From Intern to Mentor: Supporting Early Career Development

After experiencing meaningful opportunities and mentorship early in his career, Ryan Bruggeman, Senior Project Manager, has made it his mission to help other early career professionals explore opportunities in the AEC industry through his involvement in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Regions 6 & 7 competition. This annual competition allows students to test their skills, build industry connections, and explore potential careers, while also giving Ryan the opportunity to give back to those just starting their careers.

Ryan's introduction to Southland came during a Design-Build Institute of America event in college, where he met Southland retiree, Phill Phillips. Inspired by that encounter, he joined Southland in 2011 as a project management intern while earning his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from California State University, Chico. After graduation, he transitioned into a full-time role as a preconstruction engineer in our Northern California Division. 

How Ryan's career experience shaped his approach to mentorship 

Over the years, Ryan's experiences at Southland shaped his approach to leadership and mentorship. Starting as an intern and progressing through roles that celebrated both individual and team successes, he developed a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the industry. 

"Projects can be very demanding and challenging at times. It is crucial that our team members celebrate the good that we all do every day. Sharing these moments with our teams is always rewarding and helps us drive forward," he shared. 

This mindset – celebrating successes, big and small – is something that Ryan brings to his work with the ASC competition. Just as project milestones are recognized and celebrated in construction, Ryan sees the competition as a way to celebrate and support the growth of early career professionals. By guiding students as they tackle theoretical complex project challenges and cheering their accomplishments at the end of the competition, Ryan exemplifies our people first approach that empowers employees to shape their own career paths. 

Supporting early career development through ASC 

"As a host, Southland creates the mock problem that students are given to work on at the competition. Each year the problem host company rotates between the four different MCA companies involved, which helps drive great competition each year," Ryan explained. 

As a judge, Ryan draws on his experience as a former competitor to evaluate student presentations and provide meaningful feedback. "By the end of the competition, students often know if this industry is for them or not," Ryan noted. 

For Ryan, one of the most memorable parts of the event is the awards ceremony. "Hearing over 600 people cheer for their school's team when they win an award is still to this day very rewarding," he said. 

Mentoring the next generation 

The ASC competition isn't just about solving problems — it is about sparking interest in the AEC industry and creating lasting connections. Beyond the competition, students gain invaluable networking opportunities through career fairs and industry events.Ryan sees mentorship as an obligation for industry professionals.

"Just as the trade unions have an obligation to support their up-and-coming members, the design and operations groups have an obligation to give back and support their soon to be industry peers," he emphasized.  

With companies actively seeking project management professionals, sparking early interest in the AEC industry is crucial. Having participated in ASC and started his own career as a Southland intern, Ryan advises early career professionals to take full advantage of such events. 

"These types of events are a way for the students to test drive their career prior to signing on with a company upon graduation. In a way, it is like a fast-tracked internship," he shared. 

Ryan's own career experience from Southland intern to ASC judge and mentor highlights how career development does not stop at graduation. Within Southland, employees are encouraged to continually develop their skills, share their voice, and see the bigger picture of their contributions to the AEC industry. 

"Southland's design-build experience helps us leverage our employees' well-rounded skills. Our teams know that they will be around from conception through commissioning. Because of this, our input on the job always helps push project teams to look forward and see the bigger picture."