President's Report

SEAOSD President’s Message – Student Night 2026

A bridge is one of the most recognizable symbols of our profession—an elegant structure that connects people, places, and possibilities. In many ways, Student Night is our bridge, linking students to practicing engineers, academic achievement to professional opportunity, and the future of structural engineering to the strength of our community.

It is my pleasure to invite you to one of the most anticipated events on the SEAOSD calendar—Student Night 2026. Each year, this gathering reminds us why our field continues to grow, innovate, and inspire: the passion and promise of the next generation of structural engineers.

This year, we are honored to welcome Ashraf Habibullah, Founder and CEO of Computers and Structures, Inc. (CSI), as our keynote speaker. Ashraf’s impact on our profession is extraordinary. Through industry defining software such as SAP2000 and ETABS, he has transformed how engineers' model, analyze, and design structures worldwide. His election to the National Academy of Engineering in 2024 stands as a significant recognition of his leadership and lasting contributions to the built environment. We are excited to have him share his insights with our community.

Student Night also provides an important opportunity to highlight excellence across our region’s academic programs. SEAOSD will proudly award student scholarships to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, leadership, and dedication to the structural engineering profession. These students represent the future of our field, and we are honored to support their continued growth.

Additionally, all three 2025 SEE Excellence Award Winners will present their award-winning projects. Their work reflects the innovation, creativity, and technical acumen emerging from our community, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements.

We hope you will join us for this memorable celebration of achievement and the bright future of our profession.

 

A Call for Sponsorship Support

The success of Student Night depends on the generosity and commitment of our engineering community. Sponsorships are essential to funding student scholarships, supporting engagement opportunities, and ensuring this event continues to make a meaningful impact each year.

If you or your firm are able, we encourage you to consider becoming a sponsor of Student Night 2026. Your support directly helps students take their next steps across that “bridge” toward a vibrant and successful career in structural engineering.

Details on sponsorship tiers and benefits are available at the following link.

Sponsor now

Jeremy T. Callister

SEAOSD President 2025-2026

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Welcome New Members

New Members February
Eduardo Gil - Member
Bryan Solabac - Student
Tanner Bradley - Student
Angel Ruiz Murillo - Student
Celina Chen - Student
Matthew Gernandt - Member SE

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Calendar of Events

Future Meetings

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Ads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BWE, Inc. Promotes Mara Cordon, SE, to Principal Associate 

SAN DIEGO, CA – BWE, Inc. announces the promotion of Mara Cordon, SE, to Principal Associate. The promotion recognizes her exceptional leadership, commitment to sustainable design, and significant contributions to the firm since joining in 2020.

“Mara has consistently stood out for her exceptional work ethic and technical skills, earning the immediate respect of everyone on our team,” says Charlie Colvin, President of BWE. “She has the ability to start with any of our projects, ascertain the needs of the client through excellent communication skills, and lead the project to success.”

Cordon’s approach to engineering blends meticulous attention to detail with exceptional communication, enabling her to transform complex architectural ambitions into constructible realities. Inspired by the motto of her colleague Jeff Densley, "If there's a load path, there's a way," she has embraced an adaptive mindset that has earned the trust of her clients and project teams.

An advocate for sustainable design, Cordon leads BWE’s Sustainability Committee and serves as Embodied Carbon Champion for the firm’s SE2050 Commitment. Under her leadership, BWE is implementing performance-based concrete design strategies to reduce embodied carbon and adopting eco-conscious practices in its daily operations.

"Mara's ability to take on any project, understand client needs through clear communication, and lead it to success is remarkable. She leads by example, setting a high standard for our team, and generously shares her expertise to support and mentor our young engineers. Her contributions to the department's leadership have been invaluable,” says Charlie Colvin.

Cordon is currently contributing to several high-profile projects such as the ongoing Fontana City Hall Phase 2 Renovation, San Ysidro Health’s Kimball Highlands PACE Clinic, and the San Diego County Administration Center’s major, multi-phased renovation. “I find it very fulfilling to be able to see my projects in the real world, watching them transform from ideas, to drawings, to real buildings,” says Cordon.

Cordon was exposed to the world of design from a young age, growing up in a family of petroleum, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers. She earned both her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, becoming a third-generation Berkeley engineer. As she grows her own family today, Cordon is a role model to her peers, successfully balancing a thriving career with family life. “Separating work and home life is a key part of the balancing act of being a mom and engineer," she explains. "When I finish work for the day, simply seeing my daughter's face helps me decompress.”

In her new role as Principal Associate, Cordon will continue to mentor emerging engineers and expand her role in business development. She remains committed to continual learning, keeping her code knowledge sharp, leading projects, and making bigger impacts.

About BWE, Inc.

Based in San Diego, California, BWE, Inc. has provided structural engineering, civil engineering, and land surveying services for construction projects across Southern California for more than five decades. Known for design excellence and responsive service, the firm’s engineers and surveyors are trusted partners in the built environment. BWE is also committed to fostering professional growth, offering mentorship, training, and support for licensure and professional association membership. To learn more, visit bwesd.com.

Media Contact:

Athena Borrego

Director of Marketing & Business Development

[email protected]

(619) 299-5550

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SEE Awards

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Committee Updates

Make your opinion count! The 2025 edition of the SE3 survey is officially LIVE!

Join the conversation and participate in the 2025 SE3 survey--the link is available here: survey link and on NCSEA’s website: https://www.ncsea.com/se3-structural-engineering-engagement-equity-survey/.

This is the NCSEA SE3 Committee’s fourth nationwide survey targeted at structural engineers. The responses collected are valuable in understanding trends in our profession. If you are interested in learning more about NCSEA SE3’s previous surveys, past publications are available here: https://www.se3committee.com/surveydevelopment.

SE3’s mission is to attract and retain the best and brightest into our profession; and to ensure ALL structural engineers have a clear pathway to success. The SE3 survey is an ongoing effort to identify trends, understand the underlying factors, and initiate industry-wide conversations. Findings from past iterations of this survey included insight into why engineers leave the profession, the importance of mentorship, and the existence of a nuanced gender pay gap.

Responses are anonymous and confidential, and data collected will not be linked to you or your employer/firm. Dynamic Benchmarking, a leading technology provider serving associations nationwide, collects, anonymizes, and analyzes all survey data. This means that neither your personal information nor your firm’s details will be linked to the data, ensuring full anonymity and privacy.

Voting will close on Feb 27, 2026

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Job Ads

• • SEA News charges $100 ($150 for non-members) for “Job Posting” ads for 3 months in SEAOSD Newsletter.

  • In addition, the advertisement will be posted at www.seaosd.org under “Job Forum” for 3 months.

  • Please limit ads to 100 words.

  • Advertisements may be renewed or extended for $50 ($75 for non-members) per each additional month.

  Classified Job Listing

  Submit an Ad

  Project Engineer - Remote, Part-Time

  Reindel Engineering Inc.

  Job Posting
  Dec. 2, 2025

  View Ad

   

  SENIOR ENGINEER

  Degenkolb

  Job Posting
  Dec. 2, 2025

  View Ad

   

  Structural Engineer

  KPFF Consulting Engineers

  Job Posting
  Sep. 15, 2025

  View Ad

   

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Pathways News

SE Pathways is Back! Applications Opening Soon

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Thank you Sponsors

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SEAOC News

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