Outgoing Habitat for Humanity director sought to propel nonprofit to new heights

When Bob Helder took over as executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley in 2017 he made the team design paper airplanes.

There was a prize for the plane that flew the farthest. But after each test flight Helder said that the planes needed to go farther. The planes needed to do more, he said, which is the same mindset he adopted for Habitat for Humanity: doing more and going farther.

Now, after nearly six years of work, Helder is stepping down as executive director of Habitat for Humanity’s Flathead Valley branch, passing the torch to MaryBeth Morand.

“The mission, vision, challenges, accomplishments, growth, laughter, tears, partnerships, people who invested in our work and the heart of our community … It’s amazing what can happen

when we come together to be all God created us to be,” he said.

Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Helder, 61, has been in the Flathead since 2000. He and his wife, Cathy, lived in a multitude of places before settling down in Montana. They worked with churches, specifically youth ministries, across the country.

Helder’s wife is originally from the Flathead and the pair now live in Kalispell. Upon moving here, his father-in-law offered him a job at his company — Robert W. Ross Building Contractor. While working there, Helder built and fortified the business, he said.

That’s what he hoped he achieved with Habitat for Humanity. When the nonprofit asked him to join as executive director in 2017, it was a no-brainer, Helder said. Looking back on nearly six years with them, Helder thinks he helped turn the lights on.

“One family at a time, we’re going to transform lives,” he said.

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization with a local branch in the Flathead Valley. The organization partners with people in the community to build or improve homes for families in need of affordable housing.

Under Helder’s oversight, the local branch has grown through its accomplishments and their team. To date, the organization has built 67 homes in the area representing 74 families, 105 adults and 156 children. It is currently constructing three homes in Somers, with two more on the way, as well as one in Columbia Falls.

The construction aspect is made a reality by volunteers — individuals or groups — donating their time, resources or financial support. In 2001, they opened the Flathead ReStore, which sells home goods and appliances; every purchase funds Habitat for Humanity’s housing projects.

A new program, Neighborhood ReNEW, which Helder anticipates launching within a year, will help families repair and upgrade their homes to better fit their needs.

“Everyone deserves a safe, decent place to live,” Helder said.

Mindset is everything to inspire change, according to Helder. The Flathead Valley suffers from a well-documented affordable housing crisis. While everyone likes to talk about it, he said, few are working to alleviate the crunch. Habitat for Humanity had the motivation and know-how to spring into action.

Community support is essential for the success of Habitat for Habitat, Helder said. Whether that means donating a single can of food or gifting acres of buildable land, it's essential that people know — and support — the mission of the organization.

His wishlist for Habitat’s future includes securing the funding to complete the purchase of the nonprofit’s current facility, more dollars to hire additional construction staff, the launching of Neighborhood ReNEW, the purchase of land to build on, restricted funding to expand into Lake County and other efforts aimed at transforming lives in the area.

“We need the community. Everyone needs to come together to accomplish this all,” he said.

As for Helder’s future, he now plans to move to Mississippi with his wife to be closer to his youngest child. Diagnosed with long Covid, which affected his heart, lungs and memory, he is entering retirement earlier than expected. Still, he looks forward to finishing novels, spending time with family and mentoring people in his community.

Before he stepped down, Helder made the team create another round of airplanes with the same mindset: going farther. He put a piece of blue tape in front of every office door so people have to physically step over a line every time they leave.

“In the future, Habitat will do more than ever before. I believe it. I expect it,” he said.

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.

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