Brookings Becomes RESPEC’s Fourth South Dakota Location

RESPEC has opened a new office in Brookings, expanding its presence in eastern South Dakota, and strengthening its ability to support infrastructure, development, and community projects across the region.

Brookings now joins Rapid City, Winner, and Sioux Falls as part of the company’s South Dakota footprint, connecting communities across the state to a national network of engineering, science, and technology expertise.

RESPEC was founded in Rapid City in 1969 by professors from the South Dakota School of Mines who set out to create an engineering consulting firm rooted in the state. More than 50 years later, RESPEC has grown into a national company with 40 offices across North America—but South Dakota remains central to its story.

“Eastern South Dakota continues to be an important part of our work,” said Mike Albertson, RESPEC’s regional manager in South Dakota. Albertson previously served as President of Albertson Engineering, a South Dakota-based structural engineering firm that RESPEC acquired in 2025. “Having a presence in Brookings allows us to stay closer to our clients and support the projects shaping communities across the region.”

The Brookings office launches with structural engineer Tevis Holzer, who will support projects across eastern South Dakota. Holzer has built his career in South Dakota and was recently named National Young Engineer of the Year, recognizing his leadership and service in the engineering industry.

The new office also serves as a base for Allie Simons, a water resources engineer who has been supporting projects in the region from Brookings.

“Brookings is a great place to build,” Holzer said. “There’s momentum here with new development, strong local institutions, and a lot of opportunity to support projects that make a long-term difference for the community. I’m excited to be part of the team helping RESPEC grow here.”

More than 50 years after it began in Rapid City, RESPEC continues to grow alongside the communities it serves. The Brookings office reflects the company’s continued investment in South Dakota and the people and projects shaping its future.

About RESPEC

RESPEC, a 100% employee-owned engineering consulting company, focuses on serving natural and built environments. Whether underground, aboveground, inside, or outside, RESPEC unites engineering and technology to serve the energy, mining, infrastructure design, water resources, and digital markets. The company creates sustainable value for its clients, employee-owners, and communities.