Rising Stars in Construction Look Back At Their Summer on Team OPC

Every year, Lakeside Alliance invites some of the brightest rising stars in the industry to intern with us for the summer. This year’s cohort of interns brought diverse skills sets and ambitions to the job, and cultivated their own unique experiences as part of the team building the Obama Presidential Center. But there’s one thing they all agreed on – nothing beats experiencing the world of construction up close and in person. Through the guidance of their mentors, they gained an understanding of what truly motivates them and finished the summer with confidence that they’re on the right track.

In their own words, Kelli Caruvana, Hakeem Ahmad, Marshall Ellis, Julian Mejia, and Raphael Cardamone explain why they are pursuing careers in construction, what they’ve learned during their internship, and what being a part of this historic project has meant to them.

How did you decide what you wanted to study?

Kelli: I worked for the American Red Cross and loved what I did. I wanted to make a difference in people's lives. Working in safety allows me to make sure workers go home to their families at the end of the day.

Raphael: I wanted to find a dynamic and growing industry where I could be creative and work with people. What really sold me on construction management is that there are many career avenues to take and many different opportunities.

Julian: I was in between computer science and civil engineering. I chose civil engineering, because I enjoy working on a job site and not having to sit behind a computer the whole day.

What interests you about the construction industry?

Raphael: The industry is growing and changing quickly. This includes the technology and its applications, the culture and workforce, and the types of structures being built.

Hakeem: I enjoy the building of places where different communities can interact. I have a vested interest in the sustainability of new and pre-existing projects.

Julian: Being outside and seeing the progression of a building being built every day.

Describe the focus of your internship:

Raphael: Supporting the PE concrete team in ensuring the project scope is delivered with a high quality and on schedule.

Hakeem: I work with the mechanical and electrical equipment for OPC. I work with David and Dan in the field every now and then on the job site.

Marshall: Learning the job assignments of an engineer and how they correspond with the field work.

What elements of the project excite or intrigue you most? Why?

Raphael: The complexity of the project, not just within my scope but the coordination required with many team members on a daily basis to ensure the entire scope is being addressed. This makes for a fast-paced, challenging and collaborative work environment. Being new in the industry, I feel lucky to not only be working on such a historic project, but also one as complex as this to be able to learn through my experience.

Marshall: The curtain wall, because it’s the least known part of construction in general. Everyone has seen drywall and possibly even studs. But exterior work is such a mystery.

Julian: How this building is part of history.

Describe a typical day for you on the job site.

Kelli: I have a 6 a.m. meeting with the Project Environment, Health and Safety Manager to see if there is anything specific he needs done for the day. Then at 7 a.m., I take part in huddle, stretch and flex, then do Turner University training or work on the Safety Standard Visual Manual. Before lunch, I go on a safety walk, then go on another one or two safety walks in the afternoon and continue to do any tasks asked of me, including computer work.

Raphael: A typical day starts in the morning organizing and updating the concrete visual task board for the day. I then attend the stretch and flex where safety and logistics concerns and updates are shared, as well as the construction activities for the day. Then my attention goes to assisting my project engineer and manager in whatever tasks need to be accomplished. This usually consists of tracking submittals and ensuring that site comprehensive drawings are completed to show all trades scopes are included and can function independently.

What was on your internship “bucket list” for the summer?

Kelli: I was able to get the competencies done for my graduate program, which was easier than I thought it would be. I also got to meet a lot of interesting people and work with them at different work sites.

Raphael: To continue gaining knowledge of means and methods and what will be required of me in the next steps of my career. Working for Lakeside Alliance to build a historic community space was a bucket list item in itself. I got more hands-on experience in complex building and engineering and used technology that I previously had only heard of or studied in school.

Marshall: To be able to take information from a subcontractor meeting and fully understand how it is executed in the field. Once I am fluid in the transition of one scope, the basics can be applied to any other scope.

What advice would you give to other young people considering pursuing a career in construction?

Kelli: If you're given the opportunity, go out in the field and see and do as much as you can. Hands-on experience teaches you more than anything you could ever learn on a computer or in the classroom.

Raphael: Do not be overwhelmed, ask questions, and take each day as an opportunity.

What did this internship mean to you professionally, and what did it mean to you personally?

Kelli: This internship gives me the field experience I need in order to continue on from intern to my career in safety. It has helped me grow as a safety professional and as a person overall.

Raphael: Professionally, this is an opportunity to expand my construction, engineering, architecture and project management skills, and to forge relationships in the industry and observe as much as possible about how the industry functions. Personally, this is an opportunity that is the next step in my career that marks an important transition from school to my profession. I feel this summer I was able to take the next step and truly prepare myself as a professional to enter the industry. This internship offered me insight into what a diverse and equitable workforce looks like, and how much I can benefit from existing in that system.

Hakeem: It’s a great opportunity to work with smart people and the chance to look at many different aspects of construction. It is probably going to be my favorite community space out of all the projects I have worked on, and I will be able to bring my family out to see the finished space. I am looking forward to seeing how other families and people enjoy the space and the president’s vision.

Marshall: Professionally, surely the networking is an extreme gain for me. Personally, I will take the things I learn here and leverage them to my overall competence as a person. The skills that I learn here will be used to propel myself professionally.

What excites you most about being a part of the historic Obama Presidential Center project?

Raphael: This is a historic landmark that not only will represent one of the most influential presidents of our nation, but also will be a beacon for innovation on the historic South Side. I am proud to be able to be a small part of building this structure that will serve the people of Chicago.

Hakeem: Seeing the amount of diversity in the Chicago workforce.

Julian: This is one of the biggest jobs in the city and it allows me to gain an understanding of construction on a huge scale.

Marshall: The purpose the finished property will serve. I am helping to build something that will give an entire community that I identify with a forward push.