PRESIDENT: Ben Au

(415) 796-7106

Holmes Structures, Principal

Ben Au is a Principal at Holmes Structures, a structural engineering consulting firm with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Portland .  Holmes Structures provides structural engineering services for new buildings, marine structures, and seismic retrofit of existing buildings. 

Mr. Au has over 23 years of experience providing structural engineering design and consulting for the multi-family, hospitality, education, and commercial sectors.  Mr. Au received a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from UC Davis. Mr. Au is a member of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) and the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

Mr. Au's practice includes significant projects such as the Treasure Island new Ferry Shelter and Building 1, the Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara (SEAOC Excellence in Structural Engineering Award), and UCSF Kirkham Childcare Center (SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering Award).

VICE PRESIDENT: Lydia So

(415) 813-3633

Solyd, Principal

Lydia So has two decades of experience practicing architecture nationwide and globally. She is the founder of SOLYD Architecture, Management & Design, offering architectural and management services to Bay Area residents and businesses. Lydia believes good building design is not just skin deep. Her expertise is in multidisciplinary design and she elevates her clients' property values by making technical engineering solutions synonymous with beautiful architectural design.

An advocate for cultural equity in arts, design and urban growth, the late San Francisco Mayor Lee appointed Lydia to be an SF Arts Commissioner, responsible for reviewing and approving the design of all city-owned or funded properties. Lydia honed her skills as a licensed architect and design manager at Apple. Prior to that she was an Associate at the preeminent design power house Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Her global experience includes the tallest skyscraper in Beijing and the world's first glass spiral staircase in Osaka.

SECRETARY: Darlene Jang

(415) 834-0248

Barcelon & Jang Architecture, Principal

After graduating from UC Berkeley, Darlene Jang co-founded her San Francisco design studio focusing on gallery architecture, educational facilities and supportive housing. After completing several local gallery projects, Barcelon & Jang successfully competed in a design charrette for their first major commission, the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, CA, launching the firm’s direction in museum design. Her practice extends to work in adaptive reuse and renovation work including the historic Julia Morgan YWCA Building in San Francisco for the Chinese American Historical Society Museum and the new Pence Gallery in Davis, CA. Her firm has been recognized through numerous honors, and awards. She continues to explore future design directions for hybridization of art and architecture and for synthesizing the complexities of design approaches within a highly technological urban context. She serves on the Oakland Art Gallery Board and is a member of the Organization of Women Architects.

TREASURER: Marlene Wong

(925) 296-2171

Stantec, Senior Geotechnical Engineer

Ms. Wong has more than 20 years of experience performing geotechnical engineering analyses and preparing geotechnical reports for foundation support and/or seismic retrofit of highway bridge structures, housing developments, commercial developments, residential projects, and educational facilities. She has also performed field exploration for geotechnical investigations, performed laboratory testing, and provided field observation and testing during construction. She is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Geo-Institute, and the Order of the Engineer. Ms. Wong has served on the board of directors for the Chung Ngai Dance Troupe, a non-profit community organization, as treasurer, vice-president, and president. Ms. Wong received her B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.Eng. in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a registered Civil Engineer and Geotechnical Engineer in California.

DIRECTORS:

Dennis Wong

(415) 777-2166

AGS, Inc., Senior Principal

AGS is a multi-disciplinary consulting engineering firm providing services in geotechnical/hazmat, civil/structural engineering, and construction management. Prior to joining AGS, Mr. Wong was a Project Engineer for Cambridge CM, Inc. in Palo Alto. Mr. Wong holds a M.S. degree in Civil Engineering – Construction Engineering and Management from Stanford University, and he holds a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Brown University. His involvement in other associations include: a member of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) for the Stanford Chapter, and Vice President / Publicity Chair for the Brown University Chinese Students Association.

Meng-Hsiu Chen

(415) 512-7141

MHC Engineers, Inc., Principal.

Mr. Chen as Principal of MHC Engineers, has over 33 years of expertise in Mechanical HVAC and Plumbing design and construction documentation of commercial, educational, industrial, institutional and residential projects. Mr. Chen received his Master of Engineering degree from UC Berkeley and is a registered Professional Engineer in California and Nevada. He is also a member of the ASHRAE, ASPE, NFPA. As Principal, he is directly involved in all phases of design. He has served as past Director of the Asian American Architects and Engineers from 1994 to 1996.

Gary Gee

(415) 863-8881

Gary Gee Architects, Inc., President

Gary Gee is the founder and principal of the architectural firm Gary Gee Architects, Inc. The firm specializes in mixed-use urban in-fill projects. Building types include multi-family housing, renovation of existing residential and commercial buildings. Commercial projects include new offices, retail, restaurants, specialty food markets and wholesale showrooms. Residential projects include new construction of high rise housing, residential lofts, elderly housing, and single room occupancy (SRO) units. Professional affiliations: American Institute of Architects; State Park and Recreation Commission, Past Commissioner; Angel Island Immigration Station, Past Board of Director; Asian American Architects and Engineers, Director; Council of Asian American Business Association, Member; Residential Builders Association; SPUR, Former Board Member.

Ellen Lee

(415) 421-2758

LEE Incorporated, President

Ellen Lee, as the President of LEE Incorporated, has completed numerous projects related to engineering planning and facility plan; engineering design and construction/construction management; process, environmental, civil, structural, and mechanical engineering; and land/aerial/hydrographic/LiDAR surveying. LEE has completed countywide and regional planning projects including treated wastewater reuse and reclamation reports, and regional wastewater discharge studies; as well as engineering design and construction management of water treatment facilities, wastewater treatment and reclamation systems, and transportation systems. As an engineer-contractor, LEE has completed design-build projects for more than 50 industrial wastewater treatment and reuse projects and 26 wastewater treatment plants in Taiwan.

Chi-Hsin Shao

(415) 392-9688

CHS Consulting Group, Principal

Mr. Shao is founder of CHS Consulting Group. He has held senior level positions in both public agencies and private consulting firms prior to founding CHS Consulting Group, including Deputy Commissioner of Boston Transportation Department. He has a Master degree in Infrastructure Planning and Management from Stanford University Civil Engineering Department and a Bachelor degree in Architecture from Chung Yuan University in Taiwan. Mr. Shao is currently AAAE President and has served in this position for several terms. He is also active in professional and civic organizations. He is presently a board member of Yerba Buena Alliance, Yerba Buena Arts and Events, and Organization of Chinese Americans – East Bay. He has served as the President of International Chinese Transportation Association (ICTPA) and founder of the Northern California Chapter of ICTPA.

Kendall Young

(415) 552-1118

Kendall Young Associates, President

Kendall Young as Principal of Kendall Young Associates, has over 38 years of expertise in design and construction documentation of commercial, educational, industrial, institutional and residential architectural projects. Kendall served as past President of the Asian American Architects and Engineers from 1989 to 1991; as Vice-President of the California Council of Asian American Business Association (CAABA) from 1991 to the present; Chair of CAABA’s San Francisco Unified School District Committee from 1992 to present; and as a past member of the Board of Trustees for The Urban School of San Francisco where he served as Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee and was a Member of the Finance and Education Committees from 1995 to 2000.

Ming-Chen (M.C.) Yu

(510) 663-1118

AMC Consulting Engineers, Inc., President

Ming-Chen (M.C.) Yu, a registered Civil Engineer in California, has over 35 years of experience in design and construction engineering of transit structures. He established AMC Consulting Engineers, Inc. (AMC) in the City of Oakland in 1999. The firm provides structural engineering analysis, design, and construction management services for bridges, buildings, tunnels, and marine structures. Mr. Yu received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from National Taiwan University and M.S. degree in Structural Engineering from University of California at Berkeley. He has been a member of the Asian American Architects and Engineers (AAAE) since 2000, and has served as an AAAE director from 2005 to the present. He has been actively involved at the local, state, and national levels for advocacy of equal opportunity for minority, women-owned, and small businesses. Mr. Yu is currently a member of Caltrans Small Business Council and California High-Speed Rail Business Advisory Council representing AAAE.