Faces of Women in Structural Engineering
In honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, SE3 decided to put together a webpage honoring the many "Faces of Women in Structural Engineering" within our SEAONC membership. To our delight, we had over 100 nominations to the form, resulting in over 50 unique women engineers to spotlight. These leaders came from over 30 different firms and organizations, all with impressive accomplishments to share. We hope you enjoy reading more about these inspiring women below, and that you celebrate the successes of the women in your network on Friday, March 8th.
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Mehri Ansari
Ansari Structural Engineers In a few words, she is... Independent, Encouraging, Cultivates community "Working for Mehri exemplified what I believe this honoring represents. She was a great mentor to me." Mehri, on her favorite project or achievement: "In my 47 years as a structural engineer, I have had the privilege of participating in numerous exciting projects while collaborating and learning from many talented engineers. Although pinpointing a single project as the one I am most proud of is challenging, retrofitting historic structures has been particularly gratifying for me. Despite the challenges of running a new small engineering firm, I consider founding and managing Ansari Structural Engineers about 25 years ago, which brought me the pleasure of working with many brilliant engineers and architects, including many talented young women engineers, the pinnacle of my professional life." |
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Megan August
ZFA Structural Engineers In a few words, she is... Organized, Reliable, Knowledgeable "Megan is an extremely talented engineer, a respected colleague, and a genuinely wonderful person. Megan has been instrumental in heading the SEAONC communications committee, she has single handedly been transitioning us to the new website platform and is really an amazing person." Megan, on her favorite project or achievement: "I’ve loved being involved in both internal and external committees since starting my career. At my firm, I’ve been grateful to be part of the Operations & Technologies Steering Committee (OTSC), which oversees our other internal task groups who maintain the resources (spreadsheets, programs, etc.) we use daily. The involvement of younger engineers has helped implement positive changes and sparked key discussions in forming our firm’s culture. My favorite part of about structural engineering is showcasing our abilities—both technical and nontechnical—and being a part of this group that cultivates the nontechnical skills needed to be a successful, technical engineer has been rewarding. Outside of my firm, being a new SEAONC Director has been a great learning and networking experience." |
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Katy Briggs
BASE Design In a few words, she is... Kind, Positive, Intelligent "Katy started her own firm and continues to grow it with her business partner. She is a former SEAONC director and has been involved in multiple SEAONC committees over the year. She's an inspiration!" Katy, on her favorite project or achievement: "Starting BASE Design with my business partner, Gokhan Akalan, in 2015 is by far the scariest thing I’ve ever done. Now, almost 9 years later we have built a company I am very proud of—one that treats its employees well and that has worked with a variety of clients on a wide-range of projects. There are so many challenges that I’ve faced and overcome that I never could have predicted. I look forward to all that the future holds as BASE Design continues to grow!" |
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Gina Carlson
Tipping In a few words, she is... Tenacious, Detail-oriented, Composed "She's been working in this field for a long time, influencing the work of engineers of all genders. She is truly dedicated to the field of structural engineering and her ability to deliver complicated projects successfully is worth celebrating. Gina has a long and distinguished career practicing innovative engineering and is consistently recognized by and sought out by clients due to her creativity, dedication, and focus on solving problems. Gina is one of the most sharp and hard-working engineers in our office. Clients LOVE working with her." "She's a deeply meticulous, attentive, and thoughtful engineer, and has a huge amount of knowledge that she has shared with a wide array of people. She cares deeply about the work." Gina, on her favorite project or achievement: "Most recently, for my work as project director on the new campus project for Samuel Merritt University, which is currently under construction in downtown Oakland. It is a new 10 story, 250,000 gsf, steel high-rise that will contain a mix of classroom spaces and educational laboratories to train nurses and health sciences professionals, as well as administrative offices for university staff. Also, for my work on the UCSF’s Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building which opened in 2022. It is a five-story, 150,000 gsf, concrete treatment and research facility which aims to redefine metal health services and change perceptions around mental health care stigma." |
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Kaat Ceder
WJE In a few words, she is... Refreshing, Effective, Innovative, Excellent communicator "Kaat is very hardworking and dedicated to the DEI cause. She has inspired me since we went to college together and now is kicking butt working and balancing many leadership roles/outside research. Kaat is/was one of the most dedicated SE3 co-chairs I have ever seen. Kaat is a shrewd and critical engineer. Aside from that, she embodies the concept of reaching back to help others, which makes working with her -- whether it be for work or for SE3 -- very fulfilling. Kaat has effectively lead SEAONC SE3 efforts to create a more inclusive industry in innumerable ways, including completing multiple industry surveys and organizing events related to understand how engineers can be involved in creating a more just and equitable built environment." "Kaat is a dedicated structural engineer active in SE3/SEAONC, who is a strong advocate for improving the profession through better engagement and a wonderful and supportive colleague." Kaat, on her favorite project or achievement: "One of my proudest moments (so far) in my career was getting a phone call for a new project to my direct line. Having someone asking for our services and looking to me directly was a really good feeling, no matter how simple the request." |
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Sarah Chen
Maffei In a few words, she is... Dedicated, a Mentor, Energetic "Although she has only been working for 2 years, Sarah has worked tirelessly to help new generations of engineers - participating in the SEAONC Pathways program, mentoring for the Project Management club at UCB, volunteering at EAA, and conceptualizing and organizing an extern program for our firm." Sarah, on her favorite project or achievement: "I created and organized our company's externship program, which we hosted for the first time in 2023. The program offers students with little experience or exposure to structural engineering an opportunity to see what our industry is like. It has been incredibly rewarding to help diverse groups of students find their passion to pursue a career in structural engineering." |
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Kelly Cobeen
WJE In a few words, she is... Brilliant, Dedicated, Inquisitive "Kelly is a brilliant engineer, and she's one of the best mentors I have, and she's taught me so much about our work beyond the technical." "Kelly is an active SEAONC member, having held many positions within the association including president, and is an inspiration to all engineers, especially younger women engineers in the profession." Kelly, on her favorite project or achievement: "I am proud to collaborate, through technical and professional organizations including SEAONC, SEAOC and ATC, in engineering community efforts to improve the safety of our built environment. This has included participation in and being a steward of our building codes, standards, guidelines, research and educational presentations." |
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Theresa Curtis
Thornton Tomasetti In a few words, she is... Artistic, Creative, Smart "Theresa has been an excellent leader in our profession, and has led TT through a lot of wonderful initiatives." Theresa, on her favorite project or achievement: "When our Design Build team was awarded the May Lee Office Complex project for the State of California in December 2019, we knew it was going to be a challenge. With over a million square feet of office space to be delivered on a very short timeframe, we had it all set up to run this project like we normally would - intending to collocate in a Big Room to facilitate the required collaboration. The Covid lockdown threw us a curveball, shattering our plans. However, the team doubled down on our communication and partnering which allowed us to maintain our lightning-fast schedule (for example, the first steel mill and detailing order was due only 5 months after notice to proceed) and ensure success of the project for all of the stakeholders. The project is now headed for and on-time completion here in the spring of 2024. This teamwork made this challenging project also one of the most fun ones to deliver in my career." |
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Masume Dana
Forell | Elsesser In a few words, she is... Sharp, Committed to technical excellence, Talented "It's been pretty incredible watching Masume grow into her current role over the last 20 years or so. She's super smart, impressive, and has a big heart." Masume, on her favorite project or achievement: "The building formerly known as the Berkeley Art Museum (BAM), designed by Mario Ciampi and opened in 1971, is an architecturally significant Brutalist reinforced concrete building listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a Historic Landmark by the City of Berkeley. As a successful adaptive reuse, the transformation of this landmark museum building into biosciences incubator and research labs is desirable from both a historical and sustainability perspective. Being part of the design team from the beginning to the opening day, over 8 years, and making this amazing project happen is a major achievement of my career as a structural engineer. It feels great knowing I got to apply all I had learned in school and at Forell | Elsesser to extend the life of this landmark." |
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Chelsea Darnelle
ZFA Structural Engineers In a few words, she is... Positive, Intentional, Reliable "Chelsea is a hardworking engineer and an even better friend dedicated to building connections with people inside and outside of our industry." Chelsea, on her favorite project or achievement: "In 2021, I designed the structural support of two outdoor natural playground structures: a custom lookout sculpture and a custom archway sculpture constructed with woven tree branches that were sourced from the Presidio and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The structures are part of an interactive, outdoor museum installation in San Francisco. While I am proud of this project for its professional challenges and uniqueness, it is my favorite project for more personal reasons. It was the first project I got to show off to my grandparents, proudly declaring, ""I helped make that happen."" And what made it even more memorable was that during our visit to the museum, I also got to share the exciting news of my engagement the night before." |
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Aleeta Dene
APA In a few words, she is... Knowledgeable, Thoughtful, Outgoing "Aleeta is a truly knowledgeable engineer that’s passionate about the profession and sharing what she knows with others --- it’s inspiring to hear her speak about her work and engineering experiences." Aleeta, on her favorite project or achievement: "Last summer I took over as APA’s lead on the Timber-Strong Design Build (TSDB) Competition that we co-sponsor with ASCE, Simpson Strong-Tie and the American Wood Council. Helping give engineering students a leg up with some practical wood design/construction experience has been an incredible experience. With the wide variety of backgrounds and experience levels, crafting rules and resources to maximize the ROI for the students has been a labor of love for our Planning Committee. Watching these young engineers grapple with real design problems as well as transportation and installation logistics has me overflowing with pride for our profession every year." |
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Chelsea Drenick
Woodworks In a few words, she is... Knowledgeable, Resourceful, Considerate "Chelsea is always curious about possibilities, not only for advancing the profession in wood construction, but is helpful in promoting firm and project success." Chelsea, on her favorite project or achievement: "At WoodWorks I started an annual event called “Celebrating Women in Wood Construction” we have keynote speakers who are women in the AEC industry present on a project they are working on here in the Bay Area. Following the presentations there is a networking event. It’s been incredibly rewarding hosting this event every year, I meet new people and enjoy great conversations, and I know other lasting connections have been made at these events. I look forward to hosting it every fall, our third annual event will be September 2024." |
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Abby Enscoe
Tipping In a few words, she is... Enthusiastic, Positive, Focused "She is a great structural engineer and not only focused on structural engineering working on design projects but also interested in code development and research projects moving our profession forward all with a very positive attitude." Abby, on her favorite project or achievement: "UC Berkeley International House Seismic Retrofit – We leveraged advanced analytics to develop a highly targeted retrofit that didn’t impact the historic façade or interior finishes. We added retrofit elements locally under the central cupola and at other critical locations rather than adding larger elements such as new concrete shear walls. We had a terrific and collaborative design, construction, and ownership team. As a Berkeley native, I found it particularly gratifying to contribute to making this beautiful and important building safer for the next generation of students." |
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Tali Feinstein
Exponent In a few words, she is... Fearless, Pioneering, Supportive "They are doing amazing work in the nonstructural component seismic design realm and have been propelling the industry forward in this and other regards. They are also very active in SEAO(N)C and are just absolutely fabulous human-beings who elevate and empower everyone around themselves." Tali, on her favorite project or achievement: "One of the projects that I am particularly proud of is my work on the design of the Hashmurot Bridge in Natanya, Israel. This 200 ft span twisting steel truss bridge was designed for pedestrian and bicycle use while I was working for Rokach Ashkenazi Ltd. It was a challenging and rewarding experience to be a part of the team that brought this beautiful and functional bridge to life." |
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Joyce Feng
Strandberg In a few words, she is... Hard-working, Sharp, Invested "Joyce is a leader and trailblazer at our company, always striving to be better and make the industry and our company better as well. I've known Joyce for many years. She's contributed quite a bit to the profession and cares deeply about the mentorship of younger engineers" Joyce, on her favorite project or achievement: "The Kaiser Santa Teresa Emergency Department Expansion was an SCBF building on drilled piers. It was my first completed design project. Knowing that lives are saved everyday in a building I helped design has been professionally rewarding and personally inspiring." |
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Thuy Fontelera
Element Structural Engineers In a few words, she is... Exemplary, Community-Driven, Inclusive, Empathetic "As the Founder and Principal of Element Structural Engineers, Thuy embodies the future of the structural engineering industry. With her forward-thinking and creative design approach, community-driven mindset, and commitment to DEIB, she truly engineers the change we want to see. Thuy is an exceptional example of an empathetic leader and a strong woman and business owner, amazing representation for the structural engineering profession." "Thuy is committed to the continued personal & professional growth of herself and her team and passionate about structural engineering advances in technology and for women." Thuy, on her favorite project or achievement: "A project that she is most proud of is Firehouse Square. Located in Belmont, CA, this affordable housing project demonstrates innovation and community transformation. Partnering with BDE Architecture and Devcon Construction, Fontelera's team converted a former firehouse into a modern home for 127 families, prioritizing affordability and sustainability. The ElementSE team, with Thuy as the Principal in Charge, integrated the original front façade by connecting it to the new structure. The team devised innovative engineering solutions to ensure structural integrity and safety, including a post-tensioned concrete podium over a basement garage. Firehouse Square stands as a testament to ElementSE’s vision, reshaping communities and setting a new standard for sustainable, inclusive development." |
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Sharon Gallant
KPFF In a few words, she is... Smart, Driven, Passionate "Sharon is a pioneer in Protective Design in the Bay Area and the world and is a principal running her own successful practice." Sharon, on her favorite project or achievement: "One of my most rewarding projects was working as the protective design consultant for Benjamin P. Grogan and Jerry L. Dove Federal Building on both the Bridging team and Design-Build team. The project garnered numerous awards from AIA, DBIA, ENR, and other entities and was truly the most creative and collaborative experience. Protective design elements included hostile vehicle mitigation, blast, ballistic, and forced entry hardening that was integrated into a high-performance façade system designed for hurricane loadings and flying debris hazards. The Krueck + Sexton Architects team of design consultants and Hensel Phelps trade partners worked collaboratively to integrate and optimize the façade. We also worked closely with the architect and landscape architect to integrate the surrounding wetlands and water features into creative anti-ram and anti-climb design solutions. The project was located in Miramar, Florida; had a size of 383,000 sf; and construction cost of $194M." |
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Rupa Garai
Skidmore Owings & Merrill In a few words, she is... Tenacious, Articulate, Wicked Smart "Rupa is an energetic leader and mentors her staff through complicated projects with technical excellence and good spirits. Rupa is passionate about mentorship of early career professionals and was one of the original SE3 committee members." "Rupa's devotion to the structural engineering profession runs the gamut; from individual projects, to code development, committees, writing/grading our SE Exam, and more!" Rupa, on her favorite project or achievement: "The project Sanyi Irootech Twin Towers in Guangzhou, China (under construction), perhaps deserves a special mention in my career. The towers utilize an offset diagrid exoskeleton in addition to central core as its lateral system. Friction devices are used at the offset nodes of this exoskeleton which are expected to slip when the shears at the nodes exceed the predefined threshold (moderate earthquake demands) thus preventing damage to the connecting members during a rare seismic event." |
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Emily Guglielmo
Martin/Martin In a few words, she is... Tenacious, Brilliant, Poised, Unstoppable "Emily has been a trailblazer in our field and hyper involved with our profession. She is a role model to me and many others due to her work ethic and engineering finesse. Someone who needs no introduction... perhaps the most accomplished SE in recent history in our chapter and nationally. Emily is incredible." "Emily is a force to be reckoned with and is so inspiring to be around." Emily, on her favorite project or achievement: "Over the past 20 years, I've had the privilege of working on remarkable projects including airports, stadiums, and museums. But I've discovered that my deepest source of pride has been building a team of amazing individuals and the collective accomplishments we’ve achieved. Being part of a team where individuals thrive, collaborate, and innovate is immensely rewarding and continues to be a cornerstone of my professional journey." |
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Meaghan Halligan
ISAT Total Support In a few words, she is... Fearless, Pioneering, Supportive "They are doing amazing work in the nonstructural component seismic design realm and have been propelling the industry forward in this and other regards. They are also very active in SEAO(N)C and are just absolutely fabulous human-beings who elevate and empower everyone around themselves." Meaghan, on her favorite project or achievement: "I think the thing I am most proud of is the committee work I am involved in. The committees I have participated in, both currently and in the past, (DES, CEC, Seismology, non-structural components, Wind, ASCE 7, SEAONC Board), have allowed me to meet and collaborate with so many amazing engineers over the years. Currently, I almost exclusively work in ASCE 7 Chapter 13, so I am thrilled to be part of the efforts to make that chapter clearer and easier to use for other design professionals. Part of that work is the production of a design guide for nonstructural components which will ensure design professionals have a resource for a chapter that many may not be familiar with. I am also happy to be a part of the conversations on how enhanced nonstructural components performance leads to more resilient buildings." |
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Erica Hays
Degenkolb In a few words, she is... Friendly, Open, Honest "Erica cares passionately about the development of our staff engineers. In getting to know them, helping them thrive and succeed and in doing so, creating a meaningfully positive culture of openness and acceptance at Degenkolb that I feel helps retain and grow more women (and men) in our industry." Erica, on her favorite project or achievement: "When I became a project manager at Degenkolb, I assumed that I’d take on work from an existing client, simply transitioning work from another PM. To me, it seemed like a far off goal to bring in, and maintain, a large new client. However, a year into becoming a PM, I got a call from an MEP consultant I had worked with while I was a staff engineer. He was now working at a large tech company and his words to me were, “Can you come out and look at this?” The “this” turned out to be a completely empty warehouse that would later become a large factory. The job seemed like a long shot for us, as this was a completely new client, but my contact knew I was responsive and collaborative, which was what he needed for the Phase 1 factory build-out with a deadline in a few months. That one anchor project has turned into over 100 projects, now at multiple sites. I’d like to think our engineering speaks for itself, but I now know that once the engineering is good, it’s your personality that has the client calling you again and again. It’s our willingness to work through challenges, meet tight deadlines, respond quickly and collaborate often. When things go wrong, I look for a solution, not blame, and that’s allowed this partnership with us and this tech client to be enjoyable, rather than contentious. Looking back at my career thus far, I’m proud of the engineering I’ve done and the spaces we’ve created for our clients, but I’m even more proud of the relationships I’ve built." |
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Nellie Ingraham
NISE In a few words, she is... Inspirational, Determined, Resilient "Started as a female engineer at a time when there are only a few women in the field." Nellie, on her favorite project or achievement: ""Founding Principal of Ingraham DeJesse Associates (IDA): The achievement that makes me the most proud is my 50-year career in structural engineering and founding and managing IDA for 27 years. My experience has allowed me to share my leadership, creativity, and passion with other women and minority engineers, and has brought me a lot of growth both personally and professionally." |
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Sol Jumakuliyeva
Estructure In a few words, she is... Intelligent, Dedicated, a Leader "Sol has only been out of school for a few years, but she has spearheaded to writing of the new "Guide to the Design of Nonstructural Components" she is very involved in Seismology and heads the state nonstructural components subcommittee." Sol, on her favorite project or achievement: "Muttville Forever Home Seismic Retrofit and Renovation: this is my first seismic retrofit project and it holds a special place in my dog owner heart because the owner is a non-profit organization that rescues elderly dogs (mutts) and finds them their forever homes. It was a challenging project, but I am extremely proud of the work we and the entire team did to make this dream come true. I am super excited to go to the grand opening in August!" |
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Sania Khan
Maffei In a few words, she is... Committed, Organized, a Go-getter! "Sania has jumped into engineering and has already improved our firm's organization, joined multiple SEAONC committees, and volunteered with LEAP and EAA." Sania, on her favorite project or achievement: "I'm really proud of my work developing ground motion suites for NLRHA. Coming from Canada's East Coast, where seismic education was scarce, delving into seismic behavior and its impact on structures has been a fascinating journey. I recall telling my family and friends back home that I wanted to go to California (the world-renowned epicenter of seismic activity) to learn about earthquakes, and I feel lucky to be able to do just that!" |
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Anne Kiremidjian
Stanford University In a few words, she is... Smart, Kind, Dedicated "Professor Kiremidjian is an influential and kind lady who is very supportive of the growth and development of students in the structural engineering profession." Anne, on her favorite project or achievement: "My research has been in two major areas: (1) earthquake hazard, risk and resilience modeling, and (2) structural health monitoring. While I have made many contributions in both of these fields, I believe the most impactful is the development of the very first wireless structural health monitoring system. We embarked on the project in early 1990’s, shortly after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake when structural accelerometers where typically uniaxial large boxes requiring cable connections both for communication and power, and data acquisition system (with analog to digital converter) for translating the electrical signal into a strong motion numerical time series. We designed the first system that deployed Micro-Electro-Mechanical (MEMS) three axis accelerometer (1cmx1cmx1/5cm) connected to a microprocessor, a wireless data transmission module and a laptop for data delivery. Proof of concept was achieved through a parallel test conducted at the Alamosa Canyon Bridge, New Mexico, together with Los Alamos National Labs who used conventional cabled legacy accelerometer. The test demonstrated the feasibility of the wireless technology with MEMS accelerometers. Our system also represented a very significant reduction in costs. Currently, wireless structural monitoring systems are being deployed worldwide bringing valuable information to structural engineers and facility managers." |
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Kari Klaboe
WJE In a few words, she is... Thoughtful, Brave, Engaging "Kari is a great engineer and I have learned so much from working with her. She cares about her teams and her projects." "Besides being an accomplished structural engineer in a leading forensic engineering firm, she is an excellent mentor of others both in her office and across California. " Kari, on her favorite project or achievement: "2023 Turkey - Post-earthquake Damage Assessment After the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey, I participated on a team led by ACI that surveyed damaged buildings in south-east Turkey. Our team was focused on collecting as much data as possible for reinforced concrete buildings prior to them being demolished. While it was saddening to see the devastation caused by the earthquakes, it was rewarding to know that we were collecting information on building configurations and construction that will be used to improve design and construction practices." |
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Gina Kope
Holmes In a few words, she is... Engaged, Insightful, Pragmatic "Gina is moving our industry forward towards sustainable structures through her leadership and involvement with the Sustainable Design Committee. She has applied sustainable design in real projects such as an innovative Microsoft project." Gina, on her favorite project or achievement: "I am most proud of my career in sustainability and growth: Gina Kope is a Senior Engineer at Holmes Structures in San Francisco, coming up on 9 years of experience working on a diverse set of projects in which sustainable practices were implemented, including the largest mass timber project in North America, amassing ~350,000 SF of CLT, a new 8-story mass timber affordable housing building and many custom high-end residential homes. She is most proud to have been involved in the design and construction of the largest mass timber project in North America for a tech campus in Silicon Valley. This 5-year long project in her early days of engineering introduced her to mass timber and low carbon concrete and has been a springboard for her continued learning around sustainable strategies in structural design. As past co-chair of the SEAONC Sustainable Design Committee, Gina’s interest in sustainability developed into wanting to help other engineers recognize the impacts of the built environment. Gina plans to continue outreach to educate professionals on how they can reduce their carbon footprint in their every-day practice as an in-office champion for the sustainable group within Holmes, a signatory of SE2050." |
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Claire Leader
Martin/Martin In a few words, she is... Inclusive, Visionary, Advocate "Claire Leader is a pivotal nominee for the 'Faces of Women in SE' page, recognized for her focused commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within structural engineering, inspiring positive change and fostering belonging." Claire, on her favorite project or achievement: "No accomplishment seems as significant as the connections this profession continues to offer. With a supportive professional network, we can be much more equipped to advocate for ourselves and others. I am grateful to be part of such a well-connected, resilient professional community. I am proud of where I am today, with complete gratitude to this community for its support. I look forward to seeing how we will progress as a profession when we celebrate one another’s achievements." |
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Lindsey Maclise
Forell | Elsesser In a few words, she is... A Relationship-builder, Compassionate, Ambitious "Successful career woman, working mom and still makes time to volunteer her time to EERI or SEAONC. " "Lindsey was my first friend at SEAONC and she has been an incredible support system for me throughout my career." "Lindsey is an inspiring leader; eager to learn, willing to stretch herself, involved professionally, passionate about sustainability, and a good role model for younger engineers. My hope is that this nomination would bring to light Lindsey’s leadership attributes and encourage and inspire younger engineers." Lindsey, on her favorite project or achievement: "I would say the Stanford Bass Biology Building. I am proud of it because aside from it being a beautiful completed building it was a wonderfully collaborative team, many of whom I continue to work with a decade later. I feel that it was a defining point in my career to truly “own” all aspects of a project. I also had both of my children throughout the project, and the team worked through my leaves with ease and support, which further highlights the uniquely supportive team that the project created." |
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Brenna Marcoux
Forell | Elsesser In a few words, she is... Inclusive, Confident, Generous "Brenna is a incredible leader who has given her time generously to the association" "Brenna always brings a well-rounded, inclusive perspective to any conversion and shines as a leader in the AEC industry." Brenna, on her favorite project or achievement: "Salt Lake Temple Base Isolation Retrofit: part of the structural team for construction administration for this groundbreaking project. The structural scheme of the 1880's historic Temple retrofit provides a base isolation and load transfer system at the base of the building and ties together the solid stone masonry structure with a new steel roof, vertical post-tensioning in the walls and towers, and a system of steel strengthening in the tower spires." |
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Silvia Mazzoni
Silvia's Brainery & DesignSafe In a few words, she is... Beyond smart, Funny, Detail-oriented "Silvia is one of a kind. She's jumped out of the "traditional" consulting role and done a deep dive into complex analysis methods and has found a way to really maximize her influence and potential through instruction." Silvia, on her favorite project or achievement: "My greatest achievement, which still motivates me every day, is my 25-year involvement with OpenSees. I started using OpenSees before it was even called OpenSees. I understood both its function -- what it does -- and functionality -- how it does it. That was the easy part! I have dedicated the last 25 years to coding and decoding OpenSees to make it accessible to the engineering community (okey, I took a few years off to learn about ground motions). I developed the OpenSees manuals and the yearly OpenSees Days -- both often imitated, never duplicated. It's great to see the impact that OpenSees has had in the educational and research community. I am now excited about my involvement with with OpenSees-Curious engineering firms. OpenSees is a beautiful complex machine, not a complicated one: a metaphor for those of us in engineering who are worth the apparent extra effort!" |
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Melissa Meikle
RDH In a few words, she is... Collaborative, Motivated, Enthusiastic "Melissa is passionate about sharing her engineering knowledge with others, which makes her a joy to work with and also a strong collaborator within the profession." Melissa, on her favorite project or achievement: "A recent project that stands out is one that started as a regular assignment and led to unexpected professional growth. I began as a team member involved in warranty inspections of three concurrent ongoing below-grade waterproofing sites. After a few months of demonstrating my technical knowledge, attention to detail, and putting in hard work, I took on more responsibility and quickly jumped into the deep end. I quickly learned what it takes to manage a project of this magnitude, like coordinating with contractors and providing client updates—all aspects I was not completely familiar with. In under a year, I became the manager of the below-grade phase of the three sites on the project. I am proud to look back at the progress I made with not only the challenges I faced but how much I have been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. A saying I just learned while in New Zealand is 'Do The Mahi Get The Treats,' which means if you put in the hard work then the reward will follow. This resonates because all my dedication and perseverance truly paid off with not only career development but also proving to myself that I have what it takes to succeed. So, the next time you are facing a difficulty, remember 'Do The Mahi Get The Treats!' " |
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Maryann Phipps
Estructure In a few words, she is... Fearless, Pioneering, Sincere, a Champion "They are doing amazing work in the nonstructural component seismic design realm and have been propelling the industry forward in this and other regards. They are also very active in SEAO(N)C and are just absolutely fabulous human-beings who elevate and empower everyone around themselves. Maryann has been such a powerhouse and influential and inspirational individual to everyone in our profession! Maryann makes me proud to be a structural engineer. She is a woman of action, principle, and compassion. She makes the world and everyone around her better, every day." "Maryann is an inspiration to every female engineer that is lucky enough to meet her. She is humble and kind and curious while leading the non-structural code developments, starting her own thriving firm, and raising a family!" Maryann, on her favorite project or achievement: "Doing Business a Different Way – I started a small business in 2000. Our two highest priorities are taking care of each other and taking care of our clients. This focus has allowed us to flourish an all ways, including financial. It is a joy to be part of the Estructure team, which has been one of the cornerstones of my personal well-being for years." |
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Lauren Posey
Martin/Martin In a few words, she is... Efficient, Determined, Action-oriented "She has made focused contributions to code development and is an advocate for young members, showcasing her dedication to advancing structural engineering inclusivity and innovation." Lauren, on her favorite project or achievement: "I am proud of my involvement in code committees so early in my career, including ASCE 7 committees and the NCSEA Code Advisory Committee." |
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Hayley Proctor
WJE In a few words, she is... Thorough, Down-to-earth (No B.S), Ambitious "Hayley's a great engineer, but she stands out because of how much thought she puts into her work to make it precise, understood, and impactful. Hayley was a past co-chair of SE3 and she did an amazing job keeping the committee members engaged and inspired. Hayley has provided strategic leadership for SEAONC SE3 to move our industry to be more inclusive through organizing programs such as the 2021-2022 DEI Firm Leaders Cohort, the 2022 SE3 Symposium, and multiple industry surveys." "Hayley is an amazing structural engineer focused on not only technical achievement, but also mentoring and engagement within the profession through her efforts with SE3/SEAONC." Hayley, on her favorite project or achievement: "I am proud of what I feel I have been able to bring to the projects and teams I have worked on so far as well as the breadth of work I have been able to take on at WJE. Within SE3, I am proud of a lot of my projects and events, but I would have to say that planning and executing the 2022 SE3 Symposium was by far my biggest effort, and I am very proud of that." |
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Stefanie Rae Arizabal
FEMA In a few words, she is... Advocate, Resilient, Leader "In addition to being a great engineer, Stef has been a dependable mentor and sponsor to me and many others in the AEC community, constantly uplifting those around her." Stefanie, on her favorite project or achievement: "Youngest and only female of the 29th class of FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Structures Specialists, and author of FEMA P-2055-2 publication, Recommendations for Cordoning Earthquake-Damaged Buildings. Proud to lead California's Disaster Emergency Services and improve local, state, and national disaster response procedures." |
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Holly Razzano
Degenkolb In a few words, she is... Collaborative, Resilient, Kind "Holly is practical and thoughtful in her approach to engineering and generous with her time mentoring younger staff." Holly, on her favorite project or achievement: "UC Seismic Advisory Board: Serving on the UC Seismic Advisory Board for the past seven years has been a wonderful opportunity to support seismic safety and resiliency at the UCs while working with and learning from other amazing leaders in structural engineering." |
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Gwenyth Searer
WJE In a few words, she is... Fierce, Fun, Meticulous, Engaged "Gwen is a dedicated and tireless engineer. She is an expert in many fields and always strives to advance the engineering profession. Gwen has been an outstanding SEAONC board member and chair of the SEAOC wind committee. She is also heavily involved in our DEI initiative." "Gwen is current SEAONC board member and active SEAONC member working to support and improve the association, along with regularly mentoring younger structural engineers in her office." Gwenyth, on her favorite project or achievement: "I am most proud of the structural stabilization of the Antelope Valley Indian Museum, for which I was structural engineer-of-record (https://www.wje.com/projects/detail/antelope-valley-indian-museum). I am also equally proud that I was awarded the James M. Delahay Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance in Code Development." |
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Molly Seto
KPFF In a few words, she is... Energetic, Supportive, Ambitious, Kind "Molly provides a great role model for technical excellence, great mentoring skills, and cheerful professionalism. Molly, on her favorite project or achievement: "Being elected and serving on the SEAONC Board of Directors and in particular helping develop the DES Committees Disaster Response Plan. An achievement I’m proud of is all of the housing developments, specifically affordable housing, that I have been able to work on in the Bay Area, since it is much needed infrastructure that really makes a difference in our community." |
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Barb Simpson
Stanford University In a few words, she is... Tenacious, Brilliant, Multi-faceted Barb, on her favorite project or achievement: "I am most proud of my work implementing real-time hybrid simulation for fluid-structure interaction. The work has allowed me to explore new applications of structural engineering to offshore wind energy devices, and the intersection of ideas from many different disciplines outside of civil engineering." |
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Angie Sommer
ZFA Structural Engineers In a few words, she is... Reliable, Communicative, Strong-willed "Angie has made incredible contributions to profession for the last 10 years and has a strong leadership mindset " "Angie wears many hats, both in and out of the firm, and is respected no matter which one she wears." Angie, on her favorite project or achievement: "One thing I am most proud of is my contributions to the SE3 Committee. I co-chaired the SEAONC SE3 Committee and then helped form and was the inaugural co-chair of the NCSEA SE3 Committee. I very much believe in the cause of SE3 and support the group’s mission, but more than that, I was compelled to pour my time and energy into the committee’s work for a time and found volunteering in this way to be very rewarding. I learned leadership skills by directing a group of dedicated and kind committee members, I learned project management skills by helping to figure out what initiatives to pursue and how to effectively complete them, and I made many friends who continue to be dear to me. SE3 taught me the meaning of “you get what you give,” and I’m so grateful to have been a part of that group’s work." |
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Megan Stringer
Holmes In a few words, she is... Approachable, Cool, Inspirational, Committed "She is a super star and a great mentor to many women and men in our industry. She's super inspiring - she is an associate principal, SEAONC Past President, on the board of SE2050 - she does it and makes it looks so easy!" Megan, on her favorite project or achievement: "Project: Microsoft Silicon Valley – At the time, the office building was the largest mass timber building in North America. Seeing the project from start to finish, the application of something “new”, and working with a such a fantastic team was truly a rewarding feat and reminds me why I love what we do. Achievement: SEAONC President – I have said many times that joining SEAONC 15 years ago (and getting involved) was the best career decision I made. Getting to lead this great Association last year was a true honor and one I won’t forget." |
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Tracy Tanusi
Maffei In a few words, she is... Diligent, Confident, Enthusiastic "Having only just started her full-time career, Tracy has already planted her feet in the industry by taking on complex projects, joining multiple SEAONC committees, and providing valuable perspectives to our work and company." Tracy, on her favorite project or achievement: "Tracy takes pride in her commitment to advancing sustainability in structural engineering. From designing solar arrays to contributing to sustainability reports, Tracy is dedicated to help the structural engineering community work towards a greener future." |
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Nancy Tennenbaum
Tennenbaum-Manheim Engineers In a few words, she is... Talented, Knowledgeable, Creative. "Nancy Tennenbaum is a very creative, talented and knowledgeable engineer. She started the firm Tennenbaum-Manheim Engineers more than 35 years ago, which was one of the first woman-owned structural engineering firms in San Francisco. She had been active with many SEAONC's committees." Nancy, on her favorite project or achievement: "Nancy Tennebaum, founder of Tennebaum-Manheim Engineers (TMe), had long been interested in historic preservation. One of her favorite projects where she served as Design Principal in Charge, was the Seismic Upgrade and Rehabilitation of the Conservatory of Flowers, the oldest remaining wood and glass greenhouse in the US, built in 1878. The Conservatory was severely damaged in 1995 by strong winds, primarily due to deteriorated wood and an inadequate lateral system. TMe (in association with ARG) served as Prime Consultant. The upgrade design included enhancing the structure with light steel reinforcement without impacting the architectural fabric. The entire structure was dismantled and replaced with fallen old-growth redwood (a green solution before the development of LEED). Because design values do not exist for fallen wood, TMe developed a testing method used for each piece of lumber. The scope of work included a survey of existing conditions, preliminary design, construction documents, and construction administration. The project was completed under a strict deadline and on budget. Nancy and the team worked closely with the city and the contractor throughout the project and made presentations to the public, San Francisco Heritage, the Office of Historic Preservation, Public Works, and non-profit agencies fundraising for the project. The best part of the project was that everyone working on it, from the designers to the contractors, worked with care and a deep sense of pride, creating a successful project." |
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Natalie Tse
Tipping In a few words, she is... Authentic, Compassionate, Enthusiastic, Courageous "Natalie is in some ways the person who first welcomed me to a SEAONC meeting, and she's continued to be someone I strive to be like in many aspects of my professional life. Natalie has done so much work to encourage diversity in the field and deserves recognition. Natalie has inspired so many to pave their own path in the structural engineering profession. Natalie was a co-founder of the SE3 group and has provided many years of thoughtful input, mentorship, and support to SEAONC members." "Natalie has a perpetual positivity to raise others, particularly those with the greatest need, to be their best all while promoting the importance of our profession." "Natalie is a force of nature and can make things happen, progress, move forward more effectively than anyone I know in our industry. She has used her talent to create meaningful progress around diversity equity and inclusion in our industry, influencing so many people in our industry, not just at Tipping!" Natalie, on her favorite project or achievement: "I have a tough time with the achievement but I would say that my proudest achievement is the connections and friendships I've made in the profession. I know that sounds simple (and sappy), but I honestly think they are just as important as any SE3 work or SE pathways-related initiatives, or any buildings I've designed or seen get built. But yes, clearly, I'm incredibly proud of the "committee" work and the impacts we've made, but there is still so much to do... " |
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Carene Umubyeyi
Martin/Martin In a few words, she is... Resilient, Brilliant, Generous "Carene has been an inspiration to young engineers in the field, working with both a passion for research and industry. Happy to have her as a colleague and friend in this engineering space." Carene, on her favorite project or achievement: "I’m passionate about sustainability in the built environment and I’m happy to have found ways to make contributions to this effort both in my current work at Martin/Martin and in the past when I was a student. Some of this involvement includes helping develop in-office tools for embodied carbon tracking, being a member of SEAONC sustainable design committee, and having previously researched and contributed to publications on low-carbon construction materials such as rammed earth. I’m hopeful that our profession will continue making positive strides in sustainable construction practices and meet environmental targets to mitigate the impacts of climate change." |
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Megan Vandervort
Martin/Martin In a few words, she is... Competitive, Passionate, a Leader "She exemplifies leadership and passion for improving the SE profession." Megan, on her favorite project or achievement: "I'm most proud of my work empowering diversity and inclusion through SEAONC SE3 (including putting on this event), Pathways, and my company's JEDI committee." |
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Melissa Vickery
Degenkolb In a few words, she is... Focused, Spunky, Resilient "Melissa is working hard on the Convention committee and seems like a great engineer as well." Melissa, on her favorite project or achievement: "Early in my career I spent most of my time designing and constructing the new Oakland Medical Center for Kaiser Permanente. Being involved in such a large project for the city I lived in was something really special. To top this all off, a year after they opened one of my close friends took a job as a doctor on the campus. She loves to tell people she knows the building is safe and I love how she supports me as an engineer!" |
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Noelle Yuen
Maffei In a few words, she is... Humble, Sharp, Balanced, Courageous, Practical "Noelle should be a role model to all of us! She is a superb engineer, directs the operations at her firm, while managing the successful education of her kids. Noelle has a successful career including being a partner/principal at a firm while navigating being a mother to two wonderful children. She's an example of making parenthood and career work. Noelle gets things done. She is an adept leader and an astute teacher, and she never puts herself on a pedestal. She is the heart of our firm." Noelle, on her favorite project or achievement: "A project that I am proud of is the Maffei team! In the past few years, we've doubled the size of our firm and increased our diversity, and we've maintained a culture of good comradery and continuous learning. I am also proud of the East Dublin/Pleasanton BART station, which was one of my first projects as a young engineer, and I was pleased to contribute to public transit and connecting the Bay Area together." |