Where Are They Now? A Q&A with Former Gray Interns

Q: What year did you intern and in what department?

Daya: I was an intern for the Human Resources department in 2022.

Hawkins: I was hired in August 2012, in the Lexington office within the Project Management team.

Moye: I was an intern in Project Management in 2019.

Ouellette: My first internship was in 2020 within the Food & Beverage team in the office. The following summer, I interned in Mobile, Alabama, as a part of Field Operations, then transitioned back to the office in Food & Beverage.

Q: How did your internship help prepare you for your current role?  

Daya: My internship allowed me to network with other team members within the company and understand the different processes within the Human Resource department.  

Hawkins: My internship afforded me the chance to contribute meaningfully to both proposals and projects, allowing me to perform tasks similar to those I handle today. Learning from my teams and gaining hands-on experience helped me accelerate my professional development at Gray. 

Moye: My internship gave me a good general understanding of the project manager role and the day-to-day responsibilities that go along with it. It also helped me prepare for the mentoring and teaching aspect by allowing me to see what I liked and disliked from the other side of that process. 

Ouellette: My internship exposed me to various aspects of the job, from proposals to bid analyses. I was able to gain experience in what I now do daily, which has made for a smooth transition.

Q: What was your favorite part of your Gray internship?   

Daya: My favorite part of the internship was the company gatherings and networking opportunities—I got to meet so many people and build meaningful relationships. 

Hawkins: My favorite aspect of my internship, much like in my current role, was collaborating with diverse teams. Having the opportunity to travel across the country and witness firsthand the implementation of our work in the field, was incredibly rewarding. 

Moye: The favorite part of my internship was being able to visit different project’s jobsites. It was always very interesting to see the variety and complexity of projects that Gray performs. 

Ouellette: Without a doubt, it was the people I met. Their diverse backgrounds and personalities made the experience truly unique and enjoyable. 

Q: What was the biggest lesson you learned during your internship?   

Daya: The biggest thing I learned during my internship is to document everything. Documentation is a key part of HR tasks and responsibilities. 

Hawkins: I discovered the significance of fostering relationships with both my team and our trade partners. These connections have endured over time and have been crucial in navigating the more challenging aspects of our projects. 

Moye: The biggest thing I learned from my internship was that hard work and open-mindedness is paramount to your success at this stage. Your roles as an intern can vary drastically, but you will gain the most value out of the experience by coming in eager to take on any challenge. 

Ouellette: The importance of having a good attitude and being personable. It goes a long way in any career. Obviously, working hard is a critical component, but the people I’ve noticed who have been the most successful have also been the most teachable and have a positive attitude. 

Q: What sets Gray’s internship program apart from other internships?   

Daya: The internship program at Gray is definitely more hands on and experience based. Everyone at Gray wants to ensure that the interns are obtaining the correct knowledge and experience, so they can thrive in their future aspirations. 

Hawkins: The program emphasizes both professional and personal development, nurturing future leaders by assigning them actual project responsibilities. Additionally, it offers opportunities for fun and insight into Gray’s secret sauce—our culture. 

Moye: Gray’s internship is much more structured than previous internship programs that I participated in. 

Ouellette: Gray’s flexibility stands out. They encourage exploration and don’t confine you to one lane, which is refreshing. If I wanted to learn about a different aspect of the company, I was able to shadow someone and learn more about it. 

Q: What’s the best advice you received during your internship?   

Daya: Always network when given the opportunity. Networking can help create relationships in the professional environment and non-professional environment and can open thousands of doors for your future. 

Hawkins: Take full ownership of your responsibilities. Before seeking help, spend time trying to solve problems on your own. Your capacity to independently troubleshoot and learn will be vital as your responsibilities increase. 

Moye: The best advice someone gave me during my internship was whether you are on a jobsite or in the office, always show up early. 

Ouellette: Be on time and be present. Showing up consistently speaks volumes—it shows you are ready to work and learn. 

Q: What advice would you give to future Gray interns?   

Daya: Always be willing to learn and help out whenever you can. Try to attend company, department, and team outings to build camaraderie. Introduce yourself to other team members within Gray and remember to keep an open mind when it comes to collaboration.  

Hawkins: Fully engage with your project teams and seize opportunities to connect outside of work. Remember, everyone has felt uncertain at some point in their careers. Doing your best to solve problems independently is crucial, but don’t hesitate to ask questions when needed. Most importantly, have fun!  

Moye: My best piece of advice is to be a sponge for information. Take on as many tasks as possible in as many areas of the project as possible. This is a unique time of your career where you can explore many aspects of the project with little expectation of your experience level. Take advantage of the time and learn as much as you can.   

Ouellette: Stay curious and open-minded. Every experience can teach you something valuable.