“Be so good they can't ignore you." – Steve Martin
We'll be honest – our interns are that good, so we had to recognize some current and past ones on National Intern Day!
Back in 1994 – when the picture above was taken – Rich Kauffman, Tom Becker and Jeff Walker were fresh, young faces at Opus. Tom and Jeff had been interns/co-ops. Rich happened to be Jeff's roommate. After learning about Jeff's experience and an opportunity here, he joined Team Opus. Fast forward to today: Rich is Regional Vice President of Construction in Indy, Tom is President & CEO of Construction and Jeff is Director of Operations.
Interns at Opus receive mentorship, industry insights and true hands-on experience.
Now, let us introduce some of our current interns.Liliana (Lily) D'Agostino
Why did you come to Opus?
I am currently a student at Marquette University, and Opus has done a lot with our school. I felt a community when I talked to Megan and Oscar, and I knew Opus would have a great work environment where you could also express your passions throughout different committees.
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc.) and/or about your education.
I am a junior at Marquette studying Civil Engineering. I graduated high school from Regina Dominican, an all-girls school in Wilmette. Regina has developed my sense of self and has sparked my passion for supporting women in the workplace.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The thing I have enjoyed most about my internship so far is being assigned responsibilities. I don't just watch the project managers do their job; I am actually allocated responsibilities to attempt on my own. While all the PMs have been available to help me with any questions I have, it feels good and is extremely helpful to actually do things on my own and learn by doing with a support system behind me. I did also enjoy our ODB outing event where we went bowling!Jaiden Lussier
Why did you come to Opus?
I chose Opus because the company and business culture matched my reason for entering construction in the first place. I grew up in a blue-collar family, with many family members in construction. My uncles (electricians) would often come home with stories of how the office would ignore the needs and experience of the field, so I entered construction with a mutual respect for both the field and office teams. My hope is to make the bridge between the two more collaborative and progressive. Opus encourages feedback from the field team on design, logistics, project setup, manpower, etc. and this leads to better mutual respect across the project. I love working for a company that strives towards the same goal as I do!
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc) and/or about your education.
Prior to Opus, I interned for Lockheed Martin Space facilities for two summers as a facilities construction intern focusing on TI work in workspaces. I also interned for a residential design-build company called Design Your Basement/Amazing Basement Creations for a year, working on custom basement designs and jobsite management. In between these internships, I attend Colorado State University studying Construction Management while working part time as a framer at Hobby Lobby.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
Everything! I particularly love that Opus does not treat me like an intern. I feel like I am given valuable tasks that give me great experience in project management, and I am given many opportunities for self-development. My favorite opportunities have been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity for Founder's Day, visiting a pre-fabrication shop for wood panel walls and attending a class called “One of the Guys: Women Leaders & Tokenism in Male-Dominated Environments" presented by Beth Duyvejonck. It is hard to pick just one highlight during my time with Opus, but most include being with my Denver Team.Tyler Markert
Why did you come to Opus?
I came to Opus because I wanted to be a part of a design-build company. I think the entire concept of design-build projects is super interesting, and I love the client interaction aspect of a Client Direct project.
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc) and/or about your education.
I have one semester remaining at Iowa State University where I am studying civil engineering. Over my internship, I have been on a warehouse construction project in a superintendent role.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship so far has been seeing the change in the site from a site with a building to a fully developed site.Ben Nelson
Why did you come to Opus?
I am a construction engineering student at Iowa State University and while I was scrolling through companies attending the career fair, Opus stood out to me because of the signs I have seen driving down the interstate. As the interview process went along, I really felt like the opportunity they gave me during my internship would be very beneficial with me generally thinking about the superintendent route, and I definitely made the right decision!
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc) and/or about your education.
My past work experience throughout my summers in between school have included pouring concrete, overseeing commercial roofing jobs with Hopkins Roofing, and my most recent internship with Civil Design Advantage (CDA) last summer. I have worked on a variety of projects, but working with Opus I am thrilled to witness the construction process from start to finish. Previously, I have been working as a subcontractor, only doing one a section of the job as a whole.
I graduated from Pella High School in 2019 and now at Iowa State pursuing a bachelor's degree in Construction Engineering.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship has to be the people I get to work with. It is an awesome feeling to get home from work every night and be excited to go to another day of work the next morning. Being a Project Intern in the field has given me the opportunity to see the progress of the project on a day-to-day basis. Getting to be in the conversations of the problem solving and on-site decision-making has been a huge highlight to my internship. I am grateful for the opportunity Opus has given me for the summer to experience these things.Caroline Ortman
Why did you come to Opus?
I chose Opus because every person I talked to was so welcoming and attentive that I felt comfortable throughout all my meetings.
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc) and/or about your education.
I currently attend Marquette University and just completed my second year of Civil Engineering undergrad.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship so far has been how welcoming and friendly everyone in the office has been.Jonathan Utley
Why did you come to Opus?
I first heard of Opus during my freshman year of college, as they were coming to the Iowa State Engineering Career Fair. I was doing research on companies that were attending, and Opus really stuck out to me. Their design-build process really intrigued me, and the company's values really aligned with my own. My interactions in interviews and career fairs with Opus personnel solidified that this was a place I wanted to work.
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc) and/or about your education.
After a summer was spent interning with the Army Corps of Engineers, I was lucky to get the opportunity to do a 7-month co-op with the Opus Des Moines branch. There, I got the opportunity to work on a multitude of different, unique projects that really allowed me to, even in my short time, get the full Opus experience. The next (this) summer I had the opportunity to join the Opus Denver team for a summer internship. While the location changed, the values and culture remained. At Opus, even as an intern, I feel like my opinion and thoughts are respected and valued.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship so far has been working on the Kalaco Apartment project out here in Denver, Colorado. Working on a seven-story apartment building at one of the busiest downtown Denver intersections has provided challenges that I feel have really improved my ability to contribute to a project. I have enjoyed being forced to think in new ways in how a building can be constructed that I have not had to before, and everyday there is an opportunity for growth in how to be a professional in the construction industry. I truly value my time at Opus.
***
Interested in an internship or permanent job with Opus? Find us at upcoming career fairs, learn more about careers at Opus and check out our open positions.
We'll be honest – our interns are that good, so we had to recognize some current and past ones on National Intern Day!
Back in 1994 – when the picture above was taken – Rich Kauffman, Tom Becker and Jeff Walker were fresh, young faces at Opus. Tom and Jeff had been interns/co-ops. Rich happened to be Jeff's roommate. After learning about Jeff's experience and an opportunity here, he joined Team Opus. Fast forward to today: Rich is Regional Vice President of Construction in Indy, Tom is President & CEO of Construction and Jeff is Director of Operations.
Interns at Opus receive mentorship, industry insights and true hands-on experience.
Now, let us introduce some of our current interns.
Liliana (Lily) D'Agostino
Project Intern | Chicago
Marquette University | Civil Engineering
Why did you come to Opus?I am currently a student at Marquette University, and Opus has done a lot with our school. I felt a community when I talked to Megan and Oscar, and I knew Opus would have a great work environment where you could also express your passions throughout different committees.
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc.) and/or about your education.
I am a junior at Marquette studying Civil Engineering. I graduated high school from Regina Dominican, an all-girls school in Wilmette. Regina has developed my sense of self and has sparked my passion for supporting women in the workplace.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The thing I have enjoyed most about my internship so far is being assigned responsibilities. I don't just watch the project managers do their job; I am actually allocated responsibilities to attempt on my own. While all the PMs have been available to help me with any questions I have, it feels good and is extremely helpful to actually do things on my own and learn by doing with a support system behind me. I did also enjoy our ODB outing event where we went bowling!
Jaiden Lussier
Project Intern | Denver
Colorado State University | Construction Management
Why did you come to Opus?I chose Opus because the company and business culture matched my reason for entering construction in the first place. I grew up in a blue-collar family, with many family members in construction. My uncles (electricians) would often come home with stories of how the office would ignore the needs and experience of the field, so I entered construction with a mutual respect for both the field and office teams. My hope is to make the bridge between the two more collaborative and progressive. Opus encourages feedback from the field team on design, logistics, project setup, manpower, etc. and this leads to better mutual respect across the project. I love working for a company that strives towards the same goal as I do!
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc) and/or about your education.
Prior to Opus, I interned for Lockheed Martin Space facilities for two summers as a facilities construction intern focusing on TI work in workspaces. I also interned for a residential design-build company called Design Your Basement/Amazing Basement Creations for a year, working on custom basement designs and jobsite management. In between these internships, I attend Colorado State University studying Construction Management while working part time as a framer at Hobby Lobby.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
Everything! I particularly love that Opus does not treat me like an intern. I feel like I am given valuable tasks that give me great experience in project management, and I am given many opportunities for self-development. My favorite opportunities have been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity for Founder's Day, visiting a pre-fabrication shop for wood panel walls and attending a class called “One of the Guys: Women Leaders & Tokenism in Male-Dominated Environments" presented by Beth Duyvejonck. It is hard to pick just one highlight during my time with Opus, but most include being with my Denver Team.
Tyler Markert
Project Intern | Des Moines
Iowa State University | Civil Engineering
Why did you come to Opus?I came to Opus because I wanted to be a part of a design-build company. I think the entire concept of design-build projects is super interesting, and I love the client interaction aspect of a Client Direct project.
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc) and/or about your education.
I have one semester remaining at Iowa State University where I am studying civil engineering. Over my internship, I have been on a warehouse construction project in a superintendent role.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship so far has been seeing the change in the site from a site with a building to a fully developed site.
Ben Nelson
Project Intern | Des Moines
Iowa State University | Construction Engineering
Why did you come to Opus?I am a construction engineering student at Iowa State University and while I was scrolling through companies attending the career fair, Opus stood out to me because of the signs I have seen driving down the interstate. As the interview process went along, I really felt like the opportunity they gave me during my internship would be very beneficial with me generally thinking about the superintendent route, and I definitely made the right decision!
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc) and/or about your education.
My past work experience throughout my summers in between school have included pouring concrete, overseeing commercial roofing jobs with Hopkins Roofing, and my most recent internship with Civil Design Advantage (CDA) last summer. I have worked on a variety of projects, but working with Opus I am thrilled to witness the construction process from start to finish. Previously, I have been working as a subcontractor, only doing one a section of the job as a whole.
I graduated from Pella High School in 2019 and now at Iowa State pursuing a bachelor's degree in Construction Engineering.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship has to be the people I get to work with. It is an awesome feeling to get home from work every night and be excited to go to another day of work the next morning. Being a Project Intern in the field has given me the opportunity to see the progress of the project on a day-to-day basis. Getting to be in the conversations of the problem solving and on-site decision-making has been a huge highlight to my internship. I am grateful for the opportunity Opus has given me for the summer to experience these things.
Caroline Ortman
Project Intern | Phoenix
Marquette University | Civil Engineering
Why did you come to Opus?I chose Opus because every person I talked to was so welcoming and attentive that I felt comfortable throughout all my meetings.
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc) and/or about your education.
I currently attend Marquette University and just completed my second year of Civil Engineering undergrad.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship so far has been how welcoming and friendly everyone in the office has been.
Jonathan Utley
Project Intern | Denver
Iowa State University
Why did you come to Opus?I first heard of Opus during my freshman year of college, as they were coming to the Iowa State Engineering Career Fair. I was doing research on companies that were attending, and Opus really stuck out to me. Their design-build process really intrigued me, and the company's values really aligned with my own. My interactions in interviews and career fairs with Opus personnel solidified that this was a place I wanted to work.
Tell us about your recent work experience (role, company, type of work, etc) and/or about your education.
After a summer was spent interning with the Army Corps of Engineers, I was lucky to get the opportunity to do a 7-month co-op with the Opus Des Moines branch. There, I got the opportunity to work on a multitude of different, unique projects that really allowed me to, even in my short time, get the full Opus experience. The next (this) summer I had the opportunity to join the Opus Denver team for a summer internship. While the location changed, the values and culture remained. At Opus, even as an intern, I feel like my opinion and thoughts are respected and valued.
What has been a highlight of your internship so far?
The highlight of my internship so far has been working on the Kalaco Apartment project out here in Denver, Colorado. Working on a seven-story apartment building at one of the busiest downtown Denver intersections has provided challenges that I feel have really improved my ability to contribute to a project. I have enjoyed being forced to think in new ways in how a building can be constructed that I have not had to before, and everyday there is an opportunity for growth in how to be a professional in the construction industry. I truly value my time at Opus.
***
Interested in an internship or permanent job with Opus? Find us at upcoming career fairs, learn more about careers at Opus and check out our open positions.