When Opportunity Knocks, Open The Door!

Written By: Rachel Dempsey

​“It’s important to learn all you can when you can,” advised Spencer Smith, one of MCL Construction’s newly hired interns for this summer.

Spencer began working for MCL two years ago while attending Creighton Prep in Omaha, Nebraska.  He was introduced to the company by a classmate and started working as a laborer over the summer.  Spencer quickly fell in love with construction and all the components that go into creating and finishing a project.  Spencer got to work a lot at the Cloisters on the Platte project that first summer.  It was a divine inspiration because it was there when he decided to make construction his career.

Spencer goes to school at Kansas State University (he’s still a Husker fan) for its award-winning and regionally recognized construction program and has declared a major in Construction Science.  He is working on getting his GenEd classes done at the moment while also taking a few courses that relate to his major.  Since Spencer hasn’t taken many classes in construction, his main challenge with his internship is not knowing as much as the other interns at MCL this summer. 

“What is basic information to most may be a completely new concept to me, and that’s been the most challenging thing so far,” mentioned Spencer.

​Despite the challenges, Spencer still enjoys all the learning experience he is receiving interning at MCL Construction which presented itself unexpectedly. 

“Honestly, the internship just fell in my lap,” explained Spencer, “I came in one day, was offered the internship, and I couldn’t pass up the great opportunity.”

Saying this opportunity fell into his lap is a bit modest. Spencer made an impression with the leadership the previous two summers and we wanted to foster his passion for construction and be a mentor throughout college.

With the internship, Spencer is working with MCL’s Project Engineer, Sam Howe, putting together close-out documents which will later be given to clients when their project is finished.  The documents will help explain how everything within the clients’ building works and who to contact if something ever breaks.  When asked what he likes most about his internship, Spencer responded with no hesitation.

​​“It’s a lot of learning.  A lot of stuff I haven’t learned yet in school and I like the feeling I am a step ahead of the other students at my school.” 

Spencer wants to learn about every job and position at MCL but eventually hopes to become a superintendent here at MCL Construction. 

“I’d rather be out in the field instead of sitting in an office for several reasons, but mainly because I get to physically see the buildings being built right in front of my eyes, allowing me to see a change,” exclaimed Spencer. 

Spencer has really come to know and respect MCL’s Core Values:  Passionate, Dedicated, and Thorough.  He believes they are all important but, out of the three, he relates to being passionate the most by explaining, “When you truly love something, you are going to want to do a better job on the end product.”