November 9-10, 2026
ASCE Structural Engineering Conference and Workshop
Gateway Hotel and Conference Center
Schedule
Please note, the workshop will be held on day one and the conference will be held on day two. This is a change from previous years.
Workshop
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Welcome and Introduction
Speaker(s):
Curtis Carter, PE, Chief Bridge Engineer, Iowa Department of Transportation
10:30 PM – 12:00 PM
Three Ongoing Bridge Research Projects
Speaker(s):
Justin Dahlberg, PE, Director - Bridge Engineering Center, Iowa State University
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Luncheon
Presentation by ISU Steel Bridge Team
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
AASHTO Bridge Specification Recent Updates
Speaker(s):
Frank Russo, PE, PhD, Russo Structural Services
Conference
7:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Registration
8:25 AM – 11:35 AM
Morning General Session
Presiding: Chariman Paul Thompson, SE, PE
| 8:25 AM – 8:30 AM | Welcome and Introductory Remarks Speaker(s): Chairman Paul Thompson |
| 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM | The Blessings of Disaster Speaker(s): Michel Bruneau, Ph. D., P.Eng., Professor, University at Buffalo |
| 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM | To the Skies in DSM Speaker(s): Brett Tigges, Sr. Project Manager, Raker Rhodes Engineering |
| 10:15 AM – 10:35 AM | Break ISU Steel Bridge Team and Concrete Canoe Team |
| 10:35 AM – 11:35 AM | AI Ethics in Design: Safeguarding Standards in a Digital Era Speaker(s): Nick Maletta, VP/Shareholder, Holmes Murphy & Associates |
11:35 AM – 12:40 PM
Lunch
12:40 PM – 3:25 PM
Concurrent Sessions – Building Session
Presiding: Kari Sebern, Planning Committee Member
| 12:40 PM – 1:35 PM | Davenport IA Partial Building Collapse Speaker(s): William Bast, PE, SE, Principal, Regional Director – Midwest, SOCOTEC Engineering, Inc. |
| 1:35 PM – 2:30 PM | ASCE 7-22 Changes Speaker(s): Cole Graveen, PE, SE, Senior Engineer, Raths, Raths & Johnson |
| 2:30 PM – 3:25 PM | Composite Plate Shear Walls (SpeedCore) For Non-Seismic Applications Speaker(s): Amit Varma, Ph.D., P.E. (WY), Professor, Purdue University |
12:40 PM – 3:25 PM
Concurrent Sessions – Bridges Session
Presiding: Anthony Peterson, Planning Committee Member
| 12:40 PM – 1:35 PM | F3148 Fastener Installation, Testing, and Inspection at the Black Hawk Bridge Speaker(s): Tom Ringelstetter, PE, CWI, Chief Engineer/Corporate Quality Manager, Kraemer North America |
| 1:35 PM – 2:30 PM | Bridges Designed for Minimum Maintenance - Iowa DOT TR-791 Speaker(s): Mohamed ElBatanouny, PhD, SE, PE, Associate Principal and Unit Manager, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. |
| 2:30 PM – 3:25 PM | Lessons Learned on US-30 over UPRR Pier Repair Project near Wheatland, Iowa Speaker(s): Ashley Cook, PE, Bridge Project Manager, Sam Kevern, PE, SE, Technical Manager – Bridge, Jim Nelson, PE, Senior Bridge Technical Manager, Michael Baker International |
3:25 PM – 3:45 PM
Break
3:45 PM – 5:15 PM
Afternoon General Sessions
Presiding: Mark Currie, Planning Committee Member
| 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM | Generative AI 101 for Civil Engineers: Foundations for Getting Started Speaker(s): Ash Duong, PE, CEO & Founder, Praxian Labs |
| 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM | Building the Forth Bridge Speaker(s): Paul Giroux, Dist.M.ASCE, NAC, Professor of Practice, Purdue University |