Ric Heldt
ACHA
Founder / President, Heldt Consulting Studio, PC
Ric Heldt is a Montana-based architect and strategic design leader with over 30 years of experience delivering thoughtful, high-performing environments across the Mountain West. Over the course of his career — including executive leadership roles with A&E Design in Billings, Montana — Ric has guided projects spanning healthcare, commercial, civic, hospitality, education, industrial, and residential sectors.
Grounded in both technical rigor and practical execution, Ric brings a rare blend of architectural design expertise, construction insight, and owner-focused advisory experience. He has led multidisciplinary teams through complex project lifecycles — from early feasibility and programming through design, documentation, procurement, and construction administration — always with a focus on clarity, efficiency, and long-term value.
Ric is known for his steady leadership style, strategic thinking, and ability to align diverse stakeholders around a shared vision. Whether collaborating with private developers, public agencies, or institutional clients, he prioritizes clear communication, disciplined project controls, and design solutions that respond meaningfully to place and purpose.
After retiring from A&E Design, Ric founded Heldt Consulting Studio where he is expanding his impact beyond traditional architectural services while remaining more focused on project-specific improvements. The studio is built on the belief that early, experienced guidance is one of the most powerful tools in shaping successful projects. Through strategic consulting, project advisory, design oversight, and development support, Ric helps clients navigate complexity, mitigate risk, and make confident decisions at every stage of the process.
Rooted in Montana values and informed by decades of hands-on project leadership, Ric continues to advocate for design excellence, practical innovation, and relationships built on trust.