HR Green is pleased to announce that Dean Cardwell, PE, has been named President of Land Development. In this role, he will lead strategy, technical delivery, and client services for the business unit. HR Green’s Land Development team brings together engineering, surveying, planning, and environmental expertise to guide projects from concept to completion. Dave Reitz, who previously led the Land Development Group, will continue his support as a Senior Planner and advisor to Dean.
Dean brings more than 30 years of experience which spans nearly every facet of land development. His career includes hands-on civil site design and leadership of single-family residential, multifamily, senior living, assisted living, retail commercial, industrial, institutional, and mission critical projects, as well as large-scale mixed-use developments, and master planned communities.
Early in his career, Dean built a strong technical foundation working through entitlements, jurisdictional coordination, and public-sector infrastructure including roadways and highways, before deepening his expertise in private-sector development across high-growth markets. His project experience includes landmark work such as one of the first multi-lane roundabouts in its state, a LEED-certified campus expansion incorporating impervious pavement, rainwater harvesting, and gray water reuse, and a privately funded 4.5-mile sewer extension delivered as public infrastructure on behalf of a municipality.
What distinguishes Dean is not just the breadth of project types he has touched, but the progression of leadership he has demonstrated at every stage. He grew from managing designers and CAD technicians early in his career to building and scaling a regional office from the ground up, growing it to nearly 35 people while serving major retail, multifamily, and industrial clients. Along the way, he developed a disciplined eye for quality control, market trends, and the operational metrics that set teams up for long-term success. Dean’s approach is strategic and collaborative, shaped by decades of guiding complex projects through technical challenges, client demands, and evolving market conditions.
“Dean brings the leadership, industry knowledge, and strategic perspective needed to guide our Land Development business into its next chapter. His proven ability to grow markets, build strong teams, and deliver complex projects for public and private clients makes him a strong addition to HR Green’s leadership team. Just as important, Dean’s collaborative approach and focus on client service align well with our culture and the way we work. We are excited to welcome him into this role and look forward to the continued growth and success of our Land Development team under his leadership,” said Jason Poppen, CEO of HR Green.
Dean is a licensed Professional Engineer in 15 states and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Boise State University.
