Business Mentoring

Dennis Corporation regularly recruits individuals for the mentoring program at high schools, universities, career fairs and trade shows. Mentoring candidates are recruited from two specific core groups of disadvantaged and minority individuals. These groups include local high school students who may not be academically prepared or financially able to continue their higher education. The second group includes local residents, either employed or unemployed, seeking a career in an engineering related field. By implementing this dual program, a broad base of candidates can be reached.

Once an individual has decided to accept a formal mentoring position, the process of identifying the developmental assignments begins. Civil Engineering, especially the business of designing and constructing public infrastructure, is a diverse field. Two career tracks are prevalent among those who enter it; the office environment and the field environment. It is common for an entry level candidate to prefer one over the other. The targeted positions include:

SITE DESIGN TECHNICIANS	CAD TECHNICIANS	INSPECTORS
TESTING TECHNICIANS	ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS	ROADWAY DESIGN TECHNICIANS
HYDROLOGY DESIGN TECHNICIANS	STRUCTURAL TECHNICIANS

 

Dennis Corporation’s Mentoring Program will ensure that the developmental assignment will begin with this key decision being made first. Developmental assignments in the field will follow a construction services track while those in the office will follow a CAD technician or designer track.

 

Additional Mentoring Participation

Business Development Academy

Dennis Corporation also participates in the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s Business Development Academy. The goal of this program is to provide business development assistance to South Carolina certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE). The programs offered by the academy include the Entrepreneurial Development Institute (EDI). Our staff worked closely with the EDI to develop marketing presentations and training to mentor DBE firms in South Carolina.

Entrepreneurial Development Institute Program (EDIP)

Dennis Corporation has also been involved with the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s Entrepreneurial Development Institute Program(EDIP). EDIP is a unique and innovative training program designed to provide hands-on, practical training geared toward realistic situations. Site visits are incorporated in the training to build the skill level of business owners and key business topics are covered at an advanced level to provide specific, job relevant training.

Mentoring / Protege Program

Dennis Corporation also has participated in a mentoring/protégé program with the South Carolina Department of Transportation. This program, which Dennis Corporation helped to develop, assists Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms by providing management and technical assistance to increase the capacity and number of DBE firms in non-traditional highway design, construction and maintenance areas.

The goals of this program are to expand the amount of DBE’s which conduct business with SCDOT, increase competition in bidding on projects, improve skills such as negotiation, interpretation and execution of contracts and improve financial positions.

Job Shadowing Program

Continuing our commitment to mentoring students, Dennis Corporation has also participated in high school job shadowing programs in conjunction with a variety of school districts. This program allows high school students to shadow industry professionals and spend a day learning about the field of engineering and construction management.

While here, the students spend the day shadowing each division manager and learning about the different opportunities within the engineering and construction management industry. The students spend the day learning about civil infrastructure, construction management, construction services, forensic engineering, traffic engineering or transportation engineering.

Dennis Corporation welcomes the opportunity to share the advantages of the engineering and construction management industry with these students, while showing them a variety of career options for students hoping to pursue technical careers. These students appreciate the experience and look forward to pursuing careers in this field.

If you are interested in learning more about the Job Shadowing Program, please email your questions and contact information to info@denniscorporation.com.

The following testimonials illustrate the invaluable experience that Dennis Corporation’s Job Shadowing Program has given.

“It was a great opportunity to find out how a good civil engineering firm operates on a daily basis. The experience was very informative and fun. Now I know what is ahead in my future in this career.”
– Taylor Wade, Fairfield County High Schools

“This gave me an opportunity to see if this work environment is one in which I might be comfortable in the future.”
– Andrew Drake, Fairfield County High Schools

“Overall, I learned many things from this experience and I’d be lucky to come back and work there in the future. Dennis Corporation is a business based on honor, courtesy, value, and proficiency; I loved working there and hope to see it grow to bigger and better things in the future.”
– Garrett Hutter, Spring Valley High School

Student Internships

Dennis Corporation recognizes the unique value of internship programs and on-the-job training opportunities in mentoring students for a career in the engineering and construction management professions. These interns, who work for different divisions of the firm, gain important experience from hands on work that they cannot receive in school.

If you are interested in an internship with Dennis Corporation in the following departments, please email your resume to info@denniscorporation.com:

• Civil Engineering
• Construction Management
• Special Inspections
• Accounting
• Marketing

The following testimonials illustrate the invaluable experience that Dennis Corporation’s Internship Program has given these students.

“Working as an Engineering Intern, I was given the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and use different design programs. It gave me the opportunity to experience the different branches of Civil Engineering and expand on what I have learned in school. Working for Dennis Corporation has been an amazing experience.”
– Brent Bachelor, Civil Engineering Intern

“My time as an engineering intern at Dennis Corporation has provided me so much practical experience. I learned about every step in the engineering process by working on a number of different projects throughout the summer. The skills I gained here will certainly help me with my career in the future.”
– Claire Cole, Civil Engineering Intern

“As a marketing intern at Dennis Corporation I had the unique opportunity of enhancing my marketing skills while working alongside accounting, construction management, marketing, and engineering managers. By working on challenging projects that required collaboration across multiple departments, I was able to gain invaluable experience and insight into all aspects of business. Participating in the internship has undoubtedly been a crucial part of my continued development into a well rounded business professional.”
– Shane Brown, Marketing Intern

“While being a Marketing Intern, I have developed skills that are invaluable to my future and have found the confidence to utilize these skills in a business environment. Words cannot describe how thankful I am to have had this opportunity to work with such a wonderful group of people and for my overall experience here at Dennis Corporation!”
– Laurin Beckroge, Marketing Intern

“I know that internships are an important way to set yourself apart when seeking a corporate position after college. At Dennis Corporation, I have learned so much immersed in the quick-paced Marketing Department. Each day, I am encouraged to grow and push myself with challenging projects. I feel that because of my work at Dennis Corporation, I am better prepared for the ‘real world’ when I graduate. It has been a great experience, and I would encourage any student to participate in an internship program near them.”
– Carolina Lechner, Marketing Intern

“Dennis Corporation has really helped me to learn a lot of the processes involved in design engineering. Everyone at Dennis Corporation does such a tremendous job making you feel right at home. With so many ongoing projects, I have learned something new every day.”
– Cody Mangano, Civil Engineering Intern

“Working at Dennis Corporation as an intern has given me exposure to accounting within the engineering industry. The internship has prepared me both personally and professionally by giving me a real-world experience through dynamic responsibilities and opportunities to learn a lot. I enjoy working as an intern due to the flexibility and supportive environment. The diversified experience I have gained will go a long way in my future career.”
– Hazel Okwaro, Accounting Intern

“Interning for Dennis Corporation is a fast paced, challenging, and hands on experience. Right away, you’re awarded the opportunity to take the information learned in the classroom and put it to practical use. The challenges faced also give room for quick and easy development in your field of study. You’re able to take the lessons learned while an intern and use them for advancement both in the classroom and in all future career endeavors. The experience gained while interning at Dennis Corporation will definitely prepare me for the obstacles to come in my career.”
– Mark Matthews, Accounting Intern

“Being an intern for Dennis Corporation has taught me many important skills used in the professional world. The amount of experience I have gained from working with colleagues and clients is invaluable.”
– Jeff Karetnick, Marketing Intern

“Working as an intern with Dennis Corporation, I was able to gain valuable experience to prepare me for a career in Civil Infrastructure. Now as an engineer, I am able to apply what I have learned as an intern and in the classroom on projects for clients.”
– Kimberly Swygert, Civil Engineering Intern

“My two years at Dennis Corporation helped me to develop skills that I have been able to use during my internship, as well as in my future career. Dennis Corporation allowed me to think outside the box in order to attain team goals that drove the success of the company. I know that my experience with Dennis Corporation is going to benefit me for the rest of my life.”
– Asher Hannah,  Marketing Intern

“Dennis Corporation helped me get hands-on experience in my field of study, which is Civil Engineering. I assisted in designing many different types of projects, which also helped me understand subjects covered in my engineering classes.”
– Yesim Yazgan, EIT, Civil Engineering Intern

“Dennis Corporation provided much more experience in a few days than an entire semester as a student in my junior year of a Civil Engineering program. The vast spectrum of projects and opportunities allowed me to develop multiple skills in various areas involved in the engineering community, rather than just a narrow field of expertise. The working environment was supportive, encouraging and resourceful.”
– Matthew Watson, EIT, Civil Engineering Intern