From supporting day-to-day project operations to helping preserve a piece of local history, Charlotte’s internship offered a unique look at the construction industry. Along the way, she gained valuable experience, developed new skills, and experienced firsthand the culture that makes JP Cullen unique. We caught up with Charlotte to learn more about the people, projects, and moments that stood out most during the summer.
Q: What does a typical day-in-the-life look like for you?
A: My days vary depending on what is happening onsite. I usually start my mornings answering emails and sitting down with my Project Manager to review priority items and discuss the tasks that I can complete. My whole summer has been spent supporting the Children’s Museum of Rock County, helping with subcontractor coordination, layouts, material distribution, and ordering supplies. I also attend all our project meetings and have had the opportunity these last few weeks to help pre-plan a new jail project, giving me insight into how projects start and progress from Bid Day.
Q: What has been the most memorable project or task you’ve been involved in, and how did it contribute to your understanding of the construction industry and your personal growth?
This summer has been a memory. I have been involved in too many items to list, but the most memorable one was selling a 7.5-ton steel safe door! This safe had been in storage since last year, and a fellow intern, Alena Wood, had helped get everything kick-started by figuring out the dimensions, weight, and getting a head start on contacting buyers. Once my Project Manager gave me this task, it took almost 2 months to figure out who in the Midwest would want a safe door.
In the end, I found a buyer and coordinated how we were going to set it into their trailer and get it on the road! Another task that helped my understanding of construction was another safe, but this was to de-rust and revive it. The owners wanted to leave a memory of the First National Bank in the museum, and the safe was just that! I found ways to revive this item, create a timeline, and got to know a few of our laborers in the mix as well.
Q: Can you share an instance where you faced a challenge that may have pushed you out of your comfort zone?
A: Coming into this internship, I have had little to no experience with Project Management and Construction as a whole, since I am studying Civil Engineering. A lot of what I learned was from being pushed out of my comfort zone. The larger challenges I faced were trying to come up with a game plan to fix items in dire need. A lot of the larger ones took a lot more planning and research. I learned that it is okay to take your time to fully understand what you are asked, followed by learning what you are doing. In the past, I often focused on completing tasks by going through the motions, but this experience helped me better understand the value of learning from each challenge.
Q: Are there any parts of your internship experience that especially stood out to you?
A: The company culture is something that always stands out to me. Being a returning intern, I moved from being in the office to being onsite, and although they are very different in scenery, the culture continues. Even as an intern who has now spent 6 months with JP Cullen, I feel very welcomed in meetings, and it’s always nice when the Co-Presidents or Former President come by and ask how the school year went or how the summer is going. These interactions really demonstrate the genuine care employees have for each other at JP Cullen. Other than the culture, I think touring EPIC really stood out to me. Compared to both of my tours, one year apart, it really shows how creative and fast construction can be.
Interested in joining the JP Cullen team? Check out our open opportunities here or email hr@jpcullen.com.
