and impact, so that future structures will be designed to better withstand these extreme events. The lab’s “strong floor,” clear ceiling height of 54 feet, loading apparatus, and advanced instrumentation set a new standard for materials and structures testing.

Thank you, Carol, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of the Purdue University’s Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen Laboratory for Large-Scale Civil Engineering Research as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SE University began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SE University to make a donation to help improve our world.

In September 2023, John Kennedy, SE, PE, from Structural Affiliates International, Inc., presented Rules of Thumb for Steel Design.  He selected St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org)) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month.

John shared, “I chose this organization because I support and believe in their mission to advance research, treatment, and prevention of pediatric catastrophic diseases. It’s headquartered in my home state of Tennessee, and I admire the help the organization brings to both children and families who may be in dire need of support.”

Thank you, John, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SE University began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SE University to make a donation to help improve our world.