Kraus-Anderson Interns Look Back on the 2023 Summer

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1691588374636{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

Kraus-Anderson hosted 22 wonderful interns this summer.

As their internships come to a close, we asked them to reflect on their time with Kraus-Anderson.

Yones Abdullahi

College: Dunwoody Technical College

Project Assignment: Pre-Construction, Estimating

Any surprises?: I am surprised by the amount of work that goes into preconstruction, which is something they don’t emphasize enough in school. Witnessing the process and collaboration involved in estimating and BIM/VDC was truly eye-opening.

Cody Ball

College: Minnesota State University-Mankato

Project Assignment: Rochester City Center, Rochester Office

Biggest highlight?: I’m not sure that I can just pick one thing! Although, I really loved the teamwork that comes with working on a job with the same team of people. It helps build strong bonds and keeps the days interesting/fun!

Broc Dollerschell

College: Iowa State University

Project Assignment: Edina Public Schools

Any surprises?: The amount of responsibility that Kraus-Anderson trusted me with surprised me. I felt useful throughout my internship and learned a lot!

Dylan Gietzen

College: North Dakota State University

Project Assignment: NDSU Peltier Complex, Bismarck Office

Any challenges?: A couple of challenges I encountered this summer were figuring out all the resources Bluebeam offers and working through change order pricing from subcontractors. I overcame these obstacles by asking my mentor questions and watching YouTube videos.

Derek Golliher

College: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Project Assignment: Winona Area Public Schools, Rochester Office

Biggest highlight?: I loved getting involved in multiple projects this summer. Being a part of different types of projects throughout all different stages brought everything full circle for me.

Joseph Graham

College: Tuskegee University

Project Assignment: North Loop Green

Biggest highlight?: Visiting the very top of the North Loop Green residential tower was exciting. The view of Minneapolis was incredible. The entire intern cohort visited the site, and it was fun to connect with others in the program.

Samuel Harris

College: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Project Assignment: Memorial Darlington, Madison Office

Advice for future interns? Ask a lot of questions because it is the best way to learn. It is good to not only ask your mentor questions but also speak with subcontractors and other Kraus-Anderson employees. Everyone wants to help you grow as an industry professional and person.

Jack Hyland

College: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Project Assignment: White Bear Lake Schools

Advice for future interns?: Be proactive and eager to take on new challenges. Volunteer for tasks and projects outside your comfort zone, as these opportunities often lead to the most significant personal and professional growth. Communication is key during your internship. Always be open to feedback, ask questions, and seek guidance when needed. Building strong relationships with your colleagues and supervisors can make a positive impact on your internship experience and future career prospects. Stay organized and manage your time effectively. Juggling various tasks and responsibilities during an internship can be demanding, so staying organized will help you stay on top of your commitments and meet deadlines. 

Garrett Johnson

College and Major: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Project Assignment: Zenith DCHS Apartments, Duluth Office

Biggest highlight?: The biggest highlight of my summer was getting the opportunity to go to the top of the clock tower on the old central high school in Duluth, MN. It was an amazing view overlooking Lake Superior and the Duluth Hillside.

Liam Joyce

College: Bemidji State University

Project Assignment:  Riverwood Hospital + others, Bemidji Office

Biggest highlight?: The biggest excitement to me this summer was witnessing the visual progress of the Riverwood Healthcare Surgery Expansion. From Week 1 to Week 12, the project went from a perimeter being set up to an enclosed building with poured slab and a water-tight roof.

Samantha Kane

College: North Dakota State University

Project Assignment: White Bear Lake Schools

Advice for future interns?: If you’re confused, ask questions. Your mentor is there to help you! If you’re bored, ask for more work. There’s always something to do. Stay busy and seek out learning opportunities!

Jon Lofthaus

College: University of St. Thomas

Project Assignment: HR

Any surprises?: It surprised me how much coordination within departments and between departments is necessary to ensure tasks are completed successfully. A lot of big and small projects require multiple people with various expertise to give their input.

Dalton Miller

College: Minnesota State

Project Assignment: Edina Public Schools

Biggest highlight?: Looking back, I had two big highlights. One would be when we started moving dirt. It was impressive how fast our crew could change the landscape of the site. The second would be setting precast. This is a very fast and efficient way to frame a building.

Mason Moland

College: Bemidji State University

Project Assignment: Windom Hospital and others, Bemidji Office

Any surprises?: The construction industry and its various projects move fast. There is so much going on at one time and staying organized, as well as maintaining strong communication lines, is important.

Noah Pederson

College: University of Minnesota

Project Assignment: Accounting

Any surprises?: It surprised me how well a big company like Kraus-Anderson treats its employees. Prior to this summer, I had interned at a small company. I assumed at such a comparatively large entity, there would be much more pressure on and commodification of employees. Instead, I was treated as an individual and respected as such. KA allowed my strengths to shine and worked with me to improve my weaknesses, even more so than my last company.

Nathan Rewald

College: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Project Assignment: Special Projects

Any challenges?: One challenge I faced this summer was collecting bids from all the subcontractors on bid days. To complete this task, I dedicated time throughout the week to call the subs, organized the bids, and ensured the Project Manager had everything they needed on the day.

Bella Sawyer

College: University of Minnesota

Project Assignment: Regions Hospital

One thing you learned?: One thing I learned this summer was about the amount of time and dedication that is needed for the success of projects. In school, they teach you about the different technical skills and documents that you need for a project to be successful, but Kraus-Anderson builds off of that and teaches you more. There was always something new to learn!

Tyler Thilmony

College: North Dakota State University

Project Assignment: Bismarck State College Polytechnic Facility, Bismarck Office

Advice for future interns?: My advice for future interns starting would be don’t worry about not knowing enough. Come in with an open mindset, be coachable, absorb as much knowledge as possible, and it will be a positive experience.

Jimmy Vu

High School: Edina High School, ACE Mentor Program Member

Project Assignment: Various department rotations

One thing you learned?: Kraus-Anderson promotes a “family” culture. People really like this company. It feels like all Kraus-Anderson employees have been working for the company for at least 5 years, and for many, a lot longer, which is very compelling.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”30624,30607,30609,30615,30611,30627,30628,30608,30625,30618,30626,30613,30614,30620,30612,30606,30621,30616,30610,30619,30622,30623″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row]