MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
Joel Catalano

Meet Joel Catalano, a 1983 Illinois Civil Engineering graduate who moved to the Houston area in 2005 to be closer to family—and leave Chicago winters behind. A structural engineer specializing in bridge design and construction, Joel enjoys Houston’s weather and food and is also a collector of World War II memorabilia.

• Hometown: West Chicago, Illinois
• Campus: UIUC
• Illinois Degree & Major: Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering
• Year of Illinois graduation: 1983
• Favorite UI Memory: Rock concerts at the Assembly Hall
• Favorite Place on Campus: Taft-Van Doren Dorm
• Favorite Illini Athlete: Dick Butkus
• Favorite Class at Illinois: Design of Ocean Structures
• Favorite UIUC Bar/Restaurant: O’Malley’s / Lamplighter
• Moved to Houston: 2005
• What Brought You to Houston: We wanted to be close to family but didn’t want to deal with the Chicago winters anymore.
• Favorite Things About Houston: Weather and food
• Favorite Places in Houston: Taste of Texas, Fulshear
• Occupation: Structural engineer for bridge design and construction
• Something Special About Me: Collector of World War II memorabilia
• How to Get in Contact: E-Mail

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