Event Synopsis
The SEAONC Structural Engineering, Engagement, and Equity Project (SE3) held its 2019 Symposium on May 10th, 2019 in San Francisco entitled A Changing Workplace: How to Engage, Retain and Secure the Future of our Profession. From the inception of the symposium, the goal of this event was to broaden the discussion of engagement and equity by inviting structural engineers from all over California and outside of the state as well to participate on aspects of changing our profession for the better. The sold out symposium featured inspirational speakers and thought leaders who left the audience invigorated and committed to advancement of our structural engineering industry. Following our symposium, an overwhelming majority of post-event survey participants stated they were extremely likely to recommend a friend or colleague to attend a future SE3 symposium, rating their overall experience as excellent. For the organizers, volunteers and sponsors of this event, such statistics fuel our momentum to continue the work of SE3 for and on behalf of our engineering community. Read on to learn more about the sessions and programming of the 2019 SE3 symposium!

This video was created by filmmaker Conor Hagen and director at Red Lady Films. ​
Opening Remarks
The symposium was emceed by current SEAONC SE3 co-chair, and past NCSEA SE3 Committee Outreach Lead, Zahraa Saiyed, of Scyma Design & Consulting, and University of San Francisco. Zahraa provided a brief overview of the history and mission of the SE3 Project, highlighting some of the accomplishments, current goals, and future endeavors of the local and national committees.
Keynote Address
The symposium opened with a keynote speaker, Dr. Zinta S. Byrne, professor of industrial and organizational psychology at Colorado State University. The main focus of her address was on employee engagement and satisfaction. Dr. Byrne discussed how engagement is not the same as satisfaction and is not the opposite of burnout, but engagement is the feeling of being energized, inspired, and fulfilled by the work. She discussed that increasing engagement can improve retention, and that a change in  perspective, provision of mentorship, reduction of hostility through open communication can have a significant impact. ​
Session A | 2018 NCSEA SE3 Survey Results ​
​Following the keynote speaker, Rose McClure (of Simpson Gumpetz & Heger), co-founder of SEAONC SE3 and current chair of the NCSEA SE3 committee, presented on the 2018 NCSEA SE3 Survey results. Her discussion focused on several key takeaways, with a focus on findings that were interesting and or new relative to the 2016 SE3 survey. Findings that stimulated most discussions throughout the day were associated with observed “career pinchpoints”, career aspirations to principal level, a profession with an increasingly diverse representation at junior position levels, and reduced level of satisfaction from visible minorities. Rose provided a list of suggested discussion questions, encouraging attendees to continue these conversations well beyond the day of the Symposium.

Session B | Breakout Sessions & Workshops | Storytelling
​After the presentation of the NCSEA SE3 2018 survey results, attendees divided into three unique breakout sessions:
​​The Building our Culture breakout, moderated by Lisa Cassedy, of Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc., focused on the difference between corporate values and corporate culture, and the importance culture has on employee retention. Thought leaders, Ken O’Dell, of MHP and Joe Collins, of ARUP, began the discussion by defining strong corporate culture, then asked the attendees to identify the most critical components of a healthy firm culture. Generally, attendees agreed that integrity, open communication, and transparency were important. In smaller groups attendees discussed tangible ways to bring those values to the workplace, regardless of their position within the company.​​
The Buttressing our Foundations and Values breakout session, moderated by Theresa Curtis, of Thornton Tomasetti, and Gina Tesser Phelan, of Tipping Structural Engineers, began with an introduction to what values are, their importance, and their impact. Attendees were asked to identify their own personal values, with categories ranging from selfless service to physical survival and safety. Participants were also tasked with identifying the values of the firms for which they worked noting that these were not necessarily the espoused aspirational values that might be communicated to staff, but those that the firm actually demonstrates through practice. In small groups, attendees reflected on the values they shared both with each other and with their companies, and the past experiences and needs from which those values arose.
Finally, the Stressing the Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace breakout session, moderated by Ji Su Lee, of ARUP, and Maito Okamoto, of Martin & Martin, focused personal stories, individual activities, and small breakout discussion groups to bring awareness to potential sources of bias and to provide actionable ideas for improving inclusivity in the workplace environment. One notable strategy discussed by breakout Thought Leader, Zander Sivyer, of Holmes Structures, was to create an anonymous office-wide survey of “Things We Like”, “Things We Care About”, and “Things We Wish We Could Change” in the workplace. With these results, the leadership team may be able to acknowledge and act upon the aspects of the workplace that the employees cared about most.
A 20-minute Coffee & Dessert Break, sponsored by Simpson Strong-Tie, followed the breakout sessions.
Session C | Securing Today’s Talent with Strategic Direction and Mindful Leadership
The last session of the daytime program was a panel discussion, moderated by Natalie Tse (of Tipping Structural Engineers), co-founder of the SE3 Project. It featured discussions on the changes in work culture, and strategies to retain talent in the structural engineering profession. Panelists consisted of Peter Lee, of Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP, Allen Nudel, of Forell / Elsesser, Jami Lorenz, of DCI Engineers in the Bozeman, Montana office, and Randy Collins, of FTF Engineers.
​The panelists provided insights on a number of leadership and business management topics that have an impact on talent retention, including changes in the work culture, understanding the expectations, interests, and needs of staff, strategies to improve dynamics and communication between staff and leadership and to improve long term engagement. They shared their varied perspectives on the ways in which firm leaders shape the corporate culture, communicate and uphold the core values of the company, foster a culture of teamwork, strategies to improve motivation and to create a culture of transparency.

The final and very thought-provoking part of this session consisted of discussions on the state of the profession and how practicing engineers can better communicate to clients and the general public the important role that structural engineers play in the community.
Closing Remarks
Tim Hart (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), current President of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) shared a few reflections on the importance of discussions on retention in our profession, and the impact these conversations have on the way we think, interact with one another, and think about our achievements.

​He shares "We can adapt and react to change... or we can drive it. Today, we are taking the challenge on!"
Networking Social
Following the symposium program was a networking happy hour, generously sponsored by Computers and Structures, Inc (CSI). Guests were invited to mingle and discuss the symposium program, fill out “commitment cards” or take photos in the photo booth, sponsored by sponsored by Thornton Tomasetti and Mar Structural Engineers, respectively. It was a lively and fun end to the afternoon’s event, where the attendees and thought leaders were able to continue discussions started earlier in the day, and make long term connections that will continue to bolster the SE3 message and community on local and more national levels.
Once again, the SE3 Committee would like to thank ​this year’s generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers for making this event possible and for showing their commitment to the structural engineering profession. A big kudos to Jenny Van Truong (SC Solutions), Kate Spiesman (ZFA), Karen Vogt-Wilcox (Simpson Gumpertz & Heger), Brenna Marcoux (FTF Engineers), Brylle Cabacungan (KPW Structural Engineers), Yoshita Manne (Tipping Structural Engineers), and Megan August (ZFA) for taking on various leadership roles and major tasks.

Platinum / Title Sponsor "UNBEATABLE DRAGON"

COMPUTERS AND STRUCTURES, INC.

Coffee Break "INVESTORS"

SIMPSON STRONG-TIE

Photo Booth Sponsor "DisSEmination EXPERT"

​MAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Espresso Bar Sponsor "DisSEmination EXPERT"

HELLMUTH, OBATA & KASSABAUM, INC. (HOK)

3D Commitment Card Display "DisSEmination EXPERT"

THORNTON TOMASETTI

Silver "PROGRESSIVES"

ZFA STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA), DCI ENGINEERS (SAN FRANCISCO), SC SOLUTIONS (SUNNYVALE, CA), DEGENKOLB ENGINEERS (SF & OAKLAND), HOLMES STRUCTURES (SAN FRANCISCO), FTF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, FORELL / ELSESSER STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, PEOPLES ASSOCIATES STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

Bronze ​"PARTNERS"

TIPPING STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, STRANDBERG ENGINEERING, MAFFEI STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, 
​RYAN JOYCE STRUCTURAL DESIGN, WOMEN@LANGAN, MARX | OKUBO, SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL LLP, APPLIED TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL (ATC), LIFTECH, RUTHERFORD & CHEKENE

Collaborators "ADVOCATES"

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (SEAONC),
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS / STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING INSTITUTE (ASCE/SEI), KPFF CONSULTING ENGINEERS, WISS JANNEY ELSTENER (WJE) ASSOCIATES, INC., SQUARE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, INC, OLLM CONSULTING ENGINEERS,
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS, TUAN & ROBINSON STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, ELEMENT STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, EQUITY BY DESIGN (EQxD), KPW STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, CAST CONNEX, BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING, HILTI
Please go to the following site for more information on sponsorship opportunities.
​Feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.