The Intern Experience

by Madison Kohnen

My name is Madison Kohnen, and this summer I had the awesome opportunity of interning with mma in the civil engineering department. The overarching theme for the past 3 months of my life has been growth; growth in my career, growth in my technical skills, growth in my education, and growth in my interpersonal skills. I have learned so much this summer, and I have everyone at mma to thank for it.

“growth in my career, growth in my technical skills, growth in my education, and growth in my interpersonal skills.”

I’ve gotten to do some pretty amazing things since I started working here. I was able to attend a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of Texas Live which was incredibly interesting, and not just because I’m pursuing a career in civil engineering. The size of the project is shocking enough, because the hotel, stadium and outdoor concert area are all under construction simultaneously. When I toured, the baseball field was just a giant concrete hole in the ground. This is one of the parts I remember best, because I got to see the foundations of a place that millions of people will enjoy.

One of my favorite projects this summer has been working on a 3D rendering of Texas Live. It was amazing to see the finished product on my computer screen before construction is even finished. I got to transform 2D construction documents into a 3D model that anyone can look at and recognize it as Texas Live. And the model can show you all the water, storm, and sewer pipes underground that you didn’t know were even there.

I am so glad to be part of a company that has been so involved in the transformation of downtown Arlington. I’ve learned so much from all of my coworkers, and I couldn’t ask for a more helpful and supportive team of people to work with. I’ve had a wonderful interning experience with mma and I would recommend this company to any student wanting to start their career out right.

The Intern Experience – Valerie

by Valerie Arruda

I am grateful that my first internship is with mma. The company is rich in history, while so rapidly growing and evolving their brand and the services offered. The company embraces their roots in Arlington, Texas, even providing a scavenger hunt in their welcome packet with spots all over the city. As a student at the University of Texas in Arlington who lives in heart of downtown, it was refreshing to know companies like mma contribute to the culture of Arlington and take so much pride in the city they are based in.

As a junior in civil engineering, it can be daunting to start working in a field you’re just being exposed to. Applying concepts I hadn’t yet learned, seeing the applications when all I’ve experienced are the concepts- it’s intimidating but all very rewarding. When the internship began in May, mma understood the lack of experience Madison and I had but let us delve into engineering projects and training right away. Within our first week, we got assigned projects allowing us to interact with the other engineers and project managers, and we went on a site tour of Texas Live! to see a project we’d both come to work on in the coming months. Throughout the summer, I have gotten to experience the planning, designing, and submittal processes of projects while applying concepts I’m being taught in my classes.

“I am grateful that my first internship is with mma.”

With less than three months at mma, I have already learned so much in the field and found a passion for the work I hadn’t experienced through textbooks and lectures. The engineers at mma are well rounded and knowledgeable, and it is inspiring to work to work alongside so many women in a field typically outnumbered by men. Civil engineering is such a creative and rewarding career, and working with landscape architects and surveyors brings perspective to how much goes into a single project. I have learned so much just this summer, and I am excited to continue my internship with mma in the fall.