Blog Entries

Internships are a great opportunity to gain real world professional experience before graduation. Each summer, Miron Construction welcomes a number of interns to work in all areas of our company. Every intern’s experience is unique. Rather than us tell you about it, we have invited fifteen interns to share their journeys on our blog over the next few months. In previous posts, we met John, Nick, and Alex. Today, we introduce Deanna.

DEANNA NELSON – PROJECT MANAGEMENT INTERN

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF.
I am Deanna Nelson. With three semesters left, I am a senior at Iowa State University and am majoring in construction engineering.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN INTERN WITH MIRON?
This is my first summer with Miron, as well as my first ever internship. I chose Miron because I have friends who have previously interned there, and they suggested I check out the company. Miron’s ability to self-perform many different areas of work is one thing I like about the company. For example, on the project site, I have been able to experience many facets of the industry, including concrete and concrete floors, miscellaneous CM material, hoisting/rigging, general trades, and steel erection.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION?
I grew up around construction. Both my grandpa and uncle on my mom’s side were carpenters for many years, and the house where my mom grew up was built by her family. However, it wasn’t until my ­freshman year of college — when I chose an engineering major — that I knew I wanted to have a career in construction.

WHAT IS THE COOLEST THING YOU HAVE LEARNED SO FAR THIS SUMMER?
One of the coolest things I learned this summer was how epoxy and anchor bolts work. I have been working on change-order pricing for Miron steel but was only guessing as to the time it takes to put an anchor bolt into concrete. To see the process in the field and hear the worker explain what was going on is extremely valuable.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR INTERNSHIP?
My favorite part of my internship has been coordinating the owner-supplied equipment-hoisting schedule through emails and meetings. After all the hard work from Miron employees and subcontractors, being able to see everything come to life makes all the planning worth it. For example, last week Miron assisted with the installation of a large evaporator worth over $1 million.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HARDEST PART OF YOUR INTERNSHIP?
The hardest part of my internship, by far, has been semantics and syntax. Being an engineering major, math and science come easily to me, but writing does not, even though it is also an important part of the job. Being able to draft a Request for Information (RFI), with the accurate components and discernment, has been challenging for me. However, third time is the charm! I recently wrote an RFI description that had very few errors.

DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR INTERNSHIP IS BETTER PREPARING YOU FOR THE FUTURE? IF SO, IN WHAT WAYS?
My internship is definitely preparing me for the future. I have learned a lot from simply watching and asking questions. I am a firm believer that not only understanding, but also having first-hand experience, makes you a better manager. During my internship, I have had the opportunity to try many different jobs. My hope is to learn where my talent and interests best fit within the industry, so I am certain of the path I want to take after graduation.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHER STUDENTS CONSIDERING A SIMILAR INTERNSHIP?
The advice that I would give to other students considering a similar internship would be to throw yourself into your work, and don’t be afraid to ask for more work. It’s okay to be curious and admit you don’t know everything, so ask questions! I also encourage you to shadow your coworkers to get to know them, their jobs, and the experience they bring to the team.

Thanks, Deanna. Check back later this week to meet another Miron intern who will be joining our blog for the summer.

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