Craig D. Helenske, AIA • email: cdh@hdgarchitecture.com
Bachelor of Architecture, North Dakota State University, 1975
Professional standing with National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certification and Licensed in North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota as an Architect.

Background:
Craig Helenske has been part of the architecture and construction community for over 35 years having been involved in the early 70’s in residential construction and beginning the practice of architecture in 1975. Since 1985 Craig has served as principle of the firm.

Craig’s role as project architect for several of the Fargo Communities more significant projects have highlighted his career to date, including the Radisson Hotel /Skyway complex in downtown Fargo as well as the FargoDome. In addition to professional work, Craig’s roll in founding the local Habitat for Humanity and River Keepers Organization has additional markers in his career. With all of his 35 years of experiences Craig’s looks to the excitement and satisfaction on the faces of the firm’s clients as the most satisfying and rewarding experience. As the firms principle, Craig is focused on client relationships and fostering a rewarding work environment for the staff. As most of the staff know, Craig is never reluctant to ask “what if” or “why’, to seek better solutions.

Craig is married with two grown sons and is looking forward to those empty nester years to enjoy time with his wife Llonna and their common interest in travel and exploring new places. North Dakota has always been home and will continue to be until, at some point, the Caribbean wins out. Until then, the lake will have to do. When not out looking for a great photograph to take, time is spent with several Christian study groups and looking for new ideas through reading.

Michael Erickson, Associate AIA • email: merickson@hdgarchitecture.com
Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Science (Environmental Design), North Dakota State University, 2001

Mike has been in the architecture industry for 10 years and loves the set of challenges and opportunities that come with his job. He specializes in long term care and assisted living facility design and has the career highlights to prove he’s good at what he does. The Good Samaritan Society Senior Living Campus in Bismarck, N.D.; the Knife River Care Center in Beulah, N.D.; and St. Benedict’s Court in Dickinson, N.D. are just a few of his accomplishments.

Mike and his wife Nichole live in Moorhead. They enjoy traveling and being outdoors as much as possible. They are also avid sports fans and have a goal to visit every Major League Baseball stadium in the country—and they’re well on their way!

Matthew R. Becker, Project Architect • email: mbecker@hdgarchitecture.com
Bachelor of Architecture, North Dakota State University, 1994

Matt has worked in architecture for 15 years and has been with HDG for nearly 10 of those years. His first big project with HDG was the PRACS Institute building in south Fargo, a project Matt remembers as being a big challenge met with even bigger success. Most recently, Matt worked on the Concordia College Campus Center in Moorhead. This project, which started in 1998 and was completed in 2008, reestablished the social core of Concordia’s campus.

Matt lives in Moorhead with his wife and four children and is very active at church, school, and in his neighborhood. He and his family enjoy spending extra time at the lake in the summer or at the ice rink in the winter.

Katherine Casavan, Controller • email: kcasavan@hdgarchitecture.com
Bachelor of Accountancy, University of North Dakota, 2000

Katherine oversees all the financials of HDG, including payroll, accounts receivable and payable, insurance, financial reports and budgets. She’s been with HDG for five years.

Katherine lives in Red Lake Falls, Minn., with her husband and two children.

Karen Henschke, Office Administrator • email: khenschke@hdgarchitecture.com
Karen has worked at HDG for three years and assists other office staff with architectural and construction management needs and all other office needs.

Karen grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and moved to the Fargo-Moorhead area 12 years ago. She loves the outdoors, reading and watching movies. She lives in Moorhead with her husband and two boys.

Ryan Lavelle, Construction Manager • email: rlavelle@hdgarchitecture.com
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Montana State University, 2001

Ryan has worked at HDG for about two years and has 14 years of experience in construction management. He enjoys working on projects that include ample pre-construction planning and condensed construction schedules. A plan challenged by a fast-paced job site that runs smoothly is very rewarding to Ryan.

Derek (Joseph) Maher, Architect Intern • email: dmaher@hdgarchitecture.com
Bachelor of Environmental Design, Master of Architecture, North Dakota State University

Derek is new to the architecture world as well as to HDG. He has a passion and aptitude for residential design and is working to grow his skill set while interning with HDG.

Derek is drawn to this work because of how it allows him to interact with clients and have a meaningful impact on their day-to-day lives.

Suzanne Rick, Associate AIA • email: srick@hdgarchitecture.com
Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Science, North Dakota State University, 1994

As a 15-year veteran at HDG, Suzanne has studied architecture from the rolling plains of North Dakota to the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Melbourne, Australia. Suzanne served for two years as associate director of the North Dakota American Institute of Architects Executive Committee and specializes in multi-family residential design.

Paul E. Rye, Associate AIA • email: prye@hdgarchitecture.com
Bachelor of Science (Art), Northern State College, 1987
Bachelor of Architecture, North Dakota State University, 1999

Paul has been in the field and worked as HDG for 11 years. In 1999 he won the Studio Mentor Award at NDSU, an award that recognizes a fifth-year architecture student who sets aside competition and strives to help his or her fellow students. Paul has worked on many educational design projects like the Oak Grove High School floodwall in Fargo, Concordia College Upper-Class Housing, and NDSU’s Main Research Center Greenhouse.

In his spare time, this Aberdeen, S.D., native enjoys painting, photography and adventure. He loves spending time with friends and family at the lake, whether it’s on a hot summer day or snowmobiling across lake country during the winter. Paul also enjoys “archi-tourism,” experiencing famous and not-so-famous places firsthand.

Wayne Schommer, CADD Production/Designer/Project Manager
email: wschommer@hdgarchitecture.com
Associates Degree (Architectural Drafting & Estimating), North Dakota State College of Science, 1985

Wayne has been with HDG for 15 years and has over 24 years experience in the field. He likes to work on a variety of projects, construction types and phases of projects. He also enjoys being able to meet with different project owners and representatives. Wayne has a deep appreciation for the differences and complexities in each project and the challenges each brings during design and construction phases. Some of his career highlights include Elm Crest Manor Nursing Home and Watford City Visitor’s Center.

Wayne grew up in Fordville, N.D., and likes to spend his free time playing sports. He is currently raising two teenage daughters and loves spending time with his family.

Sarah Schulz, Architect Intern • email: sschulz@hdgarchitecture.com
Master of Architecture, North Dakota State University, 2008

Sarah started working with us while she was still a student in 2007. Since then, she’s been involved in many of our clients’ projects and she continues to grow as a promising professional.

Her experience at HDG has led her to find her true talents in residential design which she continues to work to develop.

Mark Speral, Construction Manager • email: msperal@hdgarchitecture.com
Bachelor of Science (Construction Management), North Dakota State University, 1982

Mark brings over 25 years of construction management experience to HDG. Mark, who has been with HDG for about two years, doesn’t play favorites to any projects but enjoys the familiar sequence that comes with building projects and the individual identities each project takes on.

Mark grew up in Fargo and feels privileged to raise his own children here. He loves to golf in his free time but his favorite activity is spending time with his family.

Steven G. Stalboerger, AIA, NCARB • email: sstalboerger@hdgarchitecture.com
Bachelor of Architecture & Bachelor of Science (Architectural Studies), North Dakota State University, 1986

Steven brings over 35 years of experience to the HDG team as one of our newer team members. His career has been highlighted by a design expertise in the medical field where he has designed and brought to life many of the state-of-the-art medical facilities in the region. The spaces he’s responsible for developing range from clinical spaces to labs and operating rooms as well as technology and imaging facilities.

Steven has found a real passion for designing stand-alone surgery centers but has found many other facilities within the medical realm to be equally challenging and rewarding.

Steven has been married nearly as long as he’s been an architect and enjoys hunting, fishing, golf and supporting local sports teams. When not cheering on the MN Twins, Steven also likes to try his hand at lawn development and furniture building.

Jackson Strom, Architect Intern
Bachelor of Environmental Design, North Dakota State University, 2008
Master of Architecture, 2009

Jackson has been working in the architecture and construction field for 6 years, over 3 of which have been with HDG. In that time Jackson has grown immensely by gaining experience in custom residential projects in and around the Fargo/Moorhead area. Jackson has also been involved in project management along with handling the marketing for HDG.

When not at work, Jackson spends most of his time with family and friends as well as reading, working out and watching movies.

Holly Rieger, Associate AIA • email: hrieger@hdgarchitecture.com
Bachelor of Architecture and Environmental Design, North Dakota State University, 1994

Holly has nearly 2 decades of experience but her love for all things architecture goes back much further than that. She knew architecture was her fate when, as a child, she not only critiqued the hand-made dollhouse her father constructed, but sought to remodel it all by herself as a 7 year old.

Holly’s focus is in residential design which she polished in her experience working with custom home builders around the region before she came to HDG in 2008.

Outside of work Holly is a die-hard Vikings fan and a family person at heart. Holly says her lifelong goal is to someday beat her son at chess. Holly lives in rural Walcott with her husband and two young sons.