Intern Program Benefits Both Students and DPR Teams

Andrew Booker, a project engineer intern in DPR’s Bay Area region, hoped to learn something about American construction practices when he swapped a summer in his native England for one spent working first in the Redwood City office and later, on a Pleasanton jobsite. He learned those practices-and much more-this past summer, gaining invaluable hands-on field experience that he equates to at least a year of university study.

Booker is one of 21 project engineer and office interns who provided support to DPR’s Bay Area project teams and offices during summer of 2001 by doing everything from preparing submittals to checking schedule and materials status with subcontractors and vendors, among numerous other responsibilities.

For Ashanti Branch, who oversees the Bay Area intern program, the goal is to give interns real responsibilities and serious challenges, creating an enriching experience that goes well beyond just an “entry on the resume.” The internship program is also expected to assist in DPR’s growing staffing needs, providing a bevy of potential future employees who are already versed in DPR’s approach to business.

Since the Bay Area region hosted its first eight interns three years ago, the program has grown both in size and substance. Now there are not only “college champions” who recruit the interns at selected universities, but also “intern champions” who assist and support interns in each office.

Various team-building exercises have been incorporated into the program, including a “kick-off” meeting in June, “decompression day” in July and a “kick-out” meeting in August, when each intern gives a five-minute presentation on his or her summer experience at DPR.

While Booker says the opportunity to tour different DPR jobsites as well as to take several in-house classes were beneficial, it was the hands-on responsibility-and respect-in the field that made his internship particularly rewarding. “You don’t feel like you’re just being humored,” he comments. “You’re made to feel like you’re a valued part of the team.”