"You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want..." (from Zig Ziglar)

Brian grew up in Northwest Indiana. At age 13, his father passed away unexpectedly. While this was difficult, it provided him the opportunity to “dive in head-first” to all types of projects around the house while his mom worked incredibly hard to raise four kids. He chose Purdue Civil Engineering based upon the suggestion of an uncle who worked in the construction industry.

Brian participated in Purdue’s co-op program led by Professors John Gaunt and Leonard Wood. He worked in Indianapolis for five co-op sessions, living with an aunt and uncle and their three children, which allowed him to save money for school and learn about site development.

Brian specialized in structural engineering at Purdue and Professor Mark Bowman offered him the opportunity to conduct research for AISC on welded connections for a Master’s thesis. Working with Professor Bowman was another “life shaping” event from his time at Purdue. He is very thankful for the excellent practical education he received at Purdue.

After graduating from Purdue in 1991, he was hired by JDH Engineering in Grand Rapids, MI, as a structural engineer. Following three-and-a-half years at JDH, he took a “left turn” in his career and went into structural engineering software sales and support for RAM International. There, he helped other structural engineers across the US and Canada become more productive designing building structures with RAM software.

In 2006, he founded his own company, SE Solutions, to help other companies find and hire structural engineers. Two years later, his company launched a Structural Engineering Continuing Education division called SE University. SE University now serves over 600 structural offices in 49 states by keeping their structural engineers up-to-date on current industry standards and trends. Brian finds great satisfaction in helping fellow structural engineers make advances in their careers and lives.

Another life shaping event credited to Purdue Civil was meeting his wife, Carol Harber (BSCE 1989), at the Chi Epsilon banquet. Brian and Carol married in 1993 and are blessed with two wonderful children, Megan and Paul, who bring incredible joy to their lives. They live in Holland, Michigan. Brian’s sister, Colleen, is a Purdue Vet School Graduate who runs a practice in Columbia City, Indiana.

Brian is a member of the Bowen Lab Advisory Council and a past member of the Purdue Civil Engineering Advisory Council. He is also on the AISC Partners in Education Committee and a Corresponding Member of the NCSEA Basic Education Committee.