ABOUT US
Engineering with Purpose.
Building with Precision.
OUR STORY
Enduring Values
Founded by industry veterans who built the firm on quality, trust, and strong client relationships, LSB is now led by its second generation of ownership. While the firm continues to evolve, the principles that shaped its success remain unchanged: exceptional client service, meticulous engineering, and investment in people.
Our foundation is built on a set of core values that guide everything we do:
By combining big-picture thinking with meticulous attention to detail, we help turn ideas into successful outcomes.
Client Commitment
Build trust through responsive communication, dependable service and long-term relationships.
Quality & Craftsmanship
Produce highly detailed, professional and thoughtful engineering solutions.
People & Growth
Foster an environment of mutual respect, collaboration, mentorship and personal development.
Continuous Improvement
Share knowledge, pursue innovation and look for opportunities to improve our work and ourselves.
OUR PEOPLE
Meet Our Team
Behind every successful project is a team that cares deeply about the outcome.
At LSB Engineers, our team is made up of dedicated professionals who take pride in their craft and in the relationships they build along the way. We foster a workplace grounded in mutual respect, professional development, and personal fulfillment, because when our people thrive, our projects do too.
Bill Thompson, PE
Senior Engineer
Gonzaga University, B.S. Civil Engineering
JOINED 2006
Bill has been providing top-notch structural design expertise on buildings of all types for longer than he cares to remember. He has a knack for taking complex engineering challenges and finding simple, economical, and highly constructible solutions. On top of all that, Bill is an avid runner who has worn out more pairs of shoes than most of us have ever owned.
Brian Sterling, PE
Staff Engineer
Eastern Washington University, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
JOINED 2016
Brian is a highly detail-oriented engineer. If you want to make sure nothing is overlooked on a project, Brian is your guy. But when he is not providing top-notch engineering for our clients, Brian can be found in his garage tinkering with old cars and trucks.
Chris Cuddy
Senior BIM/CAD Technician
Community Colleges of Spokane, A.A. / Southern New Hampshire University, B.A. Graphic Design & Media Arts
JOINED 2020
Chris is a highly skilled drafter and 3-D modeler with more than 15 years of experience developing high-quality architectural and structural drawings. A ‘Jack-of-all-trades’, he is also a painter, illustrator, sculptor, web designer, and musician. And he once built a life-size R2-D2 out of food cans.
David M. Linke, PE
Principal
David joined firm ownership with Larry and brought his strengths and skills to our management team. He has a strong consulting background and experience in construction engineering, which provides valuable insight and strengths in working with and understanding the needs and motivations of the General Contractors we work with. David is the poster boy for dedication and sets a strong example for all our staff; the first one at work in the morning, the last one to leave in the evening, that’s David. Hailing from Walla Walla, he secretly hopes they will someday name a bold red after him in honor of his professional accomplishments.
John D. Bauer
Consulting Principal
John’s professional career has been defined by outstanding technical wisdom, an unwavering attention to detail, and a drive to go the extra mile to serve our clients well. Those qualities led the way when he co-founded the company with Joe and Randy, and they continue just as strong to this day. However, despite his great love of engineering, John’s true passion is sitting behind the wheel of his tractor, farming until the sun goes down.
Joseph D. Scholze
Consulting Principal
Joe is responsible for establishing LSB’s thorough and complete design document philosophy. His leadership has created an environment that maintains high standards and develops a culture of dedication, attention to detail, complete coordination, and solid structural fundamentals throughout the firm. Joe wishes his photo resembled Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise more closely. Joe and Randy were both born in Wisconsin, Joe one day before Randy. You can refer to Joe as ‘the Old Man’. He doesn’t mind.
Kaely Randles
Admin / Bookkeeper
University of Idaho, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
JOINED 2020
Kaely is indispensable and her contributions to the LSB team are without end. She is cool as a cucumber and makes it all look so effortless. More importantly, though, she enjoys spending time at her four kids’ sporting events, which include baseball, softball, volleyball, basketball, track, cross country and cheer.
Larry A. Harris, PE, SE
Principal
Larry is part of LSB’s second generation of ownership and brings energy and fresh insight to the firm’s management. He is attentive to company culture and cohesiveness, as well as continuing education to keep LSB’s staff motivated, elevated, and at the forefront of structural engineering. Larry provides a strong example of commitment and collaboration and has an inherent ability to solve complex challenges with simple and effective solutions. When he’s not busy working with staff and keeping clients happy, Larry likes to relax with a good action flick and has always felt he would make a good sidekick…. for comic relief.
Miranda Cowan
Design Technician
Community Colleges of Spokane, A.A. Architecture Technology
JOINED 2024
Miranda brings a natural curiosity, creativity and hands-on skill to everything she does. From building giant paper mâché trees for high school theater to earning carpentry credentials with the Job Corps, she’s always been driven to create. She channels her talents into her detailed design work. Outside the office, you’ll find her spending time with her wife, shooting pool, or running amuck around town.
Randall J. LaPlante
Consulting Principal
Randy is a strong conceptual designer and frequently is involved in design collaboration in the early stages of project development. Like most of our staff, he is detail oriented and provides quality assurance, and final backcheck functions on many LSB projects. He is a strong communicator (ask him, he’ll tell you!) and enjoys interaction with clients, owners, and other members of project design teams. Randy is also an incessant Mariners fan and speaks of the day when his beloved M’s will win the World Series … talk about creative concepts!
Rigo Alvarez
Graduate Engineer
Texas Tech University, B.S. Civil Engineering
JOINED 2026
Rigo sees engineering as a mindset centered on solving problems, turning ideas into reality, and continually learning. He draws inspiration from the creativity and ingenuity that allow people to shape the world around them. Outside work, he focuses on helping others, challenging his assumptions, and striving to become the best version of himself — believing in living intentionally and embracing experiences that push him beyond his comfort zone.
Shane Whitecotton
Graduate Engineer
Washington State University, B.S. Construction Engineering
JOINED 2023
Shane brings solid engineering fundamentals to the LSB team and is eager to learn from those around him. His enthusiasm for knowledge is only surpassed by his youthful optimism, which is a great addition to our office culture. When he isn’t in the office looking for the best way to communicate with colleagues and clients, he can be found in the gym lifting weights or playing with his cat Cleocatra.
Taylor Tharp, PE
Staff Engineer
University of Alaska Fairbanks, B.S. Civil Engineering
JOINED 2025
Taylor brings a versatile set of engineering skills shaped by years of experience designing and analyzing buildings in Alaska’s challenging sub-arctic and high seismic environments. Known for a methodical approach and clear communication, Taylor thrives on solving complex design challenges where creativity and collaboration are key. Outside of work, Taylor enjoys scent work and agility training with her dog, Freya, and spends her free time exploring the outdoors or diving into a good book—often with Freya curled up nearby.
OUR FOUNDATION
Generational Knowledge
Experience matters, but shared experience is what truly sets us apart.
At LSB Engineers, knowledge isn’t siloed, it’s passed down, built upon, and continuously refined. We believe in learning from one another, leveraging collective expertise, and evolving with every project.
This commitment to growth ensures that our work reflects not only years of experience, but also the latest thinking, tools, and best practices in the industry. It’s how we stay sharp, adaptable, and ready to meet the challenges of an ever-changing built environment.
The result is work that not only meets expectations but consistently exceeds them.
OUR PROFESSIONAL APPROACH
Quality Is at the Core.
Quality is at the core of everything we do.
We live by a simple principle: If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. That philosophy drives our process from concept through completion.
To Us, Quality Means
- Well-planned and thoughtfully executed designs
- Thorough, precise structural drawings that leave nothing to chance
- Seamless coordination with the entire project team
- Prioritizing project success first, budget success second
We Ensure This Standard Through
- A shared vision across our entire team
- Clear, responsive communication that supports better decision-making
- In-house planning and collaborative strategy sessions
- Continuous idea sharing and improvement
- Active principal involvement on every project