Richard A. Saba, P.E.

CEO and Principal

Richard is the CEO and Principal of Thompson Engineering. Established in 2002, Thompson Engineering set roots in the Denver market under the original leadership of Mr. Brandon Thompson, providing mechanical and plumbing engineering services process engineering and drafting services. Richard joined Thompson Engineering in 2007 and shortly thereafter was promoted to a Senior Project Manager responsible for the engineering staff, business development, client relationships and the oversight of mechanical and plumbing engineering projects company wide.

In 2013 Richard acquired ownership of Thompson Engineering and became the Principal and CEO of the firm. Since the acquisition, the firm has grown exponentially in size, revenue and service offerings as well as acquiring an additional Denver-based engineering firm. Thompson Engineering currently offers process engineering, commissioning, energy modeling, investigative reporting, and peer reviews among the original service offerings.

Richard is an accomplished engineer and strong business leader who demonstrates time and time again his clear, strategic and visionary approach to transforming the professional design industry. His ability to connect with clients and partners alike creates an opportunity to focus on creativity, innovation and purpose which cascades throughout the organization. His philosophy of “One team, one score” demonstrates his ability to develop ambitious teams that set high goals and standards and then align them with talented individuals who work hard to achieve them.

Richard has spent much of his career focused on leading a healthy organization and one that focuses on culture, its people and the great responsibility he has to enable others to achieve something new and better.

Professional Engineering Licenses

Richard is a licensed engineer in 22 states including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, South Dakota, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.

Get To Know Me

What books are on your nightstand?

Measure What Matters – John Doerr, Emotional Intelligence 2.0 – Dr. Travis Bradberry & Dr. Jean Greaves, The 6 Types of Working Genius – Patrick Lencioni

What is your favorite quote?

“There is no substitute for hard work. Wake up early every day, work hard and you can’t fail.” – Richard Roy Saba (my dad)

How do you alleviate stress?

Snowmobiling, Golf, Travel, Wrestling with my twins

What is the greatest accomplishment of your life so far?

Personal – Raising my boy/girl twins who inspire me and help me see the world from a fresh perspective.
Professional: Owning, managing and leading a successful engineering firm since the age of 30 and being licensed in more than 20 states.

What is one of your favorite travel adventures from your past?

St. Lucia and Curacao were trips just for my wife and me. She reminds me to stop and smell the roses from time to time.
Lake Tahoe, Park City and Disney World are for our family and they are places where we create memories that last

If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be and why?

Flying. Who wouldn’t want to be able to fly?!

Customer Reviews

Intergroup Architects has been working with Thompson Engineering for over six years on over 150 projects and counting. We are true professionals and bring important technical mechanical and plumbing skills to each project.

Anthony W. Casey - AIA (Intergroup Architects)

Under Rick’s leadership, Thompson Engineering has become a “Healthy Organization.” An organization that has a very cohesive leadership team, staff members who understand why Thompson Engineering is unique and clear communication throughout the team.

Mike Butler, Aleah Horstman, PhD – The Executive Guide

Thompson Engineering approached this complex project in a highly professional manner. They were well-connected to the project, extremely responsive and result oriented. Their engineering approach and expertise delivered creative, innovative and cost-effective solutions that were tailored to our needs.

Steve Wadzinski - Avery Brewing

We have worked with Thompson Engineering on multiple projects over the years, from small to large and they have become a trusted partner. Thompson Engineering always looks out for our best interests and I would highly recommend them.

Ben Holman - Spyderco

The team at Thompson comes to every project kickoff with a can-do attitude and continues the teamwork mindset through the project from start to finish.

Alexandra Neujahr, NCIDQ - Ware Malcomb

We have worked with Thompson Engineering on a wide range of project types. Their firm always provides a high quality service regardless of the project type. All team members that I have worked with are extremely responsive and adaptable.

Casey Adragna - Adragna Architecture & Development

Thompson Engineering has been great to work with on a number of different plumbing design projects. Their team is knowledgeable, efficient, and communicates well throughout the duration of a project.

Brock Hornung - Corman Mechanical

Thompson Engineering has been our trusted partner for many years. They consistently live up to their commitments and have proven themselves to be proficient and dependable. They truly live up to their values providing a positive culture that permeates the entire organization.

Josh Rosenberg - Clear Creek Mechanical

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