MCA-Omaha Leadership Academy

2025 Internship Spotlight: Jaksen Wonderlich

"This summer I am working for The Waldinger Corporation as a Mechanical Intern. The job I’m working on is the new Meta Data Center in Springfield, NE. A typical day for me looks like showing up at the site at 7:30 and meeting with my Project Manager who mentors me. From there I’ll work on various tasks throughout the day like submittals, replying to emails, sitting in on meetings, and updating site progress photos. Through my internship I’ve learned about my growing passion for project management and working closely on a team with people."

Company: The Waldinger Corporation
Title: Mechanical Intern
Expected Graduation Date: May 2027
Major: Construction Management

2025 Internship Spotlight: Anthony Lewis

"Working as a Project Engineering Intern at Prairie Mechanical has been the most valuable and exciting experience of my career so far. In just a short time, I’ve gained more real-world knowledge than I ever could have imagined, far beyond what I’ve learned in the classroom. Seeing concepts from my construction management courses come to life, like submittal processes, equipment procurement, and coordination with other trades, has truly cemented my understanding of the industry. One of my favorite learning moments was helping track the delivery and installation timeline for critical mechanical equipment like VAVs and ERVs and seeing how that impacted labor planning and coordination with other trades. It forced me to think ahead, adapt when lead times shifted, and communicate with both field teams and suppliers. That hands-on experience made me realize how much I enjoy the fast-paced, problem-solving side of project management.

The team at Prairie is what makes this place special. Everyone is approachable, knowledgeable, and genuinely wants to help me grow. They don’t just treat me like an intern, they treat me like a future professional. Every day is a chance to learn something new, face challenges head-on, and build something that actually matters. Being here has confirmed that this is the industry I want to be in, and Prairie Mechanical is exactly the kind of company I want to grow with. I’d like to thank everyone at Prairie for such an amazing summer!"

Company: Prairie Mechanical Corporation
Title: Project Engineering Intern
Expected Graduation Date: May 2026
Major: Construction Management

2025 Internship Spotlight: Jazmin Regelado Manzo

"This summer I had the opportunity to intern at Waldinger and work alongside project managers/project engineers. I was on site all summer and got to be part of a really cool project. I learned a lot about chillers, pumps, submittals and RFIs and even got to see how pipe racks are built when I visited the shop. One of the highlights for me was watching a crane pick in person which was super cool to see. Being in meetings showed me how important communication is and overall this experience made me more confident. I loved how welcoming and supportive everyone at Waldinger was which made the whole internship even better."

Company: The Waldinger Corporation
Title: Mechanical Intern
Expected Graduation Date: May 2026
Major: Architectural Engineering with a focus in Mechanical

2025 Internship Spotlight: Garrett Dittmer

"During my time at Helm, I have learned the ins and outs of mechanical construction as well as learning more about the ways that mechanical contracting companies operate. I have also learned about the behind the scenes work that a project manager does on a day-to-day basis. I have enjoyed getting to know everybody that I work with and also having the opportunity to help with the projects that Helm Mechanical is doing in the Omaha area. One of my biggest contributions this summer has been the organization of the schedule to ensure that our guys are getting the opportunity to complete everything within the timeframe originally given to them."

Company: Helm Mechanical
Title: Project Intern
Expected Graduation Date: May 2028
Major: Mechanical Engineering

2025 Internship Spotlight: Coleton Haggin

"This summer I got the opportunity to take an internship with Hayes Mechanical. In my time with the company so far, I have learned a lot about the industry that I was previously unaware of. Hayes has provided me with the opportunity to learn by being on job sites where I can see things go from the office to construction firsthand. I have had the opportunity to be involved on projects that grow my interest in the industry. Every day I see something that I can relate to my coursework and learn how my classes apply in real life. I am very grateful for this opportunity Hayes has provided for me and couldn't be happier with how things are going!"

Company: Hayes Mechanical
Title: Intern
Expected Graduation Date: May 2027
Major: Mechanical Engineering

Spring 2025 Graduation Spotlight: Matt Nanfito

"Joining the MCA-Omaha Leadership Academy was one of the best decisions I made in college. As Recruitment Chair, I had the chance to grow as a leader while connecting with industry professionals and fellow students. Events like Heats On and Block Kids made giving back meaningful and fun.

The Academy helped me land a summer internship with Waldinger which eventually prepared me for my new role with DualTemp Clauger in the Chicagoland area. To any student on the fence—get involved. The connections, experience, and opportunities are worth it.

Huge thanks to Dual Temp Clauger and everyone at MCA-Omaha for the continued support! Excited for the next adventure in Chicago!"

Post Graduation Plans:
DualTemp Clauger | Project Engineer

2025 Internship Spotlight: Jovanie Najar

"Having worked for Mainelli Mechanical for 1 and a half years I'd say the primary thing I've learned though this internship is the importance of organization. I work with the project managers to help create system manuals and with the many pieces of equipment we install it can be easy to get overwhelmed with documents, so organization has been essential. A new aspect I've gotten into this year is assisting with material procurement for projects on site which has been a welcome challenge in this internship. Jason Kempenar and both Mike Barnes and Mike Taylor have been great with assisting me with any questions I have on the job and I'm thankful for all of them and this continued opportunity."

Company: Mainelli Mechanical
Title: Intern
Expected Graduation Date: May 2026
Major: Construction Management with Business Minor

2025 Internship Spotlight: Kyla Magee

"This summer, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work with both Cerris Systems and Electric Company of Omaha!

My past year with Cerris Systems has been an incredible journey, full of personal and professional growth. I was looking forward to spending another summer refining my project management skills and taking on more responsibility in a familiar environment. That was until I was presented with the exciting opportunity to work with Electric Company of Omaha as well.

At first, I felt a bit intimidated since I had no prior knowledge of electrical systems. But that’s exactly why I knew I needed to jump at this chance. This experience has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and deepen my understanding about the “E” in MEP and the construction industry as a whole. Plus, I’ve had the chance to wear many hats - literally.

Overall, I am so thankful for all the support and flexibility that Cerris Systems and Electric Company of Omaha have offered me throughout my internship journey so far. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience this summer, and I am excited to continue learning and hopefully become an MEP Pro."

Company: Cerris Systems
Title: Project Engineering Intern
Expected Graduation Date: December 2025
Major: Construction Engineering

2025 Internship Spotlight: Cliff Caryk

"At Christopherson Mechanical, I have been hands-on doing total station and survey work locating drains for plumbers and assisting in setting pex for radiant floor heat for a car wash. I have also started getting experience using FastPipe and estimating. I am excited to get into the mechanical industry as I’ve always had an appreciation for construction and building things. I am excited to continue in this industry as no 2 jobs are the same. The biggest obstacles I have had to overcome would be the transition from the military back into the civilian work force, it is structured similar but does have slight nuances that I am learning daily. Fortunately, the people I work with in the office are great at teaching me the job and have really set the standard for how a Mechanical Contractor should operate."

Company: Christopherson Mechanical
Title: Intern
Expected Graduation Date: December 2027
Major: Construction Management

2025 Internship Spotlight: Jeff Woodard

"This summer I was given the opportunity to move to the Project Health mechanical team. The chance to be a part of such a large scale and unique project is both very exciting and daunting to me. Because the integrated project delivery method is so new to Nebraska and not covered much in the university’s curriculum I expect a lot of challenges over the course of the summer and I look forward to those challenges as opportunities to learn and to grow my understanding of alternative project delivery methods as industry trends evolve and builders are expected to adapt in the future."

Company: Mainelli Mechanical
Title: Intern
Expected Graduation Date: May 2026
Major: Construction Management

Spring 2025 Graduation Spotlight: Ben Barnes

"I'm really happy with my decision to join the leadership academy because of the cool experiences and new friendships it brought me throughout my college career. Being involved in the academy for three years and attending academy events and conferences gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of really cool people and gain invaluable experience and insight into the industry that I could not have gotten otherwise.

My advice to current and future members is to take advantage of all the opportunities and experiences that are given to you throughout your time in the academy. Whether that be events, conferences, or internships - just try to gain as much experience as possible and get out of your comfort zone."

Post Graduation Plans:
Mechanical Systems | Project Manager

Spring 2025 Graduation Spotlight: Logan Jaixen

"MCA-Omaha leadership Academy has provided me with numerous opportunities throughout my college career. I joined the academy as a freshman and was a member for all four years, where I got the chance to meet other members as well as people in the industry. MCA introduced me to contracting industry and provided me with chances to volunteer at events such as Heats On, participate in internships, and gain industry knowledge and connections.

My advice for future members is to take advantage of all the opportunities that MCA has to offer. The organization does a great job with providing students with chances to travel, network with people in the industry, get connected to internships in the industry, volunteer events, and many other great opportunities. The experiences and skills learned in MCA provide a huge advantage in becoming a better student and employee."

Post Graduation Plans:
Cerris Systems | Project Engineer