Meet Marketing Intern, Prelee Colby
Creating, building and bringing ideas to life have always been things I enjoy. My name is Preslee Colby, and I am the marketing intern at BHS Construction. Throughout my life, I have always been drawn to hands-on projects and opportunities that allow me to be creative, which is one of the reasons I was excited to join the BHS team.
At 17 years old, I am still involved in high school activities, and BHS has been incredibly supportive by working with my schedule and giving me the flexibility to balance all of my responsibilities. This opportunity has allowed me to gain real-world experience while continuing to grow both personally and professionally.
I was interested in working for a construction company because it gave me the chance to combine two of my passions: creativity and hands-on work. Through my internship at BHS, I have been able to use my creativity through marketing while also learning more about the construction industry and the people who make it possible.
In the Office
Most of my work is completed in the office, but I also visit job sites to capture photos and videos of projects in progress. In the office, some of my main responsibilities include creating social media content, organizing project photos and editing videos and images.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned during my internship is the importance of effective communication. I’ve learned that if I don’t understand something, it’s always better to ask questions than to make assumptions.
Another valuable lesson I’ve learned is the importance of staying organized and managing my workload. If I already have several projects on my plate, it’s better to be honest about my availability than to take on too much. This experience has taught me the value of time management, communication and producing work that I can be proud of.
Out of the Office
One of my favorite parts of working at BHS is visiting job sites. My role on-site is to capture photos and videos that the marketing team can use for social media and other content. Every visit has given me a better understanding of the construction process and the people who bring these projects to life.
The biggest thing I learned while visiting job sites is that safety is always the number-one priority. No matter the size of the project, wearing a hard hat and safety vest is a nonnegotiable. Seeing the company’s commitment to keeping everyone safe showed me that it is important to find an employer that truly cares about you.
I also enjoyed getting to work with the field crews and finding creative ways to capture content. When going on a site a project manager or superintendent would give us instructions and tell us a little bit about the project before entering. My favorite site I went to this summer was the Midwest Dream Car Collection. Superintendent Jeremy Dold walked my co-worker Katie Bammes and I around explaining how the project was going, any issues they encountered and how they overcame them. It was great to see how willing everyone was to help the marketing team by participating in photos and explaining project details.
Overall, my time on job sites has been one of the most rewarding parts of my internship, allowing me to combine creativity with real-world experience while getting a deeper understanding of the construction industry.
Events
Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to attend several events that played an important role in my learning experience. These events helped me become more connected to the Manhattan community while allowing me to meet new people and build relationships.
Although I have lived in Manhattan for most of my life, I had never experienced Third Thursday until I started my internship at BHS. On the third Thursday of each month, local businesses set up booths downtown with activities, giveaways and opportunities to connect with the community. I had the chance to represent BHS by helping with our booth and leading hands-on construction activities for kids, which was a great way to interact with community members and showcase what BHS does.
I also learned about HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Emerge), an organization focused on helping young professionals connect and become more involved in the Manhattan community. Through attending HYPE events, I was able to meet other young professionals and expand my network. These experiences taught me the importance of community involvement, communication and building relationships both personally and professionally.
More Than a Job
While I gained a lot of valuable experience during my internship, this opportunity provided me with so much more than just professional skills. It helped me build confidence, step outside of my comfort zone, and better understand what I value in a workplace. One of my biggest takeaways was the importance of finding a job that fits your interests and working for an employer who values and supports you. I saw firsthand how BHS treats its employees with respect and creates an environment where people genuinely listen to and support each other. Even when everyone was busy, people always took the time to ask how my day was going or how I was enjoying my internship. I also learned the importance of communication and how seriously BHS takes connecting with both coworkers and clients.
I could not have asked for a better first look into the professional world. Before starting at BHS, I had the idea that interns were treated how they are in movies, by mostly following people around and getting coffee for their bosses, but I quickly learned how wrong I was. When I was given a task, I was trusted with a blank canvas and encouraged to bring my own creativity and ideas to the project. I had the opportunity to work alongside other interns and see the different responsibilities they were given. Whether they were field interns working on projects or office interns completing tasks, everyone was given independence and the ability to make their work their own.
Spending this summer with the BHS team was an experience I will always appreciate. I am walking away with a deeper understanding of real-world marketing, new skills and much more confidence than when I started. I would encourage other young adults who are exploring career paths to consider an internship because it provides a great opportunity to learn what you enjoy and gain experience in a professional setting. I originally thought an internship would be intimidating and that I would simply be told what to do, but my experience at BHS was the complete opposite. The people around me genuinely cared about my experience and were always willing to help me learn. BHS gave me confidence, valuable knowledge and the best first professional experience I could have asked for.
