SE3 and Business Forum present...

Innovate Your Career - Panel Event

Have you wondered what the possibilities of a career in structural engineering are? In this panel discussion, we'll explore some of these options by hearing the stories of four SEAONC innovators who blazed their own paths from co-founding a consulting firm to starting parametric insurance companies to working in real estate development and investing. The panelists will not only share about their vision and where they're at now, but also the steps they took to get to there and what they wish they had known along the way. These insights will provide you with a road map for how to pursue your vision for your career. Bring your questions and join us for an inspiring look at how you can innovate your career!

​This event is co-hosted by the SEAONC SE3 and Business Forum committees.

When: November 9, 2022 - 12-1pm
Where: Zoom - link will be distributed in registration email

Registration coming soon on SEAONC website!

Panelists

Katy Briggs, P.E., S.E.  | Principal at BASE Design Inc. - she/her
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Katy Briggs is a co-founder of BASE Design and has a wide-range of experience in the AEC industry. She has managed the structural design and analysis of new buildings, retrofits of existing buildings, and the post-disaster evaluation of existing buildings. Her project work includes education, healthcare, government, correctional, residential, and commercial facilities, utilizing a variety of building materials. This work has been done for clients ranging from individual owners to architects to government agencies. Katy holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Columbia University and an MS degree in Structural Engineering from Stanford University.
When not at work, she enjoys going for walks, hanging out with friends, word puzzles, wine tasting, and spending time with her boyfriend and their daughter Molly.

Lee Ishida, P.E., S.E., LEED AP BD+C | Senior Project Manager at SKS Partners - she/her
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Lee has over 14 years of structural design and construction administration experience in the commercial, private, and public building sector prior to joining SKS in 2014. At SKS, she has been involved with developing commercial and medical office new construction projects as well as redevelopment projects. Some of her projects include 270 Brannan, The UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building, The Joan and Sanford I. Weill Neurosciences Building, and 1 De Haro. Lee believes in a holistic approach to development as well as being a steward of the built environment. Lee’s civic involvement includes serving as a long-time mentor, committee member, and supporter of the ACE Mentor Program across the country in Chicago, LA, and San Francisco. She is in the current Leadership San Francisco signature program class of 2022-2023. Lee is also an enthusiastic traveler and just recently returned from a trip to Jordan.
Lee is a licensed structural and professional engineer, a LEED Accredited Professional, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas and a Master of Science degree from Stanford University.

Belinda Li, P.E. | Director, Corporate Engineering and Sustainability at Hudson Pacific Properties - she/her

Belinda Li is Director of Corporate Engineering and Sustainability at Hudson Pacific Properties, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment trust focused on owning, operating and developing office and studio properties along the West Coast. In this role, she supports the company’s engineering operations, development projects and sustainability program throughout the portfolio of nearly 20 million square feet. Belinda holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering and BA degree in Architecture from UC Berkeley and an MS degree in Structural Engineering from UC Berkeley.
Belinda enjoys cooking, camping, rock climbing, and bicycling.

Kate Stillwell, P.E., S.E., MBA | Founder and CEO of JumpStart Insurance, CEO of FireBreak - she/her
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Kate’s life's work is to build resilience to natural disasters. Towards that end, she has focused on parametric insurance because of its potential to serve as private-market disaster stimulus and jump-start the rebuild and recovery process. This passion has fueled Kate’s many notable accomplishments including co-founding the Global Earthquake Model (GEM), serving as Earthquake Products Manager at EQECAT, Inc., founding JumpStart Insurance, and co-founding FireBreak Risk. Additionally, Kate is an EERI Housner Fellow, SEAONC president from 2015-2016, and a co-founder of the US Resiliency Council. Kate holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota, an MS degree in Structural Engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.

Kate occasionally finds time to enjoy the outdoors, sometimes even with her teenage children.

Moderators

Danny Preut, P.E. | Martin/Martin - He/Him
Danny is a Professional Engineer at Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers in the San Francisco Bay Area office. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Kansas State University and a Master of Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University. Danny began working at Martin/Martin in 2020 after working for three years for Ryan Engineering in Northwest Arkansas. Danny has been active in SEAONC SE3 for two years and is the incoming co vice-chair and co-lead of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion task-group. Danny enjoys playing soccer, cooking and trying new foods, and working on home improvement projects.

Jeffrey Zhang, P.E., S.E. | KPFF - He/Him
Jeffrey (aka JZ) is a native San Franciscan who has been with KPFF since graduating from UC Berkeley’s SEMM Master’s program in 2012. He works on a wide variety of projects, including residential (wood over podium, concrete mid-rise), commercial projects (office buildings, parking garages), and retail (new retail construction and tenant improvements). He is a natural leader, currently part of the software committee, recruiting team, and DEI team. Jeffrey is also a tech nerd who loves hiking and national parks, an avid bicyclist who loves anime, and a bookworm who loves to travel. Additionally, he speaks fluent Mandarin and conversational Cantonese (and learning Japanese). It doesn't matter what he works on, as long as he is working with a team of good people — he’s committed to doing what it takes to help them succeed.