The Tennessee Structural Engineers Association West Region invites you to the 2026 Annual Seminar, scheduled for August 20, 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Memphis.

Attendees will earn up to 6.0 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and hear directly from nationally recognized experts who contribute to the practice of structural engineering across a variety of building materials. The seminar will feature engaging presentations, interactive Q&A sessions, and sponsor exhibits showcasing tools, services, and products supporting structural engineering practice.

Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, and afternoon refreshments, offering ample opportunities to connect with fellow engineers, industry partners, and seminar sponsors. Whether you're based in West Tennessee or beyond, this event is designed to keep you current, connected, and contributing to excellence in the built environment.

Presentations:

Design of Concrete Slabs-On-Ground: From Fundamentals to Innovations – Marc Rached, PhD, PE

This presentation reviews the fundamentals of slabs-on-ground design, including subgrade considerations, slab thickness determination, reinforcement selection, and joint layout. It also focuses on the efficient design of modern slabs-on-ground using fiber-reinforced concrete. Industry references will support the discussion, with special emphasis on applying yield line theory to optimize slab performance and thickness.

Design of Mass Timber Diaphragms and Shear Walls – Ian Morrell, PhD

As mass timber becomes more popular in building design, structural engineers must be able to understand principles for ensuring a safe and complete lateral load path. This session led by mass timber expert Dr. Ian Morrell will explore efficient design of mass timber diaphragms and shear walls, properly and safely designing a mass timber lateral force resisting system.

Base Plate and Anchor Reinforcement Design Utilizing Finite Element Analysis – Johan Lozada

Steel and concrete rarely behave independently in real projects, particularly when base plates, anchorage, and load transfer into foundations must be evaluated together in accordance with AISC 360 and ACI 318. This session explores how finite element analysis (FEA) can be applied within a unified workflow that supports efficient Engineer of Record (EOR) review and approval without relying on disconnected tools or overly simplified assumptions. Using IDEA StatiCa, the presentation demonstrates how results can be interpreted against relevant steel and concrete limit states, how governing behaviors are identified, and how anchorage reinforcement is evaluated. The workflow integrates anchor design and reinforcement within the same environment, enabling a coordinated approach to base plate and foundation design that helps resolve field constraints, reduce rework, and streamline EOR decision-making.

If Everyone Else is Using AI to Design a Bridge, Should You Do It Too? An Examination of Responsible AI Use in Structural Engineering – Jeff Smith

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm and now impacts many aspects of both personal and professional lives. However, what are the ethical implications as AI becomes integrated with the professional world of structural engineering? This ethics presentation by construction attorney, Jeff Smith will explore the responsible use of AI in structural engineering.

Speaker Bios:

Marc Rached, PhD, PE

Dr. Marc M. Rached is the Manager of Engineering Technical Services at Master Builders Solutions, where he provides technical expertise and support on specialty concrete technologies and products. His work focuses on structural applications, concrete admixtures, and fiber-reinforced concrete solutions.

Prior to this role, he was an Engineer at the American Concrete Institute (ACI), where he supported technical committees, developed educational materials, and reviewed industry publications. Before joining ACI, he worked as a Structural Engineer at Ghafari Associates, designing concrete and steel structures for large commercial and industrial projects.

Dr. Rached holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of Michigan. A licensed civil engineer, he actively contributes to the American Concrete Institute (ACI), serving on ACI 544 (Fiber-Reinforced Concrete) and ACI 332 (Residential Code) committees.

Ian Morrell, PhD

Dr. Ian Morrell is an assistant professor of civil engineering at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering and Wood Science from Oregon State University. Ian's research aims to expand opportunities for wood and mass timber in the built environment. He especially focuses on understanding connection behavior and developing new connections for timber and mass timber under a variety of loading and environmental conditions. 

Johan Lozada

Johan Lozada is a product engineer at IDEA StatiCa US. He is a structural engineer with extensive experience in the analysis, design, and detailing of tensile membrane and steel structures. His background includes performing structural computations in accordance with established design standards, analyzing 3D structural frame models, and interpreting results to ensure safe and efficient performance.

IDEA StatiCa is an innovative software designed for structural engineers specializing in steel connection and concrete member design. It uses inelastic analysis to simulate and analyze complex joints, ensuring compliance with engineering principles and code requirements. The software streamlines the design process, enabling detailed stress analysis, optimization, and connection validation. 

Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith is a shareholder in the Memphis office of Lewis Thomason. He focuses his practice on litigation and resolution of construction, contract, business, healthcare, and labor and employment disputes. His litigation practice involves representation of public and private companies in trial and appellate courts, as well as in arbitrations in a wide range of matters, including mass torts, class actions and multi-district litigation, among others.

He has represented owners, general contractors, architects, sub-contractors, and design firms in construction disputes involving commercial properties, including continuing care retirement communities, nuclear power plants, coal-fired power plants, and nursing homes.  He has also litigated and arbitrated disputes involving federal, state and local government projects such as convention centers, schools, military base renovation projects, and interstate highways.

His employment practice comprises defending employers in discrimination claims, unfair competition claims, wrongful termination, wage/hour litigation and whistleblower litigation.  He also proactively counsels employers on employment issues.

Mr. Smith is a member of the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Appellate Practice Committee as well as the American Bar Association Commercial and Business Litigation Committee. He was named Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by the Tennessee Justice Center and received the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel, ABA Military Pro Bono Project Outstanding Services Award. He is a member of the American Health Law Association. He was named to The Best Lawyers in America and was named a Power Player in Employment Law in Memphis Business Quarterly.

Tickets

$100.00 Member Registration

$150.00 Non-Member Registration

$600.00 Gold WiFi Sponsor Upgrade

$300.00 Gold Sponsor Upgrade

$500.00 Silver Sponsor

$100.00 Sponsor Additional Attendee

$300.00 Registration Sponsorship Upgrade