Pioneers’ Jankiewicz takes hands on learning to internship

Platteville, Wis.-The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has seen a number of major construction projects in the past three years. Boebel Hall underwent a $23.7 million renovation and construction began last year on a new $55 million engineering building, Sesquicentennial Hall, which will add an additional 200,000 square feet to support engineering, computer science and other educational opportunities for students. These two construction projects followed a major addition to Williams Fieldhouse.

Construction on a campus can cause headaches for some, but for junior cross country and track athlete Dane Jankiewicz it reinforces what he is learning as a building construction management major with a business minor.

"I remember being in class after they broke ground for Sesquicentennial Hall. We were talking about footings and foundation walls, and the next day they were pouring footings and foundation walls," he said. "It was like 'wow, that is how they do it.' It just reinforced what we were learning. It was really cool to see."

The Belvidere, Illinois native committed to UW-Platteville with the thoughts of majoring in civil engineering. After taking a couple required business classes and a conversation with an older teammate, Jankiewicz pivoted and changed majors that combined two things he really enjoyed doing.

"I really like to build things, seeing a blue print and seeing it come together. I thought civil engineering was going to be the route to go, but I also like talking to people," Jankiewicz said. "After taking a few business classes and talking to a former teammate about his experiences in building constructing management, I learned it was the perfect mix between civil engineering and business."

Jankiewicz is taking what he has learned in the classroom and by watching the construction on campus to his internship with Peak Construction.

Jankiewicz was tasked with many jobs and quickly gained the trust of supervisor and Senior Project Engineer Solomon Dana. "He seems to have a really good grasp on the materials and things to know; he is definitely in a better position than I was at his age," he said. "He was quiet at first but really warmed up and blossomed."

Jankiewicz likes talking to people, and it is a task he does daily as Peak Construction works on an expansion project with R & L Carriers. A major concern at any construction site is safety. With an emphasis in safety, Dana allowed Jankiewicz to take the lead on safety.

"He is taking care of all of our safety paperwork," he said.

"Every morning I go around to all the sub-contractors and document who is there and make sure all their safety documents are filled out," Jankiewicz said. "If it is their first time on a Peak job site, they have to be signed off on safety protocols and then I record it. It helps protect Peak, so if somebody says 'Joe was injured on this day,' I can look and say 'Joe wasn't here that day.'"

Dana has seen the growth and confidence in Jankiewicz's ability to speak with sub-contractors and calling sub-contractors on the phone.

"He definitely grew and became more confident talking with sub-contractors," he said. "It can be pretty nerve wracking when there are people twice our age that have been in the industry for longer than we have been alive and know a lot about the industry. He has gotten over the nervousness to give directions and ask questions. He has gotten a hold of himself and is clear, concise and eloquent with subs and on the phone to get across his point, and to get answers form subs quickly."

Even with the strength in communication and growth Jankiewicz has shown on the job site, Dana may be most impressed with his knowledge of construction and credits UW-Platteville and the building construction management program for that. 

"I have tried to explain certain things to him and he knew how to do it already," Dana said. "That is great; he has quite a leg up on quite a few other people that I know. Dane is my first encounter with somebody from UW-Platteville, and from the sounds of it, it's a great school, and they are clearly preparing their students for success after graduation. I was not prepared as much as he was when I came out of school. I feel, we will definitely look to continue hiring more interns and even full-time employees from there going forward." 

A class that proved valuable for the internship was building construction and materials. "The whole class was structured to build a final project," Jankiewicz said. "From getting the land, to the permits, forms filled out, just going from the ground up, step by step. Now being on a job site we are going step by step, just like class."

Dana has seen how the class was beneficial for Jankiewicz as well.

"Being able to get that hands on experience in school, it definitely gives you a leg up," he said. "People from my school, including myself, had to spend a summer or two in the field to experience what it takes to be in this industry, he already has a good grasp on that already."