Staff
About Our Staff
Helms and Associates is built on its integrity and by the desire to continue to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life for its clients. We firmly believe that communication is key to the successful completion of any project, regardless of size or complexity, and this belief is stressed with every one of our employees. We are devoted to working with a “team approach” to ensure the smoothest possible project from start to finish for all involved.
The construction season with its long-hours and fast-pace require all hands on deck and the level of support developed among the employees allows us to complete projects on time and within budget. Engineers, draftsmen, and technicians collaborate throughout the project phases from its inception, throughout design, developing the final set of plans and specifications, to construction, and final completion of the project.
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 1989
3.5 Years with Nebraska Department of Roads
Education
B.S., Civil Engineering - South Dakota State University
Registration
Professional Engineer - South Dakota and North Dakota
Professional Organizations
National Society of Professional Engineers South Dakota Engineering Society
Bob Babcock, a native South Dakota, moved back from Nebraska and joined Helms and Associates in 1989. Since joining the firm Mr. Babcock has received his professional engineering license (P.E.) and gained a wealth of experience in all aspects of the civil and municipal engineering disciplines. In 2002, Bob became a Principal of Helms and Associates.
Over the last 20 years, Bob has developed a passion and enthusiasm for airport projects. He has been the Project Manager for airport projects in Britton, Brookings, Gregory, Milbank, Parkston, Vermillion, Wagner, Watertown, and Winner. In addition, Bob has been involved with a number of major runway, taxiway, and apron rehabilitation projects at the above listed airports.
Bob has a great deal of experience working in areas that exhibit weak subgrades and/or highly expansive soils and his experience with underdrains and the use of fabrics and geo-grids have proven beneficial to the expansion/rehabilitation portions of the project.
Bob’s strengths are his project communication and coordination skills, his personal integrity, and his desire to provide the best client service in the market. Mr. Babcock takes great pride in his ability to make the project enjoyable for all involved; the owner, the contractor, and the engineer.
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 1987
12 Years with Other Firms
Education
Survey and Civil Technician Degree
Lake Area Technical Institute
Registration
Registered Land Surveyor – South Dakota, North Dakota
Certified Federal Surveyor
Professional Organizations
South Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors and National Society of Professional Surveyors
Randy Bacon has been involved in the surveying and engineering business for 35 years and has been associated with Helms and Associates for the past 28 years. Randy has been actively involved with the South Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors since obtaining his license in 1987 and is a past president. He served on the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions and has served as chairman.
Randy has performed surveys for clients in 90% of the counties in South Dakota. Quality work, performed with efficient methods and state-of-the-art equipment are his keys to client satisfaction.
Randy is the manager for all project surveys performed by the firm. These surveys include boundary, topographic and construction surveys, as well as, airport layout plan and runway safety area surveys. He currently manages three Global Positioning System (GPS) survey crews and one conventional survey crew.
Most recently, Randy has performed Boundary Surveys for the Natural Resources Conservation Service wetland easements in North and South Dakota, boundary surveys for numerous private land owners in North and South Dakota, and boundary surveys for US Fish and Wildlife Service in South and North Dakota.
Randy knows the importance of good client communication and it is one of his top priorities. He is dedicated to his profession and delivers the best product possible.
Experience
Founded Helms and Associates in 1979
Education
B.S., Civil Engineering - South Dakota of Mines and Technology
Registration
Professional Engineer - South Dakota and North Dakota
Registered Land Surveyor—South Dakota and North Dakota
Professional Organizations
National Society of Professional Engineers South Dakota Engineering Society
American Society of Civil Engineers, Consulting Engineers Council of SD Associated General Contractors of SD
Terry Helms began his career in Mitchell, South Dakota with Schmucker, Paul, Nohr & Associates (SPN), in 1971. After gaining 8 years of experience with SPN, Terry founded Helms and Associates in Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1979. Helms and Associates and SPN are one corporation with different names for local identity. The two offices share staff and expertise, which allows for an economic benefit to their clients, depending on the location of the work.
Without a doubt, Terry's first priority is overall client service and satisfaction on all of the firms engineering and land surveying projects. This fact is self-evident by the number of projects that the firm has been involved with over the last 36 years.
Most recently, Mr. Helms has been the Project Manager for projects in Aberdeen, Mitchell, Pierre, Watertown, Faulkton, Hoven, Miller, and Mobridge as well as projects for the State of South Dakota DOT. These Projects have included airports, highways, streets, sewer and water systems, flood control dikes, and topographic and legal surveys.
Mr. Helms has built the business in Aberdeen by his promise to client satisfaction, commitment to timely completion of each and every project, and obligation to staying on the leading edge with the latest technology and equipment.
Terry’s strengths are headlined by his strong project management skills and commitment to client and public awareness. Communication is stressed with all of Mr. Helms’ staff and is the reason for the number of repeat clients found on all of our project lists.
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 1981
Education
A.S., Civil Engineering (1981)
North Dakota State School of Science
Airport Planning, Design, & Development – (2016) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Software
Autodesk Land Desktop
Autodesk Civil 3D
Certifications
SD DOT SWPPP Design
Asphalt Concrete Introduction
Airport Pavement Condition Index Surveys
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 1992
Education
Survey and Civil Technician Degree (1992) - Lake Area Technical Institute
Registration
Registered Land Surveyor – South Dakota and North Dakota
Professional Organizations
South Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors
North Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors
National Society of Professional Land Surveyors
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 1996
Education
Northern State University
South Dakota State University
Certifications
SD DOT SWPPP Design
Asphalt Concrete Introduction
Airport Pavement Condition Index Surveys
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 1996
Education
B.S., Industrial Management & Economics (1997) – Northern State University
Registration
Registered Land Surveyor – South Dakota
Software
Autodesk Land Desktop
Autodesk Civil 3D
Certifications
SD DOT Soils
SD DOT Aggregates
SD DOT SWPPP Design
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Introduction
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Aggregate Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Hot Mix Testing
ACI Field Testing Technician – Grade I
Airport Pavement Condition Index Surveys
Professional Organizations
South Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors
National Society of Professional Land Surveyors
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 1999
Education
US Corps of Engineers, School of Surveying
& Engineering (1999) - Fort Leonardwood, MO
A.A.S., Degree (1998) - Black Hills State University
Software
Autodesk Land Desktop
Autodesk Civil 3D
Certifications
SD DOT SWPPP Design
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Introduction
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Aggregate Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Hot Mix Testing
ACI Field Testing Technician – Grade I
Airport Pavement Condition Index Surveys
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2002
Education
B.S. in Business Management & Marketing -
Northern State University
Professional Organizations
South Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2004
Royal & Sun Alliance Inc. 1999-2004
First Savings Bank 1985-1999
Education
South Dakota State University
Software
QuickBooks
BillQuick
Excel
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2006
Education
B.S., Civil & Environmental Engineering (2006) – South Dakota State University
Registration
Professional Engineer – South Dakota
Certifications
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Introduction
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Mix Design & Production Control
Airport Pavement Condition Index Surveys
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2008
Education
B.S., Civil Engineering (2008) – South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Registration
Professional Engineer – South Dakota and North Dakota
Certifications
SD DOT SWPPP Design
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Introduction
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Aggregate Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Hot Mix Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Mix Design & Production Control
Professional Organizations
National Society of Professional Engineers
South Dakota Engineering Society
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2008
Education
Survey and Civil Technician Degree (2008) - Lake Area Technical Institute
Certifications
ACI Field Testing Technician – Grade I
Airport Pavement Condition Index Surveys
Software
Autodesk Land Desktop
Autodesk Civil 3D
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2009
Education
B.S., Civil Engineering (2009) - University of Nebraska– Lincoln
Registration
Professional Engineer – South Dakota and North Dakota
Certifications
Radiation Safety Officer
SD DOT Erosion & Settlement Control
SD DOT Construction Measurement & Payment
SD DOT Material Sampling & Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Introduction
Airport Pavement Condition Index Surveys
Professional Organizations
American Society of Civil Engineers
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2009
Poet Design and Construction 2007-2009
Education
Associates Degree in Civil Engineering Technology (2008)
Southeast Technical Institute
Airport Planning, Design, & Development (2016) – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)
Software
Autodesk Land Desktop
Autodesk Civil 3D
ArcGIS
PAVER™
Certifications
ACI Field Testing Technician – Grade I
Airport Pavement Condition Index Surveys
Professional Organizations
South Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2010
Education
B.S., Civil Engineering (2010) – Michigan Technological University
Registration
Professional Engineer – South Dakota
Land Surveying Intern – South Dakota
Certifications
SD DOT Erosion & Sediment Control
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Introduction
Professional Organizations
American Society of Civil Engineers
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2011
24 Years with WEB Water Development Association Inc.
Certifications
ACI Field Testing Technician – Grade I
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2012
Education
B.S., Civil Engineering (2009) -
South Dakota State University
M.S., Civil Engineering (2012) - South Dakota State University
Airport Planning, Design, & Development (2016) – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Registration
Professional Engineer – South Dakota and North Dakota
Certifications
SD DOT Aggregates
SD DOT Soils
SD DOT Erosion & Settlement Control
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Introduction
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Aggregate Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Hot Mix Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Roadway Inspection
ACI Field Testing Technician – Grade I
Professional Organizations
National Society of Professional Engineers
Chi Epsilon
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2012
6 Years with SD-DOT
5 Years with Upper Plains Contracting, Inc.
Education
B.S., Civil Engineering (1998) - North Dakota State University
Certifications
SD DOT Aggregates
SD DOT Soils
SD DOT Erosion & Settlement Control
SD DOT Construction Measurement & Payment
SD DOT Material Sampling & Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Introduction
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Aggregate Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Hot Mix Testing
ACI Field Testing Technician – Grade I
Wetland Delineation
Professional Organizations
Order of the Engineer
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2012
Education
A.S., Drafting Technology (2012) Lake Area Technical Institute
Certifications
SD DOT Aggregates
SD DOT Soils
SD DOT Earthwork
SD DOT Concrete Paving
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Introduction
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Aggregate Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Hot Mix Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Roadway Inspection
ACI Field Testing Technician – Grade I
Airport Pavement Condition Index Surveys
Software
Autodesk Land Desktop
Autodesk Civil 3D
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2015
Education
B.S., Civil & Environmental Engineering (2011) - South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
M.S., Civil & Environmental Engineering (2014) - South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Construction Management (2014) - South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Global Engineering (2014) – South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Registrations
Professional Engineer – South Dakota
Certifications
SD DOT Aggregates
SD DOT Soils
SD DOT Concrete Paving
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Introduction
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Aggregate Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Hot Mix Testing
SD DOT Asphalt Concrete Roadway Inspection
ACI Field Testing Technician – Grade I
Airport Pavement Condition Index Surveys
Wetland Delineation
Software
PAVER™
Professional Organizations
South Dakota Engineering Society
National Society of Professional Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
Order of the Engineer
Tau Beta Pi Honor Society
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2016
Education
Associates Degree in Civil Engineering Technology (2016)
Associates Degree in Land Surveying Science Technology (2016) -
Southeast Technical Institute
Certifications
SD DOT Aggregates
SD DOT Soils
SD DOT Earthwork
ACI Field Testing Technician-Grade I
Software
Autodesk Land Desktop
Autodesk Civil 3D
Professional Organizations
South Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors
Experience
With Helms and Associates since 2019
Education
B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering (2018) -
North Dakota State University
Certifications
SDDOT Aggregates
SDDOT Soils
SDDOT Asphalt Concrete Aggregate Testing
SDDOT Asphalt Concrete Hot Mix Testing
ACI Field Testing Technician – Grade I
Nuclear Gauge Safety/HAZMAT
Software
Autodesk Land Desktop
Autodesk Civil 3D
