RPA is proud to welcome Chris Nelson, EI back to the team, this time as a full-time Engineering Designer in our Water & Wastewater Group.

Chris first joined RPA as an intern in the summer of 2025, where he dove into a well refurbishment project for the City of East Helena and got a firsthand look at what it means to improve local infrastructure. That experience stuck. What drew Chris to civil engineering in the first place was the chance to make a real, visible difference in Montana communities, and he is already doing exactly that, now supporting pump station projects for the City of Kalispell alongside Neal.

Chris earned his civil engineering degree from Montana Technological University in Butte, one of several Montana cities he has called home over the past 10 years. Belgrade, Bozeman, Butte, and now Helena: Montana is where he belongs, and he would not have it any other way.

When he is not on the job, you will find Chris on the water fly fishing, out in the field hunting, tearing up trails on a dirt bike with friends, or exploring the backcountry with his wife, Lani.

We are glad to have Chris back and excited to see what he brings to the Water & Wastewater Group. Welcome aboard, Chris!