Cal Poly Alumni Rise to the Top

By Simeon Johnson

Scott Gaudineer, Krista Looza, and Ken O'Dell achieve career heights

Cal Poly’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) is consistently ranked among the best in the country, providing students with a solid academic foundation and a strong alumni network that can support their careers. Decades later, many alumni credit the college with helping them develop the skills necessary to achieve top leadership positions within professional organizations. Interviews with some of the college’s alumni who have taken on such roles shine a light on the long-term value of Cal Poly education and the steps students should take to become leaders in their fields.  

Scott Gaudineer is the president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), California and has also served in roles with the CAED Dean’s Leadership Council and the University Foundation Board. He has been deeply involved with AIA since the ’80s, serving multiple terms on the local and state AIA board and twice as a vice president before his installment as president in December.  

Gaudineer explained that he had defined duties as president, such as heading up the Executive Committee and Board of Directors meetings. He also works closely with the organization’s staff to develop the agendas and run meetings. Besides leading the organization’s focus on its vision and mission, he is also responsible for being the “face” of the organization during his tenure.   

“As an example, we recently met with Senator Scott Weiner to present our Legislator of the Year award. When I was in DC, I led the team in meeting with congressional leaders to discuss AIA’s positions on various legislative items and bills. In February, I served as the co-master of ceremonies for the CASH design awards presentations. I also was the AIA’s representative on the jury,” he explained.   

Gaudineer has also made it a point to visit each of California’s 21 AIA chapters and the student chapters at architecture colleges. His goal is to be a point of contact for members, listening to their concerns and focusing the state’s resources more effectively to address them.   

“Being a good listener to and an inspiration for our members, students and allied professionals is the value of this role. The president needs to be the cheerleader, the consensus builder, the positive influencer for change,” he stated.   

Creating change requires teamwork, both within the profession and between disciplines. Gaudineer sees eliciting support and coordinating collaboration as major components in his role, tackling the issues facing the profession and the state.  

One area Gaudineer focuses on is the built environment’s impact on climate change. He hopes to use his platform to equip architects to have a voice in the conversation through advocacy efforts. He also sees the need for other related professions to follow suit, highlighting the importance of having all the stakeholders on the same page about these changes.   

“For me, the culmination coming into the presidency is to continue to elevate our voice to be heard and to be a leader in that conversation,” he said.  

Gaudineer also discussed the financial struggle recent graduates often face as they enter the profession. He addressed the issue of debilitating student loans which hinder young professionals’ progress and limit their financial freedom, preventing them from being more productive and valuable. Looking forward, he talked about solutions his firm has been exploring. He called on others to follow suit regarding providing fair pay and promoting a supportive work environment, including healthier work hours and enhanced benefits like comprehensive healthcare, supporting professional development and opportunities to gain leadership skills and paid time off. 

“I would much rather it goes back to valuing your people and recognizing how important they are to your success and the success of the firm. Let’s make that change happen,” Gaudineer exhorted.   

Ruminating on his time at Cal Poly, “I think one thing I would tell students today is to embrace your time, cherish it because you will figure out that it is a pretty special place to go to school,” he said. “You are a Cal Poly grad; you are one of us. The second part is that you can create some amazing lifelong friends, so stay connected.”   

For students who would seek to reach leadership positions in professional organizations, Gaudineer provides a few recommendations.   

“First, believe that you can make a difference. Second, be willing to work with others to build trust and show your leadership skills. Study the best leaders and understand what makes them good. Three, don’t be shy! Lead by example. Remember the golden rule; it is important to treat people with respect and dignity regardless of whether they agree with you. Honor others’ contributions. Celebrate the wins together and own your mistakes. Be honest yet compassionate. I love what you do. For me being an architect has been my lifelong ambition, and second love— Leslie, my wife and Cal Poly alum, by the way, comes first. To be recognized by your peers for your leadership just adds to the dream.”  

Gaudineer traces his path to professional leadership back to his time at Cal Poly, where he held prominent positions in campus organizations such as the ASI Student Senate (now the Board of Directors), the Student Planning Commission and the CAED Student Council. He was also a founding member of the school’s chapter of national architecture fraternity Alpha Rho Chi. These experiences he gained at Cal Poly were fundamental to his current role, leading the state’s foremost architecture organization and a prominent firm specializing in educational facilities.   

Gaudineer earned his Bachelor of Architecture with honors in 1980 and joined Flewelling & Moody Architects in Los Angeles shortly after. He quickly earned his license and was offered partial ownership of the firm approximately five years into his career. He eventually worked to the top, expanding the firm across the state and increasing the headcount to about 80 employees.  

In addition to holding the top management position, Gaudineer is still going out on job sites, designing, and working with younger associates. “It is just a classic case of you just never stop, and it has been great,” he says.  

“Be prepared to give back. Remember that people went before you to make it a little bit better. Hopefully, you can pay it forward,” he concluded. 

  

Krista Looza is the 2022-23 Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC) President. Like Gaudineer, her professional journey exemplifies hard work, capable leadership and a dedicated commitment to service. Entering Cal Poly as a transfer student, Looza quickly learned the importance of careful time management and a strong work ethic. She also had her first exposure to the organization she now leads, joining the school’s student chapter of SEAOC in her first year and staying involved throughout her time at Cal Poly. Looking back, Looza remembers the challenges of completing the demanding architectural engineering program. Still, she attributes her efficiency and expertise in the workplace to the skills and character traits she developed throughout those years.  

After earning her Bachelor of Science in architectural engineering, Looza joined Buehler Engineering, eventually becoming the company’s first female principal in 2022. After approximately six years, she earned her structural engineer’s license. Around this time, she started taking on more leadership responsibilities at Buehler and within SEAOC, getting involved with mentorship programs and outreach activities. She served as president of SEAOC’s Central division in Sacramento, and in 2015 she led Buehler’s Los Angeles office opening.   

“My personal passions have guided me towards more of a people-centric side of engineering, working with our staff, training them, mentoring them, guiding them, and that’s where SEAOC has really enabled me to continue to develop my leadership skills, but also to support others coming into the profession,” Looza explained.  

In addition to giving back in her career, Looza serves on the Architectural Engineering Department Advisory Board. She brings valuable insights to the department because she understands what is happening in industry across the state.  

“I bring all the hats I wear to Cal Poly. When I show up, I’ve got my Buehler hat. I’ve got my SEAOC hat. I’ve got my architectural engineering alumni hat, and I’ve got my human-being hat,” she said.  

Reflecting on the role of the SEAOC President, Looza explained that the focus is on service to the profession and its members.   

“It is an honor to be nominated and selected by my peers and those with significant experience in the profession to fill the role, but filling the role is really about continuing the good work being done to advance the structural engineering profession while also promoting what we do to the public,” she explained.   

She noted that one of the primary, day-to-day responsibilities is leading board meetings and facilitating conversations to gain consensus on various topics. 

“There are many ever-changing needs that the president may fill each year, such as leading a new committee or strategic initiative, addressing committee or member concerns, supporting the policy committee efforts to influence legislation that impacts our profession, or engaging at the national level with NCSEA to represent California structural engineers,” she stated. 

Looza described the value of the presidency, focusing on the importance of bringing engineers across the state together. She explained that one component of this mission is coordinating the four separate regional organizations that come together under SEAOC and ensuring that communication occurs at the state level. Some challenges where this has been important include addressing licensure concerns, professional practice issues, educational or social topics and improving the annual conventions. 

“More generally, I see the role of the president to encourage structural engineers in California to speak with one voice that is consistent and supports the next generation of engineers,” she said. “There is such value in being a part of a statewide effort to work towards making structural engineering better.” 

Looza recommends students and recent graduates interested in serving through leadership roles start by getting involved in committees aligned with their interests. She also highlights the importance of being open to new opportunities, which could lead to leadership roles.  

“Maybe an opportunity to chair a committee will come along, followed by an opportunity to be on a board of directors in your local region. As you develop leadership and communication skills, you may find that you are suited to fill the role of a regional SEAOC President, which will come with a position as a director on the state board. If serving at the state level suits you, you might find that an opportunity to serve in state leadership as SEAOC President follows,” she illustrated.   

“It really does take a village to make our profession better and to fill all the roles of SEAOC. It will be a journey to discover what you enjoy, what you are good at and where you can have the greatest impact,” Looza concluded.  

  

A predecessor to Looza as SEAOC president, Kenneth O’Dell is also a Cal Poly alum. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering and later earned his structural engineering license. Reflecting on his 33 years in the trade and time at Cal Poly, O’Dell noted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.  

A dedicated professional who has served on the Architectural Engineering Department Advisory Board and the CAED Dean’s Leadership Council, he is currently involved with the Alliance, a foundation promoting interdisciplinary studies between the majors in the college.   

“Being able to relate to the entire team is such a powerful thing that Cal Poly provides,” he stated. “When you come into the field with that mindset, it strengthens your engagement and helps bridge knowledge gaps that may exist as an early professional. Knowing everything about engineering is a hard goal to achieve, but understanding what we are trying to achieve together is golden; I can learn to fill the gaps along the way. If nothing else, that is what set me on a trajectory to make my career what it has been.” 

O’Dell has undertaken numerous projects, including high and mid-rise hotels, multi-family projects, community colleges and K-12 facilities, in addition to providing valuable insights to students preparing to enter the workforce in professional organization leadership. Looking back, O’Dell noted that achieving the role of SEAOC President was not an aspiration he held when starting his career. Instead, it was a goal that developed over time as he talked to others in the profession and started identifying important themes within what he was hearing. He realized that expressing those themes and forming a consensus required being involved and engaged with his colleagues.   

“Achieving a leadership role also requires recognizing that it isn’t enough to be accomplished individually. Leadership comes through engaging the talents of those around you who have better ideas in a way that empowers them to participate in advancing a common idea,” he explained.  

The role of the president comes with a high level of meaning and fulfillment, both in terms of the initiatives that are accomplished and the relationships that are forged along the way. O’Dell noted that from a personal perspective, the value of the presidency is in the opportunity to share the table with other talented individuals with a shared passion for advancing the profession in support of society.   

“Deep relationships are built around the SEAOC boardroom, or any committee table, where ideas are shared, measured, argued, and ultimately resolved to a cohesive approach,” O’Dell stated. “The rich satisfaction of having been part of the conversation to shape something larger than yourself can be an incredible stimulus to stay and do more.” 

Looking back on the role’s responsibilities, O’Dell highlights the significance of the position in organizing members, firms, and the state government to push the profession forward. The president of SEAOC helps steer how structural engineers are engaged throughout the state within the four member organizations in San Diego, Southern, Central and Northern California. Together, these organizations and their members —structural engineers, affiliates and students — help set standards, advise on policy and advance the growth of the profession as well as individual engineers through continuing education. They also serve communities locally and worldwide by providing critical resources and assistance following natural disasters.  

“The president helps define agendas and priorities and facilitates the communication of the voices of the profession in California as those voices are developed and established through the broad volunteer base of our committees and members,” he said.  

As for what comes next, “I will retire from a profession that the generation after the next generation will define,” O’Dell concluded, looking onward. “My job now is to empower those individuals to make sure that I do not only retire from a great career, but I want to be able to retire from a great profession, recognizing that it will not be mine anymore.”   

Individuals with notable impact are motivated by a desire to advance those around them and their profession. A common thread among these leaders of professional associations is the importance of having an expansive vision beyond personal achievement. Gaudineer, Looza and O’Dell champion interdisciplinary collaboration to solve critical issues facing California and beyond and call students to action, encouraging them to use their CAED-developed skills to improve their workplaces and the future of the built environment.