Construction management student excels in on-campus internship role

Ben Terrell wasn’t necessarily looking for a job when he showed up to the North Academic Complex (NAC) work site last spring. But, as luck would have it, Garco Construction was looking for someone just like him to serve as an intern on Central Washington University’s latest capital project.

Terrell, a junior in the CWU Construction Management program, was working on a class project near the NAC site and he decided to stop by one day.

“I asked to speak to the superintendent, and he was more than willing to meet with me,” Terrell said of Superintendent Regie Brusell, who works for Garco, the primary contractor on the 106,000-square-foot NAC project. “He invited me to come back every Friday at noon so he could show me everything that was going on. After doing that for four weeks, he asked me if I had any internships lined up.”

Terrell submitted his résumé to Garco, and just four hours later, he got a call back from the company’s human resources department offering him an internship.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Terrell, 25, ended up working on the NAC project for 40 hours a week all summer long, and he continued to work 30-35 hours a week during the fall quarter. He chose to cut back to part-time this winter due to a heavy course load, but he’s hoping to return to working longer hours this spring.

“Garco is a great company to work for,” he said. “They have put a lot of trust in me, and whenever I show that I can handle more responsibilities, they are willing to facilitate. It’s been a really eye-opening experience for me.”

Under the direction of Project Engineer Frank Hoerner, Terrell has learned to put into practice many of the skills he has been learning about in his CWU classes. 

His growing list of responsibilities over the past year include answering RFI (request for information) forms; providing submittals to architects and engineers; filling out LEED documentation; performing safety inspections; taking project progress photos; coordinating walk-throughs; and communicating with subcontractors.

“I have already learned so much, and if there’s something I don’t know, I can turn to Frank,” Terrell said. “I can’t express how grateful I am for everything he has taught me. He knows he doesn’t have to hold my hand anymore, and that has given me a ton of confidence.”

Likewise, Hoerner said he has appreciated everything Terrell has brought to Garco since joining the team last year. Most of all, he has shown improvement and a willingness to learn.

“Ben is consistent and reliable, which is the most important way to learn any skill,” he said. “We can count on him and never have to ask for something to get done twice. He asks questions, so he is constantly learning as the project progresses.”

Hoerner added that he and his colleagues have also enjoyed having Terrell’s outgoing personality on the team.

“He is personable with all of our trade partners and has confidence to speak to groups, which is essential in any leadership role,” Hoerner said.

Terrell comes from a military background, and he has years of experience leading groups of up to 100 people. During his six years in the Army — including five years as a Black Hawk crew chief — he delivered regular briefings to superiors and subordinates alike, making for a seamless transition to the construction world.

“Ben’s past experiences in the Army gave us confidence that he had the tools to succeed in his position and benefit the project as a whole,” Hoerner said. 

Over time, Terrell has continued to demonstrate and increasing level of competence on the job site. A full year before he graduates, he has built a solid foundation with Garco and with CWU Construction Management that will set him up for success.

“Frank and Regie have a hands-off management style, and they have put a lot of trust in me in just a short time,” Terrell said. “It’s very much a sink-or-swim mentality, and I think I have shown that I can handle whatever they throw my way. I truly appreciate everything they have done for me.”

Terrell plans to continue working on the NAC project this spring, but he’s also hoping to spend some time over at Black Hall on the new Multicultural Center project, which began in January.

Whatever opportunities arise after that, he knows he will be ready.

“I really enjoy construction field, and I can’t wait to graduate,” Terrell said. “But I still have a lot to learn. That’s what’s been so cool about my job with Garco: I get to see how the classes I’m taking directly correlate to what I’m doing on the work site.”