The ASCE Timber-Strong Design Build (TSDBSM) Competition team, “Shiver Yer Timbers,” at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO, finished an incredible year. Over the course of the 2024-2025 academic year, we dedicated countless hours to designing, fabricating and learning about timber design. Our team was composed of eight students: Lucas Baum, Maddie Gotlieb, Gavin Nelson, Jordi Ramos Nunez, Alex Reil, Madelyn Riley, Zaid Safian and Tyler Worley. Advisors included: Dr. Hongyan Liu, Garrett Erickson, David Sparks and Dr. Shilling Pei.
Category: Education
Our educational posts are dedicated to helping our customers and the general public acquire a deeper understanding of how we support academia- including our many partnerships with various colleges such as Cal-Poly Tech and Washington State University and sharing solutions and how they relate to the industry.
What I Did This Summer: Working as a Simpson Strong-Tie R&D Intern
This summer, we welcomed Wyatt Munsch, a senior electrical engineering major at San Jose State University, who spent the summer interning in our Karen Colonias Research Laboratory in Pleasanton, California. He jumped into projects ranging from small-scale fastener tests to large-scale structural builds, learning how engineers and technicians collaborate to bring ideas to life. Wyatt gained hands-on experience with tools, setups, and material prep, even building a planter box for our scholarship student trip. Along the way, he picked up practical skills and made personal and professional connections..
How Simpson Strong-Tie Helped Shape My Career
Matthew Cristi is a structural engineering project manager at Los Angeles Air Force Base and a Civil Engineering Officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He earned his degrees from CSUN and Stanford and has worked at KPFF and Los Angeles Air Force Base. Matthew first connected with Simpson Strong-Tie through a scholarship and continues to value their support and resources in his professional work.
A No-Equal Experience: The Simpson Strong-Tie® Student Scholarship Trip
Hear from Koby Stewart, a civil engineering senior at the University of Michigan, as he shares his experience as a Simpson Strong-Tie Student Scholarship recipient. Koby dives into his background in construction and his introduction to Simpson Strong-Tie’s “No Equal” philosophy of excellence. Koby discusses how the experience broadened his professional network and influenced his career plans, including participation in ASCE competitions and pursuing a master’s degree in structural engineering.
Structuring Success: How Cal Poly’s Team Designed Victory in the 2024 Timber-Strong Design Build™ Competition
Nick Mackechnie, a senior at Cal Poly majoring in civil engineering and minoring in mathematics, recounts his project management role on his Timber-Strong Design Build team, which won at the 2024 Pacific Southwest Symposium. This event challenges engineering students to design and construct a two-story wood-framed building, providing practical experience in structural engineering and project management. Nick discusses navigating the complexities of design, team dynamics, and unique collaboration while sharing valuable lessons and insights.
Putting Engineering into Action: Interning at a Simpson Strong-Tie R&D Test Lab
Meet Tristan St. John, a mechanical engineering student from Colorado State University who joined Simpson Strong-Tie this summer as an intern at the Karen Colonias Research Lab in Pleasanton, California. His work involved assembling designs, selecting wood, and conducting tests using hydraulic presses. Tristan gained insights into the complexities of lab work and the importance of the various testing we do in our labs. The internship provided him with practical experience and exposure to a professional engineering environment, complementing his academic studies.
Learning Beyond the Classroom: The Simpson Fellowship Experience
Steinar Goheen, a fourth-year architecture student at Washington State University, is passionate about historical preservation and aims to work in that field. Recently, they (Steinar) participated in the week-long Strong-Tie Undergraduate Fellowship trip, which comprises educational visits to various Simpson Strong-Tie branches in California, witnessing product manufacturing, and exploring San Francisco, including a visit to Alcatraz. Join Steinar as they recount their educational journey and share memorable moments from the trip.
Learning on the Job — Insights from a Mechanical Engineering Intern at Simpson Strong-Tie
Aaron Lim, a recent graduate from UC Irvine, recounts his summer internship at Simpson Strong-Tie in Riverside, CA, where he gained practical experience in manufacturing engineering and learned about lean engineering principles. Under the mentorship of Shoen Davis, Aaron contributed to continuous –improvement projects and appreciated the company’s commitment to community and other core values. His internship gave him valuable insights into the field and solidified his career interests in manufacturing.
The Birth of a Professional Engineer: Forging a Career at Simpson Strong-Tie
Simpson Strong-Tie branch engineer, Dante Khachadourian discusses his journey from student to engineer. From his childhood days of playing with wooden blocks to earning a degree in civil engineering and obtaining his P.E. license, Dante’s path led him to Simpson Strong-Tie, where he found fulfillment in a diverse range of responsibilities as a branch engineer. Today, Dante navigates his day-to-day duties with enthusiasm, supporting designers, builders, and collegues alike to accomplish our mission of helping people build safer, stronger structures.
My Adventure Visiting Simpson Strong-Tie As a Student Scholarship Recipient
Daphne Milkert, a senior at Milwaukee School of Engineering is a recipient of the 2023 Simpson Strong-Tie Scholarship. During her scholarship trip to the Bay Area, she engaged in activities like visiting Pier 39, exploring the Tyrell Gilb Research Lab, and participated in a hands-on tradeshow showcased the versatility of Simpson Strong-Tie products. Discover her insights from the trip and what she found valuable about her experiences and the connections she made.