Rick Belden, PE, is a transportation engineering leader with 31 years of experience in planning, design, and program management of complex infrastructure projects. As Senior Vice President and Principal at the Huitt-Zollars Denver office, Rick oversees highway transportation initiatives across Colorado and Oklahoma, with strategic expansion plans into New Mexico, Arizona, and Washington.

Rick has led roadway and highway design teams on major infrastructure projects across North America, including the I-17 Flex Lanes in Arizona, the I-20/I-26 Interchanges in South Carolina, and the SH-509 to I-5 Connection in Washington. His expertise in Alternative Delivery methods—such as Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build—was honed through his work with Kiewit Infrastructure Engineers on high-profile projects throughout the U.S. and Canada. He also brings valuable public sector experience from his time managing and designing state highways for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and leading rail infrastructure projects for the Port of Catoosa.

In addition to his technical leadership, Rick is highly skilled in business development, pursuit strategy, and early-stage project planning. He fosters collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and emphasizes early contractor engagement to optimize design, reduce costs, and streamline schedules.

Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and is a registered Professional Engineer in Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma. He is dedicated to delivering innovative, value-driven solutions in the transportation and infrastructure sectors.