Dear Members,

As structural engineers, we commonly partner with others in our architecture, engineering, construction industry; our partnerships are what make our projects successful, and we often express gratitude to be on a great project team that enhances and advances our success.

As our SEE Awards approaches on May 14th, we will surely hear the awardees express thanks to the project teams and our hope is that the architects and contractors of those teams can receive thanks in person at the event.

At SEAOSC, our partnerships enhance and advance our profession. We have worked hard this year to build and strengthen our relationships with many partner organizations and I want to take this opportunity to thank and promote this success.

• In October, we partnered with AIA Pasadena Foothill to host an in-person SAP training put on by our DES committee.

• In November, our partners at ICC taught us about code updates to design temporary structures at our Orange County member breakfast. We continued to cross promote ICC events and collaboration through attending ICC meetings.

• In January, our partnerships were further strengthened when a group of AEC organizations formed to jointly respond to the great need for recovery expertise after the wildfires. This joint group includes leaders from SEAOSC, AIA-LA, AIA-PF, AIA-SFV, So Cal NOMA, ASLA, APA-LA, WiOps, USGBC, ACE Mentorship, LA County Public Works, and others. We participated in panel discussions hosted by AIA to represent the structural engineering side of the rebuilding efforts. Our DES committee invited our SAP trained partners from AIA-PF to join us on our reconnaissance team deployed to Altadena.

• In February, we hosted a great Career Fair and Emerging Engineers Night where we had representatives from our local student chapters and universities in attendance and several students received scholarships from the SEAOSC Foundation.

• In March, our WiSE committee put on an inspiring Leadership Symposium. We continue to strengthen our relationship with Women Working Together and we recently officially signed an MOU with AIA-LA, NAWIC-LA, and WiOPS to enhance and advance this partnership. We have a lot to look forward to in future joint events.

• In April, we will join AIA San Fernando Valley for a Structured Connections event in Van Nuys where we will promote our partnerships in advancing Adaptive Reuse strategies and policy. I hope to see you there! This week, SEAOSC student members, faculty, and our volunteers will participate in the ASCE Student Symposium on Cal Poly Pomona's campus and other volunteers will run a SEAOSC table at ACLA's Design by Diversity Day at PCC.

• May will bring our Safer Cities annual meeting. We have strengthened relationships with CALBO throughout the years through our Safer Cities initiative and these partnerships continue to be strengthened as we work directly with building officials in recovery and rebuilding initiatives after the wildfires. Last week, several SEAOSC members joined City of Malibu officials on our second reconnaissance trip to fire damaged areas in the City.

• June rounds out our SEAOSC year and we will host our President's Lunch on June 11th at the AIA-LA space. Speakers include experts from EERI and other partner organizations. We also end the year commemorating the centennial of the 1925 Santa Barbara Earthquake with our partners at AIA Santa Barbara and other local organizations. Be on the lookout for promotions for those events.

In writing this, I am amazed, but not surprised, at all the involvement that our members have in these partner organizations (and I am sure I am leaving some out). Our partnerships continue to make our organization successful, and I am grateful for each of our members participating on these great teams that enhance and advance our profession. Join us at these upcoming events!

Garrett Mills, SE | SEAOSC President 2024-2025