Developing the Next Generation of Project Managers at Northstar
July 2026
At Northstar, we believe that introducing students to the AEC industry early can open doors to career paths they may not have known existed or considered. Many of us came from diverse backgrounds and, as students, were unfamiliar with careers in architecture, engineering, and construction and had never heard of the owner’s project manager (OPM) role.
As owner’s project managers, we help guide projects from planning and design through construction and closeout, coordinating teams, schedules, budgets, and client goals along the way. Inspired by our own experiences, Northstar’s Internship Committee actively participates in student outreach and has developed a co-op program to help emerging talent explore the industry.
Student Outreach – Poster Sessions, Job Shadowing, and Speaker Panels
Through partnerships with the Professional Women in Construction Boston Chapter and Haley & Aldrich, Northstar team members Dominic Caporale, Chase Connell, and Cameron Feeley have participated in student poster sessions at Roxbury Community College, Codman Academy Charter Public School, and UMass Boston. These sessions give our team the opportunity to have a casual conversation about the role of an OPM and share real-world project examples.
Recently, we hosted a three-day job-shadowing experience for a 12th-grade student from Codman Academy who planned to pursue mechanical engineering. On the first day, the team provided an overview of project management. On the second day, we walked him through mechanical drawings and led a fly-through of a BIM coordination model. To close out the shadow experience, our team took the student on a site tour of a mechanically intensive building-repositioning project. With drawings in hand, he connected the 2D plans to the final installation in the field. These moments, when a student can see the relationship between drawings, models, coordination, and the built space, are often when the work begins to click.
Internship Program
Our commitment to student engagement extends beyond individual events. Through longstanding partnerships with programs and institutions such as CREST, Northstar recruits interns each semester who are eager to explore careers in the AEC industry. Since launching our internship program in 2021, we have welcomed 18 students from Wentworth Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, Boston College, Bentley University, Babson College, Boston Architectural College, Bunker Hill Community College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Many of our former interns have successfully transitioned into full-time roles within the AEC industry, including two of our own team members, Olivia Pedro and Pratiksha Gade, who began their journeys as Northstar interns and joined the firm full-time after graduation.
During each internship, students are assigned to multiple projects at different phases of development, providing exposure to both planning and design and active construction. Every project offers unique learning opportunities, from understanding how teams communicate and make decisions to seeing how challenges are addressed and priorities evolve throughout a project’s lifecycle. Interns also work alongside a variety of project teams, gaining insight into different leadership styles and project management approaches.
“Each day at Northstar has brought exciting learning opportunities, from gaining hands-on experience through a variety of projects, such as strategically collaborating with the team during the planning and design phases of life science projects, to completing detail-oriented punch list items in higher education facilities, while also diving into market research, financial management, and much more. The insight, skills, and leadership qualities I’ve gained through the mentorship at Northstar have given me great confidence as I continue to grow within the industry.” – John Mazza, Northstar Intern
Northstar places a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration, site walks, and field observations because these experiences provide a valuable foundation for a career in the industry. By giving students access to real projects, mentorship, and opportunities to take ownership of meaningful work, we help them better understand what we do, why it matters, and where they may see themselves in the future of the AEC industry.
About the Authors
This article was written by Northstar’s Intern Recruitment Committee, a group of team members dedicated to student outreach, internship programming, and developing the next generation of project managers within the AEC industry. Contributors include Dominic Caporale, Chase Connell, Cameron Feeley, Justin McNiff, Chris Packard, Olivia Pedro, Dhruvi Rana, and Janet Tse.
