696-2021

July 23, 2021

As Mayor, I request Council confirmation of the following appointments and reappointments to the Structural Engineering Advisory Committee:

Hamid Afghan is the founder and president of AAI Engineering, a structural and civil engineering, landscape architecture, and planning firm has been the principal for the structural design and evaluation of a variety of industrial, commercial, educational, and multi-family projects, providing in-depth knowledge of a wide range of building systems and building materials. Hamid’s wealth of design and construction experience facilitates creative and economical solutions. Hamid is often asked to provide forensic engineering services as well as expert testimony and is frequently a guest speaker for a forensic structural engineering He has taught at Portland State University and Clackamas Community College.

Statement from Hamid: 
I believe my 40 plus years of experience in the structural engineering field will be very beneficial in helping the Structural [Engineering] Advisory Board navigate and make recommendations. During the years of practicing structural engineering I have been exposed to several code changes which helps me understand the logic behind these changes which facilitates in making better informed decisions. Over all these years I have worked with multiple architects, building owners, developers, and public agencies in various circumstances and I believe I can bring different perspectives to the table when debating an issue before the committee. In addition, I bring a strong understanding of the structural engineering theories and fundamentals having taught engineering and Forensic engineering courses. I look forward to giving back to my profession and citizens of Portland by serving on this committee.

Shirley Chalupa is a Principal with DCI Engineers with over 23 years’ experience in structural Engineering. She has overseen numerous mass timber, cold form steel, steel modular, seismic retrofit, and renovation projects throughout Oregon. She believes in preserving character and history of the city of Portland by seismically retrofitting and reusing existing buildings for the next generation. She has preserved numerous historical buildings throughout Portland such as Olympic Mills, Eastside Exchange, Hotel Chamberlain, among others. She has frequently conducted structural assessments and building design for various levels of seismic performance, as defined by ASCE 41. She served as a structural engineering representative on the City of Portland’s Unreinforced Masonry Building Workgroup in 2019. Shirley believes local government can benefit with engaging with community members like herself. She is an advocate in instigating respectful, meaningful dialogue about equity in the workplace

Statement from Shirley:
Moving to the US from Indonesia as a teenager, I have become the person I am today. It’s what makes me a well-rounded citizen, an immigrant’s success story, and a perfect candidate for the advisory committee. My exposure to different cultures and deepens my drive to help people from under-represented minority groups. My experience from visiting other parts of the world puts me in a unique position to accept different communications styles, problem solving techniques, and partnership roles. Local government can benefit with engaging with community members like myself. I am an advocate in instigating respectful, meaningful dialogue about equity in the workplace.

Jennifer Eggers has over 18 years of structural engineering experience, including the design and seismic retrofit/renovation of elementary school, middle school, high school, and public/private University campuses along with public/civic/government and private developer work. Jennifer has vast experience with seismic evaluations and/or retrofitting of existing buildings, using ASCE 41, Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings. and currently serves as the Vintage Building Committee (VBC) Chair for the Structural Engineers Association of Oregon (SEAO).   Jennifer also has experience in the use of, alternate materials such as FRP and evaluations using alternate technology such as base isolation

Statement from Jennifer:
As past president of SEAO and current VBC Chair, I strive to remain involved in and to promote our local and national engineering organizations. When first starting my career in the Bay Area, I was also heavily involved in the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California. Through my involvement in professional organizations, I greatly enjoy the collaboration with colleagues from other firms to better our profession together.

Clinton Ambrose is a Principal and founding partner with ABHT Structural Engineers. Clinton has over 28 years of experience. His portfolio of work includes structural consulting for a wide variety of projects such as water/wastewater facilities, recreational facilities, educational facilities, office buildings, seismic evaluations and retrofits and multi-story mixed use residential/commercial facilities. ABHT Structural Engineers are a Oregon certified MBE and DBE firm.

Statement from Clinton:
As one of the founding partners of ABHT Structural Engineers and over 28 years of experience, I have been exposed to a broad range of both technical and non-technical issues relevant to the practice of structural engineering.  I understand that the building code(s) do not address all engineering issues that can reasonably arise during a project, especially during a remodel or retrofit. I have experienced situations on my own projects. I intend to bring this insight to the Structural Engineering Committee, and serve the community in a positive way by ensuring that buildings are designed and constructed in the safest manner possible.

Mark Tobin is a Principal with KPFF Consulting Engineers with over 20 years of experience as a practicing Structural Engineer. Mark’s career has focused on seismic renovations, seismic evaluations, school buildings and high-rise buildings including advanced non-linear and finite element analysis. Mark has served on the City of Portland URM Seismic retrofit project technical standards committee and on the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory commission on critical buildings.

Statement from Mark:
I believe that my engineering education, 24 years of experience as a practicing structural engineer, leadership role at a major structural engineering firm, and practical knowledge of modern building codes make me very well qualified for this position. Furthermore, I believe that serving on the Structural Engineering Advisory Board would allow me an excellent opportunity to serve the engineering community and the City of Portland

KentYu has over twenty years of structural, earthquake, tsunami and forensic engineering experience. He is well known for his expertise on seismic design, performance-based design, advanced finite element analysis. Kent has served on national and state committees including on the Board of Directors for Applied Technology Council, as Chair of the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission, ASCE 7 Tsunami Load Effects committee, ASCE Infrastructure Resilience Division Executive Committee. He was the primary author of the 2012 Oregon Resilience Plan.

Statement from Kent:
I believe that I am uniquely qualified for this voluntary position. First, I am very passionate about safety, sustainability, and disaster resilience of our buildings and infrastructure systems. Second, I have more than twenty years of structural, earthquake, and forensic engineering experience. I have worked on projects of all construction types that include seismic evaluation and rehabilitation design of existing buildings, structural design of new construction, peer review, and post-earthquake inspection. Third, I have served on numerous professional committees at state and national levels to develop and /or review design standards, guidelines, and policy recommendations to promote disaster resilience of our critical buildings and infrastructure systems. Finally, I have served on the Structural Engineering Advisory Committee as Co-Chair over the past three years, collaborating with other committee members to successfully guide BDS on several important issues.