SEAO is the acronym for the Structural Engineers Association of Oregon. This is a volunteer professional organization whose primary purpose is education, providing a forum for structural engineers in Oregon to interact, improve their technical knowledge and professional skills. SEAO also works to educate the design community, and the community at-large on structural engineering topics. Established in 1949, SEAO has steadily grown and changed with the times. SEAO is currently the fourth largest state association of structural engineers in the USA, with over 500 members.
SEAO is a non-profit corporation. A board of directors is elected annually by the membership with some board members serving two or three year terms to provide continuity. Our Executive Secretary, Jane Ellsworth, has been with us for many years and is an excellent resource for information on any facet of the organization. SEAO is a member organization of and maintains voting delegate representation on the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA), the Western States Council, and the Northwest Council. The Board directs the activities of our many committees, which are the workhorses of our organization. Each committee has a unique task varying from recommending technical design code revisions, to selecting speakers for dinner meetings, to organizing the annual golf tournament.
The purpose of this organization is manifold. Our mission is to encourage, develop, and maintain the integrity of our profession. Communication with our membership is the key to accomplishing this mission. The two main tools we utilize for communication are this website and publishing our monthly newsletter. Both the website and newsletter convey information and opportunities of specific interest to structural engineers in Oregon. SEAO provides relevant, reasonably priced, and local continuing education opportunities such as full day seminars and one hour presentations at monthly dinner meeting. We promote social interaction within the structural engineering community through monthly dinner meetings, the annual trade show, the annual golf tournament, and the Young Members Forum. We plan and participate in the annual Northwest SEA Conference for educational benefit and to focus on professional issues unique to the Pacific Northwest. We monitor the legislative process in Salem and keep our membership informed of code and licensing issues which may be of concern to them.
Ultimately, our goal is to provide value to our membership and enhance the structural engineering profession. We welcome new members and encourage you to visit this website often to learn about the latest events and opportunities.