Welcome to RPA, Nick Kanauer

Nick Kanauer has joined the RPA Helena office as a Survey Assistant in the Survey/SUE Group. Nick has four years experience in land surveying and served as a Crew Chief on a variety of large civil projects. He is skilled with total project construction layout, Right-of-Way establishment, establishing and maintaining site control networks, and final as-built report production. Nick is also a licensed drone pilot specializing in LiDAR Imagery for topographic applications. In addition to a diverse survey background, Nick has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from SUNY Oswego College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as an Associate of Applied Science in Land Surveying Technology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Ranger School. 

Welcome to RPA, Paul Herbst, PE

Paul Herbst, PE, has joined the RPA Bozeman office as a Project Engineer in the Water and Wastewater Group. In addition to 10 years of experience with a focus on water distribution and wastewater systems, Paul has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Montana State University. His specialties include wastewater collection and treatment design, water distribution system modeling, and construction observation. As a Project Engineer at RPA, Paul will apply engineering design standards to design and prepare construction and related plans, specifications, reports, and contract documents, as well as conduct construction observation and contract administration duties.

Welcome to RPA, Colton Grange, EI

Colton Grange, EI, has joined the RPA Helena office as an Engineering Designer in the Water/Wastewater Group. Colton is a graduate of Montana Technological University where in addition to earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, he also played safety for the Orediggers Football Team. To complement his education, Colton held internships with the Montana Department of Transportation and CrownQuest Operating in Midland, Texas. Following graduation, he worked as a drilling engineer for CrownQuest Operating where he acquired valuable experience with project management and coordination, optimization of oil and gas drilling/production, and pipeline design and operations. In his role as an Engineering Designer at RPA, Colton assists with various reports, data collection and analysis, project design, and construction observation.

Bill Bell, PE, Promoted to Project Engineer

Bill Bell, 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. Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Montana State University and has been an integral part of the Streets & Highways Group since 2018. Outside the office Bill is a board member of the Big Sky Alumni Association for MSU and he enjoys golfing and fishing in his spare time.

Nicole Biers, Promoted

Nicole Biers has been promoted to Senior Information Technology Specialist. In her new position, Nicole’s primary responsibility is to provide software and network support, training, and troubleshooting for the firm’s networked computer system. She also administers RPA’s telecommunications services and equipment, performs hardware/software upgrades, provides support to all branch offices and remote employees, and serves as the network security administrator. Nicole began her career with RPA as a Computer Support Specialist in 2016 and is MCSA Office 365 Certified.

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.