We've been fortunate to have another great group of interns this summer!
This year we welcomed a more diverse group of interns in different functions, including our Open Doors Internship, a new opportunity designed to increase awareness and exposure to commercial real estate industry career pathways amongst students traditionally underrepresented in the industry.
While our interns have been able to explore careers and develop or sharpen skills, we've received the benefit of their energy and fresh perspectives.
This year's class of interns included:
The future is in good hands with all of you!
We asked our interns about themselves and their experience so far. Here's what some of them shared:
I chose an internship with Opus because it is not your average general contractor. We have developers, architects and engineers in house. I was able to learn from more than just one perspective.
What are your education plans?
I plan on graduating with honors from Arizona State University in the Spring of 2025. I will receive my Bachelor's degree in Construction Management.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship was being welcomed into the team with open arms, and especially the field team. The field team was always willing to give me major responsibilities that I would not have elsewhere.
Everyone I've interacted with from first interview to orientation and beyond has been extremely welcoming and open to helping me learn the industry. During my internship search, I really placed a premium on finding an experience that would emulate the real day-to-day work environment of a Real Estate professional, and I found that at Opus. Working for a vertically integrated Real Estate company with development, construction and architecture/engineering has also done wonders for my learning and growth and will undoubtedly make me a stronger candidate when I'm applying for full-time roles.
What are your education plans?
I'm between year one and two of my MBA program, so graduating (fingers crossed) May 2024.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The Kansas City market has a lot going on, at all stages of the development process, so it's been fun to watch projects from inception to disposition. Additionally, the KC market has ODC, ODB and OAE representation so getting a chance to learn from all three Opus prongs has been an interesting and informative experience. It's been fun to get to know my colleagues outside of the office at various social outings as well!
I chose Opus because every interview and interaction I had made me feel extremely welcomed. I came in knowing so little about the construction process, but they expressed how willing and excited they were to teach me about the design-build process. I am currently back for my 3rd co-op term in the Phoenix office, so that shows how welcome they continue to make me feel.
What are your education plans?
I am currently a senior at Marquette University studying Civil Engineering.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship has been the opportunity to problem solve independently and potentially fail, but then having people who will help me correct those mistakes and be able to learn from them. Everyone I have worked with in Phoenix and the other offices have been nothing but willing to help me navigate my way through the construction industry. I'm so grateful for all the opportunities that have been provided by Opus to grow in the industry and as a person.
I chose the internship with Opus because of what I had learned about the company through my college career fair and the idea of what I could learn from working for a true design-build company. I thought that being able to extend my knowledge in the industry to industrial and multifamily projects sounded very exciting. I also felt that being a Midwest company it would be a very good fit.
What are your education plans?
I am entering into my senior year at Arizona State University studying Construction Management with a minor in Sustainability.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship so far is being given the opportunity to work on my first tilt-up industrial building and a large multifamily apartment building.
I chose the Open Doors Internship because it gives a look into a wide variety of positions within the construction field. This type of internship is unique to any others I have seen and gives opportunity to those who want to enter the construction industry but aren't second year students in a related program.
What are your education plans?
I plan on continuing my degree in Business Administration at Loyola New Orleans and add a minor in Design. In the future, I anticipate getting a certificate in Interior Design.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship so far has been getting to meet so many talented people and learning from them. Everyone has been very understanding and willing to jump in and help whenever I have questions, which has been great.
I choose an internship with Opus because I wanted to see what the construction industry was like and to see if becoming an engineer was the thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
What are your education plans?
I will be furthering my education at Augsburg University, and I plan on majoring in engineering.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship has been the experience I have gained through working with ODC. I enjoyed the real experience that came with seeing the ups and downs that come with the job.
I chose an internship with Opus because of the sense of community I felt when talking to the representatives. I continued for a second summer in my internship with Opus because I felt I was learning very valuable skills and I connected with my project team well and felt very supported.
What are your education plans?
I currently plan to graduate from Marquette University in May of 2024 with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. Sometime in the spring I will take the FE exam and hopefully begin a full-time job post-graduation. Getting my Master's degree in either Business or Civil Engineering may possibly be in my future as well.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
One of the highlights of my internship so far was taking a company tour of ATMI Precast. It was amazing to see where the precast panels are made and stored, as well as how they make them. It was a unique experience filled with lots of learning that will help me in my civil engineering career.
This year we welcomed a more diverse group of interns in different functions, including our Open Doors Internship, a new opportunity designed to increase awareness and exposure to commercial real estate industry career pathways amongst students traditionally underrepresented in the industry.
While our interns have been able to explore careers and develop or sharpen skills, we've received the benefit of their energy and fresh perspectives.
This year's class of interns included:
- Aaron Swenson, Project Intern, Minneapolis
- Alan Neri, Project Intern, Phoenix
- Alex Olsen, Real Estate Development Intern, Kansas City
- Bryan Oelrich, Project Intern, Minneapolis
- Caroline Ortman, Project Intern, Phoenix
- Cindy Wuddah, Project Intern, Minneapolis
- Cormick McCune, Project Intern – Field, Phoenix
- Emily Schaefer, Open Doors Intern, Minneapolis
- Giuseppe Camarda, Project Intern, Chicago
- Gulius Jones, Open Doors Intern, Minneapolis
- Isaac Struebing, Project Intern, Kansas City
- Jocelyn Chavez Salazar, Open Doors Intern, Minneapolis
- Joey Rauenhorst, Cyber Security Intern, Minneapolis
- Joshua Dame, Project Intern, Denver
- Lily D'Agostino, Project Intern, Chicago
- Olivia Kiefer, Project Intern, Chicago
- Robbie P. Huber, Project Intern, Denver
The future is in good hands with all of you!
We asked our interns about themselves and their experience so far. Here's what some of them shared:
Alan Neri, Project Intern, Phoenix
Why did you choose an internship with Opus?I chose an internship with Opus because it is not your average general contractor. We have developers, architects and engineers in house. I was able to learn from more than just one perspective.
What are your education plans?
I plan on graduating with honors from Arizona State University in the Spring of 2025. I will receive my Bachelor's degree in Construction Management.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship was being welcomed into the team with open arms, and especially the field team. The field team was always willing to give me major responsibilities that I would not have elsewhere.
Alex Olson, Real Estate Development Intern, Kansas City
Why did you choose an internship with Opus?Everyone I've interacted with from first interview to orientation and beyond has been extremely welcoming and open to helping me learn the industry. During my internship search, I really placed a premium on finding an experience that would emulate the real day-to-day work environment of a Real Estate professional, and I found that at Opus. Working for a vertically integrated Real Estate company with development, construction and architecture/engineering has also done wonders for my learning and growth and will undoubtedly make me a stronger candidate when I'm applying for full-time roles.
What are your education plans?
I'm between year one and two of my MBA program, so graduating (fingers crossed) May 2024.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The Kansas City market has a lot going on, at all stages of the development process, so it's been fun to watch projects from inception to disposition. Additionally, the KC market has ODC, ODB and OAE representation so getting a chance to learn from all three Opus prongs has been an interesting and informative experience. It's been fun to get to know my colleagues outside of the office at various social outings as well!
Caroline Ortman, Project Intern, Phoenix
Why did you choose an internship with Opus?I chose Opus because every interview and interaction I had made me feel extremely welcomed. I came in knowing so little about the construction process, but they expressed how willing and excited they were to teach me about the design-build process. I am currently back for my 3rd co-op term in the Phoenix office, so that shows how welcome they continue to make me feel.
What are your education plans?
I am currently a senior at Marquette University studying Civil Engineering.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship has been the opportunity to problem solve independently and potentially fail, but then having people who will help me correct those mistakes and be able to learn from them. Everyone I have worked with in Phoenix and the other offices have been nothing but willing to help me navigate my way through the construction industry. I'm so grateful for all the opportunities that have been provided by Opus to grow in the industry and as a person.
Cormick McCune, Project Intern – Field, Phoenix
Why did you choose an internship with Opus?I chose the internship with Opus because of what I had learned about the company through my college career fair and the idea of what I could learn from working for a true design-build company. I thought that being able to extend my knowledge in the industry to industrial and multifamily projects sounded very exciting. I also felt that being a Midwest company it would be a very good fit.
What are your education plans?
I am entering into my senior year at Arizona State University studying Construction Management with a minor in Sustainability.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship so far is being given the opportunity to work on my first tilt-up industrial building and a large multifamily apartment building.
Emily Schaefer, Open Doors Intern, Minneapolis
Why did you choose an internship with Opus?I chose the Open Doors Internship because it gives a look into a wide variety of positions within the construction field. This type of internship is unique to any others I have seen and gives opportunity to those who want to enter the construction industry but aren't second year students in a related program.
What are your education plans?
I plan on continuing my degree in Business Administration at Loyola New Orleans and add a minor in Design. In the future, I anticipate getting a certificate in Interior Design.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship so far has been getting to meet so many talented people and learning from them. Everyone has been very understanding and willing to jump in and help whenever I have questions, which has been great.
Gulius Jones, Open Doors Intern, Minneapolis
Why did you choose an internship with Opus?I choose an internship with Opus because I wanted to see what the construction industry was like and to see if becoming an engineer was the thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
What are your education plans?
I will be furthering my education at Augsburg University, and I plan on majoring in engineering.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship has been the experience I have gained through working with ODC. I enjoyed the real experience that came with seeing the ups and downs that come with the job.
Lily D'Agostino, Project Intern, Chicago
Why did you choose an internship with Opus?I chose an internship with Opus because of the sense of community I felt when talking to the representatives. I continued for a second summer in my internship with Opus because I felt I was learning very valuable skills and I connected with my project team well and felt very supported.
What are your education plans?
I currently plan to graduate from Marquette University in May of 2024 with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. Sometime in the spring I will take the FE exam and hopefully begin a full-time job post-graduation. Getting my Master's degree in either Business or Civil Engineering may possibly be in my future as well.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
One of the highlights of my internship so far was taking a company tour of ATMI Precast. It was amazing to see where the precast panels are made and stored, as well as how they make them. It was a unique experience filled with lots of learning that will help me in my civil engineering career.
Robbie P. Huber, Project Intern, Denver
Why did you choose an internship with Opus?
I decided to intern at Opus due to the strong connections I established with the project managers I met at CSU's career day. They displayed a genuine interest in my aspirations for an internship and what I hoped to achieve from it. Unlike other companies I interacted with, Opus not only answered my questions but also provided detailed explanations about the knowledge and experience I would gain and how it would contribute to my future in the construction industry. This aspect was particularly compelling because other companies seemed solely concerned with what I could offer them. Opus stood out from the rest, convincing me that they were the ideal choice for an internship.
What are your education plans?
I'm entering my Junior Year at Colorado State University and planning to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management in 2025.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship so far has been the opportunity to interact and collaborate with numerous industry professionals, including co-workers, subcontractors, suppliers/manufacturers and field laborers. This experience has enhanced my communication skills and deepened my understanding of working at a professional level within project management.