Getting the Experience: 2026 Kraus-Anderson Interns Look Back
By Brenden Nickels, Senior Office Assistant
The summer season is a special time for young interns; It allows them to get an idea of what their lives are going to be like when they eventually graduate and enter the working world. Kraus-Anderson is committed to assisting future professionals in getting the work experience that they need to start their careers. Each summer, we are happy to welcome a few new interns to our team with some fresh perspectives, and end the summer by asking them what they learned and how this experience has shaped them.
Abby Brothers
College: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Major: Accounting and Real Estate
What was the biggest highlight during your time here?
My biggest highlight was the intern summit. I liked being able to meet all the interns, especially because most of the interns are usually at the project sites, so I don’t see them very often. It was also cool to hear from different departments and what their day-to-day work looks like. I also enjoyed touring Burnsville City Hall and the yard.
Blake Corcoran
College: North Dakota State University
Major: Construction Management
What is something that surprised you during your time here?
I was surprised on how much coordination goes into a construction project. There are a lot of moving parts that all need to work together to keep a project moving forward.
Andrew Gonyea
College: St. John’s University
Major: Accounting and Finance
What is something that surprised you during your time here?
It really surprised me how close every department works together. I also thought it was pretty cool to see people going to different floors to go ask questions and talk with others from different departments and not just writing a short e-mail.
Carter Kelly
College: University of Minnesota
Major: Construction Management
Did you face any challenges this summer? If so, how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I faced was getting up to speed on the site, and getting my head around the project when I first started, since then I have gained a lot of confidence about knowing what is happening on site every day by being present and paying attention to everything I can.
Colton Engelsma
College: University of Minnesota
Major: Construction Management
What is one thing you learned during your time as a Kraus-Anderson intern?
I learned a lot about the entire construction process this summer both from the field and the office side. Being on site every day and watching the trades do their work gave me a much better understanding of how a building comes together. At the same time spending time in the office working in submittals, sitting in on weekly meetings, and learning from my mentor Molly (Jutz) gave me a good look at what the management side of construction looks like day to day.
Ava Koutek
College: University of Minnesota
Major: Construction Project Management, with minors in Architecture and Corporate Environmental Management
What is one thing you learned during your time as a Kraus-Anderson intern?
The biggest thing I learned this summer was how important relationships are on site. The people you work with really shape your experience as an intern.
Griffin Krautkremer
College: Iowa State University
Major: Construction Engineering
What was the biggest highlight during your time here?
The biggest highlight of my time here was being able to see the end of a project, as well as being at the start of one. I thought this was a unique experience where I was able to see both sides of the construction process.
Om Rege
College: University of St. Thomas
Major: Data Analytics
What is one thing you learned during your time as a Kraus-Anderson intern?
One thing I’ve learned here at KA is how we can visualize so much data and put it in different formats to make it easier for people to understand.
Andrew Weber
College: North Dakota State University
Major: Construction Management
What was the biggest highlight of your time here?
My highlight was seeing the progress of all the projects I was a part of this summer. I find it really satisfying to see a project go from process to process and be able to say I had a tiny contribution to it.
Ben Munn
College: Dunwoody College of Technology
Major: Construction Project Management
What is something that surprised you during your time here?
Something that surprised me was how much planning goes into every part of a project. Even something that seems simple, such as a delivery, can require multiple contractors to work together to receive it.
Dalton VanDerBeek
College: Minnesota State Moorhead
Major: Construction Management
What is one thing you learned during your time as a Kraus-Anderson intern?
Relationships are the foundation of every successful project. When it comes time to build and get the job done, strong relationships make all the difference.
Hannah Bombard
College: Minnesota State University Mankato
Major: Construction Management, with a minor in Business Administration
Do you find anything similar or anything different to this internship, compared to the last time?
Both my internship last summer and this summer were fantastic, but they are definitely different. Last summer, my project team was a bit older and had lots of experience, so they had their own way of doing things. This summer, I am a project engineer intern, so even though I get to be on site every day, I am learning the office side of construction.
Ben Leimer
College: University of Wisconsin-Stout
Major: Construction Management
What was the biggest highlight of your time here?
Something that has surprised me during my time here is how close the KA Rochester team is. Everyone within the office has a good relationship with each other and it allows the KA team to rely on each other and really enjoy work.
CATEGORY: KA Culture