RPA Welcomes Three Summer Interns

We are so excited to welcome our three summer interns, Hannah, Emma, and Dustin. Throughout the summer, they will be assisting our groups on all project types and gaining hands on experience in things such as surveying, inspection, engineering design, and reporting.

Hey, I’m Hannah! I’m a Junior at Carroll College, playing Volleyball and studying Civil Engineering Broadfield. Go Saints! I became interested in civil engineering because of the real-world application. Being able to face a challenge and see your solution come to life is a goal I strive to achieve. I am so excited to intern at RPA to explore different fields of civil engineering and get the chance to learn from some of the best!

Hello! My name is Emma and I am earning my undergraduate degree as a civil engineer at Montana State University. I am currently interested in structural engineering and am working with RPA’s structural team, although I am also involved in projects within the transportation group because of my involvement with ITE on campus. I was drawn to civil engineering because I want a career in which I can make beneficial change to the world using math and systems thinking. Civil engineering is centered around communities and their needs, which means I can show up to my internship every day and help to make a positive impact with the work I partake in. I am excited to be learning from the wonderful mentors I have here at RPA and am very grateful for their wisdom, kindness, and patience as they teach me what engineering looks like outside of a classroom.

Hi, I’m Dustin and I am currently going to school for civil engineering at Montana Tech in Butte. I am most excited to learn about all the different things that civil engineering has to offer and to learn from all the engineers at RPA. My main interest in civil engineering is wastewater design. I also love using AutoCAD and am looking forward to spending time in the office and out in the field. Some of my interests outside of work are hunting, fishing, and being on the lake with family and friends. 

RPA Receives Business and Industry Partnership Award

RPA recently received our first ever Business and Industry Partnership Award from Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC)! During the summer of 2022 the coordinator of the Land Survey program at FVCC resigned. With short notice FVCC turned to Idaho State University (ISU) and their on-line service to provide the land survey classes required for their A.A.S. degree in Land Survey.  As a part of these classes each student was required to find a mentor to perform their field labs. These students had no connection to land surveyors and no time to develop these connections. Luckily, RPA has had a long-standing relationship with FVCC and this program and was able to step in and create a group of local Professional Land Surveyors to volunteer their time to provide this mentorship.  Mentoring has taken place every Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the 2022-2023 school year.

“It is an honor to be a part of a company that is willing to jump in to ensure that a well needed program remains in place for this state’s education system.  Thanks to RPA and our President, Craig Jenneskens, for saying yes.”

– Jason Smith

ASCE Student Bridge Competition

RPA Structural Engineers, Matt Miller and Tyler Jirges, served as judges for the ASCE Pacific Northwest Steel Bridge Competition at Montana State University.

“It was an honor and privilege for RPA to participate in the judging of ASCE’s Pacific Northwest Steel Bridge Competition held at Montana State University.  It was inspiring to see the ingenuity, passion, and immense teamwork by each college represented!  Some talented young engineers in the making and coming into the profession.  Congratulations to each team participating in this year’s competition!” – Matt Miller

RPA Trap Team

Recently RPA fielded a trap team as part of their Gold Level Sponsorship of the 2023 Carroll college Saints to the Front and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter Trap Shoot Fundraiser.

This fundraiser is organized by two amazing student groups at Carroll College with the goal of raising money for their group and building a presence in the community:

The Saints to the Front group provide students with the opportunity to learn about the US Army and the role it serves, as well as teaches students leadership skills.

And Carroll’s ASCE Student Chapter is focused on helping engineering students get ready for life after graduation, and let me tell you, the future of engineering is bright!

Stephen Markwardt awarded Don Thompson Memorial Trophy

Congratulations to RPA engineer, Stephen Markwardt, who was recently awarded the Don Thompson Memorial Trophy. Outside of the office, Stephen has been a volunteer Great Divide Ski Patroller for the past eight years and received the award for being an “Outstanding Patroller participating in the Senior Program.”

The Senior Program provides advanced training enhancing medical and leadership skills. At the end of the winter ski season, participants attend a Senior Evaluation where their skills are tested and scored in a variety of staged accident scenarios. The Senior Candidate that displays the overall best attitude and performance during the Senior Evaluation is awarded the trophy. Keep up the great work Stephen!

RPA Assists With The National Building Renovation In Downtown Bozeman

RPA’s structural group has been thrilled to be part of the team helping bring life back into an historic and iconic building for downtown Bozeman!  RPA designed a seismic retrofit, new interior second floor addition, and a four-story addition to the east side of the building over top of an existing original two-story building appendage. We love being a part of adaptive reuse projects in our communities! Check out more in the story linked below: https://bit.ly/3OHWfPI

RPA Gives – SWISH Basketball Tournament

Recently, RPA had several volunteers help take part of the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual SWISH basketball tournament. The SWISH is one of the longest running youth basketball tournaments in the state. This year’s tournament had nearly 100 teams spread across 10 gyms competing in five different age groups.

“I’ve been volunteering as the Four Georgian’s court supervisor for the SWISH tournament since 2017. It’s a great way to support youth basketball players from across the state, and be part of an event that brings such a great deal of business into our Helena area community for the weekend.” – Neal Levang

Welcome Home Kyle

RPA is extremely proud and thankful to have our very own Kyle Myhre, Montana National Guardsman, back home from a year-long deployment to the Middle East. We are forever grateful to all US Military Servicemen and Women for your service and sacrifice!

RPA Gives – Helena Food Share

Recently, 27 RPA volunteers put together 1,050 Kid Packs for the Helena Food Share in just one hour! RPA staff, retirees, and family members volunteer a few times a year to assemble Kid Packs that get distributed to nearly 1,200 Helena area students 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.
 
“I have been building Kid Packs with different organizations for several years and I am excited that RPA has embraced the Helena Food Share mission to help kids at risk of hunger in our community.” – Jeremy Perlinski

2023 RPA Board of Directors

We are excited to announce our 2023 Board of Directors, a big congratulations to Toni Ballard, Craig Jenneskens, Brad Koenig, Matt Miller, Sarah Nicolai, Jeremy Perlinski, Austin Wargo, and Bob Peccia (Emeritus)!