Tyler B. Sease, PE, SE
President
Tyler Sease is a licensed professional engineer (PE) in 46 states, licensed structural engineer (SE),and a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI). He has extensive experience with structural steel projects and knowledge of the entire process including conceptual designs, steel connections, detailing, estimating and construction. Tyler spent several years detailing structural steel for Southern Steel Detailers during high school and college. Tyler spent 9 years at CMC Cary Engineering working on numerous high profile projects with responsibilities including connection design, building design, design-build preliminary designs, field work engineering and steel stability erection planning. He gained invaluable experience with steel erection and engineering field fixes by spending considerable time on project sites including the Boeing 787 Fab Plant in North Charleston, SC.
Tyler is responsible for the day to day operations for SSE as well as business development. He also manages the majority of our building design, stair design and erection engineering projects, while also managing select connection design projects. Tyler has managed countless projects at SSE including serving as EOR for The Refinery, Rex Medical MOB, and managing the delegated design on several Amazon Sortation facilities.
Tyler, his wife Marie, and their daughters Harper, Callie and Laney live in Lexington, SC. They enjoy family time, visiting Lake Murray and attending Gamecock football games. They are members of Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington, SC.
Joined SSE: May 2017
Education:
Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering | University of South Carolina | 2009
Master's of Engineering in Civil Engineering | University of South Carolina | 2013
Publications:
Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering | Structural Engineer Magazine | February 2013
Steel Plate Shear Walls | Civil + Structural Engineer Magazine | November 2014
Kris L. Mitchell, PE
Vice President
Kris Mitchell has been a licensed professional engineer for the past 16 years and currently holds licenses in 3 states. Between working for SteelFab and SSE, he has amassed 18 years of structural steel connection design experience. During this time, Kris worked closely with detailers, fabricators, and erectors and has learned how to efficiently and economically provide solutions to benefit all parties. Some of the more high profile jobs that he has provided connection design while at SteelFab include the Georgia Aquarium, College Football Hall of Fame, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Building. Directly out of school, Kris began working with Kline Iron & Steel and it was here that he received extensive training in the entire process of steel construction. He spent time estimating, detailing, and received critical experience working in the fabrication shop. It was also here that he was able to get experience with field engineering by living in Jersey City for 2 months working on the job site of the Goldman Sachs Tower project.
Kris manages the majority of the connection design projects at SSE. Some of the larger and/or more complicated projects that he has completed while at SSE include the Charleston Airport Parking Garage, C-17 Hangar, UNC Medical Education Bldg, East Forsyth High School, USDA Buildings, and various Amazon Distribution Centers.
Kris, his wife Betsy, their daughter Mary Grace, and their two dogs live in Lexington, SC. They like to spend most of their time hanging out with friends and family. Kris and Mary Grace love to go hiking with the dogs and kayaking down the Saluda River. They are members of First Baptist Church of Columbia.
Joined SSE: September 2017
Education:
Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering | Clemson University | 2001
Richard E. Truman Jr., PE
Senior Project Manager
Rick Truman, Jr., has been a licensed professional engineer (PE) for the past 24 years and currently holds licenses in 4 states. Rick has more than 35 years of steel industry experience and has worked for 4 structural steel fabricators during the course of his career holding various roles including Engineering Manager. He has knowledge of the entire steel construction process including sales & estimating, building design, connection design, detailing, fabrication and erection.
After starting his career in steel bridge detailing, he moved into lead engineering roles at Steward Steel in Sikeston, MO and then Steel Service in Jackson, MS. He then moved to Engineering Manager roles at Southern Steel in Charlotte, NC and then Lyndon Steel Company in Winston Salem, NC, where he served as Engineering Manager for 9 years. As Engineering Manager, he oversaw all engineering for the company, managed subcontracted engineers, worked with sales/estimating, coordinated with production as well as working through connection designs and solving field issues. Rick also ran his own consulting firm for several years and worked at Motley Structural Design. Rick has many long lasting relationships with clients and colleagues throughout the steel industry. He has experience with building design, detailing, fabrication and erection.
Rick's role at SSE will be managing connection design projects and helping to further develop our connection design calculations. His vast experience in the steel industry will bring value to our team and our clients. Rick has worked on many projects over his career with a few high profile projects being the Cincinnati Reds Stadium, a C-17 Hangar in Wichita, KS, the International African American Museum in Charleston, SC and several Amazon Distribution Centers.
Rick spent his early years near Fort Leonard Wood, MO but grew up in Palm Bay, FL. He enjoys water activities, shooting pool, hotrods and spending time with friends and family.
Joined SSE: February 2023
Education:
Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering | Florida Institution of Technology | 1988
Josh H. Chaney, PE
Project Manager
Josh Chaney is a licensed professional engineer (PE) who joined SSE after graduating from the University of South Carolina. While working at SSE, he has further expanded his knowledge in the fields of stair and rail design, steel connection design and building design. Furthermore, Josh has aided in the development of numerous calculation programs encompassing stair framing, erection engineering, connection design and miscellaneous structural components. Josh was a Project Engineer at SSE for 4 years before being promoted to Project Manager. He continues to provide and manage day to day stair and rail projects.
Josh primarily manages small miscellaneous projects and has worked on a variety of high-profile projects. Some of these include Amazon Distribution Centers, The Ohio State University Arts Building, and Assembly Studios in Atlanta.
Josh grew up in Ninety Six, SC and values spending time with his family. He currently lives in Lexington, SC with his wife Kayleigh and dogs Scout and Ellie. Josh enjoys attending baseball, football games at USC, and golfing. He is a member of Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington, SC.
Joined SSE: May 2018
Education:
Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering | University of South Carolina | 2018
Bryce H. Reeves, PE
Project Manager
Bryce Reeves is a licensed professional engineer (PE) who joined SSE after graduating from the University of South Carolina in 2019. During college, Bryce worked internships with three different companies including Mead & Hunt, SCDOT, and SteelFab. His time at SteelFab was especially beneficial because it provided experience with steel connection design, steel design drawings, and shop drawing review.
During his time at SSE, Bryce has expanded his knowledge and skills in structural steel design, specifically connection design. He has designed connections and provided shop drawing review on many different projects. Additionally, He has helped develop the company’s standard shear connections along with calculation programs consisting of axial, bracing, shear, and moment connections along with others. Bryce has passed the PE exam and will become licensed in May of 2023.
Bryce lives in Cayce, SC with his wife Savannah and two dogs. He enjoys spending his time on the lake with his family and friends and attending USC sporting events.
Joined SSE: May 2019
Education:
Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering | University of South Carolina | 2019
Rob P. O'Neal, EIT
Project Engineer
Rob O'Neal is an engineer in training (E.I.T.) who joined SSE after graduating from The Citadel in 2021. During college, Rob completed an internship for SCDOT. He joined the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi and completed multiple projects in steel design and reinforced concrete design. He also designed a steel bridge as part of an interchange for his Capstone project. Rob is working toward professional licensure and becoming a P.E.
Rob grew up in Rock Hill, SC and currently lives in Cayce, SC. He enjoys fishing and shooting sporting clays.
Joined SSE: May 2021
Education:
Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering | The Citadel | 2021
Zachary E. Lane, EIT
Project Engineer
Zachary Lane is an engineer in training (E.I.T) who joined SSE after graduating from Horry-Georgetown Technical College in 2018 & Clemson University in 2021. While at HGTC, Zach learned the fundamentals of civil engineering by learning various CAD programs and participating in bridge building competitions. During his time at Clemson, Zach completed structural classes such as steel design and reinforced concrete design. He was also the structural lead for his senior capstone project where he designed and calculated components for a 70,000 sq. ft. academic building. Zach is working toward professional licensure and becoming a P.E.
Zach grew up in Aynor, SC and currently lives in Lexington, SC. He enjoys playing golf & basketball, spending time with family, and reading. Although he is a Clemson graduate, Zach has been a USC fan all his life and attends games regularly. He is a member of Gapway Baptist Church in Mullins, SC.
Joined SSE: May 2022
Education:
Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering | Clemson University | 2021
Associate of Science in Civil Engineering | Horry-Georgetown Technical College | 2018
Satyam V. Bhosale, EIT
Project Engineer
Satyam Bhosale is an engineer in training (E.I.T) who joined SSE after graduating from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2023. During his graduate program at UIC, he was enrolled in advanced coursework related to analysis and design of steel structures and had worked on the thesis titled "Evaluation of CBFEM for Seismic Braced Frame Connections". Currently, he is working towards professional licensure and becoming a P.E in South Carolina.
Satyam grew up in Mumbai, India and currently lives in Lexington, SC. He enjoys reading medieval Indian history and spending time with family, friends, and mentors.
Joined SSE: December 2023
Education:
Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering | Kolhapur Institute of Technology, Maharashtra, India | 2019
Master of Science in Civil Engineering | University of Illinois Chicago | 2023
Kirthi A. Jeyaraj, EIT
Project Engineer
Kirthi Jeyaraj is an engineer in training (E.I.T) and has over seven years of experience in structural engineering, focused on steel structures. Her expertise spans complex steel connection design, shop drawing reviews, leveraging industry-leading standards and software to deliver high-quality, code-compliant solutions. Throughout her career, Kirthi has successfully managed connection design projects from inception through final execution, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and alignment with project goals. She is adept at leading cross-functional teams, coordinating closely with the EOR, and fabricators to optimize project outcomes and foster collaborative innovation. Alongside her core responsibilities, Kirthi actively participated in the estimating process by contributing to project pricing and proposal development and collaborating on in-house software development of Descon.
As a project Engineer at Southern Steel Engineers (SSE), Kirthi is advancing her expertise in miscellaneous structural design, including stairs, rails and ladders, with responsibilities spanning precise design and connection calculations, reviewing drawings, client coordination and team communication.
Originally from the southernmost state of India, Tamil Nadu, Kirthi completed her schooling and bachelor’s degree there before moving to the United States to pursue her Master of Science in Civil Engineering at Oklahoma State University. Having lived in the U.S. for about a decade, she currently resides in Lexington, SC. Kirthi has passion for traveling – enjoying the opportunity to experience new places, meeting new people, and immersing herself in different cultures. In her free time, she can be found playing board games, exploring new coffee and dessert shops, and spending time with friends and family.
Joined SSE: October 2024
Education:
Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering | Thiagarajar College of Engineering | 2015
Master of Science in Civil Engineering | Oklahoma State University | 2017
Esther G. Davidson
Office Manager
Esther is a lifelong learner with a diverse professional background including experience in business operations, design administration, project management, and bookkeeping. Her strengths include problem-solving, critical thinking, and perseverance; if she doesn’t have an answer, she will find it. Esther is a Certified Construction Documents Technologist, Certified Construction Contract Administrator, and Quickbooks Online Certified.
Here at SSE, Esther keeps our workflows organized and streamlined. She sets up bid documents and new projects along with ensuring project updates, payments, purchase orders, and change orders are logged and processed. Esther works alongside team members to ensure our processes here at SSE are efficient and always improving.
Esther lives in Lexington, SC with her husband William, three sons, three dogs, two cats, and four chickens. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and can often be found reading a good book.
Joined SSE: July 2024
Education:
Associate of Science in Business Administration & Accounting | Calhoun Community College | 2013
Glenn S. Sease
Estimating Manager
Glenn Sease has worked in the structural steel industry for 41 years as a structural steel detailer. Prior to his start in the steel industry, he worked 5 years as a carpenter building houses and drawings house plans starting when he was 16 years old. After college, he started as a steel detailing trainee for Southern Steel Detailers. He worked his way up at Southern Steel Detailers and bought the company in June of 1992. He worked at Southern Steel Detailers for 41 years and was the owner for 30 years. Over the course of his career, he has gone from drawing by hand on drafting boards to learning new technologies along the way such as Tekla. Glenn has adapted to many industry changes over the years and has a vast knowledge of steel detailing, steel fabrication and erection.
Glenn will help with estimating and drawing review for conformance with SSE designs.
Glenn and his wife Renee live in Leesville, SC on Lake Murray. They enjoy the lake with family and friends. They are members of Pond Branch United Methodist Church in Gilbert SC.
Joined SSE: June 2022
Education:
Associates in Architectural Engineering | Midlands Technical College | 1981
Chandler P. Williamson
Estimator
Chandler Williamson has a diverse background, ranging from creative endeavors in photography and videography to working in healthcare. She began her education at Midlands Technical College and has since transferred to Liberty University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering with a minor in Physics.
Here at SSE, Chandler prepares takeoffs for delegated design engineering projects, estimates cost and drafts proposals.
Chandler lives in Lexington, SC, where she enjoys paddle boarding on Lake Murray and is actively working towards her private pilot’s license on the weekends.
Joined SSE: March 2024
John O. Brown Jr.
Drawing Review Coordinator
John Brown, Jr., has worked in steel detailing for over 33 years. Starting directly after high school with Southern Detailing Company, he has worked on a variety of structures using Tekla in various roles from detailing to checking.
John is the Drawing Review Coordinator here at SSE, reviewing steel shop and erection drawings for conformance with SSE designs.
He is a native of the South Carolina low country and he and his wife Michelle have two children: a son, John III, and a daughter, Graceyn. John is active in his local community as a member of the Ancient Free Masons and Shriners International. He enjoys watching and attending USC Gamecocks sporting events, especially football.
Joined SSE: August 2024