Heavy Civil Intern – I-91 / I-691 / Rte. 15, Meriden
University of Connecticut, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Class of 2027
Jennifer Ferreira’s internship journey with O&G has been a summer of discovery—both personal and professional. A rising junior studying Civil & Environmental Engineering at UConn, she spent the first half of her internship at O&G’s Torrington main office, where she was introduced to estimating, interpreting site plans, and the fundamentals of the Meriden project. Now embedded with the field team on-site in Meriden, Jennifer is seeing it all come to life.
“Being on-site completely shifted my perspective,” she says. “It’s so much easier to understand what’s on a set of plans when you’re actually seeing it happen in front of you. I’m learning how to visually interpret the plans, review timesheets, and assist with a variety of other tasks in the field office.”
What excites Jennifer most is the complexity of construction and how much continuous learning the industry requires. “Even experienced people face tough challenges that require teamwork and critical thinking,” she notes. “It shows that no matter how long you’ve been doing this, you’re always learning something new.”
Adjusting to the fast pace and technical depth of a construction environment wasn’t easy at first. As someone still early in her engineering studies, Jennifer found herself grappling with unfamiliar terms and concepts. “There was a lot I hadn’t covered yet in school, and I didn’t always know what people were talking about,” she says. “But I realized it’s okay to ask questions and do extra research. Now that I’ve made it through those first few weeks, everything is starting to come together, and I can see how the early lessons connect to the bigger picture.”
One thing that surprised her? The sheer volume of regulations—especially related to environmental compliance. “There’s so much paperwork and approval that goes into every step. At one point, we had to build a ramp for turtles to avoid disrupting their habitat—only for them to be eaten by foxes or other animals,” she laughs. “But as someone who’s also studying environmental engineering, I appreciate how seriously O&G takes their responsibility to the environment.”
Jennifer credits mentors like Aaron Gable, Bruce Gaudet, Ryan Ohalpin, Chris McPadden, Kevin O’Connell, and John Rouleau for helping her navigate her experience and develop confidence. “They’ve made me feel comfortable asking questions and trying new things. Even the smallest aspects of a design can have a huge impact, and I’m learning how important attention to detail really is.”
Jennifer didn’t initially plan to pursue construction, but this hands-on experience changed that. “I knew I didn’t want to be stuck behind a desk, isolated from my coworkers. This internship showed me how rewarding it is to be part of the construction side—seeing real progress, facing real challenges, and working through them with a team.”
It was a chance encounter at a career fair that brought her to O&G. A friend had mentioned the company, and after a conversation with Colton Reardon from the Heavy Civil Division, she was convinced to apply. “I’m really glad I did. The people here are so willing to teach and support you.”
To future interns, she offers this advice: “Don’t be afraid to be yourself. It can be intimidating to enter a new space, especially surrounded by people with more experience, but being open and curious makes all the difference. Don’t pretend to know everything—ask questions, take notes, and soak in as much as you can.”
Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys hiking, working out, and cooking or baking. She’s already cooking up big plans for her career, too—and with her drive, curiosity, and openness to learn, she’s well on her way.
