Aaron Peters, PE, Promoted to Project Engineer

Aaron Peters, PE, has passed the Principles and Practices of Engineering Examination and is now a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Montana. In recognition of this accomplishment and his contributions to RPA, he has been promoted to Project Engineer. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Montana State University – Northern and has been a part of the Site Development Group since 2023. Outside the office Aaron volunteers with Prickly Pear Land Trust and the Montana Bicycle Guild. When he is not volunteering, Aaron enjoys spending time mountain biking and hiking the trails that Helena and the State has to offer.

Welcome to RPA, Easton Whiteside

Easton Whiteside has joined the RPA Helena office as our IT Network Administrator. Easton has a diverse background in IT and brings with him nearly a decade of experience in network support, cybersecurity, and broad systems support. In this new role, he is primarily responsible for the installation, maintenance, security, and administration of the firm’s networked computer system. Additionally, he assists with the acquisition, installation, and support of the firm’s hardware and software applications. Easton holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Information Technology from North Idaho College. Easton’s broad exposure to computer systems and his knowledge of the existing technology utilized at RPA, make him a valuable addition to the team.

Holly Manning, PE, Promoted to Group Manager

Holly Manning, PE, has been promoted to Site Development Group Manager. In this new leadership role, Manning will promote the growth and development of the Site Development Group, assure the highest quality of work, and ensure the group continues to meet the needs of our clients with innovative, practical solutions. When asked of her promotion, Manning said, “I am humbled, honored and excited at the opportunity to lead this incredible group here at RPA.”

Beginning as an intern in 2001, Manning joined RPA full-time as a member of the Water/Wastewater Group in 2002, working her way from Engineering Designer to Project Manager. In 2017 she transitioned to the Site Development Group and has since provided excellent site accessibility, drainage, site grading, storm water detention and treatment, utility, parking lot, and sidewalk design for projects throughout Montana. Manning’s well-deserved promotion is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and key contributions to RPA’s success for the past 22 years. Manning serves on RPA’s Board of Directors and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Montana State University.

Sarah Nicolai, PE, PTP, Promoted to Group Manager

Sarah Nicolai, PE, PTP, has been promoted to Transportation Planning and Operations Group Manager. In her new position, Nicolai will continue developing and managing projects for numerous state, federal, and municipal transportation agencies, as well as private clients throughout the northwest. “I am honored to step into this new role in support of the RPA team and in service to our clients,” says Nicolai. “I greatly appreciate the opportunities RPA offers for career advancement and personal growth.”

With nearly 20 years of experience, Nicolai has extensive knowledge and background with the development of highway corridor studies, transportation planning and safety assessments, statewide policy documentation, environmental evaluations, and public and stakeholder outreach. She has served on RPA’s Board of Directors since 2022 and is the Past President for the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Montana Section. Nicolai holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Civil Engineering from Carroll College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from Carleton College.

“Sarah has been an immensely valuable member of RPA since she joined the firm in 2020,” says Scott Randall, RPA Vice President and former Transportation Planning and Operations Group Manager. “She is a highly respected leader in the transportation industry, with a focus on outstanding client service. We are thrilled to see Sarah take on this new role, and we are grateful for her continued steady leadership as we move forward.”

Helena Food Share – Kid Packs

A team of RPA volunteers put together over 1,100 Kid Packs for the Helena Food Share this week. These Kid Packs are distributed to students in our Helena area community on a weekly basis. Each Kid Pack contains a variety of kid-friendly foods that provides a source of nutrition over the weekend during the school year.

 
 

Ryan Seyler, PE, Promoted to Project Engineer

Ryan Seyler, PE, has passed the Principles and Practices of Engineering Examination and is now a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Montana. In recognition of this accomplishment and his contributions to RPA, he has been promoted to Project Engineer in the Water/Wastewater Group. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Montana State University. He joined RPA in 2019 and has proven himself an invaluable team member of the Water/Wastewater Group. Outside the office, he enjoys spending time outdoors with activities such as hiking, biking, and skiing.

RPA Site Design

RPA’s Site Development team assisted the owner with a pre-design site assessment, while our Survey team completed a boundary line adjustment to kick this project off.  Once completed, RPA’s Structural and Site Development teams partnered with CWG Architecture and Dick Anderson Construction to bring Prickly Pear Pediatric Dentistry’s brand-new facility to life!

Prickly Pear Pediatric Dentistry Office

RPA’s involvement on the project included:

  • Boundary Line Adjustment 
  • Site, Utility, and Topographic Survey 
  • MDT System’s Impact and Permitting 
  • City of Helena Coordination 
  • Site Layout 
  • Site Grading 
  • Access and Parking Lot Layout and Design 
  • Exterior ADA Compliance 
  • Stormwater Design 
  • Utility Services
  • Conventional Wood Light-Framed Structure Using Parallel Chord Manufactured Wood Trusses
  • Partial Basement and Crawlspace Foundation

Welcome to RPA, Aaron Peters, EI

Aaron Peters, EI, has joined the Robert Peccia & Associates (RPA) Helena office as an Engineering Designer in the Site Development Group. Aaron has over five years of civil engineering experience with a primary focus in municipal and transportation engineering. At RPA, he will utilize his experience and education to complete various aspects of site design, including data collection, alternatives analysis, and preparation of construction documents. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Montana State University – Northern. His attention to detail, strong work ethic, and dedication to his profession make him an excellent addition to the RPA team.

RPA Celebrates Employee Ownership Month

Every October, we celebrate our employee-owners, who are the backbone of RPA and what makes this company special. We believe that employee ownership is key to our success at RPA and, as a 100% employee-owned company, we don’t just have employees at RPA, we have employ-owners who begin earning a piece of the pie starting from day one. As employee-owners, our employees also have an exciting retirement benefit through our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP). An ESOP is a retirement plan that gives employees ownership in the company in the form of shares of stock. This means our employees are directly invested in RPA’s success and as the company grows and succeeds, so do our employee-owners.

We are proud to be an employee-owned company and our employees are too! Check out what some of our employee-owners here at RPA have to say about employee ownership and what that benefit means to them.

Being an employee owner empowers me to take ownership of my career and my future. I enjoy being surrounded by like-minded people who are all motivated to go above and beyond for our clients and driven to see the company succeed. And although I love my day-to-day work and have no plans to retire anytime soon, I take a lot of comfort in knowing RPA’s ESOP is helping me build a healthy retirement savings!

Kerry Lynch, PE, RSP1

Once I made the decision to pursue another job, the ESOP structure was one of the key factors in coming back to work at RPA. The culture at RPA is strong due in part to an increased sense of pride and buy-in from employee owners. Employees have more emphasis on improved business practices and focus on everyone rowing in the same direction for greater firm success. Working for an ESOP company like RPA makes me feel like a valued team member with less stress on individual metrics and financial performance.

Jeremy Perlinski, PE

Being an employee-owner at RPA gives me a vested interest in the company that goes beyond my salary and that is both motivating and inspiring. Wins feel more personal, every new project or client represents a new opportunity to excel and succeed. I see the rewards from my hard work as my retirement account grows, and that’s a powerful motivator since I know I am directly working for myself and for my coworkers.

Forrest Walker, EI

RPA Recognized By PSMJ Resources, Inc.

For the ninth time, PSMJ Resources, Inc., the premier management consulting firm for the architecture and engineering (A/E) industry, has announced that Robert Peccia & Associates (RPA) made the 2023 Circle of Excellence exclusive list. Only 68 exceptional architecture and engineering firms across the United States made it on the exclusive list this year. PSMJ’s exclusive Circle of Excellence highlights firms that demonstrate outstanding business achievement in the architecture and engineering industry.

 “The A/E/C Circle of Excellence award-winning firms represent the best of the best in terms of financial management. These organizations apply the best business practices to every phase of their operations,” says Frank A. Stasiowski, FAIA, Founder and CEO of PSMJ Resources. “The top-performing firms just think and act differently from the rest of the pack to achieve extraordinary performance.”

PSMJ designed the Circle of Excellence to highlight successfully managed firms that demonstrate outstanding achievements in areas such as profitability, overhead management, cash flow, productivity, business development, staff growth, and turnover. The Circle of Excellence represents the top 20 percent of participants in PSMJ’s annual A/E Financial Performance Benchmark Survey, based on 13 key performance metrics.

“The firms recognized in the Circle of Excellence set the standard for outstanding and sustainable business results,” says Stasiowski. “Some firms have been in this prestigious group year after year!”

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