Jon Guttello to speak at the SEAOI 10th Annual Young Engineer's Symposium

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We are excited to share that Jon Guttello will be speaking at the 10th Annual Young Engineers Symposium, hosted by the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois. The symposium brings together emerging professionals from across the region for a day focused on connection, learning, discussion, and professional growth.

Jon’s presentation will focus on the three hour mass timber fire test in which Forefront recently participated. The testing provided valuable real world data on fire performance, charring behavior, and structural stability, helping move conversations about mass timber beyond assumptions and into measured results. Jon will walk through the intent of the test, what was learned, and why this kind of research matters for engineers working with emerging structural systems.

As a young engineer himself, Jon’s involvement reflects the value of engaging directly in conversations that shape the next generation of structural engineering practice. Events like this provide an opportunity for engineers at similar stages in their careers to exchange ideas, learn from one another’s experiences, and better understand the paths available within the profession.

At Forefront, we believe that growth happens through participation and curiosity. Supporting team members as they take part in industry events, share their work, and contribute to professional dialogue is an important part of our culture. Jon’s participation in the symposium highlights that commitment and the importance of staying connected to the broader engineering community.

We are proud to see Jon representing Forefront at this year’s Young Engineers Symposium and look forward to the conversations and insights that will come from the event.