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Intern Spotlight: Generations of Construction Professionals in Southwest Virginia

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Intern Spotlight: Generations of Construction Professionals in Southwest Virginia

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As WMJ’s 2020 Class of Summer Interns get ready for their next semester of school, we head to Virginia Tech to check in on our Holden Hall Renovation and Expansion, where intern Tyler Collins has spent the summer working alongside his father, Superintendent Jim Collins.

Tyler and his father Jim at Virginia Tech’s Holden Hall Renovation and Expansion.

Tyler, who is going into his senior year at Radford University, previously worked out of our Newport News office, assisting on SCOT Center, WMJ Hangar and Hampton Roads Academy projects.

At Holden Hall, Tyler’s responsibilities have ranged from working on safety checks, linking virtual drawings to software and assisting Project Manager Julian Blazier and Project Engineer Auggie Conte with whatever they need help with. Changing from working in the office to out in the field has been a highlight of Tyler’s summer. “I enjoy being on site this summer,” said Tyler. “Working in the role of a PE (Project Engineer), it is a lot easier to see what makes sense in the project, and see the result of the work that is done in the office.”

Despite being on the same job-site, Tyler and Jim do not spend much time working together. “I spend most of my time working with the field teams,” said Jim. “Tyler works a lot with Julian and Auggie, but if he ever has a question for me I try to help him out where I can.”

“I have tried to stay out of Tyler’s development at W. M. Jordan,” said Jim. “Previously I have requested for us to not be on the same job, I want him to have his own experience. However, this summer it has been very rewarding to see Tyler’s growth, and to watch him excel.”

Working with family members is nothing new to Jim and Tyler. Tyler’s Grandfather, Jimmy, spent 38 years with W. M. Jordan Company as a General Superintendent before he retired.

One thing is for sure, as Tyler returns to school to finish up his undergraduate career, he will continue to have support from his WMJ family; both immediate and extended!