Cam Courtney's Transition from Intern to Project Safety Coordinator
In June, Cam celebrated his one-year anniversary as a full-time Project Safety Coordinator and is currently working at a renewable energy project in Texas.
It was the spring of 2023, and Cam Courtney was wrapping up a busy construction on-campus recruiting event at Jackson State University in Mississippi.
Cam already had internship offers from two or three of the 100 companies in attendance. He was literally walking out the front door weighing his options when someone grabbed his attention.
It was McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Senior Project Manager Ikenna Okeke and Senior Project Engineer Jay Watson, taking time to connect and introducing him to a different kind of opportunity.
“They stopped me and we ended up talking quite a bit,” Cam recalled. “I was very interested in the type of work they were doing. I also could see they were passionate about what they did and the company they worked for, so that got my attention in a hurry. So did the chance to travel and be on different types of jobs.”
Although McCarthy’s Intern Advantage® program was new to him, the passion and authenticity he saw began to shift Cam’s perspective. Research fueled his curiosity and it wasn’t long before he accepted an internship with McCarthy, starting at the expansive Double Black Diamond renewable energy project in central Illinois.
From day one, Cam discovered that being a McCarthy intern means doing real work, not just observing from the sidelines.
“It was such a good experience there I didn’t want to leave,” said Cam, who admitted there was a short adjustment period working on a remote jobsite in a state far removed from his home in Edwards, Mississippi. “I stayed there a full calendar year. It was amazing. They kept it real with me, didn’t sugarcoat anything. I was a new kid to construction, but it felt like a place that I’d been before. It took me a little while to adjust coming from what I was used to.”
Key mentors like Project Safety Manager Andy Siebert and Assistant Project Safety Manager Kyle Schilling eased his transition and welcomed him as an essential team member.
“I meshed well with the people around me and everybody was willing to help,” Cam said. “Whenever I asked a question, people were always there to give me an answer. I felt like I was a full-time part of the team and even though I was an intern, I had a voice that mattered. That really made a difference.”
Cam’s internship experience lasted a bit longer than most — in his case, 13 months. Once hired full-time in June 2024, he shifted to the Casey Fork renewable energy project in Southern Illinois. He has been working in Texas since March 2025.
Q: What were some of the most valuable lessons learned during your internship?
A: My managers, Andy Siebert and Kyle Schilling, showed me the way. They showed me things that I needed to look for and also how to handle myself if adversity came. All the superintendents were also extremely helpful.
After a bit I was tasked with doing safety orientations, which also proved to be helpful. I would do the orientation and then see the site-specific policies and procedures when we’d go by; they clicked for me when I’d be out in the field. Now it makes total sense.
Q: Why did you choose a construction career?
A: I originally wanted to be an engineer and was majoring in industrial technology with a concentration in emergency management. I was able to go either way — engineering or safety — but once they talked to me about the safety route, I thought that blended better with my personality.
Q: When did you know McCarthy was the right place for you and the right fit?
A: The moment I had my intern kickoff event. That showed me these people work hard and they play hard. If you do the work up front, you can be rewarded, and you don’t go unnoticed. I love the way that people talk to each other and stay in communication.
I also liked the big landscape of the projects being in renewable energy and the travel opportunities. I’m willing to travel and that has created some great experiences.
Q: What sets the McCarthy Internship Advantage program apart from others?
A: When you’re an intern, you’re doing real work. Maybe you feel like an intern for the first couple weeks, but after that you feel like you’re definitely part of the team and see your voice is being heard. You feel like “I’m here, this is my job, this is where I belong — and what I’m here to do.”
Q: Talk about what you do now and the transition from intern to full-time?
A: Honestly, I didn’t feel much of a difference at all. I gained some more responsibility with my new role, but doing full-time duties and responsibilities, I felt like I blended in well. It was a smooth transition for me, nothing too crazy at all. I knew what was going on and what to look for.
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting a McCarthy internship?
A: Take full advantage of it and be sure to ask questions. No question is a dumb question. People know it may be your first time in this work environment, so there’s no reason to be shy or scared. A lot of these folks love when you ask questions because they are so passionate about the work that they do. Be fruitful. Chime in when you can. Listen and just put your best foot forward.
Cam’s journey clearly demonstrates how the McCarthy Intern Advantage® provides not just a foot in the door, but a runway for growth, hands-on learning. His story is a testament to the impact of mentorship, real responsibility and a supportive environment — values at the heart of McCarthy’s approach to developing future construction leaders.
