Founded by Ramey Kemp in 1992, RKA is a top-tier transportation consulting corporation, incorporated in North Carolina. An award-winning firm, RKA imagines a limitless future through our transportation expertise, and we are driven to deliver exceptional experiences for our clients.
RKA was founded over 30 years ago as a transportation consulting firm and has remained true to this core service focusing on building a depth of expertise and a culture of collaboration and ownership. We specialize in working with clients to make transportation accessible and safe for everyone while supporting long-term community growth and improving the local quality of life. RKA is known for the transportation engineering and design expertise we bring to every project, and we produce innovative, quality, and cost-effective work.
In June of 2022, Ramey Kemp Associates became a Trilon Group Company. Infrastructure Consulting Services, Inc. now serves North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia as Ramey Kemp Associates.
“When I look across the company, what I love about our whole team is that I believe everybody has that same team mentality. There's a camaraderie, a common goal, and a common cause that we're working toward. ”
“There's a belief there that we can solve any problem, that we can work together and achieve and overcome obstacles. We do have obstacles, but together with strong leadership and the ownership mindset, we've been able to really take this company forward and we're looking to do more of it.”
“When we look at limitless, we're looking at innovation. We're looking at opportunities to find a solution where somebody else may think there isn't one. Really when we say limitless, you can't even say the sky's the limit. We need to go beyond that. It’s being on the cutting edge and getting out in front and trying to think of solutions before there are even problems.”
“One company core value I like is 'brave.' It’s one that's probably the hardest to show for people, but I like that it makes me have that mentality to be a little braver, step a little further than we may want to or be comfortable with. I think that's very important for us to be able to grow and adapt in the future. It’s an ever-changing future and being brave is going to be a key to doing that.”
“When I look across the company, what I love about our whole team is that I believe everybody has that same team mentality. There's a camaraderie, a common goal, and a common cause that we're working toward. ”
“There's a belief there that we can solve any problem, that we can work together and achieve and overcome obstacles. We do have obstacles, but together with strong leadership and the ownership mindset, we've been able to really take this company forward and we're looking to do more of it.”
“When we look at limitless, we're looking at innovation. We're looking at opportunities to find a solution where somebody else may think there isn't one. Really when we say limitless, you can't even say the sky's the limit. We need to go beyond that. It’s being on the cutting edge and getting out in front and trying to think of solutions before there are even problems.”
“One company core value I like is 'brave.' It’s one that's probably the hardest to show for people, but I like that it makes me have that mentality to be a little braver, step a little further than we may want to or be comfortable with. I think that's very important for us to be able to grow and adapt in the future. It’s an ever-changing future and being brave is going to be a key to doing that.”
Jeff Bragdon is the Chief Operating Officer at RKA. He has more than 25 years of experience in commercial, residential, energy, environmental, and public transportation planning, design, project management, and construction. Prior to RKA, Jeff served as the Program Manager of Engineering Consultants and Associates for the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance (VTCA), was the State Hydraulics and Utilities Engineer for VDOT, and worked for several engineering firms in Virginia and New England. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering, holds a PE in Virginia, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
EXPERIENCE
Michael Bywaletz is the Director of Hydraulics at RKA and the Region Leader of the Charlotte office. He has more than 36 years of experience in roadway design, drainage design, floodplain analysis, and erosion control performed for multiple State DOTs as well as for numerous counties and municipalities. Prior to RKA, Michael worked for several engineering firms in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina and provided engineering services in the states he is a registered professional engineer in. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, concentration in Hydrology/Hydraulics and Transportation. He obtained his PE license in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Wyoming, and Nebraska, along with being a CPESC, a Level 3 Designer of Erosion and Sediment Control Plans in NC, a Level 2 Certified Design Professional and Trainer in Erosion and Sediment Control in GA and an ENV Sustainability Professional license.
EXPERIENCE
Jeremy Chapman is the South Carolina Traffic Operations State Lead at RKA. He has 24 years of experience in traffic safety & operations, traffic impact analysis, human factors and vulnerable road user safety, ITS & traffic signal design, MUTCD-compliant design, project management, congestion management, and traffic & transportation education as a consultant, researcher, and educator. Prior to joining RKA, he was an ITS design lead on the I-66 Outside the Beltway project and also taught the next generation of engineers at the university level for five years. He is a Fellow in the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and immediate past chair of the ITE Ethics Standing Committee. He serves as a research advisory panel member for the Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program. Jeremy’s PhD in Transportation Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison focused on traffic safety and vulnerable road users. He is a licensed PE in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Ohio, and is also certified as a PTOE and RSP1 by the Transportation Professional Certification Board.
Will Collins is the Chief People Officer at RKA. His background includes over 47 years of experience in human resources, employee relations, administration, community and government relations, and with leadership development. He graduated from Appalachian State University with a BSBA in Personnel Management.
EXPERIENCE
Michael Dennis is a Transportation Planning Lead at RKA. He handles all travel demand modeling, works on numerous major simulation projects using Transmodern software, and has been the project engineer for several major traffic projects. Prior to joining RKA, Mr. Dennis held numerous roles at SCDOT. Michael graduated from Clemson University with a Master of Environmental System Engineering and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. He obtained his PE license in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
EXPERIENCE
Tré Dugal, III is the Director of Design for RKA. He has over 32 years of experience in roadway design, storm drainage design, hydraulics, erosion control, utility coordination, water and sanitary sewer relocation, and transit and parking lot design. Prior to RKA, Tré was a Civil Engineer for 23 years. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering.
EXPERIENCE
Victoria Edwards is the Director of Marketing at Ramey Kemp Associates. Although she is new to the A/E/C Industry, Victoria is a dynamic marketer with more than 15 years of experience across several industries, including digital marketing, SEO, and events. Her team drives the evolution of the RKA brand in both the private and public sectors. Victoria is an active member of SMPS (Research Triangle Chapter) as well as an alumnus of North Carolina State University and Catawba College.
EXPERIENCE
Barbra Flick is the Director of Finance and Controller at RKA. She provides an eye for detail with over 27 years of experience in accounting and finance. Prior to RKA, Barbra worked in public accounting preparing tax returns and performing audits before transitioning to industry and serving as a controller for multiple construction firms. She earned her Master of Accounting from Virginia Tech before she obtained her CPA and CGMA.
Jeff Bragdon is the Chief Operating Officer at RKA. He has more than 25 years of experience in commercial, residential, energy, environmental, and public transportation planning, design, project management, and construction. Prior to RKA, Jeff served as the Program Manager of Engineering Consultants and Associates for the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance (VTCA), was the State Hydraulics and Utilities Engineer for VDOT, and worked for several engineering firms in Virginia and New England. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering, holds a PE in Virginia, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Will Collins is the Chief People Officer at RKA. His background includes over 47 years of experience in human resources, employee relations, administration, community and government relations, and with leadership development. He graduated from Appalachian State University with a BSBA in Personnel Management.
EXPERIENCE
Stephen Greene is the Chief Executive Officer at RKA. He has a diverse professional background, including traffic engineering, construction management, and transportation planning and inspection. He is a leader with consistent success in building, growing, and improving the performance and financial success of companies and non-profits. Prior to his current role at RKA, Steve was a Project Development Engineer for RKA and was a Transportation Engineer II at the North Carolina Department of Transportation. He graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Ramey Kemp founded RKA in 1992. As an engineer, he has over 56 years of experience in transportation engineering with a primary emphasis in roadway design and traffic studies, including 12 years as a design/project engineer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. His experience includes preparation of traffic studies, signal designs, street designs, highway designs, interchange designs, drainage designs, erosion control plans, and traffic control plans. His administrative responsibilities included client coordination, project management, permitting, construction inspection, and coordination of the planning, environmental, surveying, and geotechnical work. Additionally, Ramey was individually pre-qualified with the Congestion Management section of the NCDOT for Capacity Analysis (Intersections & Corridors) and Traffic Impact Analysis (TIAs). Ramey graduated from North Carolina State University with a Master of Civil Engineering.
EXPERIENCE
Michael Bywaletz is the Director of Hydraulics at RKA and the Region Leader of the Charlotte office. He has more than 36 years of experience in roadway design, drainage design, floodplain analysis, and erosion control performed for multiple State DOTs as well as for numerous counties and municipalities. Prior to RKA, Michael worked for several engineering firms in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina and provided engineering services in the states he is a registered professional engineer in. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, concentration in Hydrology/Hydraulics and Transportation. He obtained his PE license in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Wyoming, and Nebraska, along with being a CPESC, a Level 3 Designer of Erosion and Sediment Control Plans in NC, a Level 2 Certified Design Professional and Trainer in Erosion and Sediment Control in GA and an ENV Sustainability Professional license.
EXPERIENCE
Tré Dugal, III is the Director of Design for RKA. He has over 32 years of experience in roadway design, storm drainage design, hydraulics, erosion control, utility coordination, water and sanitary sewer relocation, and transit and parking lot design. Prior to RKA, Tré was a Civil Engineer for 23 years. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering.
EXPERIENCE
Victoria Edwards is the Director of Marketing at Ramey Kemp Associates. Although she is new to the A/E/C Industry, Victoria is a dynamic marketer with more than 15 years of experience across several industries, including digital marketing, SEO, and events. Her team drives the evolution of the RKA brand in both the private and public sectors. Victoria is an active member of SMPS (Research Triangle Chapter) as well as an alumnus of North Carolina State University and Catawba College.
EXPERIENCE
Barbra Flick is the Director of Finance and Controller at RKA. She provides an eye for detail with over 27 years of experience in accounting and finance. Prior to RKA, Barbra worked in public accounting preparing tax returns and performing audits before transitioning to industry and serving as a controller for multiple construction firms. She earned her Master of Accounting from Virginia Tech before she obtained her CPA and CGMA.
EXPERIENCE
Jeff Ingham provides traffic expertise as the Director of South Carolina. He has 27 years of experience in transportation planning and design, intersection and signal design, traffic impact analysis, traffic operations, safety analysis, and NEPA documentation. Jeff was a transportation engineer at two other firms and at the NCDOT before working at RKA. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Clemson University and a Master of Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University. He earned a PE license in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina, and PTOE license, and a Level Two Road Safety Professional license.
EXPERIENCE
Jay McInnis is the Director of Project Development at RKA. He has over 30 years of experience in project development and NEPA/SEPA documentation. Jay conducts project development studies, prepares environmental documentation, assists with traffic noise and air quality studies, and provides QA/QC for the reports. He previously worked as a Transportation Engineering Supervisor for NCDOT PDEA and has extensive knowledge of the NCDOT project delivery process. Jay graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering before obtaining his PE license in North Carolina.
Tamara Patterson is the Director of Accounting at RKA. She is meticulous, with over 20 years of experience. Before RKA, Tamara was the Director of Finance for a non-profit international association of professionals known as the IIBEC. She earned her Associate of Accounting from Durham Technical College.
Mike Payne is the Director of General Accounting. He has more than 30 years of experience in the engineering, architecture & planning industry. Mike’s skillset includes corporate accounting, internal controls, treasury, accounts payable/receivables, strategic planning, and streamlining processes and procedures. He graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
EXPERIENCE
Jeremy Chapman is the South Carolina Traffic Operations State Lead at RKA. He has 24 years of experience in traffic safety & operations, traffic impact analysis, human factors and vulnerable road user safety, ITS & traffic signal design, MUTCD-compliant design, project management, congestion management, and traffic & transportation education as a consultant, researcher, and educator. Prior to joining RKA, he was an ITS design lead on the I-66 Outside the Beltway project and also taught the next generation of engineers at the university level for five years. He is a Fellow in the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and immediate past chair of the ITE Ethics Standing Committee. He serves as a research advisory panel member for the Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program. Jeremy’s PhD in Transportation Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison focused on traffic safety and vulnerable road users. He is a licensed PE in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Ohio, and is also certified as a PTOE and RSP1 by the Transportation Professional Certification Board.
EXPERIENCE
Michael Dennis is a Transportation Planning Lead at RKA. He handles all travel demand modeling, works on numerous major simulation projects using Transmodern software, and has been the project engineer for several major traffic projects. Prior to joining RKA, Mr. Dennis held numerous roles at SCDOT. Michael graduated from Clemson University with a Master of Environmental System Engineering and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. He obtained his PE license in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
EXPERIENCE
Jason Hamilton is a State Operations Lead at RKA and has over 27 years of experience, primarily focused in the area of traffic operations, including traffic signal/ITS design, signing/pavement marking design and traffic control design. He leads a staff of five (5) engineers in the Raleigh and Charlotte offices and works closely with private, State and municipal clients throughout the state in various plan development. Prior to working at RKA, Jason served as a project manager at two (2) transportation engineering firms in the Baltimore, Maryland area. He holds a Professional Engineer license in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia. and Maryland and is also a registered PTOE.
EXPERIENCE
Lucas Helms is the State Transportation Lead of North Carolina at RKA. His experience includes work in roadway design and traffic engineering, included roadway and storm drainage design, utility and railroad coordination, construction administration, and the preparation of traffic impact studies, roadway plans, traffic control plans, and pavement marking plans. He is proficient in Microstation, Geopak, and AutoCAD Civil 3D. Lucas graduated from North Carolina State University with a Master of Civil Engineering and later obtained a Professional Engineering license in North Carolina.
EXPERIENCE
Jessica McClure is a State Traffic Engineering Lead at RKA. She has more than 13 years of experience in traffic engineering and planning. Her responsibilities with the firm include oversight of all public sector traffic engineering projects in North Carolina. Her additional responsibilities include various traffic engineering, planning, and design tasks in the areas of traffic impact studies, comprehensive transportation planning, traffic forecasting, and traffic modeling. Prior to RKA, Jessica worked as a Transportation Planner for the NCDOT. She graduated from NC State University with a Masters of Engineering degree and obtained PE licenses in North Carolina and Virginia.
EXPERIENCE
Joshua Reinke is a State Traffic Engineering Lead at RKA. He has over 18 years of experience in traffic engineering. The focus of his experience involves capacity analysis, using various traffic engineering software programs, traffic control systems, and report writing. He specializes in working with school systems. Joshua earned his Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Valparaiso University and is a registered Professional Engineer.