From Intern to President: Jon Cacciotti’s Journey at HMH
At HMH, growth is more than a career milestone. It is a reflection of dedication, leadership, and a long-term commitment to shaping communities across California. Few stories represent that journey better than Jon Cacciotti, who officially stepped into the role of President in 2026 after nearly two decades of growth within the company.
Jon’s career at HMH began while he was still in school, interning between 2007 and 2010 on major transportation projects including the US 101/Tully and US 101/Capitol improvements. Working summers and part-time during the school year gave him early exposure to the collaborative nature of civil engineering and transportation infrastructure.
After graduating, Jon joined HMH full time and continued contributing to those same projects in entry-level engineering roles. His early years helped build the technical foundation that would guide the rest of his career.
From 2012 to 2015, Jon was placed at the BART Phase 1 project office, where he oversaw utility coordination for the extension project. During this time, he developed valuable relationships with professionals across both design and construction, gaining firsthand experience managing the coordination required on large-scale infrastructure projects.
As his career progressed, Jon began focusing heavily on bicycle, pedestrian, and Caltrans highway projects. Between 2016 and 2017, he led design efforts on major transportation improvements including the US 101 / Blossom Hill Road Interchange Improvements and the I-280 / Wolfe Road Interchange Improvements. During this period, he also became more involved in client relations, project interviews, and business development efforts that helped expand HMH’s presence throughout the region.
In 2017, Jon joined the HMH ownership group while also increasing his involvement within the engineering and transportation community. He became part of the Board of Directors for the American Public Works Association – Silicon Valley Chapter and joined the officers group for the South Bay Transportation Officials Association, where he later served as President.
His commitment to public service and industry leadership continued in 2019 when he joined the VTA Citizens Advisory Committee as a board member.
Throughout his time at HMH, Jon has held every major position on the company’s engineering career ladder, from Intern, Junior Engineer, Assistant Engineer, all the way to Vice President, and now President. His career path reflects not only personal growth, but also HMH’s commitment to developing leaders from within.
In 2020, Jon took responsibility for HMH’s Public Works Department following the retirement of Bill Wagner. Under his leadership, the department continued to deliver impactful transportation projects throughout California.
Jon’s accomplishments earned wider industry recognition in 2022 when he was named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal 40 Under 40 list. That same year, the award-winning US 101 / Blossom Hill Road Interchange project was completed, followed by the completion of the award-winning US 101 / De La Cruz Blvd / Trimble Road Interchange Improvements project in 2023. In that same year, Jon was named Vice President at HMH.
Outside of his leadership roles, Jon has also been involved with organizations including the Civil Engineering Department Advisory Committee, American Society of Civil Engineers, Engineers Without Borders, and Chi Epsilon.
Now serving as President of HMH, Jon brings both technical expertise and a people-first leadership style shaped by years of hands-on experience across every level of the company. His journey from intern to president stands as a testament to the opportunities that dedication, collaboration, and long-term vision can create within the engineering industry.
See more from Jon on our socials: (Reel link)
