News Briefs

Wei-Wen Yu Retires from AISI Committee on Specifications

Dr. Wei-Wen Yu recently announced his retirement from the AISI Committee on Specifications after 50 years of service. Dr. Yu is best known in the engineering community for his defining research in cold-formed steel design, and as the author of the premiere textbook on cold-formed steel.  In addition, he is founder of the Wei-Wen Yu Center for Cold-Formed Steel Structures at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.  Established in 1990, the center was renamed for Dr. Yu in 2000.

In appreciation of his contributions and many years of service, the AISI Committee on Specifications (COS)  presented Dr. Yu with a commemorative plaque at their recent meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The plaque reads:
American Iron and Steel Institute Presents this Award of Appreciation to Dr. Wei-Wen Yu, P.E. In recognition for fifty years of outstanding leadership and technical service to the steel industry through participation on the AISI Committee on Specifications

Improved Web Functionality: CFSEI Engineer Finder

Based on input from CFSEI board members Ed Kile of Structuneering Inc., and Bill Babich of ITW Building Components Group, Inc., the CFSEI Engineer Finder has an improved search engine.  The CFSEI Membership Committee had identified problems with the online search system earlier this year, and had coordinated updates with CFSEI staff Rose Kuria and Don Allen.  Now a search for engineers registered in a specific state will produce a more accurate list.  All CFSEI members are encouraged to do a self-search to ensure that your personal information is accurate and can be found using the CFSEI site.  Note that CFSEI staff does not verify the personal information of members, but members are permitted to update all of their personal information using a unique username and password.  If you have lost or forgotten your login information, or are having trouble using the new search, please email webmaster@cfsei.org.

Ryan Smith of Clark/Western added to CFSEI Nominating Committee

This Spring, Ryan Smith, P.E., of ClarkWestern Building Systems was one of several candidates selected to replace retiring Nominating Committee chairman Brian Ide, of Allison-Ide Structural Engineers in Hawaii.  Based on his experience, volunteer work with the Institute, and availability, Smith was approved by the board to become the newest Nominating Committee member.  Committee members complete a 3-year term, serving as Chairman during their third year.  Rob Madsen of Devco Engineering will retire as Nominating Committee chairman at the end of 2010, and Ben Shafer, the third member of the group, will serve as chairman for 2011. 

CFSEI Group on LinkedIn

Although not initiated or specifically sanctioned by the CFSEI, the business networking site LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) has a new group established for the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI).  The purpose of this group is listed in the “group profile” as follows:

If you are an engineering or design professional -- the CFSEI is where you'll find the latest technical information, tips, and industry standards. Our growing network of members works together to develop and evolve industry standards and design methods. Their goal -- and ours -- is to continually produce better, more efficient techniques. 

The CFSEI staff wants to make it clear to our members that participation in the LinkedIn group does not imply membership in the CFSEI itself.  What LinkedIn does provide is a forum where anyone (CFSEI members and nonmembers alike) can ask questions, start discussions, post news, and look for employment opportunities.  As of this writing, there are 140 members listed in the LinkedIn group, which is open to everyone.  Although not monitored by CFSEI staff, every LinkedIn group permits all visitors to report content as inappropriate; the reports go to LinkedIn staff and not CFSEI. 

We at CFSEI value your feedback – if you find that this is a useful and helpful networking tool, and helps further the CFSEI key strategy of “providing forums for exchange of information and ideas related to CFS,” let us know at dallen@cfsei.org. If you find that there are other ways we can leverage the power of the fast-growing business and social-networking web presence, let us know that as well.