HELIX’s mentorship of small businesses in the local architecture, engineering and environmental consulting industry was recognized on March 15, 2017 with the Calmentor Award for Outstanding Performance. This is the second consecutive year that HELIX has received this prestigious award. The Calmentor mentor-protégé program, overseen by Caltrans District 11 and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) in coordination with the American Council of Engineering Companies and City of San Diego, is designed to encourage and support small businesses through voluntary partnerships with mid-size and larger firms.

HELIX has been a long-time supporter of the program, serving as a mentor to nine small businesses since 2008, when the firm initiated participation in the program. Most recently this has included Paleo Solutions, a firm based in Monrovia, California that specializes in paleontology and archaeology.  HELIX has provided guidance to protégé firms on topics ranging from marketing and business development, to accounting and technology, and client relationship management.

“One of our most rewarding experiences has been to mentor nine DBE firms through the Calmentor program over the past eight years,” explained Tammy Ching, HELIX’s Planning Group Division Manager. “The trust and strong ties that develop have resulted in a number of teaming relationships and friendships in the industry. It’s a true win-win scenario.”