Lauren Ortner – Marketing Intern | Lincoln, NE
Commonwealth’s Intern Class of 2025, alongside their mentors and supervisors, attends a team building outing at TopGolf in Omaha, NE.
Project Manager Taylor Parrett shows Eldwin Acosta and Joe Kearney around a job site.
Project Manager Dan Maca gives interns a close-up look at fiber optic cable.
Mason Yochum engages in the large group CliftonStrengths® session.
This summer, Commonwealth welcomed 34 interns to our 2025 Summer Internship Program! Led by HR Generalist Alex Philipps, the experience began in May with a kickoff event where interns were introduced to our Executive Leadership Team and paired with mentors for a fun and engaging game of “Survey Says.” It was a great way to break the ice and set the tone for a summer filled with learning, growth, and connection.
At Commonwealth, our goal is to develop young leaders by helping them discover and build on their natural talents. We use CliftonStrengths® to guide interns through a strengths-based career development journey. Throughout the summer, interns completed mini strengths activities and participated in a one-on-one coaching session with a Gallup Global Certified Strengths Coach. These experiences helped interns focus on what they do best and learn how to apply those strengths to become more productive and confident professionals. In addition, interns received a weekly email that recognized individual contributions, reinforced our core values, and highlighted key moments from the summer. This helped create a recognition-rich environment that reflects our employee ownership culture.
Each week, interns also participated in our Monday Masterclass series, at which industry experts within our company shared their expertise across a variety of fields, including project management, estimating, marketing, and engineering. These sessions offered a comprehensive look at how every role contributes to Commonwealth’s success and gave interns a deeper understanding of our collaborative culture.
On July 9th, our Midwest interns had the opportunity to visit a prominent job site in Omaha, NE, where they observed the project’s progress and gained valuable hands-on experience. Our project managers and Safety team did a great job explaining the details of the project and sharing their expertise. It was also a great opportunity to network with peers and industry professionals.
At the end of the summer was the fourth annual Summer Summit, held on August 7–8 in Omaha, NE. This two-day event brought our team together to celebrate the Intern Class of 2025 and recognize their contributions. On the first day, interns took professional headshots, participated in a discussion about our Commonwealth Cares initiative, and engaged in a meaningful service project by packing meals for Heartland Kids Against Hunger. The day concluded with dinner and fun at TopGolf.
On the second day, each intern presented their summer experience, sharing what they worked on, what they learned, and their ideas for improving the program. The day also included a large group CliftonStrengths® session, at which interns, their mentors and supervisors, and Commonwealth’s Executive Leadership Team explored their natural talents and discussed how to apply a strengths-based approach to career development. The day concluded with a presentation from Sarah Collins, founder of Collins Collective. Her “The Good Energy Club” keynote ended the day on a high note, giving our interns a fun and engaging learning experience.
To our incredible Intern Class of 2025: thank you for your hard work, dedication, and positive energy. You’ve made a meaningful impact, and we’re proud to have had you as part of the Commonwealth team. You are Powering Tomorrow!
Interns from Commonwealth’s Midwest locations
Attendees at the 2025 Summer Summit
Brooke Byrnes presents to her peers at the 2025 Summer Summit.
Justina Lazar and Choe Holmes pack meals for Heartland Kids Against Hunger.
Grant Lewandowski participates in Sarah Collins’ keynote speech.
