April is Internship Awareness Month. Interns are key to Alliant’s success and that is apparent in the fact that 18% of our current staff started as interns. With Future Focus as a core value, Alliant provides a place to hone skills and learn from our leaders. We checked in with some of our interns from the past 20 years to hear about their experiences.
Mark Rausch
Mark Rausch 1999 headshot
Back in December 1999 when Alliant was 4 years old and 14 employees strong, Mark Rausch was brought on as Alliant’s first Intern. Now a Principal, in our Land Development group, Mark has come a long way. Mark provides engineering expertise, knowledge, and efficiency to his staff and our clients. He has worked on the design and construction of projects across the country, with notable Minnesota work such as Twin Cities Premium Outlets, Highland Bridge, and Southridge.
What year did you start your internship?
December 1999… Last century!
Where did you graduate from?
University of MN – Twin Cities
Mark running a meeting in 2012 when Alliant was based in the Old Spaghetti Company Building.
Describe a memorable project from your internship.
My first week or two, I built a bookshelf and Clark Wicklund had me help build some very creative wood window shades in the greenhouse-like space we were working in, at the St. Anthony Main building. Eventually, I rolled into design work, and I recall doing a lot of drafting on the Magellan pipeline corridor documents.
To you, why are internships valuable/important?
Internships provide a great trial opportunity for both the employee and employer to see if a job is the right fit for an individual. I think internships can provide huge benefits for interns, as they get a chance to ‘try out’ a particular company and/or branch of the field they are studying in without major long-term employment commitment. For employers, internships are a way to offer training opportunities for the next generation and to also ‘try out’ potential future hires on a trial basis. A win-win situation for sure!
Todd Olson
Todd Olson began his internship at Alliant in May 2015. He was connected via SciTech, a program that helps STEM students find paid internships in Minnesota. Todd experienced several different departments during his stay from survey to construction, ultimately landing in our Traffic group where he is today.
What year did you start your internship?
May of 2015 through May 2016 in the Construction Inspection Group.
Where did you graduate from?
I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (B.C.E.) in May 2016
When you were hired what was your job title?
Project Engineer I
Describe a memorable project from your internship.
My first and most exciting project, for Nick VanGunst, was South Loop Wayfinding in Bloomington. It was to install around 10-15 Dynamic Message Signs and other Static Signage that directed visitors to the Mall of America. My job was to ensure the construction project was installed according to the design plans that Alliant made, coordinate any field issues, and keep track of all the quantities on the project so the contractor could get paid appropriately.
A cool aspect, that I tell everyone about, is that I designed all the messages in the sign program that is displayed on all the Dynamic Message Signs surrounding the Mall of America. They are still displayed to this day! 40 million people visit the Mall each year, that’s a lot of people seeing my work!
This project helped us get into additional projects for Bloomington, including more Dynamic Signs within the Mall of America ring road, and a major fiber project for the City of Bloomington.
Dynamic Messaging Signs installed by Todd during his internship that are still used today.
What is your job title now?
Professional Traffic/ITS Engineer (Intelligent Transportation Systems)
To you, why are internships valuable/important?
Internships are the best way to get your foot in the door of a company to see if they are a good fit for you and vice versa, a trial run so to speak. It also allows you to try out different departments more easily to find your interests. I was able to work in construction inspection, survey, road design, and traffic groups during my internship. In my case, I asked if I could extend my internship on a part-time basis through my last 2 semesters, and I was offered a full-time position at Alliant during that period. I’m glad I did as this year I celebrate working here for 6 years.
Abby Rieckman
Abby when she started full-time in 2012
When Abby Rieckman started as an intern in 2011, it didn’t cross her mind that she would end up being an Associate at Alliant just 10 years later. Abby has not only grown significantly at Alliant, but she has helped others grow – including mentoring several interns that are now full-time employees. Abby has worked on notable projects, such as I35W North MnPass Design-Build, and her passion for design-build started while she was interning.
What year did you start your internship?
2011
Where did you graduate from?
U of M
When you were hired what was your job title?
Project Engineer I. We were a smaller company back then. I reported to Tom Jensen and primarily worked on transportation design projects, but also assisted with traffic projects too…counting cars on the side of the road even!
Abby and Mackensie working on 3D modeling. Mackensie Schuster was an intern from 2018-2020, now she is a full-time employee.
Describe a memorable project from your internship.
The 13/101 Design Build was the most memorable and impactful on my future career! It was my first experience working on plans and digging into highway design details like guardrail design. I was also exposed to the QA/QC process and able to observe its importance in producing high-quality plans. This project solidified my interest in highway design as a career path.
What is your job title now?
Associate
To you, why are internships valuable/important?
Internships are incredibly valuable as they provide students with practical experience and allow them to try out different career paths prior to graduation.
Victoria Hansen
From accounts payable, to external billing, overseeing company processes, to payroll, and supervising her staff, Victoria Hansen is always ready to help. One of the biggest advocates for community outreach and donations, Victoria promotes Alliant’s mission and values every day. Victoria has been a staple of Alliant’s Accounting team for 9 years now, since she started her internship, and her knowledge is crucial to the teams’ success.
What year did you start your internship?
2013
Where did you graduate from?
University of Northwestern – St. Paul (GO EAGLES!)
When you were hired what was your job title?
Accounting Intern
Victoria (front left) volunteering with Alliant at Cooks for Kids in 2018.
To you, why are internships valuable/important?
Internships are a great way to gain hands-on experience in the career you are pursuing. They can also help determine if you are in the right career field.
What is your job title now?
Accountant
What made you accept a full-time position here?
As Alliant was growing, there was an opportunity to add another Accountant. I was excited about a chance to gain more experience and skills as an Accountant. I’ve now been here 9 years and I love it, so I guess you could say that interning works!