March 15, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO - The AISC Education Foundation is pleased to announce that Cristopher Montalvo will receive the first-ever Reidar Bjorhovde Outstanding Young Professional Award.

Montalvo is a structural engineer for Dekker Perich Sabatini (DPS)--and he's already well on his way to forging connections to industry and education for his local community in New Mexico!

"Cristopher is just the type of remarkable leader the AISC Education Foundation aims to support through its programs," said AISC Director of Foundation Programs Maria Mnookin. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to connect Cristopher to our activities, resources, and networks for future career development and mentorship opportunities."

The AISC Education Foundation will give him a big boost with the Bjorhovde Award. He'll attend NASCC: The Steel Conference in Charlotte, N.C., in April, then enjoy steel mill and fabrication shop tours over the summer before joining the AISC Committee on Specifications meeting in Chicago in the fall!

"So many of the buildings in New Mexico are steel structures, so this is an excellent opportunity to broaden my knowledge of steel and connect with leaders of the steel industry," Montalvo said. "I want to thank AISC for the honor of being selected as the inaugural recipient of the Reidar Bjorhovde Outstanding Young Professional award. I am thoroughly excited to join the AISC Committee on Specifications meeting in Chicago in the fall!"

Montalvo formed and currently chairs the Structural Engineers Association of New Mexico's Young Member's Group, which provides networking opportunities with all members of the construction industry (fellow structural engineers, young architects, contractors, and civil engineers), technical sessions for current university students, technical sessions to learn soft skills, technical sessions to assist in learning common industry standards such as what is expected from a young engineer, community outreach opportunities to all members, and review courses for the PE exam.

He is a graduate of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology ('18 BSCE) and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ('19 MSCE), and he served as president of his local ASCE and SEI student chapters at both institutions.

The AISC Education Foundation would like to thank Nucor, Pat Bjorhovde, and all of the individual Foundation contributors who helped make this new program a reality. Learn more about the Foundation at aisc.org/giving.