Happy National Intern Day! This summer, we had 20 amazing interns join Commodore across 18 different teams. Spending time in the field, creating virtual construction plans, and managing safety on project sites are just a few examples of the important skills they learned and applied. We asked a few interns to share their biggest takeaways from their summer at Commodore, and here’s what they said!

Hana Marshall, a rising senior at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, joined the Virtual Design Construction (VDC) team, where her primary project was an interior corporate fit-out for BNY Melon at One Boston Place. To create an accurate 3D virtual model used in the preconstruction phase, she assisted in meetings with trade partners, engineers, and project managers to support clash detection and identify spatial conflicts. She also participated in field investigations to document existing building conditions.

Hana made her way to Commodore after her friends Ellie Fields, a current Project Engineer, spoke highly of her experience with her friendly and intelligent construction professionals. This resonated with Hana, as a culture fit was an important consideration when she chose where to work. “As I learn the industry, surrounding myself with people who are knowledgeable about construction and are willing to lend a helping hand was essential.”

As an Architectural Engineering major, Hana works with theoretical construction projects in many of her classes. Her favorite part about working for Commodore is being able to see real construction projects take shape. She enjoyed her summer so much that she’s even considering returning to construction management post-graduation.

“I found the work I’m doing to be really interesting,” she said. “It’s connected what I’m doing in school to a non-hypothetical outcome, which has been awesome to see.”

Brody Baker, an intern within Commodore’s Commercial group, was on-site during our interview. He echoed Hana’s thoughts about the excitement of being part of tangible projects during his internship.

“Not everyone can say they build the projects we do,” Brody said. “Having a connection to something that serves a purpose of improving lives is really a driving factor for me.”

Brody’s work this summer was focused on the Montachusett Veteran’s Outreach Center in Winchendon, Massachusetts. Helping the superintendent and assistant project manager, working through procurement items, and assisting with site observation and walkthroughs are some of the ways Brody made an impact on the MVOC project.

His biggest takeaway from the summer can be summarized in a few words: Reactions are everything. The unpredictability of a job site is constant; what matters is the efficiency and care of one’s response.

“Learning to mitigate risk has really been key. If you can see the issue before it happens, progress will continue,” Brody said.

Graduating in 2028 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Business Administration major and Psychology minor, Brody plans to take what he’s learned at Commodore with him into a career in construction.

Matt Sheehan, a QA/QC and Field Operations intern, agreed that what he learned at Commodore this summer was invaluable. This year was Matt’s second summer with us, with his first year primarily focused on project engineering work for a Corporate Interior renovation project in Boston.

“I came back to Commodore because they pushed me to take every opportunity to grow,” he said. This year, Matt spent his time both in the field and with QA/QC group, which included helping coordinate and schedule subcontractor work. He learned first-hand just how vital quality assurance is to the success of a project.

Matt plans to stay in construction full-time after he graduates from Purdue University in 2028. He sees a potential fit in both field and in-office work, so he’ll take the next two years to figure out which to pursue. “Commodore is a great place for anyone looking to learn the industry because they allow you to take on new opportunities,” he said. “They truly care about the growth of the interns.

Rowan Dillon joined the Safety team this summer, and she’s been hard at work supporting the implementation of Commodore’s rigorous safety protocols in the field. Rowan is pursuing a degree from Mass Maritime Academy in Emergency Management, which focuses on crisis situations. She was able to learn more about everyday tools that make job sites safer for workers. “My biggest takeaway is combining what I know about emergency management with daily safety protocol on a construction site.”

Rowan said she really enjoyed Commodore’s emphasis on community. “I walk into the office once every two weeks after being on-site and people still know my name.”

Commodore’s Director of Safety Kevin Gomes said Rowan has been a pleasure to work with. “She has done a wonderful job of integrating with the team and becoming a valuable team member.” He commended her ability to be resourceful, curious, and engaged with her work in the field.

“I look forward to seeing where her career takes her!”