For further information contact:
Alex Presley, Marketing Coordinator
310.323.9924 | [email protected]
Los Angeles-area, CA, October 1, 2020 —
Structural Focus is pleased to announce the promotion of two of our Principals, Wayne Chang, S.E. and Russell Kehl, S.E. Wayne will now serve as the Vice President of IT and Engineering, and Russell the Vice President of Operations.
David Cocke, president and founder of Structural Focus, said, “Both Wayne and Russell have been integral to the success of our firm, and, as we continue to grow, we are thankful to them for their leadership, their commitment to our clients, and to their enhancement of the structural engineering profession. Their dedication to the mission of the firm is invaluable.”
Wayne and Russell have both worked for David throughout their entire 20+ year structural engineering careers. David hired both of them at a previous firm upon graduation. When David founded Structural Focus, Wayne and Russell were two of his first hires, and were key additions to the firm. The loyalty of the three to each other is evident in all facets of the firm.
Wayne has a passion for technically challenging projects and enjoys the challenge of finding innovative “outside the box” solutions to complex problems. His clients value his dedication to their specific needs. At Structural Focus, Wayne is a great team advocate and loves to mentor the younger engineers. “Working at Structural Focus is liking working with family. There are no politics within the office. Everyone is working toward the same goal of excellence in engineering,” Wayne said.
Wayne is also actively involved in the structural engineering community. Recently completing his two-year term with SEAOSC Board of Directors, he is continuing to assist SEAOSC by revising its disaster response plans as well as helping to create a new diversity and inclusion initiative. In addition, he is very involved with the SEAOSC Existing Building Committee and has been very much on the front-line discussions with LADBS.
Outside of work, Wayne enjoys traveling with his two children and his wife, Wan-Ling. He is a self-described computer/IT “geek”!
Russell has a love for the collaborative process of project development. Over the 22 years of his career, his strong technical knowledge partnered with excellent communication skills and ability to truly understand his clients’ needs make him a trusted advisor. He also enjoys the diversity of the projects at Structural Focus. “I find highly technical spaces to be interesting and challenging. I have also developed a love for working on historic structures because of the creativity required to preserve iconic buildings. Keeping those buildings around for future generations to experience is important,” Russell said.
Russell has also been active in the structural engineering community. He has been a leader in the ACE Mentor program for many years. He was also a mentor for the SEAOSC WiSE Symposium and has served on the SEAOSC Convention Planning Committee twice.
When he isn’t in the structural engineering arena, Russell enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his kids in youth sports, and traveling on long road trips to visit national parks. “Getting a round of golf in every once in a while is nice too,” he said.
Wayne and Russell’s longevity with David throughout their entire careers is a classic example and result of one of the main goals of Structural Focus: treating staff well to inspire quality work amongst a loyal and happy workforce. We have found this mantra, along with the possibility of upward mobility within the firm, inspires consistency and excellence in the workplace.