A Look at What Our PM Rotational Trainees Have Been Up To
Harris’ Project Manager Rotational Training Program is designed to accelerate the development of future project leaders by giving early-career professionals hands-on experience across the organization. With projects of all shapes and sizes in markets all over the industry, the program offers not only a broad understanding of the business, but the opportunity to build relationships across the company and develop the skills needed to excel. In the 18-24-month program, the trainees learn how to shape themselves into well-round, successful project managers.
The current PM Rotational Trainees bring a diverse set of educational backgrounds and perspectives to the program.
· Joe McNamara is a Minnesota native who graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Construction Management.
· Thomas Anderson was born and raised in Minnesota and earned a degree in Construction Project Management from Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis.
· Caleb Gantz grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida and earned his Construction Management degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
· Olivia Kloehn is from Onalaska, Wisconsin and holds a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Minnesota with a minor in Management.
· Edward Obasuyi is from Starkville, Mississippi, where he also earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Mississippi State University.
· Xinru Yang was previously an intern with Harris Design Studio and completed a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University.
Over the past several months, the trainees have been putting in serious miles, moving between business units, project teams and jobsites across the country. From estimating labs to data centers to stadium projects, they have been gaining firsthand experience in how complex mechanical projects come together and what it takes to keep them moving.
Joe McNamara has been deeply involved in QA/QC work at large data center project in Minnesota, partnering with field leaders to close out issues and keep inspections on track. He has spent significant time walking the site, coordinating with third-party inspectors and ensuring equipment is ready when needed. One of his biggest takeaways has been gaining a clear understanding of how the final stages of a project come together.
Thomas Anderson has experienced a wide range of project management responsibilities, starting with budgets, project setup in ReTool and CMiC, submittals and equipment coordination. He later transitioned into day-to-day project management work, supporting
weekly work plans, project forecasting and field coordination. Seeing different leadership styles and understanding how the bigger picture comes together has been a highlight for him, along with building strong relationships with field teams.
Olivia Kloehn began her rotation in St. Paul Estimating, where she enjoyed digging into takeoffs and pricing while working closely with the estimating team. She also appreciated visiting nearby jobsites to see estimates turn into real projects. Olivia is currently completing her field rotation in Virginia on a data center project, where she spends each day onsite getting to know the crew and learning how projects operate in real time. Her biggest highlight so far has been meeting great people in every rotation.
Xinru Yang is finishing her final rotation at a major stadium construction project. Her daily responsibilities include productivity tracking, safety and QA/QC walks, RFI audits, change order support and weekly work plan updates. Spending an extended period on one project has given her a complete view of how large-scale projects operate. She credits the people on the team for making the experience both educational and enjoyable.
Caleb Gantz has truly gone coast to coast during his rotations. He started in Tennessee on his field rotation at a data center project and is now based in Las Vegas supporting the estimating team. His work includes takeoffs, proposal development and learning how field experience translates into strong bids.
Edward Obasuyi began his rotations in the field on a major manufacturing project in Colorado, where he learned what it takes to keep labor, materials and equipment moving efficiently. He then joined the finance team in St. Paul to see how forecasting, billing and productivity tools support projects behind the scenes. Edward is currently in Las Vegas working with the estimating team and learning how strong bids help set projects up for success.
For each rotation, our trainees are partnered with a project management mentor who provides advice and support as they move through a specifically designed curriculum. Participants present their learnings to executive leadership after each rotation, building a capstone project and presentation when all rotations are complete. These opportunities allow them to showcase their expanded knowledge and capabilities throughout the program.
This program is an amazing opportunity for recent graduates interested in a career in project management and professionals looking to advance their careers.
A big congratulations to Joe, Thomas, Olivia, Xinru, Caleb and Edward for the energy and commitment they’ve brought to every rotation. As they continue learning, traveling and building connections across Harris, they are helping shape the future of project leadership throughout the organization.
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