Meet Our Construction Management Interns
An internship with Summit Design + Build is a great opportunity for college students to learn first-hand what a career in construction is all about! Our internship program is designed so that our interns gain the most valuable, impactful experience while having more fun, in the hopes that they come back to grow their careers with us. From day one our interns are immersed in our active construction projects, working side-by-side with our project managers, project engineers, estimators, and superintendents. Over the course of their internship, Summit Design + Build interns also get to conduct multiple site visits followed by intern team lunches at Chicago’s hottest spots. Interns also participate in intern happy hours, lunch and learns, Summit social gatherings and Summit team-building events!
Get to Know Our Interns
This summer Summit Design + Build is excited to have three interns on board, Ben Kossack (Majoring in Civil Engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign), Jake Duerr (Majoring in Finance at University of Dayton) and Michael Murray (Majoring in Construction Management at Purdue University). We sat down with our interns to learn what intrigues them about the construction industry, what makes them thrive and what their future construction goals are.
Ben Kossack – University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
What interests you about the construction industry?
Ben: “I find it interesting just how adaptive the industry is becoming with all the new tech that is constantly being created.”
Jake: “The idea of buildings/complexes being built from the ground up. I have also grown up in the construction industry, but at a smaller scale because of my dad. He had taken me to his renovation projects ever since I was younger and has actually used me to demo the houses he was working on. I very much enjoy this side of the industry a lot more than being part of the demo side.”
Michael: “How diverse it is and how every project has its different challenges to face.”
What are you most excited about for this internship?
Ben: “I’m very excited to be working on a project as it is starting out (Stadium Lofts), going from seeing almost nothing on the ground to having a new structure there should be really cool.”
Jake: “I am most excited to work on a variety of different projects awarded to Summit and to visit them in person. I am also excited to learn from the project managers and project engineers that work at the company.”
Michael: “To learn firsthand about the industry and get more hands-on experience.”
What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
Ben: “Funny, enthusiastic and hardworking”
Jake: “Hardworking, determined, curious”
Michael: “Outgoing, nice, careful”
What are your hobbies/interests?
Ben: “I like to play video games, play tennis and get together with my friends”
Jake: “Fantasy Football (even though I am very bad at it), video games, White Sox baseball, rugby, concerts (especially early 2000’s metal) and pickup Basketball”
Michael: “Fishing and being with friends”
Cubs or White Sox?
Ben: “Cubs everyday”
Jake: “White Sox”
Michael: “WHITE SOX!”
Jake Duerr – University of Dayton
Michael Murray – Purdue University
What is your favorite Chicago summer activity?
Ben: “Probably going out and trying all the different things the city has to offer.”
Jake: “Going to White Sox games at Guaranteed Rate Field.”
Michael: “The beach.”
If you woke up as the President of Summit DB, what would be the first thing you would do?
Ben: “Everything in my power to, if it happens, secure the bid for the Chicago Bears new stadium in Arlington Heights.”
If you could have a superpower, what would you pick and why?
Ben: “Flying, it would make getting around so much easier.”
Michael: “To fly, can get places fast and it’s just cool.”
If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?
Ben: “Kevin James”
Jake: “I would like to see Ryan Gosling play the lead role because he is one of my favorite actors and co-stars in my #1 movie of all time, “The Nice Guys.” He is surprisingly funny as well.”
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Ben: “Probably “Life is a highway” because the movie Cars is great.”
What would be your dream construction project?
Ben: “I would love to work on a sports stadium of some kind.”
Jake: “Working on the Chicago Bears new football stadium at the old Arlington Racetrack.”
Michael: “Some type of skyscraper or a neat art museum.”
What animal would you compare yourself to and why?
Ben: “Probably a penguin, mostly because my friends for the longest time compared me to one.”
What do you hope to do post-graduation?
Ben: “I hope to secure a job in either the construction management or structural engineering field.”
Jake: “I hope to work in construction management focusing on cost estimation or project management.”
Michael: “Work in the construction industry.”
Learn More About Our Intern Program
It’s going to be a great summer with Summit’s interns in the office! We love the energy they bring and we love seeing them learn first-hand what it’s really like to work in the industry.
Are you interested in an internship with Summit Design + Build? Check out our internship program page to learn more and to apply for open opportunities.
