Maureen Dubin, Director of Project Operations: At Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP), we take pride in having a robust intern program that is hands-on and project driven. Our goal is to send our interns into the next phase of their lives with experience and a sense of the importance of company culture. We are delighted to see our interns grow throughout their journey at AP, and we want to inspire them to be the next leaders of their generation.
We took a moment to check in with each of them to discover what they enjoyed most and a little about their experiences. Here’s a round-up of what they had to say.
Hunter Cooper: I chose AP because of how welcoming the AP family is and how they guided me throughout my interview process.
Ethan Wessman: During my interview process, AP was interested in me both as a person and as a potential intern. Additionally, coming from Minnesota and having previous knowledge of AP attracted me to the opportunity.
Michael Worley: I was most impressed by the family-like culture around AP, as well as the emphasis on safety, considering the size of the company.
MeKhi Nelson: I was initially attracted to AP when ULM alumni visited the university and did a presentation about the company. Shortly after, I did my research and liked the type of work they constructed, and the great work environment AP portrayed.
Hunter Cooper: Throughout my internship, I learned communication is key in the construction industry.
Ethan Wessman: I learned one of the most important keys to a successful construction project is communication. Communication between AP team members, as well as between AP and various trade partners, is essential.
MeKhi Nelson: I learned not to give up on myself even when things get hard and challenging.
Hunter Cooper: I have gotten familiar with Procore construction software, and I have a better understanding of the steps it takes to pass various final inspections, schedule coordination, and communicate with trade partners.
Michael Worley: I learned a variety of skills including how to work with RFIs, submittals, field inspections, accessing the tools within Procore software, getting familiar with the job site and communicating with coworkers/trade partners.
MeKhi Nelson: Over the summer I became a better communicator and gained the ability to write RFIs, create submittals and coordinate schedules.
Hunter Cooper: Some of the most challenging tasks my team and I endured this summer were steps involved in passing the fire inspection for Santander Tower, as well as tracking and documenting a laundry room rework. Each unit is being upgraded to larger electrical panels and plumbing hook-ups for larger washer and dryer appliances.
Ethan Wessman: At first, the most challenging thing for me was getting out of my comfort zone. Day-to-day I interacted with partners, and on multiple occasions, I needed to step in to check on progress or ask questions.
Michael Worley: The most challenging thing was understanding I can’t know everything, and also not being afraid to ask questions about what I don’t know. It is always better to make sure you are doing things correctly in the long run.
Hunter Cooper: I would like to eventually be a senior superintendent.
Ethan Wessman: After this internship, my career goals shifted; now I’d like to become a project manager, and beyond that, I would like to be involved in construction business development.
Michael Worley: I want to expand my overall construction industry knowledge while focusing more on eventually being the best superintendent I can be.
MeKhi Nelson: I strive to learn all aspects of the construction process and ultimately become a superintendent in the company.
