Meet the Leadership Team

RICHARD A. RIVERA, P.E.
PRESIDENT

Mr. Rivera founded Reach Grow Exceed (formerly R&G Engineering LLC) in 2005 and has grown the firm to 30 full-time engineers and support staff. Reach Grow Exceed Engineering, as a key partner to the leading engineering firms in Illinois, has successfully completed a variety of projects. These projects include the management and design of road and bridge reconstruction for Illinois’ major transportation agencies, toll plazas, commuter rail station construction management, utility, and maintenance of traffic coordination. Mr. Rivera and Reach Grow Exceed Engineering have been recognized as leaders in the engineering and civic communities having received the following awards:

  • Illinois State Board of Professional Engineers Advisory Board – 2022
  • Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce –Business of the Year 2010, 2021
  • American Council of Engineering Companies Honor Award – 2015, 2018, 2019
  • American Council of Engineering Companies 2019 Merit Award
  • Who’s Who in Chicago Hispanic Business – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • Omega Delta Fraternity 2017 Alumni of the Year
  • Hispanic American Construction Industry Association – 2012 Professional Service Firm of the Year
  • Minority Business Development Association – 2010 Midwest Regional Contractor of the Year
  • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers UIUC Chapter – 2011 Alumni of the Year
  • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers IIT Chapter – 2010 Most Supportive Company
  • Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Nominated for 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Society of American Military Engineers 2009 Small Business Olympics – Gold Medal Winner

Mr. Rivera, President of Reach Grow Exceed Engineering, possesses a wealth of engineering and project management experience through many diverse projects. He continually demonstrates the ability to perform complicated procedures and prioritize tasks, without losing sight of important details. As a Resident Engineer, Rick has managed an array of transportation projects including work on the Dan Ryan Highway Reconstruction, Tri-State Tollway, and Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. He also has extensive experience as a Construction Manager and as a Project Supervisor with agencies such as the Nicor Gas Co., Chicago Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Tollway, and Metra.

Prior to founding Reach Grow Exceed Engineering, Rick held positions at Burns and McDonnell, Cotter Consulting, and Nicor Gas Company. Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Indiana. He continues to take an active role in the University of Illinois Morrill Engineering Program. Reach Grow Exceed Engineering provides annual scholarships, internships, and mentoring services to diverse undergraduate engineering students.

John Babbitt

Field Services Director

Mr. John Babbitt is a dedicated professional with over ten years of experience with the Reach Grow Exceed Engineering Team. Mr. Babbitt is a resident engineer that brings a tenacious work ethic to construction management and is an energetic problem solver. John has helped manage projects for IDOT, CDOT, the Illinois Tollway and Ameren Illinois and is dedicated to bringing all of his projects in on time and under budget. Mr. Babbitt embodies the Reach Grow Exceed Engineering values to Reach, Grow and Exceed expectations and hopes to instill those values in all of the engineers that work at Reach Grow Exceed Engineering.

Lizette Campuzano

Administrative Director

Ms. Campuzano works closely with the engineers and vendors of Reach Grow Exceed Engineering. Mrs. Campuzano is the primary resource for all Reach Grow Exceed Engineering employees and provides HR support to staff, as well as manages and obtains all Reach Grow Exceed Engineering business licenses and certifications.