NCSEA Foundation Focused on Advancing Profession
The NCSEA Foundation was established early this year to further support the non-profit activities of NCSEA and its Member Organizations to advance the structural engineering profession through technical development, education, and outreach. 
The Foundation will fund qualifying initiatives and activities such as:
  • Outreach and Education
  • Research and Technical Development
  • Publication of Education and Technical Materials
  • Events and Activities 
  • Scholarships
The Foundation's funds are intended to aid in the advancement of the science and practice of Structural Engineering as well as promote engagement within NCSEA’s Member Organizations
The Foundation supports existing NCSEA initiatives like Young Member Summit Attendance and the MO Grant Program.
The Foundation is supported by specialty ticketed events throughout the year as well as individual and corporate donations.
The NCSEA Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. To learn more about the Foundation, click here.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Webinar Series
In accordance with the Call to Action released earlier this year, NCSEA is working to identify and eradicate behaviors that perpetuate racism and inequality within our profession. In conjunction with its Foundation and SE3 Committee, NCSEA has partnered with a strategic diversity and inclusion practitioner to develop a series of webinars that will introduce attendees to diversity, equity, inclusion, and discuss ways to begin developing multicultural organizations via inclusive policies, programs, and practices. Sessions 1 & 2 are FREE to attend while the third session will be hosted at the NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit.
Resilience Committee Attends NIST Conference to Further its Mission
In July, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) held its annual Disaster Resilience Symposium. This virtual event focused on research linked to fire related disaster and failure studies, work funded through the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program and the Wind Impact Reduction project, as well as reduced Ignition of Building Components in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires.

NCSEA’s Resilience Committee, which works with groups such as NIST to develop concepts of natural hazards resilience, was in attendance. Committee Member Chris Cerino, SEAONY, attended the presentation focused on the effects of flood load forces on an array of buildings. The intended goal of the presented research is to influence future editions of ASCE 7 as the current ASCE 7 Flood Load Chapter does not account for shielding effects that happen on trailing rows of buildings in urban areas. The NCSEA Resilience Committee coordinates with state and local efforts by SEA member organizations to develop positions and recommendations on issues such as this.

Read more about the committee’s attendance at this event here.
To learn more about the NCSEA Resilience Committee, click here.
Upcoming SEA Events
September 15-24, 2020
SEAOI – Design and Detailing of Reinforced Concrete Buildings

September 22, 2020
SEAW – Special Inspections and Structural Observation

Sept.17, 24 & Oct. 1, 2020
SEAMass – Structural Failures Webinar Series 
Welcome to the first installment of Read. Watch. Listen: a monthly forum hosted by the NCSEA SE3 Committee to share and promote conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion within the structural engineering profession. Each month, we will curate a series of articles, audio-visual and digital media to facilitate self-education in matters that affect our professional practice as structural engineers. Whether you choose to read, watch, or listen (or all three!), we hope you will join us in this important conversation.

NCSEA SE3 has developed a library of resources with regards to engagement and equity within the structural engineering profession. We're excited to share this collection as on-going conversations demonstrate a broad interest in these topics. However, we recognize that not all in our membership feel it is appropriate for a professional organization to comment on gender and racial inequity in our workplaces and/or society at large. We have reflected on this sentiment and continue to feel strongly that if we do not encourage these conversations, change and improvements will be slow to follow. Ultimately, addressing diversity and inclusion directly impacts recruitment into and retention in the profession, and that's exactly the intention behind the SE3 mission statement. We welcome respectful discourse and recommend the following article from the Harvard Business Review: Leaders Can't Shy Away from Sensitive Topics, Even When It's Awkward by Bill Boulding, Dean of Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.
 
Share your thoughts and/or recommended resources for the next issue at ncsea@ncsea.com.
READ
The AIA’s Equity and the Future of Architecture Committee (EQFA) developed a series of publications entitled Guides for Equitable Practice as part of their commitment to work with members to overcome inequities and to advance the profession. The guides provide a resource for firms to achieve a professional work environment, build intercultural competency, improve awareness, and to develop and retain employees. Each chapter includes best practices, relevant research, and tools to help address a variety of employment and personnel issues. 
WATCH
The recorded presentation is a part of SEAoNY's Diversity Committee's seminar series: Conversations on Racism for Built Environment Professionals. This webinar, the first in a three-part series, introduces the topic of racism. Jennifer Pazdon moderated the conversation with Shani Barrax Moore, a diversity & inclusion strategist, on how racism impacts individuals, institutions, and society. The presentation explores how biases are learned and reinforced through life experiences. It encourages individuals and firms to take action, challenge the acceptance of racist norms, and create measurable change.
LISTEN
This recording, part of a monthly series from SEAOI, explores diversity from various perspectives. Panelists reviewed the current state of the profession and considered the work needed for improvement. The session was moderated by Johann Aakre, Bridge and Structures Department Manager of Michael Baker International. Guest speakers include JuanPablo Prieto, director of diversity at CTA; Vernal Stewart, president of SE3 LLC; Amrith Kaur Aakre, legal director of the Sikh Coalition; and Krisann Rehbein, executive director of the Chicago ACE Mentor Program.
Have You Registered for the 2020 Summit, Yet?
In today’s world, you need dynamic solutions that can adapt to their environment. The 2020 Structural Engineering Summit will include three days of presentations, three days of Bonus Content presentations with live speaker interaction, two-months of access to our virtual trade show (opening in October), and networking opportunities to interact with fellow attendees.
Your registration to the Summit includes:
  • Virtual Trade Show Solutions 
  • Open October through the end of November!
  • Easy Virtual Access to Leading Industry Suppliers
  • Set Appointments, Review Latest Materials, and More
  • Unique Networking Opportunities
  • Virtual Lounges will be open for topic driven peer-to-peer networking, trivia games, and more!
The Business of Structural Engineering: What You Need to Know to Help You and Your Firm Succeed
This brand new Web-Based Seminar will help you to further develop your management and business skills, as well as how to apply those skills to your career to enhance your firm's profitability. Business of Structural Engineering will be delivered over three weeks in three 1.5–2 hour webinars by some of the industry’s top leaders. The presentations will be available as recordings following the live event.
The Seminar will cover:
  • marketing
  • leadership development
  • contracts and legal language
  • finance and financial metrics
  • project management
This seminar is critical to practicing structural engineers on the management track or in management at their firm. SEs from across the nation will be participating as you can all learn from industry leaders to set yourself and your firm up for success and enhanced profitability.
The course begins this TODAY, Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 12:00 pm CT. (10:00 am PT, 11:00am MT, 1:00 pm ET)

Day 1 includes:
Marketing Your SE Firm—Tools for the Structural Engineer at All Levels
James Kent, Principal and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Thornton Tomasetti
Understanding Your Key Financial Ratios to Build Shareholder Value
David Cohen, Managing Director, Matheson Financial Advisors, Inc.
Apply Now: Young Member Awards
NCSEA awards deserving up-and-coming leaders in our industry Young Member Scholarships to attend the NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit. This year's recipients will receive free registration to the Virtual Summit which includes all the great benefits above! The scholarship competition is open to any current member of an NCSEA Member Organization who is under the age of 36.

The emphasis of this award is to recognize Young Member Groups that are providing a benefit to their young members, member organization, and communities. Each finalist will each receive one complimentary registration to the 2020 Virtual Summit.
Join the NCSEA Wind Committee
Do you have a desire to be more engaged in your profession at the national level? The NCSEA Wind Engineering Subcommittee is looking for individuals who would find value in contributing to the SE profession while also networking with other experts and engineering leaders…focusing on the subject of wind. The Committee is seeking new voting members, corresponding members, observers, an industry representative, and a secretary. Click here to learn more about the various positions.
Interested individuals should contact Emily Guglielmo – the NCSEA Wind Engineering Subcommittee Chair – at eguglielmo@martinmartin.com.  
Prepare for the PE Structural Exam With This Review Course
NCSEA's SE Review course is completely on-demand. Review course materials and watch the recordings when it is convenient for YOU. PLUS…attendees have access to a virtual classroom to ask the instructors questions whenever they arise.
At $495 for members, this on-demand course is the most economical PE Structural Exam Prep Course available. The course includes 30 hours of instruction: 8 Vertical Sessions and 10 Lateral Sessions. The course will give you exam preparation tips and problem-solving skills to pass the exam. All lectures are up-to-date on the most current codes. View the list of our expert speakers and complete course listing here.
Upcoming Webinars
All NCSEA live webinars offer 1.5 hours of continuing education credits. Most NCSEA webinars are Diamond Reviewed and accepted for SE continuing education in all 50 states. To view other upcoming webinars, click here.

September 22, 2020
Seth Thomas, P.E.

October 1, 2020
Rafael Sabelli, S.E.

October 8, 2020
Richard Bennett, PhD, P.E.

Recorded Webinars can be purchased here.
Subscribe to education with NCSEA's Live & Recorded Webinar Subscription. Available to NCSEA members only! This exclusive plan includes:
  • At least 30 live webinars per year featuring high-quality speakers.
  • An unlimited number of free CE certificates for each webinar; multiple viewers at the same location can receive credit for every live webinar.
  • Unlimited 24/7/365 access to NCSEA's Recorded Webinar Library
Call for Information
We'd love to hear about your SEA! Have you hosted an event recently that you'd like to share with the rest of the organization? Are you hosting an upcoming event that you would like featured in Structural Connection or NCSEA News? Please let us know! If you have any news, events, or accomplishments you'd like to share, please reach out to Dana Long at dlong@ncsea.com. Also, remember to add your upcoming events to NCSEA's Calendar. Just visit this link and fill out the details of your event, it is really that easy!