Cochran, Inc’s Post

The USGBC California Green Building Corps (GBC) represents a structured internship initiative that offers participants a valuable chance to gain practical experience, forge connections, and actively contribute to green building projects. The objective is to enhance the overall well-being, affordability, and sustainability of California for all its residents. Participants in this program extend their support to various projects, including the USGBC California Annual Environmental Justice Project, Green Schools microgrant initiatives, the California Native Plant Landscape Curriculum, as well as other chapter programs and member groups. Additionally, green building projects are identified from within architecture, engineering, and construction firms, sustainability consultancies, public agencies, and community partners. The goal is for these projects to yield public or community benefits, enabling those seeking opportunities to acquire hands-on experience, foster connections, and strengthen their positioning for future employment. https://lnkd.in/ghNdjxjU

On July 25th we hosted an event specifically designed to engage summer interns from local industry firms. LCI was excited for their own 2024 summer intern, Ryan Hydrick to participate and got his unique perspective. “This past Thursday, I attended the Lean Coffee and Intern Networking Event at Southland Industries in Dulles, VA. During the event, I worked with a team of three other interns to write instructions for building a tower with different shaped blocks based on a picture. Our task was to create instructions that anyone would be able to follow to build the tower. We deliberated within our groups and our instructions made sense to us. When the instructor took the picture away, we were still able to build our tower correctly. We then switched with another group, and had to rely on their instructions to build the tower. Because this group’s instructions were detailed and organized, our group was able to build the tower correctly, without the picture. However, the group that attempted to build the tower using my group’s instructions struggled. Our directions, while they made sense to us, lacked detail, and missed important information, mainly where certain shapes should be placed in relation to other shapes. The LCI Last Planner System® is a tool that helps establish a predictable workflow, and as writing the instructions for the block tower taught us, being able to illustrate how something should be assembled is crucial for the success of the construction team. Furthermore, the Last Planner System® is not simply a way to increase efficiency or output, but a method crucial for the successful implementation of any project. After the workshop, I talked to several construction and design interns about their educational and career goals, and how they view Lean principals influencing the industry for years to come. While my career goals may not align perfectly with the field of construction, attending this event was insightful, giving me a look into how Lean principals not only benefit the construction industry, but also how Lean principals can be implemented into any profession.” We thank Ryan for his participation in the event and openly sharing his experience! We also wish Ryan all the best as he returns his focus to pursuing his education at Hendrix College, in Conway, Arkansas.

Investing in our future generations is so important

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ Here's to a year of: 🧱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 with quality Perth home builders, creating bespoke homes that stand out, 🧱 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 of bricklaying and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the home building industry, 🧱 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 by nurturing talent through apprenticeships, ensuring excellence for years to come, 🧱 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 to tidy sites, different levels of experience, and a team that cares about every project, and; 🧱 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, whether it's experimenting with unique brick styles or custom mortar colours.

🌟 Celebrating the Heartbeat of Progress: Scottish Apprenticeships 🌟 In the intricate tapestry of Scotland's Skills Generation, apprenticeships emerge as the threads that weave success and innovation. 🚀 This #ScotAppWeek24, let's extend our heartfelt appreciation to the apprentices, mentors, and businesses crafting a future rich in skills and possibilities. 🛠️💡 Apprenticeships are the keys unlocking doors to a brighter, more skilled tomorrow. Let's champion the spirit of learning, growth, and empowerment! 🌐💪 #Apprenticeships #SkillsGeneration #ScotlandInnovates #futureofwork

Summer student update! Check out what Veronica Valdez, class of 2025 has been up to this summer: Q: What's the name of the company you were working for? A: Barton Malow Company Q: Where were you located? A: Hawks, MI Q: What were your major responsibilities? A: Productivity Tracking, Remediation Logging, and Quality Checks in the field. Q: What was your favorite part of the experience? A: Being able to experience and learn from multiple scopes of work like Civil, Pile, Modules, and Logistics. The Amish bakery down the road has been pretty cool too.

This summer, I moved across the country to San Diego, CA to participate in Fairfield Residential’s esteemed rotational program in their corporate office. I have gained a wealth of experience across different rotations, each contributing uniquely to my understanding of the private equity real estate industry. Portfolio Management: Throughout my rotation in portfolio management, I reported quarterly investment updates to our institutional investors. I prepared Offering Memorandums, made capital calls, and presented investment metrics tailored to each fund strategy. My responsibilities included updating the Core-Plus 1, 2, and Value-Add 3, 4 funds, collectively exceeding $4 billion in equity. Development: During my development rotation, I utilized complex financial models to underwrite properties and achieve a respective Return on Cost. Fairfield’s vertical integration exposed me to the intricacies of construction and property management functions. I learned firsthand from superintendents and toured four development properties in various phases. Research: I conducted comprehensive market analysis in prospective markets using tools like Yardi Matrix, Power BI, RedIQ, Green Street, and Witten Advisors. I gathered rent comps, developed market theses, and researched growth rates, both historical and forecasted. Asset Management: In asset management, I focused on revenue-maximizing assets by lowering expenses, examining lease rent options, analyzing competitive rents, and exploring Fairfield’s Asset Management Dashboard with Power BI. I learned the critical role of an asset manager in responding to issues and maintaining property portfolio awareness, ensuring investor inquiries are addressed efficiently Acquisitions: I underwrote active deals, learned investment strategies, and participated in pipeline meetings. This experience solidified my understanding of why Fairfield acquires specific properties, its investment decisions, and allowed me to participate in officer market calls. This diverse and comprehensive internship experience has been instrumental in my professional development. I am deeply grateful to Derek Fritz for running the intern program and providing such a rich learning environment. The culmination of my efforts and learning was delivering a capstone project, where I presented a secondary market—Winston-Salem—for Fairfield to invest in, backed by thorough market research. Thank you, Fairfield Residential, for this incredible opportunity and for supporting my growth in the real estate industry. I am excited about the future and look forward to applying the skills and knowledge I have gained in my career. #Internship #RealEstate #FairfieldResidential #InvestmentAnalysis #MarketResearch #PortfolioManagement #Acquisitions #AssetManagement #Development

🚧 Building a Diverse Future 🛠️ Diversity is not just a buzzword; it's the scaffolding for innovation in the construction industry. As we lay the foundations for tomorrow's skylines, it's crucial that the workforce reflects the rich tapestry of society. Here's how we can reinforce diversity within our ranks: 👷♀️ Expand Recruitment Horizons: Let's start at the source. Broadening our recruitment efforts to reach underrepresented groups is a concrete step towards a more inclusive workforce. Engaging with schools, offering internships, and partnering with diverse organizations can bring fresh perspectives to our projects. 🎓 Invest in Education: Knowledge is a tool as powerful as any crane or drill. By investing in education and training programs, we can equip a wider array of individuals with the skills needed to excel in construction. Scholarships and apprenticeships can pave the way for those who might not have considered this path due to socioeconomic barriers. 🤝 Foster an Inclusive Culture: A hard hat does not, and should not, come in just one size. Creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected is key. This means active listening, continuous dialogue, and policies that celebrate differences. It's about building bridges, not just buildings. 📈 Track Progress: What gets measured gets done. By setting diversity goals and monitoring our progress, we can ensure that our efforts are more than just window dressing. Transparency in hiring practices and career progression opportunities can hold us accountable and drive continuous improvement. #DiversityInConstruction #InclusiveWorkforce #BuildingTogether By championing diversity, we're not just constructing buildings; we're shaping a more dynamic and resilient industry. Let's join beams and hands to build a workforce as diverse as the communities we serve. 🌐🤝🏗️ #ConstructionDiversity #InclusiveBuilding #FutureOfWork

Year 3 of my Degree Apprenticeship done! Final semester ended with a 1:1 in my Design 202 module! 💪 Thankyou to my tutors Elham Valikhani and Elisavet Hasa for all your guidance and support this year. Have a read of the synopsis of my project below: 'REGENERA(TIZE)ATION' Regenerat(ion)e: (of a living organism) grow (new tissue) after loss or damage. Acclimatiz(ation)e: To change to suite different conditions of life. Many areas of London are witnessing a transformation of their social and economic landscapes. The process of gentrification inevitably causes repercussions that hinder the local ‘uniqueness’ and affordability of the  area. My investigation revolves around the transformation of the Deptford community to adapt to and thrive within the rapidly developing borough. The project is designed as an interpretation of contextual findings where a fusion of radial and linear geometry are used to maintain and enhance the rich history and key views of the site. The architecture embraces and responds to the immediate landscape to provide an experience for the traveller, audience and resident. 

I’ve learned, as my internship with Greystar is now complete, that development is rooted in community. From the in-office team to the on-site team, investors, consultants, and the tenants, it’s clear that to truly invest and grow in this sector of real estate, there must be a passion for connecting individuals to solutions. My goal was to develop a retroactive development cost yield model that could account for being accretive as interest rates and construction costs fluctuate. While this was my capstone, I learned and had a lot of help from teams in property, #construction, investment, and asset management with how to utilize capital efficiently to find the highest and best use for land. It all came down to a vision for dirt. As magnificent as the final product may appear, the diligence the teams take to prioritize investor’s demands while ensuring an opportunity to trade the asset in forecasted years is amazing work. I truly appreciated the opportunity to work alongside my mentors—Jordan Egan , Kurt Hoelscher, Ashley Zubizarreta, Remy Midkiff, Mai Olaussen, and Brian Herwald — as we navigated different underwriting processes, investments, and discussions about what it takes to achieve solutions in this business. I gained skills in market analysis, financial modeling with and without tax abatements, site and market analysis, contract litigation, quality control, valuation techniques, and observed cross-team leadership—all in just 10 weeks. From the first day, the train never stopped moving, and the learning was an inclusive and immersive experience. This opportunity has encouraged me to continue pursuing my career goal of introducing infrastructure-led development to communities in need of attainable mixed-use #housing. The view is from the office, one of the many to help the team decompress when the investments needed just a little extra time to pencil out. With all that said, I’ll be continuing to work alongside the Houston Development team as a program manager for Project Destined annual Greystar Development Cup. This opportunity will allow me to keep working with the Houston development team and encourage others to pursue their passions for becoming future real estate owners. #internship #realestate #engineering