When asked to describe their internships in a single word, they chose immersive, rewarding, influential, fulfilling, and enriching.
National Intern Day is always an opportunity to recognize the next generation of project management professionals, and this year is especially significant for PMA. With more interns than ever before, 2026 has become a banner year for the firm’s internship program, and the Braintree office leads the way with the largest intern cohort.
We heard from our interns across New England and Southern California, representing a wide range of academic programs and disciplines. Among those who shared their experiences were Arina Shevtsova, Adrienne Medeiros, William Webber, Ryan Harrington, Logan Pagluiso, Taehoon Kim, and Joseph Zarella from our New England Operations Groups; and Sophia Miller from Southern California. Together they represent Wentworth Institute of Technology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Michigan State University, and George Washington University, studying architecture, structural engineering, building and construction technology, supply chain management, management, and project management. We also recognize Catherine Buckley, Tyler Heidke, Alessio Ponce de Leon, and Manal Zahid, who are contributing to PMA projects across the company this summer.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
One theme emerged almost immediately: PMA’s interns wanted to experience construction where it actually happens.
For Arina Shevtsova, that meant leaving the classroom behind. “I was excited to know that I would be in a trailer… involved on site rather than stuck in an office.”
Ryan Harrington found his work on the McKinley School Renovations Project in Revere, MA most fulfilling. ” I started this internship unsure whether interns could make meaningful contributions to their team. My experience at PMA has shown me otherwise.”
Adrienne Medeiros was equally enthusiastic about seeing projects come together firsthand. “Being on site has allowed me to see how design, planning, and construction all connect,” she said, describing the experience as a valuable complement to her architecture studies.
Logan Pagluiso had watched PMA’s work on a building at UMass Amherst for years before joining the team. The internship gave him “the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and better understand the construction process from multiple perspectives.”
Taehoon Kim was attracted by the opportunity to gain “different real-world experiences” that would benefit him in the future. As a supply chain management student, he was eager to see how project management works outside the classroom and experience the realities of an active construction site.
Returning intern Sophia Miller already knew what to expect. After a successful internship last summer, she was eager to return because “both the PMA and Metro teams were welcoming, supportive, and gave me opportunities to learn far more than I expected.”
William Webber, also a returning intern, continued building on an already successful experience with PMA. Having spent the past year and a half working alongside project teams, he viewed the firm as a natural fit with his interest in the management side of construction.
Joseph Zarella was attracted by something equally important: the opportunity to work on projects that make “a tangible impact on the community.”
The Mentors Who Made the Difference
Ask any intern what made the biggest difference this summer, and chances are they’ll mention the people around them.
Mark Gauger gave Arina what she described as an immersive experience, always finding opportunities to teach while working both on site and in the trailer.
Ryan credits Brian DeFilippis and Karina Pena for making his transition into the OPM field smooth and simple. “They have both taught me how to interact with clients and contractors in a professional manner, and their guidance has helped me improve my social skills as a whole.”
Adrienne credits Sam Dowd for taking the time during site walks to explain construction activities, answer questions, and make technical concepts approachable.
Logan says Ann Ledwell helped him transition smoothly into the internship by offering practical advice on tackling assignments and interacting with contractors.
Taehoon credits Chris Jankun, Peter Cerretti, and Jackson Sordillo with shaping his internship from different perspectives. Chris helped him understand change orders and scheduling, Jackson introduced him to field operations, and Peter strengthened his project management skills while teaching him how to read construction blueprints.
Sophia continues to appreciate Avery Meyer‘s guidance from her first internship. Learning Bluebeam from him has become “one of the most valuable skills I’ve learned for my career.”
William expressed gratitude to Nick Hull, Jon Pope, Walter Hartley, and Seamus O’Connor for supporting both his learning and his professional development while continually encouraging him to improve.
Joseph highlighted Matt Muto and Jee Kiley for creating a positive work environment and demonstrating the importance of asking questions, supporting teammates, continuously learning, and building strong workplace relationships.
Taken together, these stories highlight one of PMA’s greatest strengths: experienced professionals who are willing to invest their time and knowledge in developing future colleagues.
Looking Ahead
Beyond developing technical skills, the internship has helped many participants refine their long-term career goals. As Arina observed, the experience has already made her “a better architect,” while Logan valued the opportunity to see “nearly every side of the construction industry” and gain a clearer understanding of the roles different professionals play. Taehoon likewise described his experience on the Harvard Allston project as eye-opening, exposing him to the pace and complexity of an active construction site.
Ryan sees an airport project in his future: “Given my mechanical engineering background, I enjoy seeing systems with a lot of moving parts.”
Adrienne hopes to continue working on educational and public projects that connect design and construction, while Sophia plans to begin her career in design engineering before transitioning into project management, ideally with PMA. Joseph is particularly drawn to PMA’s work on the TERC project because of its scale and significance to Massport and the Boston community.
William‘s experience demonstrates how an internship can become the foundation for a long-term career. After returning to PMA for a second internship and contributing to school and municipal projects, he has accepted a full-time position with the firm beginning this fall.
When asked to describe their internships in a single word, the interns chose immersive, rewarding, apprenticeship, influential, fulfilling, and enriching.
Those six words capture what PMA strives to provide every student who joins the firm: meaningful work, experienced mentors, and opportunities to build the foundation for a successful career.
A Few Fun Facts
Our intern questionnaires also revealed a few lighter moments. Coffee narrowly edged out tea among respondents. Arina and Ryan remained loyal to tea while Joseph specified espresso. Night owls slightly outnumbered morning people, Instagram proved to be the most popular app, and dream vacations ranged from Japan and Italy to Europe and the Caribbean.