SSSBA Partners with Fought & Company for High-Impact Steel Bridge Lunch & Learn

Last week, the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) participated in a Lunch & Learn event hosted by SSSBA member Fought & Company in Portland, Oregon.

The event, “Steel Bridges: Smarter by the Numbers – Design, Economy, Construction & Resilience,” brought together more than 50 attendees representing a broad cross-section of the industry, including fabricators, economic development professionals, bridge industry leaders, general contractors, elected officials and county representatives.

The session featured Dr. Michael Barker, Director of the SSSBA Bridge Education Center and Professor of Civil & Architectural Engineering at the University of Wyoming, who led an engaging presentation and discussion on how bridge material decisions influence long-term project value, lifecycle performance, construction efficiency and resilience.

More than 50 industry professionals attended the event, where Dr. Michael Barker led a discussion on how bridge material decisions impact long-term value, performance, construction efficiency and resilience.

Expanding the Conversation Around Steel Bridges

Using national research and real-world project examples, attendees learned how expanding the conversation around material selection can lead to more informed infrastructure decisions.

The response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive.

Michael Fiore highlighted the strong engagement and forward-looking discussions sparked by the event around steel bridge opportunities and industry collaboration.

“People saw new possibilities with steel bridges they hadn’t considered before. That matters because we can’t drive meaningful change if people don’t first see the opportunity in front of them,” said Michael Fiore, President of Fought & Company.

Fiore also noted that the discussions following the event were “energized and forward-looking,” with conversations already taking place around future collaboration opportunities and broader industry engagement.

Building Long-Term Industry Relationships

“What struck me most was how naturally the event reinforced the importance of long-term relationships,” Fiore added. “Real progress in this industry is rarely transactional. It is built through trust, shared vision, consistent engagement, and people willing to invest in one another over time.”

SSSBA appreciates Fought & Company for hosting the event and all those who attended and participated in the discussion.

The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance appreciates Fought & Company for hosting the Lunch & Learn event and supporting industry engagement around steel bridge solutions.

As part of its mission to advance the use of short span steel bridges through education and outreach, SSSBA offers complimentary educational presentations and technical resources to owners, designers and industry groups across the country.

If your organization is interested in hosting a similar Lunch & Learn or educational session, we encourage you to contact SSSBA to learn more. Current SSSBA members are also encouraged to reach out about partnering on future events and educational opportunities.