Barton Malow is a construction firm in the AEC market that provides construction management, design-build, program management, and general contracting services across North America, including operations in Canada. The company’s mission, “Building Today for a Better Tomorrow: People, Projects, and Communities,” reflects its commitment to innovation, integrity, partnership, and community impact. Barton Malow serves a diverse customer base across industries including healthcare, education, commercial, industrial, energy, automotive, aerospace, and sports and entertainment. By working closely with clients throughout every phase of a project, the company delivers innovative construction solutions while prioritizing safety, quality, and long-term value. As one of the largest construction firms in the United States, Barton Malow competes with other leading general contractors while continuing to differentiate itself through its people-first culture and commitment to innovation. This summer, my Marketing and Communications (MARCOM) internship with Barton Malow became one of the most rewarding and impactful experiences of my professional journey. Going into the internship, I was looking for my first true corporate experience and an opportunity to apply what I have been learning as a Communication Studies major. I can confidently say this experience exceeded every expectation I had. One of the first things that stood out to me was the company culture. Every person I met was welcoming, personable, and genuinely interested in helping me learn. From my supervisor, Hannah Teague, to employees across multiple departments and regional offices, I felt supported and encouraged to ask questions, explore new opportunities, and challenge myself. Hannah has been incredible to work with throughout the summer. She has been understanding, flexible, and communicative while providing projects that allowed me to be creative and develop new skills. She trusted me with meaningful work and consistently supported my growth.

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Throughout the internship, I expanded my technical skills by learning Adobe InDesign and strengthening my proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Rather than simply observing, I was able to apply these skills to real projects that directly contributed to Barton Malow’s work. I assisted with project proposals used to pursue new work, created project highlight booklets, and designed branding pieces for company events. Having the opportunity to contribute to work that was used in real business situations made my efforts feel purposeful and helped me better understand the role marketing and communications plays within a large construction company. One of the greatest strengths of this internship was the flexibility to explore beyond my assigned role. Barton Malow encouraged me to shadow multiple departments and gain a better understanding of how different teams collaborate to achieve shared goals. As a Communication Studies major, it was especially interesting to observe the communication styles and relationships between MARCOM departments, including marketing, communications, digital content, branding and events, and strategic marketing. Each team relied heavily on collaboration, organization, and trust to support one another’s success. I also appreciated learning about DiSC personality styles and how understanding different personalities and working styles can improve communication and teamwork. Beyond marketing, I gained firsthand exposure to construction operations by shadowing a project manager, superintendent, and project engineer on a healthcare project in South Carolina. Visiting jobsites throughout the summer allowed me to better understand the complexity of construction and the many phases required to successfully complete a project. I also saw how strongly Barton Malow prioritizes safety and how every decision begins with protecting employees, partners, and communities. Another unique opportunity was working alongside a Senior Business Strategist to research organizations throughout Charleston, South Carolina, as Barton Malow prepares to expand its presence in the region. Contributing to work that supports the company’s long-term strategic growth provided valuable insight into how research, communication, and business development connect within a national organization.

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Travel was another highlight of my internship experience. I had the opportunity to take six work trips throughout South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Michigan, including attending Barton Malow’s Annual MARCOM Summit at the company headquarters. The Summit provided a deeper understanding of the different departments within MARCOM and allowed me to connect with employees from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, and Tennessee. These relationships grew through teamwork during workshops, collaborating on projects, sharing meals at work dinners, and spending time together outside of structured work activities. Seeing how connected the company remains despite operating across multiple regions reinforced the importance of Barton Malow’s culture, values, and commitment to collaboration. Another forward-thinking aspect of the summer was witnessing how Barton Malow embraces innovation through thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is being used to improve efficiency, organize information, support internal processes, and create better workflows while still emphasizing the importance of human judgment and expertise. Seeing how the company balances technology with a people-first approach demonstrated its commitment to adapting for the future while continuing to invest in its employees. Throughout my internship, I was able to apply concepts from my Communication Studies coursework at UNC Charlotte, particularly COMM 1101, CTCM 2530, COMM 2100, and COMM 3141. COMM 2100 – Introduction to Communication Studies strengthened my ability to communicate professionally with coworkers and clients. I applied skills developed in COMM 3141 - Organizational Communication, about audience analysis to understand dynamics in the workplace. From CTCM 2530 - Critical Thinking and Communication and COMM 1101 - Public Speaking , I took my experience in giving presentations and was able to assist in interview prep work. I was also able to create effective visual communication through proposals, PPTs, and other marketing materials. Managing multiple projects with deadlines, meetings, and travel throughout the summer also strengthened my time management and organizational skills. Looking back, this internship has helped me grow both professionally and personally. I developed technical design skills, strengthened my communication abilities, and gained experience with proposal development and strategic marketing. I learned how collaboration and a variety of skillsets drive success within a large organization. Personally, I became more confident stepping into unfamiliar situations, building relationships, asking questions, and embracing opportunities outside my comfort zone. This experience confirmed my passion for marketing and communications while opening my eyes to the many career opportunities within the construction industry. Although I had previous experience working in a construction environment, this summer showed me how unique the industry truly is. I leave Barton Malow with stronger skills, valuable experiences, lasting relationships, and a greater sense of confidence in the professional I am becoming. I am incredibly grateful to Hannah Teague, the Marketing and Communications team, and everyone at Barton Malow who invested their time and knowledge into helping me grow. This summer has been an unforgettable experience that has prepared and inspired me for the next step in my career.