LBSE was founded in 2025 to bring high-level structural design expertise home to Montana. Its founder, Rachel M. Gerhart, P.E., is a fourth-generation Montanan born and raised outside of Great Falls. After earning her undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Montana Tech and a master’s degree in structural engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, she spent nearly 15 years on the East Coast working on large-scale projects—including high-rise towers in Boston, professional sports stadiums such as Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium, and major medical and commercial facilities.

Rachel returned to Montana and established LBSE to meet a growing need for accessible, trustworthy structural engineering services for homeowners and local contractors. The firm partners on everything from new residential construction and custom home design to renovations, deck systems, and structural evaluations. Each project begins with listening—understanding the vision, constraints, and budget before developing a practical, efficient solution tailored to Montana’s unique conditions.

Rachel serves on Montana Tech’s Civil Engineering Advisory Board and guest lectures for the program, maintaining strong ties to both professional education and the engineering community. With extensive experience in steel and concrete design, historic renovation, and heavy-timber and residential construction, LBSE brings a comprehensive understanding of how to make structures work in both concept and field.

LBSE’s goal is simple: to deliver safe, lasting, and cost-effective structures through clear communication, thoughtful design, and genuine partnership.