Intern Spotlight: Erich Hene

How did you find out about B&A’s internship experience?

I found out about this program through a friend of my father who has done a lot of work with Bulley & Andrews (B&A). She spoke very highly of the internship program but also about the people at B&A, which is what made me so interested.

How were you mentored during this internship?

Both the project manager and superintendent at my project took me under their wing to show me the ins and outs of a project. Both of my mentors gave me tons of help, however, they let me learn and solve problems on my own, which led to the most satisfaction for myself.

Was the internship experience different than what you thought it would be?

Going into this internship I assumed that I would be in the office everyday sitting at a computer. I couldn’t have been more wrong. By day two, I was already on-site meeting the team and interacting with our subcontractors. By the end of that week I was submitting RFI’s and attending OAC meetings; it was a great feeling being able to contribute from day one.

What were some challenges you had to overcome while interning?

Halfway through the summer, we lost a member of our team that I worked closely with. While it was sad to see him go, it gave me the opportunity to work more with the superintendent, where I learned even more about what running a project is really about.

What is your favorite memory interning at B&A?

My favorite memory of this summer was the Notre Dame site visit. We traveled to South Bend to check several of our on-going and completed projects on campus. We had the opportunity to see what all goes into building a prestigious university. My favorite part of this whole trip was being able to spend the day with my fellows interns and learn more about them.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a future intern?

Say yes! Say yes to site visits, training, and any other opportunities to learn. When I first started I wasn’t comfortable with many parts of the job, but that quickly changed by saying yes and immersing myself in the project.

What is your #1 takeaway from this experience?

My biggest takeaway from this summer is a newfound interest in construction. Prior to this internship, I had zero experience with construction and didn’t really know what all was involved. I plan on getting into the world of construction after my graduation despite it not even being on my radar just six months ago.