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

In March 2020, SE University welcomed Matthew Rechtien, PE, Esq., from Walter P. Moore, to present 2020 Engineering Ethics Update.  Matt designated Friends of Perryville Battlefield (https://www.friendsofperryville.org) for our SEU Speaker Inspires donation for the month.

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 SE University session, and for your designation of Friends of Perryville Battlefield 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.

Claire Gandee, Bekaert

In February 2020, SE University welcomed Claire Gandee, from Bekaert, to present Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete. Claire designated The Dharma Project (https://www.thedharmaproject.org/) for our SEU Speaker Inspires donation for the month.

Claire shared, “This group brings yoga, meditation and mindfulness to folks who might otherwise have no access to these valuable practices, such as police officers, incarcerated youth, and inner-city school students. I believe in the value and benefits of this work and hope that more people can experience the important work the Dharma Project offers.”

Thank you, Claire, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of The Dharma Project as one of our SEU Speaker Inspires Organizations 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 University / SE Solutions is pleased to support Project C.U.R.E. and their efforts in collecting and donating all of their available medical supplies to combat the Covid-19 crisis throughout America and globally.

Project C.U.R.E. identifies, solicits, collects, sorts and distributes medical supplies and services according to the imperative needs of the world.  In response to COVID-19, Project C.U.R.E. is making their resources available to hospitals and first responders throughout the United States.  They are donating all of their masks, gloves, PPE’s and other items needed to fight COVID-19 to these heroes. One hundred percent of the items that individuals and companies give to the local fight against COVID-19 will be given to the brave men and women on the front lines of this fight in our communities here in the U.S..

Learn more about Project C.U.R.E at www.projectcure.org or donate to support their relief efforts here.

Doug Allen, PE Simpson StrongTie

In January 2020, SE University welcomed Doug Allen, PE, from Simpson StrongTie, to present Delegated Design: Addressing Potential Risks with Proper Project Management. Doug designated Team Rubicon (https://teamrubiconusa.org/) for our SEU Speaker Inspires donation for the month.

Doug shared, “I’d like to donate to Team Rubicon as they are a great organization that supports veterans responding to natural disasters. Simpson Strong-Tie has witnessed Team Rubicon making a difference following natural disasters, most recently Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.”

Team Rubicon’s mission is providing disaster relief to those affected by natural disasters, be they domestic or international. By pairing the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders, medical professionals, and technology solutions, Team Rubicon aims to provide the greatest service and impact possible.

Thank you, Doug, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of Team Rubicon as one of our SEU Speaker Inspires Organizations 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.

Anthony Fasano, PE Engineering Management Institute

In December 2019, SE University welcomed Anthony Fasano, PE, from Engineering Management Institute, to present Developing Effective Communication Skills for Structural Engineers. Anthony designated Same Kind of Different as Me Foundation (https://www.samekindofdifferentasmefoundation.org/) for our SEU Speaker Inspires donation for the month.

Anthony shared, “What stood out to me about this organization is that around this time during the holidays, we should be thankful for the things that we have like our families and the homes we share with them. This organization helps people find homes.”

Same Kind of Different as Me Foundations aims to help the homeless through funding immediate needs for homeless shelters and helping those who struggle with homelessness find a shelter.

Thank you, Anthony, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of Same Kind of Different as Me Foundation as one of our SEU Speaker Inspires Organizations 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.

Emily Guglielmo, SE, Martin/Martin

In November 2019, SE University welcomed Emily Guglielmo, SE, from Martin/Martin, to present Wind Loads on Non-Building Structures. In 2015, Emily designated Bridges to Prosperity (https://bridgestoprosperity.org/) for our SEU Speaker Inspires donation for the month, and she has chosen to do the same in 2019.

Emily said this about her choice, “Bridges to Prosperity believes that every person has a right to safe access and has engineered innovative, scalable approaches to act on that belief. As an engineer, it’s inspiring to see other engineers using their passion for the profession to implement real change in the world.”

Thank you, Emily, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of Bridges to Prosperity as one of our SEU Speaker Inspires Organizations 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 October 2019, SE University welcomed Bruce Brothersen, PE, SE, from Vulcraft, and Walter Worthley, PE, SE, from Valley Joist, to present Retrofitting of Existing Buildings with Steel Joists.  Walt designated St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/) for one of the SEU Speaker Inspires donations for this month.

Walt shared: “The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital continues to provide exceptional care for children with cancer. Their work in helping patients and families deal with this disease, as well as help to find cures, continues to be an inspiration to every life they touch.”

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

Bruce Brothersen, PE, SE, Vulcraft

In October 2019, SE University welcomed Bruce Brothersen, PE, SE, from Vulcraft, and Walter Worthley, PE, SE, from Valley Joist, to present Retrofitting of Existing Buildings with Steel Joists.  Bruce designated City of Hope (https://www.cityofhope.org) for one of the SEU Speaker Inspires donations for this month.

Bruce shared: “Engineering is all about making the world better. Engineers are not alone in the pursuit. The City of Hope National Medical Center is making the world better through Cancer research, prevention and treatments. Just about everyone is effected by cancer, personally, family members or friends. We are honored to assist, in a small way, to give more hope to people effected by cancer.”

Thank you, Bruce, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of City of Hope as one of our SEU Speaker Inspires Organizations 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 was pleased to recently present scholarships to three Purdue University Structures students to help defray the cost of their education. Harsh Bohra, Corey Beck, and Michael Walz were the recipients of the awards. This is the eighth year that SE Solutions has offered the scholarships.

From Left to Right, SE Solutions President, Brian Quinn, PE, Purdue University Students and Scholarship Winners – Corey Beck, Michael Walz,  and Harsh Bohra

Harsh Bohra, received his bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay in 2018 and will be completing his MSCE degree with specialization in Structural Engineering in May 2020. He has worked as an engineering intern at Baker Consulting Group and currently is a teaching
assistant for a structural analysis course. He is proficient in finite element modelling with geometric and material nonlinear imperfection analysis (GMNIA). His research focuses on formulating a new design method for evaluating the permissible differential settlement for above-ground storage tanks. Upon
graduation from Purdue, Harsh is determined to work on design of complex and innovative structures.

Corey Beck is from Indianapolis, Indiana. He received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University in 2017 and intends to complete his MSCE at Purdue in May 2020. In between his undergrad and graduate work, Corey served as a bridge design engineer for Indiana’s Department of Transportation. Currently, he is working on developing a rapid assessment procedure for autonomously determining the seismic vulnerability of bridges throughout Indiana. Additionally, he hopes to use artificial intelligence software to help eliminate critical gaps in mineable information required to conduct this assessment. He chose civil engineering so that he could have the opportunity to understand, develop, and improve structures that would have a lasting impact on the well-being of communities throughout the nation, and hopefully one day the world. Upon graduation, Corey would like to find a job that allows him to be a design engineer but also investigate structural failures and deficiencies so as to better improve the built world. Ultimately, he hopes he can have the opportunity to work on innovative and challenging projects throughout his career.

Michael Walz received his BSCE from Valparaiso University in 2018. He is currently working on his MSCE at Purdue University and anticipates graduating in May 2020. At Purdue, Michael has been a teaching assistant for multiple classes and has enjoyed the opportunity to learn concrete, wood, and masonry design better through teaching it. After graduation, he hopes to work for a structural engineering firm in Chicago, working on new building design, renovations, and rehabilitation projects.

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