Speakers
Ahmad Abdel-Hamid, PhD, PE
Drexel University
Ahmad Abdel-Hamid, PhD, PE, is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he taught masonry courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His fundamental and applied masonry research includes material characterization and seismic resistance and retrofit of masonry structures. He has published over 200 articles on behavior, design and evaluation, and retrofitting of masonry structures. Dr. Abdel-Hamid is the author of the 4th edition of Masonry Structures: Behavior and Design published by The Masonry Society in 2018. He is a Fellow of The Masonry Society and has won the John B. Scalzi Research Award from the Masonry Society.
Richard Bennett, PE, PhD
University of Tennessee
Richard Bennett, PhD, PE is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee. He was chair of the 2016 TMS 402/602 code committee, 2nd vice-chair of the 2022 committee, and vice-chair of the 2028 committee. He is a coauthor of Strength Design of Masonry and the editor for the 2022 edition of the Masonry Designers' Guide.
David D Byers, PhD, PE
Genesis Structures, Inc.
Dr. Byers was a founding principal of Genesis Structures in 2004 and has over 35 years of bridge and specialized structural design experience. David is a registered Professional Engineer in 26 states and the District of Columbia. He has taught steel design and bridge design at the University of Kansas and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Notre Dame and Columbia University on the topic of erection and demolition of complex bridges.
Matthew F. Fadden, PE PhD
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
Matthew Fadden is a senior associate in the South Florida office of WJE. His primary areas of expertise include the design, analysis, and evaluation of steel and reinforced concrete structures. Prior to joining WJE, Dr. Fadden was a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas.
Nick Haltvick, PE
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Nick is an engineer with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and has served in a variety of roles related to bridge design, construction, maintenance, planning, and preservation for 12 years. Notable large projects he has been involved with include the Lafayette Bridge Replacement (TH 52 in St. Paul), Downtown-to-Crosstown Reconstruction (I-35W in Minneapolis), Baudette International Crossing (TH 72 between Minnesota and Ontario), Twin Ports Interchange Project (I-35/I-535/TH53 in Duluth), and several projects and studies related to the Blatnik Bridge (I-535 between Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin). Nick is a graduate of South Dakota State University and is a licensed engineer in the state of Minnesota.
Pat Huston, PE
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Pat has worked for MnDOT in District 1 Duluth for the past 32 years in a wide variety of roles. He currently leads the District 1 - Duluth Major Projects team working on the Twin Ports Interchange and Blatnik Replacement projects. Pat enjoys working on complex projects because of the challenges they present, but more so, because of the great people these types of projects attract to the team. It’s amazing what can be accomplished with great teams! He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and is a licensed engineer in the state of Minnesota.
Jonathan C. McGormley, PE, SE (IL)
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
Jonathan McGormley joined WJE in 1994 upon completion of his Master's degree at Purdue University. Jon has extensive experience with the evaluation, instrumentation, and repair of deteriorated or distressed structures. He has led many collapse investigations and has particular expertise with the evaluation of fatigue and fracture problems with steel bridge structures.
Duane Miller, ScD, PE
The Lincoln Electric Company
Duane Miller is one of the world's top experts on the design of steel connections. His work with the AISC, AASHTO, AWS, and Lincoln Electric has resulted in authoritative, award-winning books and publications.
Francesco M Russo, PhD, PE
Russo Structural Services
Dr. Russo has over 28 years of experience in bridge engineering, research, design, construction, and education. Frank is the co-developer of FHWA’s curriculum for Engineering for Structural Stability in Bridge Construction. He also is a member of the PCI subcommittee on beam stability and an advisor to AASHTO subcommittees on various topics including engineering considerations for stability in steel and concrete structures.
Michael Schuller, PE
Atkinson-Noland & Associates, Inc.
Michael Schuller is president of Atkinson-Noland & Associates, a consulting engineering firm specializing in evaluation and repair of existing structures. He has 30 years’ experience with masonry engineering, including special expertise with nondestructive evaluation and repair procedures. He has over 100 publications on concrete and masonry including a new book titled Assessment and Retrofit of Masonry Structures. He taught masonry structural design at the University of Colorado from 1999 through 2016. Michael is a fellow of The Masonry Society and the Association for Preservation Technology
Alex Schulz, PE
Kraemer North America
Alex is currently the Project Manager for the Twin Ports Interchange contractor team, Ames-Kraemer Joint Venture, and has 10 years of industry experience throughout the country. Alex has worked on a variety of technically challenging bridge and structures projects (CMGC, DB, and DBB), including the Twin Ports Interchange and TH53 Relocation in Virginia in Minnesota and various other projects throughout the western United States. Alex has been involved with several CMGC projects with MnDOT (and other state agencies) and really enjoys the collaborative process that allows the contractor, designer, and owner to work together to solve project challenges. Alex is a graduate of the University of North Dakota and a licensed engineer.