Richard E. Byfield, MBA | Architecture Business and Management Consultant

An accomplished architecture business and management consultant through his private practice, which he established in 2023, Richard E. Byfield, MBA wields more than 50 years of professional experience in his industry. He assists architecture and engineering firms by providing strategic planning, financial analysis, recruitment, proposal writing, and performance procurement training services.

Attributing his success to his humble beginnings, Mr. Byfield grew up in a lower-middle-class family, in which nobody had a college degree; in these circumstances, he learned the value of hard work and self-determination from a young age. Despite facing financial challenges, he was determined to pursue his goals and worked tirelessly to support himself through college—he worked four jobs while earning a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Business Administration at California Polytechnic State University in 1972 and 1973, respectively. He became licensed by the California Architects Board and, through his registration with the National Council of Architectural Registration Board, he became licensed in Idaho, Arizona, Nebraska, and Nevada– he most recently reached the level of Architect Emeritus by the Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design, and Residential Design and Retired Architect by the California Board of Architecture. His relentless work ethic and commitment would carry him through a diverse and robust career in his field. Additionally, he has had several mentors, including Rabbi Alan Bachman, Esq., his late mother Betty Jean Byfield, George Hasslein, FAIA, Ester Armstrong, and Gerry Adair, among many others.

Mr. Byfield launched his career as an administrative analyst at a Legislative Analyst Office from 1974 to 1977 before becoming the project manager for the California Office of the State Architect, an associate and administrative manager at HMC Architects, and the project director for Kitchell CEM. He was active as an executive officer and founder at the California Fairs Financing Authority, the director of Utah’s Division of Facilities Construction and Management, and in managerial roles across URS Corporation, gkkworks, MWH, and Stanford Health Care. He also excelled as a campus architect and the director of facilities planning and construction at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a capital projects director at Assiniboine Community College, and served as a consultant for several organizations. Prior to his current role, he found success as an independent assessment report aid, project specialist, and CRC specialist for FEMA with Seek Enterprises. He’s also a longtime member of the American Institute of Architects and a docent for the California State Railroad Museum Foundation.

Reflecting on his wide range of experiences, Mr. Byfield is most proud of his early work designing custom homes for a struggling developer. Here, he reduced the time the job took and made the process more efficient and profitable; this not only helped the firm climb its way out of bankruptcy but also gave him the confidence to pursue other opportunities. One such opportunity was working for the California legislature as a budget analyst. This taught him a lot about how government works and gave him a new perspective on the business world. He also worked in Utah, where he was able to change the way government’s project delivery work was procured and delivered. He also introduced a performance procurement policy based on the relative differences from the best performer using an algorithm—which helped to ensure that projects were delivered on time, within budget, and with no change orders or modifications. Another notable achievement was when he worked for an architecture firm with a focus on prison projects—he was recruited as vice president and challenged to design three prison projects and support facilities in just 90 days. He not only achieved this goal but managed to deliver a 50 percent profit margin to the firm. Mr. Byfield has also obtained patents in 2014 and 2015 for systems and methods through which to provide an Accessorizable Frame System called “Simple-Click” picture frame displays.

Looking ahead, Mr. Byfield has a clear vision for the next five years. He strives to assist firms in the architecture and engineering world that need guidance in establishing themselves as full-functioning businesses. He recognizes that more than 90 percent of all architecture firms in the United States are smaller and often struggle with building staff and becoming organized to grow and become stronger. His overall goal is to help these firms become more capable and have a stronger business structure by providing the necessary tools and support to achieve their goals.

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