RPA Opens Anaconda Office

RPA is excited to announce the recent opening of its newest office in Anaconda, Montana. This expansion supports the firm’s continued growth and reinforces its commitment to serving public and private sector clients throughout southwest Montana.

Located at 113 East Third Street, the new office enhances RPA’s ability to deliver high-quality engineering solutions in areas such as water & wastewater, airports, transportation, structural design, site development, survey, and construction management.

The new office is under the leadership of Mike Johnson, PE, a highly experienced civil engineer, who has nearly 25 years of expertise in managing complex infrastructure projects. A native of Anacona, he brings established relationships and deep local insight to the role.

“It’s exciting to have an office in the heart of the community that shaped me” said Johnson “and I look forward to helping clients achieve their goals.” 

RPA Honored By PSMJ Resources, Inc.

PSMJ Resources, Inc. announced the members of the 2025 AEC Circle of Excellence: The AEC Industry’s Best Managed Firms™. RPA is honored to be one of sixty-five exceptional architecture and engineering firms to make it onto the exclusive list this year! This is the 11th time since 2011 that RPA has been selected to the Circle of Excellence.

PSMJ designed the AEC Circle of Excellence Award to recognize firms that demonstrate outstanding achievements in areas such as profitability, overhead management, efficiency, business development, growth, and turnover. The 2025 AEC Circle of Excellence: The AEC Industry’s Best Managed Firms™ list represents the top 20 percent of participants in PSMJ’s most recent A/E Financial Performance Benchmark Survey, based on 9 key performance metrics.

While some may chase vanity metrics like rapid growth or sheer size, the firms on our Best Managed list have mastered what truly matters—the fundamentals that separate sustainable high performance from short-sighted or superficial growth,” says PSMJ President Gregory Hart. “These award-winning firms don’t just excel; they redefine excellence in financial and operational management. They’ve cracked the code to extraordinary performance, moving with purpose while others hesitate, executing with precision while others stumble, and daring to innovate while others cling to convention.”

RPA is a 100 percent employee-owned civil engineering, planning, and land surveying firm. With over 70 employees, RPA is headquartered in Helena, Montana with offices in Kalispell, Bozeman and Anaconda, Montana.

Kerry Lynch Becomes Montana’s First RSP2B Certified Professional

Kerry Lynch Becomes Montana’s First RSP2B Certified Professional

At Robert Peccia & Associates (RPA), safety isn’t just a priority, it’s the foundation of how we approach every project. Kerry Lynch has long exemplified this safety-first mindset, ensuring that critical safety considerations are integrated from the earliest stages of project development. Her RSP1 certification, earned in 2021, has already helped us deliver thoughtful, evidence-based solutions tailored to the unique needs of the communities and clients we serve.

 

Now, Kerry has taken her commitment to the next level by earning the Road Safety Professional Level 2 – Behavioral Specialty (RSP2B) certification, making her the first in Montana to achieve this advanced designation.

 

Awarded by the Transportation Professional Certification Board (TPCB), the RSP2B credential recognizes professionals with deep knowledge in behavioral safety strategies, including those that influence driver behavior, improve public awareness, and ultimately help prevent crashes and save lives. This certification builds on the foundation of RSP1 and focuses on key areas such as:

 

  • Human factors and driver behavior
  • Safety education and outreach
  • Enforcement strategies
  • Policy development and evaluation

Why This Matters in Montana

Montana’s transportation network is one of the most expansive in the nation, with many miles of rural roads and some of the country’s highest roadway fatality rates. Because the network is so large, infrastructure improvements alone aren’t enough to fully address safety challenges—improving safety culture is essential.

 

Kerry’s RSP2B certification gives us the expertise to address these challenges by working not only with our clients, but also with safety partners such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, and educators. By fostering collaboration, focusing on the human factors behind crashes, and supporting a stronger safety culture across the state, we can pair infrastructure investments with education, outreach, and enforcement strategies to reduce crashes and save lives.

 

What This Means for Our Clients
Kerry’s RSP2B certification strengthens our ability to develop holistic safety solutions that balance engineering, education, and enforcement strategies. It allows us to:

 

  • Promote more effective and targeted safety programs
  • Collaborate with communities to foster meaningful engagement and awareness
  • Deliver measurable improvements in traffic safety outcomes

This achievement reflects Kerry’s dedication to advancing transportation safety and RPA’s ongoing commitment to shaping safer transportation systems. We’re proud to have her on our team—and even prouder of the impact she continues to make across Montana and beyond.

 

Congratulations, Kerry! Your dedication and leadership are helping to create safer roads and more resilient communities.

Trevor Larson, PE, Promoted to Project Engineer

RPA is proud to recognize Trevor Larson, PE, who has successfully passed the Principles and Practices of Engineering (PE) Examination and is now a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Montana.

In recognition of his achievements and growing responsibilities, Trevor has also been promoted to Project Engineer in RPA’s Water/Wastewater Group. In this new role, he will lead and support a wide range of infrastructure projects — including the planning and execution of engineering studies, the development of construction drawings and specifications, and the oversight of construction observation and contract administration efforts.

Trevor has consistently demonstrated strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a collaborative spirit — all of which have made him a key contributor to the success of our projects and our team. We look forward to his continued growth and leadership at RPA.

Congratulations, Trevor, on this well-earned recognition of your hard work and dedication!

RPA Celebrates International Women in Engineering Day

In honor of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), we’ve highlighted some of the amazing women here at RPA.

“My mom is an engineer, and seeing her approach challenges with ingenuity and confidence really inspired me. She taught me that engineering goes beyond problem-solving; it’s a way to make a difference. That’s what motivated me to become an engineer too.”

“As an engineering project manager, I joke that I’m a social engineer — with all the communication and coordination it takes to keep projects moving. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“One of the things I love most about working in transportation is how relatable it is. Everyone deals with traffic, road safety, or just getting from point A to B—so I can talk to anyone about what I do. It connects me to my community in a really meaningful way.”

“I hope to make an impact by designing infrastructure that not only meets technical and safety standards but also enhances the everyday lives of the people who use it. Innovative engineering can be both highly functional and aesthetically thoughtful—creating spaces that are efficient, resilient, and inspire a sense of connection.”

Welcome to RPA, Todd Lowell, Jr., EI

We are pleased to announce that Todd Lowell Jr. has joined the RPA team as an Engineering Designer in our Site Development Group. Todd brings a decade of engineering experience from his distinguished service in the U.S. Army, where he held several key leadership roles, including Project Manager and Company Commander, at various locations across the United States. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from North Dakota State University and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and Military Construction Management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. His extensive background in engineering and leadership makes him a valuable addition to our growing team.

RPA Welcomes Three Interns

CHRIS NELSON

I attend Montana Tech University, I will be a senior this next school year, and I am studying Civil Engineering.

I am most interested in water/wastewater engineering, and that is the RPA team I am with this summer.

I am excited to explore how the RPA team designs water/wastewater facilities and hopefully see some of the construction phases of the projects.

ANDER STREULI

I just graduated this Spring with a BS in Civil Engineering from Montana State University, and this Fall I will go back to MSU for a master’s degree in Structural Engineering.

I am most interested in Structural Engineering.

I am excited to get exposure and experience with structural design this summer!

jacob spangenberg

I study civil engineering at Montana Tech and I am going into my junior year.

I am not looking into any specific areas of civil engineering although I enjoy water/wastewater and site development.

I am excited to explore all that RPA offers.

 

Welcome to RPA, Rob Ashton

We are pleased to announce that Rob Ashton has joined RPA’s Helena office as a Construction Administration Specialist in our Water/Wastewater Group. Rob brings nearly three decades of experience in water and wastewater funding, project inspection, and regulatory compliance. His deep knowledge and hands-on expertise make him a valuable asset to our team and clients. Originally from Provo, Utah, Rob earned his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Utah State University. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering high-quality infrastructure solutions and ensuring projects meet both funding and regulatory compliance requirements.

Tim Rusdal, PE, Returns to RPA

We are thrilled to announce the return of Tim Rusdal, PE, as a Senior Project Manager in our Site Development Group. A graduate of North Dakota State University, Tim brings over 30 years of civil engineering experience to our team. His career has spanned Program and Project Management roles focused on infrastructure for roads and bridges, as well as site development and water/wastewater systems for Local, State, and Federal Agencies. As a senior project manager at RPA, Tim will apply his depth of knowledge and leadership skills to provide high-quality, innovative engineering design solutions for our current and future clients.

Welcome to RPA, Jacquelyn Smith, PE

Jacquelyn Smith, PE, has joined RPA as a Senior Project Manager in the Streets and Highways Group. Jacquelyn attended Montana State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and has over 20 years of progressive design, project management and program management experience for federal, state and local governments. As a Senior Project Manager at RPA, she will oversee projects to assure quality of the work, manage project teams, track project budgets and schedules, and perform contract administration. Jacquelyn’s extensive experience and dedication to her profession, coupled with her respected reputation in the industry, make her a valuable addition to the RPA team.