Summer 2017 Intern Crew Part II
KA’s summer internship program provides young adults with the opportunity to put what they learn in the classroom to the test. With real-world and hands-on experiences, our interns are exposed to a variety of different challenges, tasks and responsibilities. The knowledge and lessons learned over the course of three months, is easily something they will carry for a lifetime.
As summer draws to a close, KA interns reflect on what they have learned, talk about their goals, career paths and provide advice for our future interns.
Intern Name: Nick Coleman
Job title at KA: Marketing Intern
KA office: Minneapolis
Interned at KA previously? No
School attending/major?Junior, Emory University, Business Administration
KA Mentors: John Haydon and John Campobasso
Duties: Currently, I am working on a competitor analysis project and looking at an Iowa market place analysis.
Observations/takeaways: The people are what make KA truly a special place to work at. Everyone is more than willing to take time away from his/her own day to answer any questions or talk about why they love working at KA.
Valuable experiences: I’ve really enjoyed getting to talk to people who work in numerous different offices and area depths at KA. It has been very interesting to hear what is going on in different geographic areas or sectors and how KA is competing in all of them.
Advice for new interns: An internship is what you make out of it. If you put a lot of effort, time, and energy into it, then it can be very rewarding both personally and professionally.
Intern Name: Connor Hart
Job title at KA: Project Engineer Intern
KA office: Minneapolis
Interned at KA previously? I interned last year as a field engineer intern.
School: I am graduating from the U of M with a major in Construction Management.
Mentor at KA: Chris Knutson
Working on: I am on the apartment building at the KA block.
Duties: Every day there’s something new, anything that Chris Dokken and Chris Knutson need me to do.
Observations/takeaways: I am having an awesome time at the KA block. Everyone here is very willing to help out with any questions I have. They understand that I don’t have nearly as much knowledge as they do and they are always willing to help me learn. It just goes to show how committed KA employees are to supporting each other.
Valuable Experience: The most valuable thing I have found to be is just being in a real world situation. It can only make so much sense in school when we learn about all of this stuff but once you can see it in live action it makes so much more sense as to why things are done the way they are. I get to see and be a part of all the logistics that are happening in the middle of this apartment project and I’ve also gotten to help out with some pre-construction logistics with the upcoming brewery. Being able to be involved in these two different aspects of a job has taught me so much.
Advice to a new intern at KA: Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions.
Intern Name: Jon Polzin
Job Title at KA: Project Engineer Intern
KA office: Circle Pines Office
Have you interned at KA previously? This is the first summer interning with KA. Although, I did work for KA as a laborer last summer to get some field experience. I worked on a couple jobs during the summer such as Prudential and Forest View Elementary. During college, I worked Thursdays and Fridays at Gustavus Adolphus College (Anderson Hall) and later moved on to St. Peter High School.
School: Senior, Minnesota State University, Mankato majoring in Construction Management and Minoring in Business Administration.
Career goals?
1. To receive a job right after I graduate as a Project Engineer or Assistant Project Manager.
2. To win my first job during my first year with my company.
3. To receive my LEED Associates certification within 5 years with my company.
4. To advance positions to a Project Manager / Senior Project Manager.
Mentor at KA: Pat Mulcahey.
Working on: Greenwood Elementary in the Wayzata School District.
Duties:
1. I create a weekly newsletter with progress photos and what’s happening on-site.
2. I work with submittals on two projects. I review, track, call subs, and help distribute them to the architect and subcontractors.
3. I write meeting minutes at each progress meeting and type them up for the next week.
4. I submit and track RFI’s on the project. I help issue PCO’s (Potential Change Orders) to the proper subs and do an internal estimate on each one of them prior to submitting COR’s (Change Order Requests).
5. I will be handling the Pre-Punch and closeout items at the end of the project.
Observations/takeaways: I am impressed with how the company operates as a whole. Everyone in the company is willing to answer questions and give me advice/feedback that will continue to better myself in the future.
Valuable experience: The most valuable experience I have gained from KA is being able to hold my own responsibilities within the project. I need to communicate effectively with all team members in order to keep the project running on schedule. I need to keep a hard work ethic by staying organized, completing my work accurately, and in a timely matter.
Advice to a new intern:
1. Show your commitment by working hard and having fun.
2. Your brain is a sponge – Soak in as much information as you can.
3. ASK QUESTIONS – Everyone is willing to help anyway they can.
Other comments you’d like to share? Get involved as much as you can. Network and build strong relationships.
Name: Payton Hosch
Job title at KA: Project Engineer Intern
KA office: Minneapolis
Have you interned at KA previously? When? Yes, Last summer. (5/16-8/16)
School: Senior, University of Wisconsin – Stout. Construction Major with a Business Administration Minor.
Mentor: Abigail Heimel
Working on: Minnesota Vikings / Twin City Orthopedics project in Eagan, MN
Observations/takeaways: This is a company that cares about their employees and will be there when they need help or guidance. I have yet to meet someone in this company who would not be willing to lend a hand to anyone.
Valuable experiences: The opportunities you are given. Last year, I worked on a school project and this year I am working on a surgery center. I have been able to see two completely different projects and gain knowledge on the different ways projects are run.
Advice to a new intern: Ask questions and take the initiative to get involved whenever you can. Also, spend time out on-site, don’t get stuck sitting in the office every day. You can learn so much by just walking around and asking questions.
Intern Name: Michael Stenbeck
Job title at KA: Project Engineer Intern
KA office: Circle Pines
Have you interned at KA previously? When? Yes, I was an intern last summer as well. I was in the Minneapolis office working on the Vikings Headquarters
School: Senior, Iowa State University majoring in Construction Engineering
Who is your mentor at KA? (or, who are you reporting to?) Dustin Kempf
Are you working on a specific job site? Edina High School, the project entails a large classroom and athletic complex addition as well as a substantial amount of summer interior renovations
Duties: I have been in charge of handling the closeout process. This entails gathering O&M manuals from subcontractors and scheduling owners trainings for all the new equipment and materials. Also, I have been in charge of creating a room by room pre-punchlist of all the work that needs to be done in each room. This is being completed in order to reduce the amount of things the architect has for their punchlist. Finally, I have done a substantial amount of work dealing with PCO’s and weekly meeting minutes.
Observations/takeaways: KA really tries to put their employees first. Whether you’re an intern or a seasoned vet everyone is seen as equal and a valuable part of the team. Also, everyone is always more than happy to answer any questions you have and help whenever they are able to.
Valuable Experiences: Coming back for a second summer has allowed me to see multiple sides of different projects. I have been able to see the office side dealing with preconstruction, as well as, the site side working with a project manager and superintended. Being able to get all this different exposure has taught me a lot about all aspects of construction.
Advice to a new intern: Come in to your internship with an open mind ready to work hard and show up with a great attitude every day.
Intern Name: Patrick Bailey
Job title at KA: Project superintendent intern
KA office: Minneapolis office
School: Senior, Northern Michigan University, Construction Management
What are you career goals: General superintendent
Mentor at KA: Ben Mergens
Working on: Vikings Headquarters and training facility
Duties: Help manage day to day operations of KA employees and all subcontractors on site
Observations/takeaways: I’ve learned that Kraus Anderson has a rich culture that shows it through integrity on every job, and value in every one of their employees.
Valuable Experience: The most valuable experience that I’ve had as an intern here is the opportunity to be in the field and see the whole process of managing a job of this caliber first hand, as well as being able to talk to all the different trades and learn new techniques that they bring to the job.
Advice to a new intern: To any new interns I would say to network as much as possible during the short amount of time that you have.
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