Nick Beale, a student at Virginia Tech, has spent the last three summers interning with W. M. Jordan, applying practical lessons from his college classes.
A rising senior, Nick is taking a unique approach to his studies in Commercial Development and Investment at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business.
“This coursework has significantly refined my understanding of the industry from pre-development to project closeout, and many aspects of commercial development coincide with construction,” said Beale.
Nick developed an interest in construction at an early age. He helped his grandfather renovate houses, where he not only learned basic construction but also discovered that he enjoyed working with his hands.
“My first year at Virginia Tech, we had a guest speaker, Tom Mills, a professor in the Virginia Tech Myers-Lawson School of Construction. Tom got me interested in learning more about construction. After taking one of his classes, I decided to pursue an internship in construction which helped lead me to W. M. Jordan!”
Nick’s first year as a WMJ Intern found him working alongside Director of Learning & Development and Lean Construction, Lauren Simone, in our Lean department.
“I had a very limited understanding of what Lean construction was when I started!” said Beale. “It turned out to be one of the best things for me to learn a lot about different aspects of the construction process as well as the company and how they all work together. I spent my first summer visiting a ton of different W. M. Jordan jobsites and was introduced to Hoylu, Lean Principles, and the Last Planner System that we use very frequently.”
Nick returned to Virginia Tech with a new enthusiasm for construction, where he added a few Building Construction classes to his Commercial Real Estate curriculum.
“I wanted to continue what I had started my first summer at W. M. Jordan, and was lucky enough to have Lauren bring me back as a Lean intern for a second year,” said Beale.
Year two saw Nick increase his responsibilities, from researching industry trends and developments, participating in Lean workshops, and helping coordinate Pre-Pull and Pull Plans for W.M. Jordan projects.
“My second year working in Lean allowed me to spread my wings a bit and put into action what I had learned so far,” said Beale. “One of my favorite things was helping to lead a Lean workshop for my fellow interns during our Intern Week.”
This year, Nick is working on our Liberty Live project in Smithfield, Virginia. Spending the majority of his time on the jobsite this summer has given him a different perspective on the construction process.
“So far this year, I have gotten to do a little bit of everything at Liberty Live. They were beginning their Lean implementation right when I got there, so it was cool to see everything I had learned in my first two summers here be used right in front of me! Coming into my third year I have a better understanding of how our projects work. I have gotten to expand my knowledge as well by attending and helping plan coordination meetings. Also, I get spend time helping our trade partners with their work in the field and assisting my project team with field reporting and transmitting submittals.”
The goal for our returning interns is to continue to build on the foundations they’ve established in previous years.
“One of the things I love about construction is that you are always learning,” said Beale. “There is always something new, always a chance to leave the jobsite with more knowledge than you started. Watching projects grow from nothing to a massive part of the landscape is part of what makes me enjoy the construction industry.”
Nick has certainly set himself up to be a successful construction professional after he graduates college. What advice would he have for younger students looking to make their mark in construction?
“Construction is just as much doing something as understanding why you are doing it. There aren’t dumb questions, so be sure to ask about something if you aren’t sure. I would also suggest getting exposure to multiple aspects of the business. I never would have thought about Lean construction but getting that experience has helped me learn so much about the business. Build your relationships as you go throughout school and your internships, a big circle will only help you in your career.”
We are proud of Nick's progress in his construction journey and cannot wait to see where his career takes him! An internship with W. M. Jordan Company continues to be one of the best ways to build a solid foundation for a career in construction.
If you are interested in learning more about the W. M. Jordan internship program, visit wmjordan.com/join-our-team/internships to see our upcoming career fair schedule, open internship positions and much more!
With our clients, partners, and community, W. M. Jordan strives for the relentless pursuit of excellence.
