Eastman Cooke is committed to helping emerging young professionals develop their skills in the construction field. Under the supervision of Superintendent Ray Ruggiano and Assistant Superintendents Paul Weiss and Jacob Kunken, our hard-working intern, Andrew Malacrea, assisted teams with labeling/reading plans, toolbox talks, daily reports and photographs throughout the summer.

While shadowing Ray, Paul and Jacob at the 51^st Street Regent Medical Center in Manhattan (the site of a major project for the firm), Andrew gained hands-on experience and valuable insight into the construction field. He learned about each trade’s roles and responsibilities and how individual tasks can impact the progress of a job.

Watching superintendents interact with laborers enabled Andrew to learn important leadership skills, including how to successfully manage crew members to accomplish the best work possible on time and on budget. Attending meetings with subcontractors and owners exposed Andrew to the strategic planning of a project and the importance of teamwork to provide innovative solutions and foster strong client relationships.

Commenting on his internship, Andrew said, “Working with Eastman Cooke this summer has been a pleasure and has given me invaluable real-world experience that no textbook or college course could replicate.”

Andrew completed his internship on August 15^th. As a parting gift, several tradesmen signed Andrew’s hard hat to commemorate his memorable summer at Eastman Cooke.

Many thanks to Ray, Paul and Jacob for showing Andrew the ropes, and to Andrew for his drive, enthusiasm and outstanding contributions. We wish him the best of luck on his journey!