Hear from our Kitchell interns on National Intern Day

What’s a Kitchell internship like?

 

For most students, it begins in the summer with an on-campus immersion at either our Phoenix or Sacramento offices. There, the students hear from our Kitchell employee-owners from a wide range of areas and learn about the many facets of our work, including project estimating, virtual design/construction, project management, engineering studies, facilities conditions assessments and close-out processes. Our interns are then assigned to project teams, jobsites and offices where they apply their educational experience in a practical, real-world environment.

And the unprecedented heat in our Arizona, California and Texas markets hasn’t deterred them.

“The single most important thing I’ve learned since I’ve been with Kitchell is to be proactive and not reactive. Make sure you are looking ahead at the next sequence of construction or task and be planning how to get to that next activity successfully!” – Audey Yarbrough, Northern Arizona University

“It’s nice to find certain spots that are now unrecognizable because of how they’ve developed since I’ve gotten here. I think the most important thing I’ve learned is how involved the process to building parts of a project are and how amazing it is when everything connects, even if it’s just for a few walls or columns.” – Ronaldo Mendoza, UC Davis

“I am extremely blessed to be part this team. With the million questions I’ve had they are always more than happy to help me with anything. I have been able to witness what true teamwork is. Here I have learned how important it is to be honest, communicate and how to take responsibility. Before this I questioned if I were truly able to be in this business and now my confidence has boosted to a whole different level, and I give all the credit to this Austin Kitchell Team. They are super helpful and knowledgeable.” – Antonio Ponce, Texas State University

“Highlights throughout my internship would have to be watching the first/last structural beam placed on my project, seeing the pour of a concrete slab and conducting a tour for my fellow interns. Although it was just a simple tour, I surprised myself with the amount of knowledge I learned throughout the summer, and it gave me more confidence and reassurance that I will do great in this field even though I didn’t grow up in construction.” – Jessica Roth, Northern Arizona University

“I have learned so much about the nuances of construction that I could never have received in school. Construction is an interdisciplinary field – a project can only be completed through all its internal roles functioning as a composite unit.” – Jacob Risko, University of Arizona

“The highlight has been working on-site and seeing pre-development sites I’ve been working on. I’ve learned how in-depth and coordinated facilities conditions assessments are and how a project schedule is laid out.” – Jack Evans, Cal Poly SLO

“I’ve enjoyed being able to work on various jobsites and earning about the process and discussions that happen at the various stages of construction.” – Kyle Lee,  CSU Sacramento

“One of the biggest highlights of my internship is the trust I have received from my team, building my confidence and specifically how to professionally interact with client and trade partners in the field and office” – Morgan Donnelly, Northern Arizona University

The highlight that stands out the most for me is testing the controlled burn features at the Hayward Fire Training Center. Purposely setting things on fire – in a safe way – is always a blast. I’ve also learned that this is about managing people as well.” – Daniel Cervantes, San Jose State University

These are just a few of the 40 interns spending time at Kitchell jobsites and offices this summer. Some of our students are with us year-round, but the majority soak up as much as they can during their two- to three-month assignment. We are fortunate to have several former Kitchell interns among our corps of employee-owners today, including many in leadership roles!

Kitchell awards $275,000 in grants to nonprofits in Arizona, California and Texas

Members of our Sacramento team awarded grants at an office reception.

In an effort to connect with the communities where we live and work at a very grassroots level, the Kitchell Foundation recently awarded $275,000 in grants to 75 nonprofits in communities where our employee-owners live and work.

After reviewing more than 100 applications from nonprofit organizations in all our markets, regional committees comprised of employee-owners from our operating companies made recommendations for grant awards ranging from $300 to $7,500. The applying organizations are located in communities where Kitchell employees work and live in Arizona, California and Texas, and meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Strengthen the social, economic & educational infrastructure of our communities
  • Serve the needs of unique and diverse populations, including women, minorities and disadvantaged groups
  • Focus on youth/education, diversity, environmental/animal welfare

The intent was to award grants where we knew the money could be put to the best use based on the mission of the organization and the metrics that were outlined to measure the impact of our gift.

“This process opened our eyes and hearts to the need in our local communities and although the process required difficult decisions and deep analysis of the best use of our Foundation dollars, it is gratifying to know that we have expanded our reach and continue to make a difference in our local communities,” said Kitchell President & CEO Wendy Cohen.

The Kitchell Foundation is administered by the Arizona Community Foundation and funded by contributions from Kitchell and its employee-owners. Visit this link to learn more about the Kitchell Foundation.

Kitchell Employee-Owner ambassadors presenting grants to some of the recipients

The following organizations received grants:

19North AZ
4×5 Program AZ
Assistance League of Phoenix AZ
Atelotorque AZ
AZ Association for Foster & Adoptive Parents AZ
AZ Reach AZ
Coach Mike Football Foundation AZ
Desert Thunder Elementary School PTO AZ
Florence Crittenton AZ
Friends of Ohana AZ
Ground Work AZ
Harvest Compassion AZ
HonorHealth Foundation – Desert Mission AZ
Live Love Community AZ
Lung Transplant Support Organization AZ
Maggie’s Place AZ
Mission 228 AZ
The Be Kind People Project AZ
The Singletons AZ
U.S. VETS – Phoenix AZ
UnitePHX AZ
Veterans Breakthrough AZ
Tucson Mountaineers 4H Club AZ (Tucson)
Berkeley Humane Bay Area
Chavez Family Vision Bay Area
Dorothy’s Place Bay Area
Girl Stem Stars Bay Area
Golden Gate Audubon Bay Area
Lindsay Wildlife Experience Bay Area
Moms Against Poverty Bay Area
Oakland Zoo Bay Area
Ruby’s Place Bay Area
Spark SF Public Schools Bay Area
Together in Pajaro Bay Area
Breaking the Chains Central Valley
El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) Central Valley
Fresno Mission Central Valley
Hope Sanger Central Valley
Lumina Alliance SLO Central Valley
Madera Rescue Central Valley
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Sacramento Sacramento
Compassion Planet Sacramento
FosterHope Sacramento Sacramento
Greater Sacramento Urban League Sacramento
Hearts for Paws Rescue Sacramento
Her Health First Sacramento
La Familia Counseling Sacramento
My Sister’s House Sacramento
River City Food Bank Sacramento
Roberts Family Development Center Sacramento
Sacramento Youth Center Sacramento
Sacramento Zoological Society Sacramento
Sierra Service Project Sacramento
Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center Sacramento
Ybuild Sacramento
American Heart Association SoCal
Camarena Foundation SoCal
Jacobs & Cushman SD Food Bank SoCal
Ronald McDonald House Charities SoCal
San Diego Blood Bank SoCal
San Diego Habitat for Humanity SoCal
Shoreline Community Services SoCal
St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center SoCal
Support the Enlisted Project SoCal
Camp Quality Texas TX
Family Promise TX
Hutto Education Foundation TX
Leander Education Excellence Foundation TX
Liberty Hill ISD Education Foundation TX
Lifeworks Austin TX
Pflugerville Education Foundation TX
Ronald McDonald House Charities TX
RRISD Partners in Education Foundation TX
We’ll Get This TX