Press Releases

IRVINE, California – Kleinfelder is pleased to share that Bart Patton, Senior Vice President, has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from ACEC’s Orange County Chapter.

This award commemorates Bart’s prestigious 42-year-long career in the field of engineering, his exemplary service and integrity in the engineering profession, and his service to ACEC.

Bart—who is based in Kleinfelder’s Irvine, CA office—received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Engineering from UCLA in 1973 and 1974, respectively.

Bart was quickly immersed into the engineering profession with his first job out of college as a staff engineer with Converse, Davis and Associates in Pasadena, CA.

Bart (center) surrounded by family and colleagues

Seeing a need to advance the profession, Bart began his long-term commitment to serving early in his career by volunteering to serve on the Board of ASCE’s Geotechnical Group in 1976. As his career advanced, he became the Program Chair for the Orange County Chapter of the Consulting Engineers Association of California (CEAC), the forerunner to ACEC OC.

In 1992 Bart became the second President of the newly organized Orange County chapter of Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California (CELSOC). Bart served on CELSOC’s State Executive Committee in 1999, rising to CELSOC California State President in 2003.

For the next four years, Bart continued to serve on the CELSOC Executive Committee as the ACEC National Director representing California on ACEC’s National Board. He also served on ACEC’s National Planning Cabinet for three years, chairing the Cabinet for two of those years.

In 2007, Bart was made Fellow of ACEC and was selected to join the national Executive Committee as Vice Chair in 2009 and as Senior Vice Chair in 2010. In 2013, he received ACEC’s Chairmen Emeritus Award for his “many years of dedicated service.”

Bart regards his service to ACEC as his greatest service to the profession.

In 1994, Bart accepted a position as Los Angeles Regional Manager for Kleinfelder. After helping to re-organize and grow the LA Region, he became the Southwest Division manager in 1999.

Bart was appointed as Kleinfelder’s Chief Operating Officer in 2004, serving in that position until he began his semi-retirement in 2009. He also progressed through the ownership ranks to become a Senior Principal Owner, and served on the Board of Directors from 2003 to 2011.

“Bart has been a mentor of mine and many others throughout the 20 years we have worked together at Kleinfelder,” says current Los Angeles Regional Manager Pam Massa. “I have seen him in the good as well as challenging times and one thing is for sure: he is not about who is right, but what is right. His passion for engineering and life has made the world a better place.”

Bart will retire from Kleinfelder in December of this year and plans to do a bit of consulting, continue his community service, play more golf, travel with wife Joni, backpack with his brother and friends, and spend time with his family.

Kleinfelder. Bright People. Right Solutions. Founded in 1961, Kleinfelder is a leading engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm.  Kleinfelder now employs more than 2,200 professionals and operates from over 75 office locations in the United States, Canada, and Australia.  The company is headquartered in San Diego, California.  Poised for growth, Kleinfelder continues to provide high-quality solutions for our diverse client base.  Visit Kleinfelder.com or follow us on LinkedIn/Kleinfelder.