For day 2 of our Co-Op series we have Charlie Bucacci and Manny Panameno sharing??
Charlie:
Doing both my internships at PIDC helped me relate my classroom experience to real life. It just so happened that I had finished my Surveying class when two months later while on co-op, I was asked to shoot elevations. This worked both ways as when I would come back from co-op and go back to the classroom, I would ask questions about what I saw and did and get a professors opinion on it. I believe it was also beneficial that I was able to stay on the same jobsite for both co-ops, maintaining my knowledge of the work being done, and staying in contact with PIDC employees asking how the job was progressing and what to expect on my return the next co-op. The opportunities that I was given during my co-ops let me apply my classroom experience to the real world and learn how the things we were learning in PowerPoints and textbooks were to be applied to help keep projects going and how to keep projects safe.
Manny:
My time as a co-op at PIDC was incredibly valuable and instrumental in my career development. While completing my degree in Construction Management at Wentworth Institute of Technology, I had the opportunity to work as an Assistant Project Manager at PIDC, contributing to projects such as 65 Grove Street, Explora, VOR, and MISPRO. My role involved a mix of fieldwork, assisting the superintendent, and office responsibilities, supporting the senior project manager. During this time, I gained hands-on experience in tasks like MEP coordination, drafting subcontracts, processing monthly pay requisitions, and overall project management. This blend of responsibilities gave me a comprehensive understanding of the construction process and allowed me to apply my academic knowledge to real-world challenges. These experiences built a strong foundation for my growth at PIDC, where I’ve progressed into my current role as a Project Manager.
If you have had a similar experience within a program drop a comment! We would love to hear your points of view??
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