Kleinfelder recently marked the successful completion of its 10th cycle in Caltrans District 11’s Calmentor Program, which concluded with a graduation ceremony on May 7, 2025. The year-long program supports small architecture and engineering (A&E) firms by pairing them with mid-size and larger firms to help them grow their business and better compete for public transportation projects.
For this cycle, Kleinfelder mentored Nick Mititel of NGCE, Inc., with Karibia Baillargeon and Scott Maloney leading the effort, supported by other Kleinfelder staff. Although the Calmentor program arranged the official pairing, Nick had identified Kleinfelder as a preferred firm after meeting the team at a Caltrans mixer event.
Over the course of the mentorship, the team helped NGCE develop a strategic business development plan targeting clients aligned with NGCE’s niche services. Additional guidance included creating a one-, five-, and ten-year company growth plan, building a structured networking approach, and improving business operations. This included setting up HR practices to support future hiring needs and implementing a CPA QuickBooks accounting system based on NGCE’s new overhead rate.
The mentorship has already led to tangible outcomes. Nick recently secured Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification and is in the process of obtaining Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) certification through the City of San Diego—two important steps toward expanding NGCE’s market opportunities.
Beyond business strategy and certifications, the program strengthened professional relationships and opened the door to future collaboration.
“The most valuable aspect of the experience was building a strong foundation of trust. The relationships formed through Calmentor create lasting connections between firms that benefit everyone involved.” —Karibia Baillargeon