ATS Excavating LLC, in Castle Rock, is one of four graduates
from the Colorado Contractors Association/Colorado Department of
Transportation Mentor-Protégé Program.

The program provides opportunities for emerging small business
contractors or “protégés” to sharpen their business skills by
working with member volunteers or “mentors” who are experienced
highway, municipal and utility contractors, and associate members
who supply goods and services to the industry.

CDOT provides the services of an independent accountant to
provide assistance to the protégé. The average length of time a
company stays in the program is two years, with a three-year
maximum.

Besides ATS, which is owned by Dave and Joan Anderson, other
graduates are Charken Construction Inc. of Longmont, owned by Tanya
Kenyon; Meza Construction Co. of Denver, owned by John and Chris
Meza; and Quality Linings Co. Inc. of Denver, owned by Lalit
Mehra.

Since its inception in 1998, the program has had 11 graduate
companies.

One recently received a prime contract, another is about to
purchase a building, and another has received $1.5 million in
subcontracts since being in the program, she said.

“We are helping CDOT and the transportation industry by building
a more effective, competitive and diverse contractor base for the
future,” said association president Ben Connell. “By helping small
business owners to hone their skills, we are increasing the number
of businesses bidding on CDOT work.”

The program is recognized as the first national partnership
between a state department of transportation and a construction
association.

“CCA mentors do not receive any payment for their services,”
said Paul Iwata, president of K.E.C.I. Colorado Inc.

Iwata, who acts as a mentor, chairs the CCA-CDOT Mentor-Protégé
advisory board. He said the mentoring program is helpful to smaller
firms whose owners know how to perform construction work, but need
additional attention on business issues.

Small businesses interested in participating can visit
www.coloradocontractors.org or www.dot.state.co.us/EEO/
MentorPage.htm.