Carolyn Berg heads up our K-12 outreach program and is always looking for volunteers willing to lend a helping hand. Some possible ways to get involved might include: asking your children’s teachers if they would be interested in a presentation, being the presenter, coordinate the efforts of the volunteer presenters, etc.

Stacy Moreci and Mario Esola are in the infancy stages of starting up a Structural Technical Group for our local Branch. Anyone who has ever been involved with a startup knows that it takes a lot of time and commitment. If you practice structural engineering and have either thought about getting involved with a group or have been involved in the past and want to get involved again locally, here is an opportunity to jump in at ground zero.

Rob Down is the current President Elect of the ASCE SLO Branch. As I mentioned at last months meeting, this year we have seen some attrition within our officer group due to employment and economic challenges. There is no doubt that Rob will be on the hunt for willing volunteers to run for office and fill the positions of next year’s officers. If you have ever wanted to be an officer, there is no better time than the present.

Kari Wagner is currently heading up the efforts to throw the most magnificent 50-year ASCE anniversary party you have ever seen. I don’t want to say too much here and let the cat out of the bag, but there are many ideas planned for this event which means there are many opportunities to get involved.

One thing I do want to tell you about the 50-year anniversary meeting is that it will be our Annual Awards meeting and is currently planned as an evening event some time in May. We typically have our annual meeting (and awards) in June, but we have decided to push it up a month to coordinate with the SCE National Concrete Canoe Competition being hosted by Cal Poly this year. What does this mean for you? It is time to start thinking about which individuals and which projects you (and your companies) want to nominate for awards this year. I’ll be sending out much more information about this soon in a separate e-mail. If you want to get involved with this event or are a past president and want to help judge the competition, please contact me.

Mario was born in San Francisco, but grew up in Concord, California. He moved to the Central Coast in 1995 to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for Architectural Engineering. While attending Cal Poly, Mario was an active member and President of The Structural Engineer’s Association of California (SEAOC). Some of his favorite classes at Cal Poly were his upper division material design labs for concrete, steel, and wood/masonry. It was these classes that enabled him to put into practice what he learned in his engineering theory classes, along with giving him a good feel for what a career in Structural Engineering was going to entail. Aside from his engineering course work, Mario was also on the Cal Poly Swim Team. He swam for Cal Poly for four years and was Team Captain for two years. It was also while swimming for Cal Poly that Mario met his wife, Christina. Mario graduated from Cal Poly in 2000 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Engineering and like me, is among the lucky few who were able to stick around after graduating.

Mario interned with Cannon during his last year at Cal Poly, and continued to work for Cannon until 2007. Since then, Mario now works for John A. Martin & Associates managing Design Development and Construction Document Phases of Structural Engineering projects. Mario also produces three-dimensional dynamic models for large buildings and interprets the results of those models. One of his favorite projects so far has been the Buena Vista Casino, which is the largest structure he’s designed. The Buena Vista Casino is a 145,000 square foot structure that includes a casino, a multi-purpose room, a Blues Lounge, a VIP Wine Lounge, two dining areas with kitchens, and more. This project also utilized 3-D Building Information Modeling for coordination and construction documents. Mario is currently working on investigative and design work, and looks forward to being able to share what he’s learned about Structural Engineering with developing Structural Engineers.

Aside from his career, Mario devotes his time towards his family, his church, and the development of the ASCE San Luis Obispo Branch Structural Technical Group (STG). Mario and his wife Christina recently celebrated their 9th wedding anniversary and have two children, Lloyd who’s almost 5, and Henry who’s almost 2 ½, along with a cat named Speedo and a dog named Lilly. He is also an active member of First Presbyterian Church in San Luis Obispo, and together with his wife, is a founding members of the Journey Group, a young family fellowship group. Mario has also taken it upon himself to co-chair, along with Stacey Moreci, the start up of a Structural Technical Group through the San Luis Obispo Branch of ASCE.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Mario for taking the time to speak with me, and answer all my questions. I was really surprised to hear about all the activities Mario is working on with business and his personal life. For those of you looking for advice from your peers, Mario would like to add, ”Live your passion, it will make you a happier person.” Thanks again Mario Esola for being this month’s Meet the Member.

Shameless Plug for STG…

Are you a local Structural Engineer looking to connect with other Structural Engineer’s within our community? Are you looking for fun and informative ways to network and learn about training opportunities with other Structural Engineers, and feel that ASCE doesn’t fit your structural needs? Then look no further, STG has what you need! Your local ASCE Branch, along with Mario Esola, and other local Structural Engineers, has put together a local Structural Technical Group just for you!

STG is currently an ASCE SLO Branch Committee that is exploring the local Structural Engineering community’s interest in participating in events intended to advance and serve the Structural Engineering profession within our community. Some of STG’s future goals include;

• Lead efforts to strengthen public affairs and promote public involvement.
• Improve the educational process for Structural Engineers.
• Improve the quality of business/professional practices among Structural Engineers.
• Enhance technology and information transfer.
• Lead efforts to write standards and influence codes.
• Enhance the image of Structural Engineering and Structural Engineers.
• Lead efforts to improve communication and cooperation among Structural Engineering organizations nationally and globally.
• Influence research to improve the technical practice of Structural Engineering.
• Serve and advance the art and science of Structural Engineering worldwide.

The STG (via the Structural Engineering Institute, SEI) would also like to provide a forum for research, education, design, testing, manufacturing, construction and operations in the Structural Engineering profession.

This group is open to anyone interested in Structural Engineering or learning more about Structural Engineering. STG is currently planning on meeting every other month, with their next scheduled meeting being in April. For more information, contact Mario Esola at mesola@jamaslo.com, or Stacey Moreci at smoreci@jamaslo.com.

LOCATION:
Rosa’s Restaurant
491 Price Street
Pismo Beach, CA

DATE & TIME:
Thursday, March 18th
12:00 pm (Noon)

MENU:
Food served family style, including: salad, two pasta dishes, fresh baked bread, and dessert.

RESERVATIONS:
Please sign up by 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 12, at the Branch web site (www.asceslo.org). Please attend the luncheon if you sign-up – some restaurants will charge the Branch for every seat we reserve, regardless of the actual attendance. If you have specific dietary restrictions or have questions, please contact Liz Moody at (805) 704-7912 or by email at LizM@cannoncorp.us. The cost is $20 for members or guests and $10 for student members.