Third-year W. M. Jordan intern Robbie Morgan proves the value of consistency in a construction internship.
A rising senior in the Virginia Tech Myers-Lawson School of Construction, Robbie’s first summer with W. M. Jordan was spent at our now-open Chesapeake Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), where he began to learn the ins and outs of working on a construction jobsite. He spent time learning in the field, coordinating with our trade partners, and lending a hand wherever an extra set of hands was needed. Last summer, Robbie worked on our Atlantic Park jobsite in Virginia Beach, where he continued to gain construction knowledge, completing RFIs, learning Project Management tasks, leading jobsite tours, and working closely with WMJ superintendents John Coupland and Josh Rivas. This year, Robbie returns to Atlantic Park to assist with the final stages of the project, providing him with exposure to a new phase of the project life cycle.
“Every summer with W. M. Jordan has allowed me to gain significantly more practical knowledge compared to the courses I take in school,” said Morgan. “Sticking with one company throughout college has allowed me to connect with more people in the company, learn from the amazing W. M. Jordan company culture, and see multiple phases of a project that I have helped with.”
Initially interested in a career in cybersecurity, Robbie changed his mind after a semester of courses, when he went back to his hometown of Virginia Beach for Thanksgiving break and heard about the Atlantic Park Project.
“I quickly learned that I was not as interested in cybersecurity as I initially thought. When I learned about a surf park being built in my hometown, I felt like a kid learning Disney World was moving in next door. I knew I wanted to be involved in such a landmark project that happened to be centered around my favorite hobby.”
Realizing construction may be the career for him, Robbie reached out to W. M. Jordan’s Employee Engagement Manager Sydney Galoozis, met our team at Virginia Tech’s Construction Career Fair, and joined us that summer.
“Working at CBOC my first summer was a great introduction to construction. I learned a ton from everyone on the site, got to understand W. M. Jordan’s culture and learn how to work with our trade partners. This experience proved to be extremely valuable and allowed me to apply that knowledge when I moved to Atlantic Park, which is a much larger scale project.”
Robbie credits many of the W. M. Jordan team he has worked with for helping build his confidence and knowledge in the industry.
“The team at W. M. Jordan is very supportive, making sure interns are learning and understand what they are doing. Chris West, Josh Rivas, Justin Padgett, Cap League and Kevin Kernoodle were amazing, investing their time and energy into teaching me about the industry. I am also so grateful to W. M. Jordan’s Director of Learning & Development and Lean Construction, Lauren Simone, for taking the time to tell me about W. M. Jordan Company and all the possibilities for me in a career in construction.”
Three summers of learning and growth have given Robbie some perspective on the value of chasing your goals and setting yourself up for success after college.
“If you are interested in construction as a career, an internship is a good way to learn what you like,” said Morgan. “I would encourage everyone with a construction internship to lean into learning construction basics and applying them outside of work. Build something for your parents or your significant other or help fix something around the house. Don’t be afraid to ask trade partners for advice on your own projects. We are fortunate to work with some of the best tradespeople in the region. Learning from them helps improve your construction knowledge and builds meaningful relationships. Applying construction principles to things in your everyday life helps reinforce what you learn and prepares you to ask about what you do not know.”
Robbie’s growth and success over the years with WMJ are a testament to the value of internships and W. M. Jordan’s commitment to preparing the next generation of construction professionals for success. We look forward to seeing what Robbie’s future holds as he approaches the next stage of his career in construction!
With our clients, partners, and community, W. M. Jordan strives for the relentless pursuit of excellence.
