From Humble Beginnings
Over 40 years ago, Robert Peccia decided to take a risk and open an engineering firm. The Montana State University civil engineering graduate and a handful of employees wedged themselves into a tiny downtown Helena office and created RPA. The fledgling firm worked on small transportation, planning, and other miscellaneous projects. The company vehicle fleet consisted of Bob’s personal Honda and a beat up Datsun hatchback, fondly referred to as the “dustpan”. The drafting was done by hand and “state-of-the-art” was considered the IBM programmable typewriter with a changeable font head.
Robert J. Peccia, PE, Founder, 1978
Fast forward Four Decades
Bob completed the sale of the the company in 2009 to the employees and RPA transitioned into the first 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) engineering company in Montana. There are offices in Helena, Kalispell, and Bozeman, Montana. The firm’s staff has grown from a “handful” to over 60 individuals. Professional services now include all aspects of Civil Engineering, Land Surveying, Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE), Structures, and GIS. Staff members work alone or team up on interesting and complex projects at diverse locations across the United States.
Built on a solid foundation, RPA continues to design for future generations!
Giving Back to Our Community
At RPA, we pride ourselves in supporting local non-profit agencies as well as taking an active role in community support through our many charitable contributions.
An abbreviated list of organizations is below.
Carroll College Endowment
Carroll College EWB Student Chapter
Carroll College ASCE Student Chapter
Exploration Works
FVCC Foundation
Helena Education Foundation
MATHCOUNTS Foundation
MSU (Engineering Scholarship Endowment Fund)
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
Kalispell Regional Medical Center Foundation
Lewis & Clark Search & Rescue
Montana Meth Project
NAMI Montana
Shodair Children’s Hospital
Montana Community Foundation
St. Peter’s Hospital – Mandy Bell Endowment Fund
Museum of the Rockies
The Friendship Center
United Way
God’s Love
Friends of the Fairgrounds
Helena Area Chamber of Commerce
Montana Association of Counties
Lewis & Clark Humane Society
Lewis & Clark County 4H
Florence Crittenton Home – Paint the Town Pink
Kay McKenna Youth Foundation
Montana No Kid Hungry – Share Our Strength
Montana Special Olympics
YMCA Helena
YWCA Helena
Archie Bray Foundation
Grandstreet Theater
Helena Symphony – Symphony Under the Stars
Holter Museum of Art
Kiwanis
Lewis & Clark County Library
Myrna Loy (Business Sponsorship)
Prickly Pear Land Trust
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
The Foundation for Animals
Helena Food Share
Exchange Club of Helena
Montana Historical Society
Townsend Fall Fest
Montana League of Cities and Towns
Helena Area Habitat for Humanity
St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation – Light a Life