Vicki O'Leary became an ironworker in 1985 at age 21 and after being offered a job by a Chicago apprenticeship coordinator, she embarked on a 20-year construction trade career. "I'm not going to pretend it was easy, because it wasn't," says O'Leary, who worked on projects from O'Hare International Airport to McCormick Place convention center, always seeking opportunities to learn.

The Structural Stability Research Council's (SSRC) annual Stability Conference will again be held in conjunction with NASCC: The Steel Conference, as it has been since 2001. In addition to 13 sessions featuring more than 30 papers, the conference includes the 2018 Beedle Award (honoring the late Lynn S. Beedle) and MAJR (McGuire Award for Junior Researchers, established to recognize promising young researchers in structural stability) Medal presentations.

Look up! It's a bird, it's a plane! No, it's a drone, coming to a steel bridge near you.

The bridge-building challenge has been thrown down and accepted by hundreds of engineering students across the country. Regional competitions--17 in all, involving around 2,500 students on approximately 200 school bridge teams--will soon be under way for this year's annual Student Steel Bridge Competition (SSBC), sponsored by AISC. Forty teams, comprised of the top few finishers from the regional competitions, will move on to the 2019 National Finals.

The National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) is collaborating with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), a nonprofit organization that builds footbridges in isolated communities across the world, to travel to Bolivia April 13-28, 2019. This is NSBA's third volunteer trip with B2P; the first two trips went to Panama. The new bridge will provide access to healthcare and schools and will allow also local residents to get their goods to market.

Don't forget to sign up for first AISC Night School course of 2019. "Connection Design: Tips, Tricks, and Lessons Learned" tackles everything you need to know about steel connection details. Taught by five of our industry's foremost experts, this course will provide instruction on the connection design process and the latest design methods.  

The growing field of women welders will be represented during two Women Who Weld workshops at NASCC: The Steel Conference in St. Louis from April 3-5. These half-day introductory workshops are for women interested in learning the basics of MIG welding.

High-rise construction has the potential to become more cost-effective and time-efficient thanks to the SpeedCore system. SpeedCore is a revolutionary new method of composite structural-steel framing, aiming to replace the common reinforced concrete core in steel office-tower construction. 

The 2019 NASCC: The Steel Conference, taking place in St. Louis April 3-5, will feature two sessions about how the SpeedCore system was put into practice. Come check them out!

As we settle in on the new year, our webinar series is heating up. Join us on January 24 for a live webinar, "Bridge Focus: Fabricators' Insights on Clear Communication of Design Requirements." Bradley J. Dillman, PE, vice president of engineering for High Steel Structures (an NSBA member and certified fabricator), will host.

It's time to start tackling your continuing education goals for the year! And AISC can help you start racking up your PDH credits.

The World Steel Bridge Symposium (WSBS) brings together bridge design engineers, construction professionals, academics, transportation officials, fabricators and erectors to discuss and learn innovative practices for enhancing steel bridge design, fabrication and construction techniques.

The Stage One deadline for submitting a design proposal for The Forge Prize is this Wednesday, January 16, 2019. Interested parties are invited to develop an imaginative design that bolsters steel as the 21st century building material of choice. 

The brand-new office building at 1515 W. Webster Avenue in Chicago kicks off a major development for the city. The 207,000-sq.-ft, four-story edifice will serve as the Midwest headquarters for logistics company C.H. Robinson. Located on the North Branch of the Chicago River a few miles north of the city's Loop business district, it is the first building to be constructed as part of the ambitious Lincoln Yards project. 

Werner H. Quasebarth, retired CEO of Atlas Machine and Iron Works, Inc. and former AISC Chairman (1985-1987) and Director (1977-1998), died on December 26, 2018, at the age of 87. He was dedicated to an active life of service through his leadership in industry and community organizations.

Nucor Corporation (an AISC member producer) has announced plans to build a state-of-the-art plate mill in the Midwest; the exact location is yet to be determined. Nucor's Board of Directors has approved an investment of $1.35 billion to build the mill, which is expected to be fully operational in 2022 and will be capable of producing 1.2 million tons per year of steel plate products, for structural use. The project is expected to create approximately 400 full-time jobs.

NASCC: The Steel Conference 2019 takes place April 3-5 in St. Louis and offers nearly 150 sessions of topics ranging from properly specifying welds to connection design to tackling the skilled trade shortage. This year's conference also features three extraordinary keynote speakers -- one on each day of the conference.

The first AISC Night School course of 2019, "Connection Design: Tips, Tricks, and Lessons Learned," tackles everything you need to know about steel connection details. Taught by five of our industry's foremost experts, this course will provide instruction on the connection design process and the latest design methods.  

AISC proudly welcomes Edward Seglias, Partner at Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC, as general counsel. Seglias replaces David Ratterman, who retired at the end of last year after serving as AISC's General Counsel for 30 years. Bringing more than 25 years of experience, Seglias is a highly regarded trial lawyer, noted for his wealth of experience in construction disputes. Additionally, he is a sought-after lecturer on the subjects of bidding law, delay claims, scope claims and project management, and has created an array of seminars for various trade organizations. 

The first quarter 2019 issue of AISC's Engineering Journal is now available at www.aisc.org/ej. You can view, download and print the current edition.

Registration is now open for NASCC: The Steel Conference. The sooner you register, the more you save! Registration starts at $420 and will increase on a weekly basis, so be sure to register now for the best price. If you're involved in the design or construction of steel buildings or bridges, The Steel Conference is the premier opportunity to immerse yourself in the latest design concepts, construction techniques and cutting-edge research while engaging with thousands of industry professionals.