Life Members

Life Member status is an honor awarded to members that have made a lifetime commitment to ASCE and the civil engineering profession. To obtain Life Member status, ASCE Members, Associate Members and Affiliate Members must:

have reached the age of 65 years
have paid dues for at least 30 years
have had 10 years continuous membership immediately preceding the attainment of Life Member.

Life Member Spotlights

Class of 2023

Theresa A. Lawson

Following graduation from Gonzaga University in 1979 with a BS in civil engineering, Theresa began her career with Puget Sound Power and Light in Bellevue (now Puget Sound Energy), where she gained experience in civil and structural engineering in the utility and power industry including design, construction management, and project management. During this period, after passing the PE exam in 1984, she began an MS program at the University of Washington, focused on construction and project management, while working full time, which she completed in 1989.

In 1992, Theresa took a multi-year break to live in Southeast Asia. I returned to the energy and power industry with R.W. Beck in 1998, supporting the design and construction of electrical
substations, transmission facilities, and generating facilities with a focus on public power
utilities in the western states. In 2009, R.W. Beck was acquired by SAIC, and her role changed to lead the civil and structural engineering practice in the office throughout the country.

Theresa had the opportunity to change my role in the organization to an independent engineer focused on alternative energy projects, including wind, solar, and BESS. SAIC split into two entities in 2013: SAIC and Leidos. She has continued supporting independent engineering within Leidos with a focus on alternative energy projects.

Ron Leimkuhler, PE

Ron has been practicing for 48 years. After graduating from Montana State University in 1979, he went on to work for the Suspension Bridge Division of the Roads Department in Kathmandu, Nepal, as a Peace Corps volunteer. For three years he designed and constructed cable-stayed bridges in remote roadless areas of the Himalayan Mountains.

After returning from Nepal, Ron relocated to the Pacific Northwest and worked for the Federal Highway Administration overseeing construction of the Baker River Highway in Concrete, Washington. When construction was completed, he moved to Seattle and ultimately wound up working at KPFF Consulting Engineers, where he has been for the last 37 years. During that time Ron has focused his practice on transportation and today is the manager of KPFF's Transportation Group. He has enjoyed working on all types of transportation projects, especially Sound Transit's light rail, commuter rail, and express bus systems.

During the 1990s Ron was active in the Seattle Section and is proud to have served as Section President in 2000.

Chevy Chase, PE, SE

Raised in Sunnyside, Washington, Chevy Chase pursued engineering studies at Washington State University before earning his degree from Oregon State University. He later completed graduate studies at the University of Washington, turning a lifelong interest in math and science into a distinguished career in engineering.

Over the course of his career, Chevy has worked on a wide range of projects, finding the greatest satisfaction in solving complex engineering challenges and seeing projects come to life. Nearly 30 years ago, he co-founded CG Engineering, where one of his greatest rewards has been mentoring young engineers and watching them grow into accomplished professionals. He is especially proud of the firm's affordable housing projects and the positive impact they have had on local communities.

Known for his technical expertise, thoughtful leadership, and generous spirit, Chevy enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, visiting the family beach house, and working in the yard. And yes, despite sharing his name with the famous actor, Chevy likes to point out that it was his father's name first.

Kenneth Dahl, PE, SE

After receiving a BSCE from Santa Clara University and an MSCE in Structural Engineering from Stanford University, Ken started working for Skilling, Helle, Christiansen, Robertson in 1981. At SHCR (currently Magnusson Klemencic Associates), he worked on or managed a variety of significant Seattle projects, including Columbia Center, the Seattle Convention Center, Pacific Place, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, and Hec Edmundson Pavilion Renovation. He also managed other arena, convention center, and medical center projects throughout the United States.

After leaving MKA in 2009, Ken started working for BHC Consultants as the principal structural engineer. While there, he provided project oversight and structural group leadership. The projects included sewage and water treatment facility upgrades and replacements, decant facilities, water storage reservoirs, and administration building designs. Ken retired from BHC in 2025 but continues to consult on projects when needed by the firm.

One of Ken's most satisfying parts of his career was his interest in mentoring younger engineers. Frequently, he requested younger engineers to be assigned to new projects so he could help guide them through the experience. Ken wants to thank his mentors, associates, and younger staff for the many interactions that made for a full career that was truly enjoyed.

Class of 2024

Perry Cole, PE, SE, F.ASCE

Perry has over 40 years of structural and civil engineering experience in planning, design, and construction of water resource related projects, including the design of new facilities, major renovation of existing projects, and design of specialty and prototype equipment and facilities. His primary area of interest is water resource related civil structures such as locks, dams, and levees; flood control structures; marine terminals; fishery related facilities; and intake and outlet works. Perry is an expert in the field of probabilistic structural analysis used in Risk and Reliability and Risk Informed analyses. His risk-based expertise is in steel gates, lock monoliths, and gravity dams. He has served as a Subject Matter Expert for levee and dam safety projects and value engineering workshops.

Perry graduated, twice, from the University of Washington (BSCE 1982, MSCE 1997). He is, or was, licensed in CA (S/C), CT (PE), FL (S/C), HI (S), ID (C/S), IL (S), LA (S/C), NM (PE), NY (PE), OR (S/C), PA (PE), TX (S), and WA (S/C). He received the Structural Engineers Association of Washington President's Award for Outstanding Service (2004 and 2006).

Perry has been involved in ASCE since 1982. He is an ASCE Fellow and served the Seattle Section as the Immediate Past President (2014–2015), President (2013–2014), and Director–Technical Committees (2007–2010). He is currently a senior reviewer for the ASCE/COPRI 80 Design Standards for Piers and Wharves Committee. He was a primary author of the PIANC Working Group 140, Semi-Probabilistic Design Method for Inland Navigation Structures. He is a former chair of, and instructor for, the Structural Engineers Association of Washington (SEAW) Refresher Course Committee. He taught the Foundations and Retaining Structures sessions of the 2000–2005 Refresher Course, and the Analysis portion in 2003.

M. Ali Shasti-Nazem, P.E., MSCE

Ali Shasti is a licensed professional engineer with over 40 years of experience in civil and structural engineering, primarily in Florida and Washington. He is the principal of Professional Engineering Services LLC, where he has been working since 1999. Ali has extensive experience in designing, reviewing, and permitting various residential and commercial projects. He also supervised and trained numerous engineers and technicians to tackle and resolve development challenges.

Ali holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in civil and structural engineering from Florida Tech. Throughout his career, he has managed major projects, including light rail systems and residential and commercial developments, demonstrating his expertise in engineering management and project coordination.

In 2023, Ali published his first book, Site Design & Engineering, and released a second edition in 2026, earning an impressive five-star rating from the Indies Today editorial review.

Following the publication of his engineering book, Ali transitioned to children's literature. In 2025, he released his first children's book, The Old Lady and Her Unwanted Guests, which is a translation of an old Persian story and part of the Persian Story Series. He is currently working on a second children's book that will be published soon.

“I consider ASCE a vast resource of knowledge in civil engineering and related fields, available almost everywhere. Active involvement in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) should be an integral part of any civil engineering discipline and related fields.” — M. Ali Shasti-Nazem

Kathryn Gardow, PE

Kathryn Gardow, PE is a lifelong civil engineer with a BSCE from Union College and an MBA from the University of Washington. She has used her education and skills in many different venues. Her career path includes being a construction project engineer, a consulting engineer in Massachusetts and Washington, a project manager at a land-use law firm, an Executive Director of a farmland trust, several iterations of self-employment as a land use consultant, a general public member of the WA Recreation Conservation Funding Board, an investor through E8 Angels, and the chair of the WA Public Works Board.

Highlights include:

Succeeding as a project engineer in the dead of winter building the Long Wharf Marriott Hotel.
Permitting, securing approvals, and working with staff for Snoqualmie Ridge and Redmond Ridge master plan developments.
Growing WA Farmland Trust by tripling fundraising, doubling the number of donors, increasing farmland acreage saved from development, and increasing staffing.
Chairing the 13-member Washington State Public Works Board and securing almost $1 billion in infrastructure funding from the legislature during her 5-year tenure.

“Civil engineers build communities. The most important profession for a civilized society.” — Kathryn Gardow

Class of 2025

Mark Morse, PE

In 1984, Mark was hired by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as an operator of the Traffic Management System (TMS) at the Traffic Systems Management Center (TSMC). Mark was responsible for monitoring traffic during the peak periods (aka rush hour) and utilizing three separate computer systems (ramp meter, Variable Message Signs, and Closed-Circuit TV) to detect problems and inform motorists of issues on the roadway.

As part of the I-90 Project between Seattle and Bellevue, Mark was instrumental in designing and implementing a new Traffic Management System developed by the HNTB Corporation.

A year in the WSDOT Fellowship program earned Mark a master's degree in civil engineering. Mark returned to the TSMC to create and lead a new Software Development team responsible for maintaining the TMS software and creating new algorithms and features. Under Mark's leadership, the software development team migrated the software to Microsoft Windows, moved the team to a new building designed for Traffic Management, created a fuzzy-logic based toll-rate algorithm, and added user-requested features.

After 38 years working in the world of rush hour traffic, Mark retired and spends his time working on his home-built airplane and traveling with his wife of 36 years.

Ignasius Seilie, P.E., S.E., F.SEI

Ignasius is a Partner and Principal Structural Engineer at Integrated Design Engineers (idE) in Seattle, Washington. With over three decades of industry experience, he has shaped much of the Pacific Northwest's iconic skyline and infrastructure.

Before co-founding idE, Ignasius worked for Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA), where he played a leading role in the structural design of roof systems for prominent Seattle landmarks, including Lumen Field (formerly CenturyLink Field) and T-Mobile Park (formerly Safeco Field).

His engineering expertise goes far beyond stadiums. Ignasius was the visionary behind the award-winning Seattle Public Utilities North Transfer Station. The innovative design received the American Institute of Steel Construction's 2017 IDEAS² People's Choice Award and 2018 IDEAS² National Award. He also pioneered the implementation of the Pacific Northwest's steel plate shear wall system, helping advance the region's structural engineering practice.

Ignasius earned his Master of Science in Structural Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis after completing his Civil/Structural Engineering degree at the University of Indonesia. He is an active Fellow of the Structural Engineering Institute (F.SEI) and serves as a trustee for the PNCE Health and Welfare Trust.

Outside of engineering, Ignasius pursues balance through yoga, enjoys the strategic and physical challenges of badminton, and makes time for extended spring and fall travel to recharge and gain new perspectives.

Mary Dahl, PE

After graduating from Santa Clara University in 1981, Mary worked as a civil engineer until retirement in 2022. She started work at Bechtel in San Francisco, then moved to the Seattle area after marriage in 1982. Over the next 40 years, she worked for R.W. Beck and Associates, Harding Lawson, Summit Technologies, CHS Engineers, and David Evans and Associates. Most of her projects were municipal projects, with an emphasis on water main replacement. She would like to thank all her mentors and teammates over the years for their help and support – especially the managers and staff at CHS Engineers and David Evans.

Greg Guillen, PE, SE

Greg grew up in Renton Highlands and earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Washington. His path into engineering was grounded in real-world construction experience. A stint sitting on a 90-pound jackhammer driving piles all day reinforced that his place was better suited on the design side.

Greg served five years as chairperson of the ASCE committee on Professional Registration and worked with the ASCE University advisory mentoring program in 2001–2002.

As a Founding Principal of CG Engineering, Greg has built his career on the belief that details matter. He enjoys projects requiring disciplined detailing, coordination, and practical problem-solving. One of his proudest accomplishments is the Makah National Fish Hatchery dam renovation that recently received the 2026 Seattle Chapter SEAW Infrastructure Project of the Year Award.

Outside the office, Greg enjoys time with family (especially his grandchildren), bonsai, gardening, pickleball, fishing, hiking, and travel.

Andrew Taylor, PhD, PE, SE, FACI

Dr. Taylor's professional experience spans 40 years of structural engineering research and practice, including seven years with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and 29 years with KPFF Consulting Engineers. His work is focused in four technical areas: design of advanced seismic protection systems for buildings, such as seismic isolation and seismic damping systems; structural engineering of reinforced concrete buildings; measurement, analysis, and design for floor vibrations; and building code development. Dr. Taylor is a current and past member of numerous technical committees at the local and national level. He is immediate past Chair of the American Concrete Institute 318 Building Code committee. Other memberships include the 2022 edition of the ASCE/SEI 7 building code; past project team member for Applied Technology Council project ATC-98 on the use of high-strength concrete reinforcement for seismic design; and past Chair of the Earthquake Engineering Committee of the Structural Engineers Association of Washington. In 2017 Dr. Taylor was named “Structural Engineer of the Year” by the Seattle Chapter of the Structural Engineers Association of Washington, and in 2020 he was named “Professional Engineer of the Year” by the Puget Sound Engineering Council.

Class of 2026

Lee Marsh, PhD, P.E.

Marsh is a senior vice president and technical fellow in earthquake engineering for WSP. He has spent over 40 years in structural engineering, structural dynamics and in the development of seismic performance criteria for new and retrofitted structures. He earned his undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, then worked as a structural engineer for DOE in Oak Ridge, TN before moving to Seattle and earning his PhD at UW. He served on the CEE faculty at WSU before returning to practice at ABAM Engineers where he served as an in-house seismic consultant for bridge, transit, marine, industrial, nuclear and unique structural projects. He rose through the ranks to lead BergerABAM as president and CEO. In 2019 they merged into WSP USA. Marsh co-developed and taught various versions of the National Highway Institute course on the seismic design of bridges, and assisted the AASHTO Committee on Bridge and Structures with seismic design code development. He is the chair of the ACI 341E Codes Support sub-committee of the 341 Performance-Based Seismic Design of Bridges committee, and is an adjunct professor for North Carolina State University.

“Civil Engineering is a fantastic profession. Seeing the fruits of our labors built and then used by society is incredibly rewarding. Also seeing the people we work with be successful in the profession is just as rewarding.” — Lee Marsh

Catherine Petroff, P.E., PhD

Catherine M. Petroff served as Chief of the Engineering Division for the Seattle District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from July 2022 until her recent retirement in July 2026. She led more than 145 engineers, scientists, technicians, and other professionals supporting Civil and Military engineering missions, including dam and levee safety, structural and geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, hydrology, hydraulics, and coastal engineering.

With more than 40 years of engineering, construction, research, and leadership experience, Dr. Petroff began her career in heavy construction in Alaska before managing industrial and commercial construction projects. She later joined the University of Washington as a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, specializing in wave-structure interaction, natural hazards, and sediment transport.

Dr. Petroff began working with the Seattle District in 2001 as a technical expert and transitioned to full-time public service in 2015, serving in increasingly senior leadership roles before becoming Division Chief. She is an active member of the ASCE7 subcommittee on Tsunami Loads and Effects and chairs the Network Independent Advisory Committee for the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure network.

Carol Ravano, P.E.

Carol has 32 years of geotechnical and civil engineering experience in the Pacific Northwest. She was the division-wide manager of the Railroad Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering Groups at Delve Underground, where she has practiced for the last 24 years. Carol has her Bachelor and Master of Sciences degrees from University of California, Berkeley. Carol specializes in project management of construction projects and geotechnical site investigations and analyses for Class 1 and regional railroads; state, county, and city agencies; and private owners. She has designed railroad geotechnical and tunnel rehabilitation projects, many of which have been constructed under live track conditions in emergency situations. She has enjoyed mentoring younger civil engineers throughout her career.

“ASCE local chapters offer the opportunity to meet professionals in your geographic area and your area of expertise. The local meetings are a great way to mentor younger professionals and learn about the exciting projects in your area.” — Carol Ravano

Paris Whitford, P.E.

Paris graduated from Saint Martin's College in 1981 with a BSCE, then worked as a field engineer, working up to project management through 1989. He worked mainly in structures for petrochemical, pulp and paper, and marine industries. He completed commercial diving school at the Divers Institute of Technology (class 3-93) and performed underwater structures inspections through 2002.

“An outstanding resource for engineers.” — Paris Whitford