Building Careers from the Ground Up
CMSWillowbrook builds more than just buildings. We also build careers, developing employees to make our team the best in the construction industry.
Many of our full-time employees started as part-time interns, including myself. I had just finished my freshman year at Oklahoma State University (OSU) when I started working at CMSWillowbrook as a project intern almost 14 years ago. My time on the jobsite early in my construction management education gave me incredible real-world experience.
CMSWillowbrook employs eight to 10 interns each summer. The students spend most of their time on project sites, but they also work full days with company specialists, including the safety director and building information modeling (BIM) coordinator. The one-on-one time allows the interns to see the big picture and learn about the large organizational support system required to build value for our clients.
We find many of our interns and new employees through career fairs at local universities. They come to us with a solid foundation of knowledge, and we build upon it using our online learning management system and on-the-job training. We also provide opportunities to attend industry seminars and conferences put on by organizations like the Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma.
The CMSWillowbrook professional development program centers around more than 50 courses in our learning management system. We developed the custom content in-house, and it features learning paths specific to roles such as project engineer, project manager and superintendent. The program takes up to six months to complete, and the first module introduces new employees to our company’s culture.
Finding talented employees isn’t as hard as finding people who share our values. We pride ourselves on proactive safety measures and are committed to delivering the highest quality product at the best price. We work hard, and we don’t stop until the job is done right. Not everyone has the same principles, which is why we hire people right out of school and mold them to be future company leaders.
Like myself, many of our interns have advanced through the company and now hold various roles throughout the organization. Considering the data showing a shortage of skilled labor in construction, CMSWillowbrook is committed to training and developing our employees from within. Additionally, we added 15 jobs in the last year and filled them with top talent.
A career in construction is challenging and rewarding. For me, building something I am proud of is one of the best feelings in the world. If you’re ready to join the fun, visit our website and let’s start building your career together.
Angelo Bradford, DBIA is the vice president of operations at CMSWillowbrook