Taylor Case

When I was a kid, I dreamed of being either a country singer or a veterinarian. Growing up on a farm, loving animals and always watching Country Music Television on Saturday mornings, I thought those career paths would be good fits. As it turned out, though, I can’t sing (well) and didn’t want to attend college for more than four years. So, I needed to find a better plan.

I discovered my ideal career as a freshman in college. At the time, I was studying biological and agricultural engineering, but I wasn’t convinced it was right for me. As an extrovert, I wanted more human interaction and thought visiting jobsites would be fun. Then, I went to the career fair and talked with a few construction companies. This turned out to be a good move, because I landed my first internship with a construction company for the summer. The experience was fantastic! I worked with an awesome team and got to see heavy equipment all day. I knew that was what I wanted my future to look like, so I switched my major to construction science and management.

In addition to my college classes, I had several internships where I received on-the-job training. Each internship was slightly different, so I got to learn about different roles within the industry like field engineer, project engineer, laborer and more. I enjoyed learning from so many people. The best training is definitely done on the job!

Today, I’m a project engineer at McCownGordon Construction in Manhattan, Kansas. This community is just so happy, and I love living here. As cheesy as it sounds, this really is Manhappiness! Everyone who lives and works here wants to make it a better place.

In my job, I help the project manager and superintendent ensure projects run smoothly. Some of my responsibilities include making sure materials arrive at a jobsite on time, helping with schedule updates, preparing agendas for project-related meetings, coordinating with trade partners, reviewing contracts to make sure everything is fulfilled accurately, communicating with the design team and more.

My favorite part of the job is working with so many people. Again, as an extrovert, this role is perfect for me. I get to build relationships with teammates, trade partners, clients and others working on a project. Another nice part about this position is getting challenged and learning new things almost every day. It’s my goal to keep growing as much as I can and moving up within the company. I hope to one day take the next step of managing my own projects.

If you’re interested in this career, go out and soak up as much knowledge as possible. Join student clubs and organizations, network with professionals and try to land as many internships as you can. It’s never too early to start. Also, listen and ask questions, put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to fail — it’s how you learn the most!