Architectural, Engineering & Technology Division

Why your firm should be a part of the USMCA/AET Division team:

The USMCA offers a wealth of contracting information and networking opportunities for our member firms through the AEI network of prime firms. As the HUB for minority Engineering & Architectural Firms that are MBE\WBE\DBE Certified, we interact with our member firms and leverage our strategic relationships with the some of the largest non-minority firms in America. Joining us helps build your capacity as well.

The USMCA AET Division is proud to update the board of our plans for 2024. The infrastructure bill and spending bills are providing endless opportunities in the AET sectors across the country. To better serve our members, our division plans to do the following:

  1. Monthly Member Meetings- These meetings will consist of speakers, discussions on industry trends, upcoming projects, and opportunities for fellow members to address the group.
  2. One on one Sessions- Active members will be able to schedule a one on session on a regular basis to discuss what they would like.
  3. Monthly meetings with the AET division leaders-Division leaders will meet at least twice a month to plan events and talk about various things regarding the division.
  4. Prime contractor communication- Aggressively communicate with our sponsors and prime contractors regarding upcoming projects and assist in marketing our members.
  5. Outreach events- Attend conferences and outreach events to promote USMCA and the AET Division.
  6. Address the financing concerns our members brought up in the survey.

We look forward to 2024 and the prosperity it will bring to our association and division.


Download AET Introduction PowerPoint


USMCA - Architectural, Engineering & Technology Division - Chetan Kale, P.E.

Chetan Kale, P.E.

President, Architectural Engineering & Technology Contractors Division

Mr Chetan Kale is the founder and principal of Kaletech, LLC. Before starting his own company Mr Kale has worked extensively on major civil engineering projects in Chicago land area. Mr Kale has over 16 years of experience in all facets of Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering and Transportation engineering). 

Mr Kale was part of the design team for a major runway expansion project at O’Hare International Airport. He has also worked on the Masterplan studies with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
His design experience includes Storm Sewer modeling, Drainage design, Sanitary Sewer study, Sewage Treatment plant studies and Industrial Waste treatment.  

He has a B.S in Civil engineering from University of Mumbai(VJTI) India and MS from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago specializing in Environmental engineering.

Chetan Kale is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Illinois, Indiana, & Wisconsin. He is also a LEED accredited professional and has worked on projects assisting contractors who were pursuing LEED certification. 

Contact Me
USMCA - Architectural, Engineering & Technology Division - Ramesh Basa

Ramesh Basa

1st Vice President, Architectural Engineering & Technology Contractors Division

President /CEO- Comspark group of companies.
Serial entrepreneur, Angel Investor, Comspark group became a diversified multinational conglomerate emphasizing Information Technology,  software development, export/imports, investments, Stock trading hospitality, & much more. Resides in Memphis, TN with his wife and 2 daughters majoring in Medicine and Law. A community leader, volunteer, held several positions in North American nonprofit entities.

Contact Me
USMCA - Architectural, Engineering & Technology Division - Dr. Gale B. Frazier, PhD

Dr. Gale B. Frazier, PhD

Dean of Entrepreneurial Training Institute (ETI)

Dr. Gale B. Frazier, President of Construction Management Consortium, LLC has over thirty-five years of experience in construction management, consulting, and education.  Dr. Frazier has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Tennessee State University; a Master of Science in Project Management from DeVry University—Keller Graduate School of Management; a Doctorate in Education from Roosevelt University, and Principal Urban Leadership Certificate from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Dr. Frazier is the National Dean of the USMCA Entrepreneurial Training Institute, Chairperson of the USMCA International Division, and Liaison for the Architectural, Engineering, and Technology Division—International.

Formerly, Dr. Frazier has worked for such companies as, AT&T/Illinois Bell Telephone, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Northrop Corporation DSD, Rush Medical Center in the capacity of Assistant Director of Construction Management, Truman College, Rush University, and South Suburban College where she taught Project Supervision and Construction Estimating. Dr. Frazier is the President of the International Construction Consortium Group, Ltd located in Zambia, Africa. She presently serves on the advisory board for Dawson Technical Institute’s Highway Construction Careers Training Program, VP of Technical Operations for the Global Institute of Planning and Sustainable Development, former chairperson of the National Black Agenda Consortium, and member of the American Society of Engineering Educators. She holds certifications in entrepreneurship education, Administrative Type 75 and Superintendents endorsements, professional educators’ licensure, and recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.

Contact Me
USMCA - Architectural, Engineering & Technology Division - Dustin Barlow

Dustin Barlow

2nd Vice President, Architectural Engineering & Technology Contractors Division

Contact Me
USMCA - Architectural, Engineering & Technology Division - Keith Whyte, P.E

Keith Whyte, P.E

Board Member

Contact Me
USMCA - Architectural, Engineering & Technology Division - Cyrus Rivetna

Cyrus Rivetna

Board Member

In the Fall of 2015, Cyrus participated in Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses 13th cohort, for which this growth plan was created. Through education, training and experience he has become a talented and successful architect; his business has done very well. When compared to most architecture firms of a similar size, we complete more projects, with fewer people, and are more profitable. However, he never had a formal education in business development. Through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program, Cyrus has gained invaluable information that will help him manage and grow the business in a meaningful way. The focus of the class was to develop strategies to grow a business through a growth opportunity.

The growth opportunity combines the information learned from Cyrus’ three different, but related businesses. The opportunity is to partner with municipalities (the City of Chicago), private institutions (banks and insurance companies), and building owners to use local talent to rehabilitate distressed properties, which will help stabilize families and neighborhoods while generating tax revenue and profits. All it takes is one building to improve a street corner, or the middle of a block. Imagine how different of a walk to school, work, or even to get a cup of coffee feels when the buildings you are walking along that were once distressed are brought back to life. 

Contact Me
USMCA - Architectural, Engineering & Technology Division - Bernard D. Held

Bernard D. Held

Board Member

With Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. (CMT) since 1976, Bernie is a source of wisdom and guidance for clients and employees alike. Recently passing the baton of leadership as Director of Water Resources, he continues to help our team as an adviser as we continue to improve upon the planning, engineering and management skills that CMT is known to command.  In addition to his engineering work, he has directed CMT’s Human Resources since 2012.

Bernie Held has 41 years of progressive engineering experience in the water and wastewater industry in Illinois. A graduate of the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a degree in Civil Engineering, he has worked as a resident engineer, design engineer, project engineer, project manager, program manager and principle-in-charge. Held has been leading CMT's planning, design and construction phase services for nearly 20 years. Held has managed multimillion dollar programs for various municipal clients in the Fox River valley. He has designed innovative projects involving CSO treatment in Decatur, a facility producing class A solids in accordance with USEPA 503 regulations, a unique deicing treatment facility at Rockford, and led $28M and $40M water improvement programs for the cities of Aurora and West Chicago, Illinois. He is well versed in regulatory matters in the water industry and through his leadership of CMT’s Human Resources since 2012. He is an active member of the Illinois Water Environment Association and was inducted into the 5S honor society of the organization in 2017.  He is a sitting member of the Miner Alumni Association Board at his alma mater.

Held has four grown children and thirteen grandchildren.

His motto is “do the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason”.

Contact Me
USMCA - Architectural, Engineering & Technology Division - Alan Miller

Alan Miller

Secretary

Alan Miller, Founder and Principal of Understand-IT LLC, has more than 30 years of experience in many aspects of small business IT and software development, including full-stack IT support for small businesses and medical practices, software development for business and medical workflow and print solutions, course development for business professionals and developers and end-user training on many aspects of secure computer use.

Alan's current focus is in the areas of IT Security and Business Continuity - keeping bad things from happening and minimizing the impact when they do.