Leading the Energy Transition in the U.S. – A Q&A with MasTec CE&I SVP of Energy Transition Solutions Don Kalenits

Growing up in Ohio in what was once the industrial heart of the United States, Don Kalenits has had a long-standing interest in industrial construction. Trained as an electrical engineer, Don has over 35 years of experience working in the engineering, procurement and construction industry delivering large-scale energy and industrial projects across the nation. He joined MasTec Clean Energy & Infrastructure (CE&I) in December 2022 to lead our Energy Transition Solutions team.

MasTec CE&I’s Energy Transition Solutions team was formed to leverage our experience and expertise across the renewables, power transmission, pipeline and chemical markets to support new energy project types. It is structured to provide clients scalable and flexible solutions ranging up to program management and full engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) delivery.

What are you most excited about in the energy transition market?

The momentum building around energy transition as a necessary advancement for our society and our economy is most exciting. With incentives in place to advance the many technologies that are being developed to limit carbon emissions, it is a prime opportunity to build on that momentum and make a real difference.

There is a lot of talk in our industry about the energy trilemma, which is the need to balance energy security with energy equity and environmental sustainability. Politicians and lobbyists in Washington D.C. can help us meet this challenge by incentivizing investments, but ultimately, the solution will need to come from our industry. It is on us to help solve the problem. It is an incredible opportunity, and I can’t imagine a more exciting time to be in our business.

What are you focused on right now?

Most of my time today is focused on refining our strategy in the energy transition space, then aligning our operations to support the strategy. We’re expanding our current team with top-notch talent from both within MasTec and the broader market. And we’re collaborating across the many markets MasTec serves to bring a comprehensive, one-stop solution to our clients and partners. Many of the energy transition technologies are emerging and scaling in real-time, and we need to be flexible to manage the uncertainties that come along with that.

Can you share a lesson you’ve learned over your career?

The greatest lesson I’ve learned over the years is that trust is a prerequisite to success. Industrial projects are a complex journey, and owners, engineers and contractors must establish a trusted relationship and operate as partners on the journey.

Whether we call it an alliance, a partnership or any other name, fundamentally, we must all work together, trust each other and work toward a common objective and outcome. We all win together on these projects.

What is something you didn’t know before you joined MasTec Clean Energy & Infrastructure?

The sheer scale and depth of talent across the organization is astounding. The broader MasTec organization is kind of the best-kept secret in the EPC industry. We haven’t submitted our financial information to be ranked by Engineering News-Record (ENR), but if you compare our 2022 revenue with the firms on ENR’s Top 400 list last year, we would be at or near the top in wind, solar, pipelines, transmission and distribution, and more.

There is a lot of talent across the MasTec organization, and our ability to self-perform every element of large capex hydrogen hub projects is unique. A lot of the risk in those types of projects will come down to construction execution and having one team be able to see the whole picture is very valuable.

When you are not working, you like to…

Mostly, I spend time with my wife, Lori, and our three daughters. We enjoy the great food scene in Houston and like to travel a bit. And I’m always working to improve my golf game, which is proving to be difficult!

People would be surprised to know that…

Life tends to throw curves your way at times, and that definitely was the case for me. As of February 2023, I’m fortunate enough to have celebrated 33 years cancer free! That’s a long time, but it never gets far from your mind. I’m thankful to be able to share my story with others on the same journey and encourage them to keep up the fight. And for everyone reading this – I’d encourage all of you to consider being a bone marrow donor. I was fortunate to have a sibling match, but many others need unrelated donors. That can be a lifesaving opportunity.

What is your proudest moment?

For me, it’s all about family. My wife and I are proud that each of our daughters has completed their formal education and are doing great things in their chosen fields. Two of them are now married, and those were definitely two of our proudest moments. This summer, we’ll be first-time grandparents and are very much looking forward to that!

About MasTec CE&I Group

The MasTec Clean Energy & Infrastructure (CE&I) Group specializes in Renewables and Decarbonization, Infrastructure, Industrial and General Building. Our sectors offer diverse capabilities under one umbrella including full-service engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) execution services. Sustainability is foundational to our culture and influences everything we do. As the leader within our industries, we focus on world-class safety, smart solutions, and market advancements.

About MasTec

MasTec, Inc.?is a leading infrastructure construction company operating mainly throughout?North America?across a range of industries. The Company's primary activities include the engineering, building, installation, maintenance and upgrade of communications, energy and utility and other infrastructure, such as: wireless, wireline/fiber, satellite communications and customer fulfillment activities; petroleum and natural gas pipeline infrastructure; electrical utility transmission and distribution; power generation; and industrial infrastructure. Mastec's customers are primarily in these industries. The company's corporate website is located at?www.mastec.com . ?