Level Up: Focusing On Our Future

We are excited to announce the launch of our Level Up Internship Program. This program aims to broaden our interns’ understanding of the construction industry, give them access to leaders within our organization, and provide networking opportunities with peers and industry partners. Our goal is for the interns to get the most out of their experience here at ESS, and we look forward to building and expanding this program in years to come.

In an effort to elevate the ESS intern experience, we held our first-ever Level Up Live event on June 15th. During this casual half-day event, interns were invited to meet at Project Armadillo where team members Curtis Shuman, Brian Burks, Clint Boley, and Tyler Grotewiel shared the process of building a project from estimation to execution. They explained all of the different (and surprising) factors that are considered throughout a project’s duration. The second half of the afternoon took the interns to the Columbia Shop and Yard where they were introduced to ESS executives and the workforce development team. They encouraged interns to experience all they could within the variety of jobs that our company has to offer and to use this opportunity to take their career path a level up.

From watching big iron in action and learning about the legacy of ESS, to competing in a trivia challenge – our interns were able to enhance their mentorship experience.

ESS would like to send a special thank you to our 2020 interns. We are a better company because of your fresh ideas, your enthusiasm and eagerness, and the support you have provided both in the field and the office. We see you, and we appreciate you.

Avery Bell
Accounting + Job Cost Intern
The University of Missouri, Nuclear Medicine

What are three things you want to get out of this internship?
Even though I am not pursuing a degree that directly relates to this field, I think this experience will help me with my future career. I’ve been able to gain experience in working as a team to communicate and coordinate with others. I also appreciate the exactness of the work that I have been asked to do because it will help me to continue doing precise work in the future. Lastly, I will take away the compassion and generosity that is shared in the ESS building. I’d like to carry that into my future work as well because it is so nice to have coworkers that are always willing to give a helping hand and brighten your day.

If you were a professional baseball or softball player, what would you choose for your walk-up song?
Somethin’ Bad by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood

What is your spirit animal? Why?
A cat…I love taking naps.

Giffory Dew
Surveying Intern
The University of Central Missouri, Construction Management

If you started a food truck, what would you serve? And name your truck.
Mexican Food – Gifs Bi*chin’ Burritos and more

If you could build a bridge from here to anywhere, what would the destination be and why?
The moon. I hear there is a lot of money in the minerals on the moon. I’d mine it and fill that bridge with haul trucks, 24/7

Bryar Delashmutt
Quality Control Intern
State Technical College of Missouri, Civil Engineering

If you could play any sport professionally, what would it be and why?
Shooting sports. I have a passion for shooting.

If we hooked your favorite playlist up to the office speakers, what would the first song to play be?
Bottles and Bibles by Tyler Childers.

Cameron Furbeck
Job Cost + DOT Intern
The University of Missouri, Economics and Political Science

What is something unique that you are passionate about?
Arabic! I’ve been taking Arabic classes at Mizzou for the past two years and have gotten really into the phonetics and sentence structure. Arabic is really complex and cool to study and I’m really grateful I’ve had the opportunity to do so.

Would you rather receive a Grammy, an Academy Award, or an Olympic gold medal? And why?
I feel like it would be cool to win an Academy Award for best costume design. I love the behind the scenes stuff, and I always notice in movies when the costumes are really creative and amazing. A costume can tell a lot about a character, and I feel like people that work on that for movies have to be insanely talented.

Taylor Gillis
Human Resource Intern
Rock Bridge High School, Columbia MO

If we hooked your favorite playlist up to the office speakers, what would the first song to play be?
Does to Me by Luke Combs and Eric Church

If you could steal credit for any great piece of art, film, book, song, etc., what would it be and why?
Claude Monet’s Impression Sunrise because it is one of my favorite paintings.

Cleyton Gracie
Heavy Equipment Operator/Laborer
Southeast Missouri State University, Construction Management

If we hooked your favorite playlist up to the office speakers, what would the first song to play be?
Any song by Cody Jinks

If you could play any sport professionally, what would it be and why?
Definitely golf, then I could embarrass my dad on the course

Emma Hoover
Human Resources Intern
Central Methodist University, Nursing

If we hooked your favorite playlist up to the office speakers, what would the first song to play be?
Bohemian Rhapsody

If you could steal credit for any great piece of art, film, book, song, etc., what would it be and why?
The book ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’. It is my all-time favorite book. t’s a very good mix of relatability, and non-relatable moments.

Madelyn Jones
Marketing + Communications Intern
The University of Missouri, Fine Arts Major with an Emphasis on Graphic Design

What is something unique that you are passionate about?
I love to skydive.

Who is your favorite person that you’ve met at ESS so far and why?
I have met so many amazing people while working at ESS. I cannot choose my favorite. Michell Shelton Angie Regan, Angie Richardson, and Caitlyn Cook have been wonderful mentors to me. I can never thank them enough for how much they have done for me. They inspire me every day and are truly amazing people.

Lathan Kerans
Project Management/Estimating Intern
Missouri State University, Construction Management

What has been your funniest moment at work?
When Kane Thompson’s footie pajama picture started trending in the office.

If we hooked your favorite playlist up to the office speakers, what would the first song to play be?
Whiskey Glasses by Morgan Wallen

Hadley Oehlert
Marketing + Communications Intern
The University of Kansas, Strategic Communications and Minor in Film and Media Studies

Why did you choose to intern at ESS?
I have been interested in advertising as a career for a long time. I had heard working on the client-side offers more room to grow. I wanted an experience where I could learn a wide array of skills that could enhance the career I hope to have.

If you could steal credit for any great piece of art, film, book, song, etc., what would it be and why?
I have a nauseating obsession with Wes Anderson films. I have rewatched The Royal Tenenbaums and the Grand Budapest Hotel more times than I could count. Ideally, I would exist in a Wes Anderson film.

Haley Paulson
Marketing + Communications Intern
Evangel University, Bible Studies with a Minor in Spanish, Greek and Management

If you could play any sport professionally, what would it be and why?
Soccer. I play soccer currently for Evangel University and a friend is currently going through the process of going pro and it seems really cool.

If you could steal credit for any great piece of art, film, book, song, etc., what would it be and why?
I would be the person who designed the Eiffel Tower.

Colton Ready
Surveying Intern
State Technical College of Missouri, Design Drafting + Civil Engineering Intern

Why did you choose to work at ESS?
I heard about the opportunity from one of my instructors and talked to some of the people I knew that worked for ESS and decided to apply after hearing nothing but good things.

What is something unique that you are passionate about?
I am passionate about seeing something through from the beginning to the end. I like the feeling of satisfaction after a project is complete.

Tanner Schmidt
Heavy Equipment Operator/Laborer
Pittsburgh State University, Construction Management

Who is your favorite person that you have met at ESS so far and why?
Alex Eskridge because we have a lot in common and similar goals for the future. He is an easy guy to ask questions of and get advice from.

If we hooked your favorite playlist up to the office speakers, what would the first song to play be?
Horses are faster by Ian Munsick

John Teter
GPS + Estimating Intern
Missouri S&T, Civil Engineering

What has been your funniest moment at work?
Getting the surveying buggy stuck in the mud.

If you started a food truck, what would you serve? And name your truck.
Teter Tot’s Tater Tots

Joshua Turner
Surveying Intern
The University of Central Missouri, Construction Management

What are three things you hope to get out of this internship?
I hope to learn more about how all the software works. I’m hoping to meet new people and create new relationships. Lastly, I hope to gain more knowledge on how to manage a project.

Who is your favorite person that you have met at ESS so far and why?
Garrell Gardner, he’s got a great sense of humor.