Empowering Interns at Otak – Perspectives from Future Designers
Skills in the AEC industry are among some of the most technical in the American workforce, and fostering those abilities in the next generation of professionals is critical to the future of our built environment. Future designers need to have the tools to learn practically and grow organically so they are equipped for success when it comes time to earn their license.
Internships are among the best ways Otak can provide our expertise as a learning experience – empowering young people looking to break into design with real world know-how, so they feel not only confident in their passion but also determined to make their mark on the world and how we experience it. This is what’s at the core of our Summer Internship Program.
In this piece, we delve into the heart of Otak’s Internship Program to explore what it is, its unique offerings, and hear directly from current and past interns about the impact it’s made on emerging professionals from across our offices!
Laying the Foundation
The Summer Internship Program at Otak serves as the launchpad for those seeking to pursue a career in the fields of engineering, architecture, and design in the marketing, planning, and construction project management sectors. As part of a greater industry practice, the program aims to create consistency of experience for interns, regardless of their individual backgrounds or interests. It embraces each intern wherever they are in their journey, providing a wealth of knowledge and skills that lay the foundations for a successful career for years to come.
An effort that evolved across Otak’s various departments over the last two years, the goal of the program became to nurture a pipeline of talent. The decision was made to structure the program around a “One Otak” approach to nurturing talent that would be consistent across our practice areas.
Our interns are able to get out in the field as soon as they can – contributing directly to problem solving on the project site while building real-world skills for their future careers.
Meet Our Summer Interns!
With a total of eight interns for the summer – we’re sharing perspectives on their experiences so far and what makes their early work meaningful to them:
Thomas Jacobsen, Transportation & Infrastructure (Louisville)
Thomas is a student at the University of Colorado – Boulder, pursuing his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with a minor in Business. He has skills in Civil 3D and coding in C++ and Java, along with a CSWA Solidworks certification in Mechanical Design. In addition to his civil engineering background, Thomas also has experience working as a soccer referee for the U.S. Soccer Federation.
“The most interesting thing I’ve worked on is a project for a multi-use trail in Aspen that had many interesting features. It was cool to see how certain obstacles were overcome to create an impactful project that will benefit the residents of Aspen.”
Javier Buenrostro, Marketing (Portland)
Javier is a marketing student at the University of Portland. He has experience in a variety of different industries including healthcare and retail. He is skilled in Adobe suite, Canva, and Microsoft office. Javier has worked on projects that span brand identity design, product development, and UX design, enhancing user experiences and optimizing product functionality. Additional experience includes working on marketing campaigns to draw brand/product awareness and achieve business objectives.
“The most interesting thing I’ve had the opportunity to work on was the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME) conference. It was an incredibly rewarding experience as I got to attend and represent Otak. What made it so special was the cause of inclusion it supported, which I deeply resonate with.”
Davis Brandt, PMCM & Owner’s Representative (Portland)
Davis is an Architectural Engineering student at Oregon State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree. He has an interest in design and construction. He has experience using software including Microsoft Office, AutoCAD and Bluebeam Revu. He has a passion for math and problem solving that has led him to choose engineering as a career path.
“I got to observe the process of a modular getting delivered to an elementary school which is simply just a portable classroom. I thought it was so neat because they have to make a pre-built foundation for the modular, and from there they have to connect all of the electrical and plumbing lines back to the school’s main building.”
Chiara Roskelley, PMCM & Owner’s Representative (Portland)
Chiara is a student at Oregon State University pursing an Architectural Engineering Bachelor’s degree. She is a current member of the Oregon Army National Guard. Chiara is an effective communicator and has held several leadership positions in the military for BCT and AIT. She has experience working for Linn County Road Department helping in county road marking and sign fabrication.
Isaac Parker, Structural Engineering (Vancouver)
Isaac is a student at Oregon State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He is skilled in technical writing, computer-aided design and structural analysis program. Isaac has experience tutoring various disciplines including writing, engineering classes, and college access programs. He became interested in Otak when he learned about the company’s sustainable and equitable practices in structural design which deeply resonated with him.
“The most interesting thing I have gotten to work on so far is the Clark County Railroad Bridge repair project. It has been interesting getting to inspect the bridge and help out with wetland delineation.”
Samantha Cornejo, Planning and Landscape Architecture (Redmond)
Samantha is a student at the University of Washington, Seattle, working on her Master of Urban Planning. Samantha has experience in planning research, data entry, code compliance, and editing agenda reports. She is skilled in QGIS, quantitative and qualitative research, and Adobe Illustrator.
Brendan Wedderspoon, Planning and Landscape Architecture (Redmond)
Brendan earned his Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Boise State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Urban Planning at The University of Washington, Seattle. Brendan has skills in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Illustrator, and GIS programs including arcMap, and ArcGIS Pro. He has previous GIS and planning intern experience which allowed to work on LiMAr maps, mapbooks, contourmaps, and reviewing land use permits.
“The most interesting project that I’ve been a part of has been our partnership with the City of SeaTac to hold public engagement meetings about updates and changes to their Airport City Center District plan. I’ve been able to tackle all manner of tasks which are making me use a wide variety of skills!”
Alex Brzezinski, Transportation & Infrastructure (Redmond)
Alex is a student at the University of Washington, Seattle, pursuing his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He has skills in the Microsoft Office Suite and AutoCAD. In addition to his civil engineering background, Alex has experience working as a basketball coach for the Home Court of Woodinville.
“The most interesting project I’ve worked on so far is the Redmond Central Connector project – construction is happening right across the road from the office. I got to attend a site meeting where all of the construction entities met to discuss some construction challenges and I appreciated getting to witness how so many groups collaborate to solve problems.“
Guidance and Multidisciplinary Exposure
One of the program’s unique strengths lies in its emphasis on mentorship. Unlike typical internships where supervisors may serve as mentors, Otak offers a totally holistic guidance system where interns are paired with experienced professionals from different practice areas. This multidisciplinary approach is facilitated by Otak’s size and structure, allowing interns to gain diverse exposure and discover their true passions through experimentation and hands-on experiences.
Throughout the internship, Otak strives to give its interns the best possible experience. Leaders from various practice areas present to interns regularly, offering career guidance, self-development opportunities, and professional brand-building insights – ensuring that each intern is equipped with the necessary tools to thrive in their chosen craft.
The Unique Otak Experience
Otak’s Internship Program differentiator lies in its two key factors – the immersive expertise sessions offered to interns, and interdisciplinary mentorship from the diverse skillsets of our team. The expertise session structure allows interns to engage in a number of meetings culminating in a presentation of their own, fostering connections with various groups and initiatives within the firm and among themselves. Just recently the interns were welcomed to Otak by our Interim CEO, Scott Dreher, and are slated to meet with members of our Transportation and Infrastructure teams, our Water and Natural Resources teams, and our Planning and Landscape team in the coming weeks.
Interns are encouraged to bounce ideas off each other and contribute to discussions where everyone gets a seat at the table. Simultaneously, mentorship from seasoned leaders provides interns with a more comprehensive professional development experience, supplementing their direct supervision with the tools to be leaders early on in their careers.
Want to Learn More?
Are you a young and aspiring designer seeking to take your first steps into the world of engineering and architecture? Are you exploring what you want to specialize in for your career? Otak is continuing our internship programming beyond our summer series and is always on the look-out for interested candidates.
If you’re ready to take your first step towards a rewarding career in engineering, architecture, design, or one of our many other practice areas, Otak’s Internship Program is where you belong. Keep track of our openings and follow us on social to keep an eye out for the opportunity to apply. A conversation with Brooke Henderson or Susan Dull on our talent acquisition team could lead to joining a team of talented interns who have already begun their transformative journey with us. Come unleash your potential to improve the built environment!