VAA, LLC

What VAA, LLC does

VAA, LLC is a multidisciplinary engineering, planning, and design firm headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with regional offices in New Orleans and Sioux Falls. Founded in 1978 (per firmographic data) / 1980 (per company history), the firm delivers integrated engineering services across ten technical disciplines — Master Planning, Port & River Terminal Design, Civil Engineering, Rail Design, General Arrangement, Process & Controls Engineering, Industrial Architecture, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering — augmented by specialized offerings in Discrete Element Method (DEM) modeling, 3D laser scanning, Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA), Public Funding Strategy, Rail Inspection/Observation, and Structural Observation.

The firm's core technology is the integration of these disciplines under a single roof, supported by proprietary computational and field methodologies (e.g., DEM granular flow simulation, NFPA-compliant DHA protocols, laser-scan-based as-built capture). VAA is licensed for structural engineering in 49 U.S. states and several Canadian provinces, and has delivered thousands of projects across agribusiness (grain, oilseed, animal feed, pet food), manufacturing (food & beverage, biofuels, chemicals, power), distribution (port, warehouse), and consumer/service sectors (corporate, hospitality, entertainment, government, retail). Named clients include Crystal Valley Co-op, Fromm Family Foods, Summit Brewing, Great Western Malting, Koch Foods, TEMCO, and Cooperative Farmers Elevator.

VAA operates a B2B, project-based professional services model with quote-based pricing, multi-year contract cadence, and direct enterprise field sales to facility owners, architects, and contractors. Revenue is generated through engineering consulting fees tied to project scope; the firm also helps clients secure public funding (claiming $54.9M in federal grants facilitated). Marketing is conducted via content marketing, LinkedIn, email newsletter, and industry conferences (e.g., GEAPS Exchange 2026, Feed & Grain Magazine). The company is privately held, led by CEO Jeff Schrock and CFO Tina Frye, with no disclosed private equity or parent-company ownership.

Name

VAA, LLC

Legal name

VAA, LLC

Website

https://vaaeng.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

VAA, LLC is a multidisciplinary engineering, planning, and design firm integrating ten technical disciplines (civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, process, industrial architecture, rail, port, and more) to serve industrial, agribusiness, manufacturing, distribution, and commercial facility owners across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Engineering Consulting Services: VAA generates revenue through professional engineering, planning and design consulting services for industrial, commercial and infrastructure projects. Services are provided on a project basis to owners, architects and contractors across multiple industry sectors including agribusiness, manufacturing, distribution and consumer/service industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VAA, LLC is a multidisciplinary engineering, planning, and design firm that delivers integrated industrial engineering services across 10 technical disciplines (Master Planning, Port & River Terminal Design, Civil Engineering, Rail Design, General Arrangement, Process & Controls Engineering, Industrial Architecture, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering) plus specialized services such as DEM modeling, 3D laser scanning, dust hazard analysis, public funding strategy, rail inspection, and structural observation. The firm serves industrial facility owners, contractors, and architects on new construction, expansion, and retrofit projects in agribusiness, manufacturing, distribution, and consumer/service sectors.

Product overview

VAA, LLC is a multidisciplinary engineering, planning, and design firm offering integrated services across 10 technical disciplines unified under a single umbrella. The company operates two service tiers: core engineering services (Master Planning, Port & River Terminal Design, Civil Engineering, Rail Design, General Arrangement, Process & Controls Engineering, Industrial Architecture, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering) and specialized value-added services (Discrete Element Method Modeling, 3D Laser Scanning, Dust Hazard Analysis, Public Funding Strategy, Rail Inspection/Observation, Structural Observation). The firm serves industries including origination (aggregates, cement, fertilizer, grain, seed), processing (animal feed, flour milling, oilseed, value-added), manufacturing (biofuels, chemicals, food & beverage, pet food, power), consumer & service (corporate, entertainment, government, hospitality, housing, retail), and distribution (port, warehouse).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master Planning Strategic facility planning service that considers present decisions and future growth opportunities, helping industrial facility owners identify expansion bottlenecks and plan long-term operational needs across the supply chain.
• Port & River Terminal Design Maritime engineering services for dock construction, waterfront transload processes, berthing/mooring studies, and deep-draft terminal design for inland and coastal waterway operations serving port and river terminal owners.
• Civil Engineering Site development engineering including roadway design, rail access, utilities, stormwater management, and permitting-agency coordination for private and public industrial and commercial projects.
• Rail Design Interfacility rail design services optimizing rail layout for operational efficiency, including receiving, shipping, transload facilities, shuttle train facilities, and port access.
• General Arrangement Bulk commodity handling facility design specializing in efficient process flow, equipment layout, storage optimization, and facility integrity evaluation for industrial sites.
• Process & Controls Engineering Balance-of-plant planning including process flow diagrams, piping and instrumentation diagrams, equipment specifications, mass and energy balances, and control system design.
• Industrial Architecture Facility design with life safety code compliance, sanitary and food-grade standards, 3D imaging, and coordination with authorities having jurisdiction for industrial projects.
• Structural Engineering Structural design across diverse climates and conditions including slipform concrete construction, complex foundations, seismic and high-wind design, and dynamic analysis. Licensed in 49 states and several Canadian provinces.
• Mechanical Engineering HVAC, material handling, dust containment, process heating/cooling, industrial steam/pneumatic systems, refrigeration, and food-grade mechanical systems design.
• Electrical Engineering Medium/low-voltage power distribution, lighting systems, emergency power, utility coordination, arc flash studies, power quality analysis, and hazardous area classification.
• Discrete Element Method (DEM) Modeling Computer modeling service that simulates individual positions, velocities, and forces of bulk materials like grains and byproducts to optimize transfer points and material handling equipment in bulk handling installations.
• 3D Laser Scanning High-precision spatial data capture service using laser scanning technology that delivers accurate site data more efficiently than traditional measurement methods, streamlining project lifecycles for upgrades and retrofits.
• Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) Systematic evaluation of combustible dust hazards in facilities to help identify and mitigate fire and explosion risks, ensuring NFPA Standards compliance for newly constructed and existing facilities.
• Public Funding Strategy Grant funding assistance for port, river, and rail initiatives, sourcing federal (MARAD, USDA, NHFP), state, and local (EDC, CDBG, TIF/TID) funding with management and reimbursement services.
• Rail Inspection / Observation Preventive rail maintenance inspection services covering turnouts/switches, track conditions, ties, rail, joints, gauge, and level with guidance on repair priorities and personnel safety education.
• Structural Observation Preventive and forensic structural engineering evaluation examining forces, structural integrity, and failure points through field observation, advanced analysis, and 3D modeling for industrial and commercial structures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120% capacity increase achieved through facility expansion design (Malting Facility Expansion)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Burns & McDonnell: Large employee-owned multi-discipline engineering, architecture, and construction firm with deep industrial, food/beverage, agribusiness, and rail practices. Directly comparable on integrated AE delivery, agribusiness clientele, and employee-owned governance structure, though significantly larger and broader geographically than VAA.
• DGR Engineering: Multi-discipline engineering firm headquartered in the Midwest with substantial agribusiness, grain handling, and rural electric utility practices. Closely comparable on industrial architecture, civil/structural delivery, and grain/feed project types.
• Foth Companies: Engineering and science consulting firm with strong agribusiness, food processing, and industrial manufacturing practices, including grain, feed, and oilseed clients. Closest direct peer in terms of target end markets, project types, and Midwest engineering focus.
• Kleinfelder: Engineering, environmental, and construction services firm serving industrial, energy, and infrastructure clients. Comparable on multi-discipline AE consulting, site/civil, structural, and environmental/safety advisory services for industrial owners.
• POWER Engineering Services: Industrial engineering firm focused on food, beverage, agribusiness, and manufacturing facility design. Comparable to VAA in size, multi-discipline delivery model, and agribusiness/pet food client base.

Broad incumbents

• HDR Inc. Global architecture, engineering, and consulting firm with industrial and infrastructure practices including ports, rail, and agribusiness. Overlaps with VAA on civil, structural, and rail design but operates at significantly larger scale with broader geographic reach.
• Stantec: International engineering, architecture, and environmental services firm with industrial, water, and infrastructure practices. Comparable on multi-discipline AE delivery and project-based consulting model, but materially larger and more diversified than VAA.
• Tetra Tech: Global consulting and engineering firm with strong environmental, water, and industrial practices. Overlaps with VAA on EHS-adjacent services like DHA and process engineering, though broader and more diversified.
• WSP Global: Global professional services firm providing engineering, planning, and design across transportation, property, and environment verticals. Overlaps with VAA on industrial facility design, rail, and ports, but at significantly larger scale.
• Black & Veatch: Global engineering, construction, and consulting firm serving power, water, oil & gas, and industrial markets. Comparable on industrial facility engineering and process design, with broader EPC capabilities than VAA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vaa-llc-van-sickle-allen-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VAA, LLC