KA’s 2020 interns reflect on a socially distanced summer | Part I
The summer of 2020 was different in many ways. Much of the world has slowed down since March, when the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the U.S. Deemed critical, the construction industry has continued to move forward with additional safety protocols on jobsites. This allowed Kraus-Anderson to welcome 12 summer interns to learn valuable skills in the field. Although not the traditional intern experience, the group had hands-on experience during a historic summer of construction. As they wrap up, the 12 interns reflect on their summer with KA.
Brinley Mathern – Project Engineering Intern
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#cc0202″ class=”” size=”18″]”I loved the family vibe I got from all the KA workers. They made me feel welcomed and accepted all my questions with open minds.”[/perfectpullquote]
KA Office: Minneapolis
Project Assigned: Mounds View Schools
School Attending: North Dakota State University
What has been your most positive experience for you in your internship with KA?
I got to meet many people that have helped me learn a tremendous amount of construction knowledge. Some things you cannot learn in school, and this internship helped me see that. I now have a better understanding of how a construction site flows through the process.
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Andrew Randall – Project Engineering Intern
[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#cc0202″ class=”” size=”18″]”The work that I have received/completed has been what I would be doing as a full time employee. KA has met my expectations to the fullest.”[/perfectpullquote]
KA Office: Minneapolis
Project Assigned: Roseville Schools
School Attending: UW-Stout
What has been the “big surprise” for you (if any) during your internship?
One thing I am always amazed by is how far a project can come along in a short time. I have been on a number of job sites and it still blows my mind fast a project can move when everything is going smoothly, and everyone onsite is working together.
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Frank Kimlinger – Project Engineering Intern
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#cc0202″ class=”” size=”18″]”I have been impressed with the resources KA offers to its employees as well as the freedom given to each person to complete their job without being micromanaged”[/perfectpullquote]
KA Office: Minneapolis
Project Assigned: St. Louis Park Schools
School Attending: MSU Mankato
What has been your most positive experience for you in your internship with KA?
The most positive experience has been how willing everybody in the KA company is willing to help me learn. My constant curiosity to learn comes with the need to ask 1,000 questions about everything, and every single person I have worked with at Kraus-Anderson has answered my questions to the best of their knowledge, and is willing to share their experiences to help me be successful.
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Nick Salzle – Project Engineering Intern
[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#cc0202″ class=”” size=”20″]”What this program gives is much deeper and much wider than any intern experience I’ve had before.”[/perfectpullquote]
KA Office: Minneapolis
Project Assigned: Wayzata Schools
School Attending: U of M – Twin Cities
What has been the “big surprise” for you (if any) during your internship?
The biggest surprise for me was how detail oriented a good PM is. There are so many moving parts, and an effective manager/superintendent must be skilled in coordinating those moving parts.
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Derek Golliher – Project Engineering Intern
[perfectpullquote align=right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#cc0202″ class=”” size=”18″]”My most positive experience through my internship process has been the people I am surrounded by … I learned many valuable things and am very excited for the future I’m construction.”[/perfectpullquote]
KA Office: Rochester
Project Assigned: Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School
School Attending: UW – Stout
What were the expectations coming into this internship? Were they met?
I was blown away by how everything came together. This experience showed me real world things that I could never get while in the classroom. I have learned more from this than I will in my next 4 years of college.
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Seth Hander – Project Engineering Intern
[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#cc0202″ class=”” size=”18″]”Being in the field and on three different job sites, I saw how PMs and APMs work during the building process, as well as different communication and personality styles that superintendents use on the job.”[/perfectpullquote]
KA Office: Rochester
Project Assigned: Mountain Lake High School
School Attending: MSU Mankato
What has been the “big surprise” for you (if any) during your internship?
That I didn’t really have someone looking over my shoulder the entire time. I was put to work and was trusted to do the right thing(after I was shown how to do things of course).
CATEGORY: Construction