

Committee Mission
The SAME Membership Committee develops and communicates to all Posts the strategies, best practices, and tools that are most effective for them to grow their membership, to foster greater member engagement and leadership, and to enhance their members’ experience with SAME, further enabling each Post to support the current Strategic Plan of the Society.
Join the SAME Engage Membership NetworkOverview
As one of the “operational” Communities of Interest (vs. “technical” COIs), the Membership Committee serves as an extension of the national office staff to assist all Post leaders, especially Posts’ Membership Chairs/POCs, with the tools, resources and connections necessary to help enhance their members’ society experience through their locally relevant Posts. Between our COI members and the post membership chairs/POCs, invited to our calls and sponsored webinars, we are over 140 people strong across SAME.
SAME’s Membership Committee is open to any SAME member to participate. Unlike many of our other COIs that focus in on special professional and technical interest areas important to SAME members, the Membership COI provides participants with a broad-ranging opportunity to become involved at the national level. Our forum has the potential to positively impact the experience of every current and future member of the society as it pursues its strategic goals.
COI Objectives
- Provide opportunities to foster connections with other Post leaders across all sizes and post geographies
- Engage with best practices employed at other Posts by their leaders and members
- Share creative tools and resources aimed at improving post level retention and recruitment successes

Committee Chair
Organization Structure
Vice Chair, Tools & Resources: Dick Kochanek
Chair-Elect, Strategic Direction: Lee Ann Zelesnikar
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
- Shante Fields – Mead &Hunt
- Lalitha Benjaram – Mead & Hunt
Staff Liaison: Jill Murphy
Webinar: Understanding the New Membership Structure
Military Membership – What’s in it for You?
Upcoming National Webinars
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- Webinar
Solving Complex CVOC Problems with ISTR– Field Proven Approaches
This webinar will first discuss the unique aspects of performance-based designs when considering procurement of thermal remediation services. Next, we will discuss how to evaluate criteria when selecting performance objectives, i.e., “ how do you define success?” -
- Webinar
The National Spatial Reference System: Modernizing Our Geodetic Foundation for the Future
The National Geodetic Survey (NGS), within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is in the process of making the critical transition from the current National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) to the upcoming, modernized (2022) system. -
- Webinar
Navigating the FAR Overhaul from a Business Leader’s Perspective
Join us for the final webinar in our series on the FAR overhaul and its impacts on businesses in the A/E/C industry. We are excited to offer a panel discussion on the FAR overhaul with seasoned representatives from small and large businesses. -
- Webinar
CMMC Level 2: What A/E Firms Must Know Before November
Starting November 10, 2026, the Department of Defense will require CMMC Level 2 certification for contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Unlike prior self-attestation requirements, this mandate requires verification by an accredited third-party assessor before a firm can be awarded or retain applicable DoD contracts.
Related TME Articles – Membership
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Managing Crystalline Silica
The risk of crystalline silica exposure is prevalent in operations associated with concrete and asphalt cutting (including runway repair), but improvements in engineering controls and personal protections can lower risks to personnel. -
Protecting Pearl Harbor’s Marine Environment From Aquatic Invasive Species
Extensive spread of invasive octocoral was discovered along the bottom of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, prompted the U.S. Navy established a multi-agency task force to research and carry out the eradication effort in protection of the delicate island ecosystem. -
Committed to Long-Term Stewardship
With responsibility for the oversight of legacy environmental sites across the nation, the Department of Energy’s Office of Legacy Management utilizes a variety of resources and best practices to protect human health and the environment, engage with a diverse group of stakeholders, and educate and inform the public. -
Setting Standards For the Future at Norfolk Naval Shipyard
The renovation for Dry Dock 4 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, utilized advanced 3D and scale modeling to guide the design choices that would prepare the facility for another 50 years of service while meeting increased standards for resiliency and redundancy.