Modern Steel Construction Podcast Series: Field Notes

Community Centric

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 21:10:17 GMT

Architecture professor Maryam Singery has developed a sustainability focus in her 24 years in academia, and her primary method for it forward is fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Committed to the Cause

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Between his teaching, research, and extensive committee work, University of Tennessee professor Mark Denavit is among the most active and enthusiastic volunteers in the structural engineering community.

Structural Joint Specialist

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT

University of Cincinnati professor Jim Swanson's initial career interest was the farthest thing from structural engineering. His swift pivot to it in college has led to a three-decade career in academia and an expertise in bolted joints.

In Good Company

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Longtime bridge engineer Domenic Coletti has worked on countless bridges and research projects since HDR hired him in 1993, but to him, they’re secondary to the long-lasting human connections he has made in a "small world."

Steel Bridge Savant

Sat, 02 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Karl Frank's decorated five-decade career in steel bridges has included teaching, impactful research projects, and even a study on maglev trains.

A Decade of Database Building

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Switzerland-based professor Dimitrios Lignos has spent the last 10 years building a worldwide hub for seismic design and assessment resources and past research.

Take it to the Limit

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Andy Ziccarelli traded private practice for academia and has quickly become a prominent figure in studying steel members' behavior at extreme limit states.

Sudden Switch

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Ken Charles' steel industry career started because of an unexpected swerve. But it has turned into nearly five decades at joist and deck companies and recently earned him AISC recognition.

Sustained Success

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Jerry Hajjar once planned to spend his entire career as a practicing engineer, but an affinity for research pulled him into academia, where he has found a passion for sustainability, resilience, and earthquake engineering.

Living the Dream

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT

As a student, Amit Varma had visions of doing impactful steel design research. A quarter-century later, he has made significant contributions in three important areas.

A Taste for Teaching

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT

A chance to fill in as an adjunct professor pulled Matt Reiter toward a full-time academic career. Five years in, he teaches various design classes and is developing guiding principles for an engineering buzzword.

Trained in Train Bridges

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Jaclyn Whelan has focused on railway bridges for her entire engineering career and recently led a task group that developed a vital new resource for designing them.

Architecture to Academics

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Judy Liu pivoted from childhood architectural dreams to a closely related engineering discipline--paving the path for her career in academia and, eventually, an AISC Lifetime Achievement Award.

Inspired by Surroundings

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Urban living has shaped architect Ho-gyeum Kim since his childhood, and his experience in New York sparked an award-winning design concept.

Sustainability Savvy

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Fraser Reid did not envision becoming a sustainability champion when he began his structural engineering career, but he has flourished in that space and found an industry niche where he's comfortable.

Architectural Adventure

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT

An architecture career that has included stops in three countries brought Nima Balasubramanian to AISC, where she's helping create a crucial resource for educating architects about structural steel.

Achieving a Dream

Thu, 01 May 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Growing up near Philadelphia helped shape Jill Lavine's childhood architectural aspirations. Decades later, she's a prominent figure in the area's architecture scene.

Finding Footing

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Kimberly Guzman has found her place in structural engineering after shifting gears to it during college and navigating early career challenges.

A Grip on Galvanizing

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMT

A recent project has made University of Kansas professor Caroline Bennett a well-known voice on the behavior of hot-dip galvanized steel.

Steins Sell Steel

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Gary Stein has guided the steel distribution company his father founded from a one-location operation into a market leader.

At Home in Academia

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Joshua Schultz entered the AEC world with visions of becoming an architect, but he has found his fit in academia after nearly a decade at Gonzaga University.

Riveting Research

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:00:00 GMT

University of Notre Dame professor Ashley Thrall quickly immersed herself in engineering when she discovered it after college, and she's now a respected researcher who runs a cutting-edge campus laboratory.

Fluent in Bridges

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Heather Gilmer studied linguistics before finding her way to her original engineering passion: bridges. Combining them has led to 20-plus years in fabrication quality management and specification writing.

On The Rise

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Machel Morrison has become a respected voice in academia and steel design instruction within just a few short years of starting his teaching career.

Top-Tier Teacher

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Bob Shaw has made an illustrious career out of teaching professionals and immersing himself in committee work, and a student competition he created nearly 40 years ago has gained international acclaim.

Prolifically Published

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Mike Grubb's exhaustive writing on steel bridge design led to him earning one of the profession's highest honors: The J. Lloyd Kimbrough Award.

Giving Back

Fri, 24 May 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Onur Avci pivoted from a career as a practicing engineer to academia, fulfilling his wish to share his wealth of knowledge with the next generation of engineers.

Making His Own Name

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMT

David J. Odeh's father helped steer him into structural engineering and to the family company, where he has become a widely respected voice and leader in his own right.

Veteran Voice

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Four decades into his career, prominent fabrication engineer Mark Holland's first employer remains his only employer. Holland has spent 42 years with Paxton & Vierling Steel and is still as enthused about his work as when he started.

Bridge Authority

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Rob Connor has helped make Purdue University a leader in steel bridge research and has helped build the university's S-BRITE center into a nationally known bridge inspection and testing training center.

Connecting the Dots

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMT

"Steel Matchmaker" John Schuepbach links people from all corners of the North American structural steel industry, especially equipment buyers and sellers. His lengthy list of contacts has also helped make him a valued fabricator consultant.

Service to Steel

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Longtime AISC volunteer Steven J. Fenves has helped propel the steel industry forward for more than half a century. He joins the podcast to discuss his background, his work on the AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, and more.

Multidimensional

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Georgia Tech professor and bridge expert Ryan Sherman has focused his recent research on 3D printing and its potential impact on steel construction.

The Camera Eye

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Architecture professor and 2023 AISC Lifetime Achievement Award winner Terri Meyer Boake became a respected voice on architecturally exposed structural steel due in no small part to her photography skills.

A Bridge Lifer

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Frank Russo, PE, PhD, founder of Russo Structural Services. Listen to Frank dive into his two-plus decades in bridge design and repair, his favorite projects, and the launch of his company in 2021.

Learning to Lead

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Ruby+Associates' president and CEO Tricia Ruby didn't expect to work for the firm her father started. But now she runs it, complementing its engineering expertise with her business and leadership know-how.

Quality Time

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Quality assurance expert Cliff Schwinger has spent a career helping designers and detailers improve their designs and view mistakes as learning experiences.

Rebuilding a Business

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Nearly two decades ago, David Zalesne left a successful legal career in Philadelphia to revive a steel fabrication shop in South Carolina--and he's never looked back.

Covering the Super Bowl(s)

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Mark Waggoner's experience designing long-span steel roofs has led to his working on multiple massive stadiums, including several that have hosted the Super Bowl in recent years.

Conveying Cambering Considerations

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 12:00:00 GMT

An expert on steel design, fabrication, and erection with a half-century-plus of experience, former LeJeune Steel president Larry Kloiber shares his thoughts on his life in the industry, particularly his work with cambering steel.

Design Leader

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:00:00 GMT

After three decades of building portfolios for different structural engineering companies, Helen Torres decided to start building a portfolio for a new firm--one that bears her name.

Steel Saga

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Larry Kruth has dedicated the majority of his life to the structural steel industry as a practicing engineer, a fabricator, a safety expert, an instructor, a committee volunteer, and an AISC vice president. And even though he recently retired (for the second time), his work with the industry will continue.

Lifelong Learner and Teacher

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Chris Raebel's life thus far has been a fruitful and varied journey, all without having to stray from the city he loves--Milwaukee--for too long.

Unconventional Wisdom

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 12:00:00 GMT

Ron Klemencic's habit of questioning the answers has led him to play an integral role in developing the revolutionary SpeedCore high-rise core wall system.

Reimagined Rig

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 12:00:00 GMT

One of this year's Steel Design Student Competition winners and his faculty advisor discuss the iterative process of transforming a decommissioned offshore oil rig into a cultural center.

Half a Century in Steel

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 12:00:00 GMT

Grady Harvell has been a driving force in Arkansas' steel industry, as well as in bringing a structural research lab to the state's flagship university.

Engineer, Pioneer

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 12:00:00 GMT

Remember when computers weren't ubiquitous in engineering offices? Allen Adams does. And it led him to help create design software with the ultimate goal of letting engineers be engineers.

The Sky's the Limit

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 12:00:00 GMT

This year's Forge Prize winners discuss their Common Sky concept, which has the potential to take urban housing projects to new heights, both figuratively and literally.

Master of Metal

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 12:00:00 GMT

Rae Ripple's life tree has branched off many times. And it's taken her to exactly where she wants to be.

Intercontinental Connection

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:00:00 GMT

Gian Rassati, a 2022 AISC Special Achievement Award winner, began life in a small Italian mountain town and has gone on to do big things in bolting research.

The Long Run

Sun, 01 May 2022 12:00:00 GMT

University of Illinois engineering professor Larry Fahnestock takes a proactive approach to teaching, advising, and covering great distances.

Wise Welder

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 12:00:00 GMT

To Mary Jo Emrick, welding is an art, a science, an opportunity, and a lifelong skill that she is teaching to the next generation.

Building Balance

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 12:00:00 GMT

Dave Eckmann's approach to his work as a structural engineer is influenced by his architectural aptitude and education, not to mention his lifelong desire to build things.

All-around Architectural Enthusiast

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 12:00:00 GMT

AISC steel specialist, Alex Morales leverages his diverse background to help design teams make the most of their structural steel projects.

By the Book

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 12:00:00 GMT

As one of AISC's longest-tenured employees, Cindi Duncan has wrangled countless committee members to keep publications on track and on schedule.

Oil (and Steel) on Canvas

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Gwyneth Leech brings out the bold beauty of steel construction in her portraits of under-construction Manhattan high-rises.

Three Degrees of Engineering

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Larry Muir took an unorthodox path to get his various engineering degrees. But it has led him to connection design and consulting success.

Alternate Realities

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Engineering professor Hannah Blum is working to make the most of her and her students' experiences in the real and virtual worlds.

Engaging Effort

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 12:00:00 GMT

University of Missouri Steel Bridge Team captain Corey Valleroy has elevated his team in both size and diversity and helped his fellow teammates make the most of their experience in the 2021 AISC Student Steel Bridge Competition.

Building Out

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Nick Colina has turned his once-struggling family business into a success story and is also working to turn the California construction industry into a more inclusive landscape.

Forging a Connection

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Hunter Ruthrauff's Forge Prize-winning design was generated by his personal connection to San Diego's Balboa Park and addresses the need for a public connection across one of its canyons.

A Stable Job

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 12:00:00 GMT

UMass engineering professor and structural stability expert Kara Peterman takes the long view on life.

Steady Beat

Sat, 01 May 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Southern California architect Anders Lasater has found the perfect balance between designing buildings and banging drums.

A Series of Fortunate Events

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Armed with sound advice from her father, Nyckey Heath has forged a rewarding path to become a project manager with one of the country's top steel erectors.

Raising the Bar

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Vicki O'Leary's mission is to make the ironworking profession more equitable and safer, one heart and mind at a time.

Making a Mark

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Mark Trimble's introduction to building things was as his father's right-hand man on household projects. Little did he know that it would prepare him for a career in construction.

A Strong Cast

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Carlos de Oliveira and Michael Gray, co-founders of AISC member Cast Connex, forged a partnership as students that evolved into a company that is a global leader in steel castings for structural applications.

Make It Here

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 12:00:00 GMT

Through a new advertising campaign, Zekelman Industries CEO Barry Zekelman is working to push for industries of all types to grow and maintain their manufacturing operations here in the U.S. Hear him discuss this effort, his thoughts on Buy American provisions, advice from his father, and his passion for fast cars.

Equality Expert

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 12:00:00 GMT

In addition to being a vice president and senior medical planner with HKS' Washington, Washington, D.C., office, Yiselle Santos Rivera is also the company's global director of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (J.E.D.I.). Hear about how she became an architect, her philosophy on design, and more.

Industry ACE

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 12:00:00 GMT

Angela Cotie is a project executive with Gilbane Building Company and the chair of ACE Mentoring Houston, where she takes a leading role in introducing the next generation to the wide breadth of careers in the construction industry. Hear all about ACE as well as Angela's career in construction.

Perfect Pair

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 12:01:00 GMT

Rosannah Harding and Matthew Ostrow are the founders of HardingOstrow, a New York-based design practice. They are also the winners of this year's AISC Forge Prize Award for their design Footbridge. They discuss their winning project, their architectural inspirations, life in a commute-less world, and more.

Lifelong Advocate

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 12:00:00 GMT

Hollie Noveletsky is CEO of AISC member fabricator Novel Iron Works in Greenland, N.H., and is also an AISC board member. Hollie grew up around steel, visiting and working for her father's fabrication business before embarking on a career in nursing, specializing in geropsychiatry. Hollie talks about making her mark in the family business--which she now runs--applying her healthcare background to the manufacturing world, and how both roles have helped her company weather the current pandemic.

There and Back Again

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 12:00:00 GMT

Steve Knitter, president of Geiger and Peters in Indianapolis. Steve talks about how his career evolved from robotics to steel fabrication, why he prefers skiing to snowboarding, what it was like racing to the finish on a project at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and how he found his way back to Hoosier State (twice).

Making Connections

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 12:00:00 GMT

Carol Drucker, SE, PE, PEng, Cofounder of Drucker Zajdel Structural Engineers in Chicago. Carol discusses how bridges pulled her into engineering, how she fell into connection design, and why she was drawn to Chicago.

Judge and Jury

Fri, 01 May 2020 12:00:00 GMT

John Parucki, Head National Judge of AISC's Student Steel Bridge Competition. John discusses his quarter-century judging the SSBC, what the competition means to him, how it's changed over the years, and also how many holes-in-one he's hit (hint: not many).

Running Free

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 12:00:00 GMT

Tabitha Sine, PE, Vice President of Market Development with AISC. Hear Tabitha's thoughts on managing a team of 30 at work and nearly 900 in a tee-ball/softball/baseball league--and also running.

Longtime Lion

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 12:00:00 GMT

Lou Geschwindner, PE, PhD, Senior Consultant with Providence Engineering Corporation and Penn State Professor Emeritus. Hear Lou's thoughts on teaching multiple generations of students, how he became interested in buildings, genealogy research, what professors emeritus do, and wacky ties.

Beating the Drum

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 12:00:00 GMT

William D. "Bill" Bast, SE, PE, Principal and Head of Thornton Tomasetti's Forensics and Renewal practices in Chicago. Listen to Bill's thoughts on mentoring in the engineering profession, his present and past work on Willis Tower, and how he got into drumming.