In the 1960s, Robert's grandfather, Lester Shippy, introduced his sons, known as The Shippy Brothers, to the fireproofing industry. Rolling Plains Construction (RPC) was later founded in 1984 by Terry Shippy, Robert's father, and Sheldon Shippy. After the passing of Terry Shippy in 1991, co-founder Sheldon Shippy continued to grow the company. In the 2000s, Terry's son, Robert Shippy, assumed leadership, overseeing RPC's rapid expansion into Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Texas. Today, RPC is the largest fireproofing company in the nation, employing over 600 people and led by Robert and Cannon Shippy.