“My favorite part about the job is simply being a leader, being there for the guys who need us most, whether that’s training, having a conversation or just making sure everyone gets home safe.”
— Brady Cornelius, Safety Intern
Brady Cornelius has done more than learned the ropes, he’s grabbed the bull by the horns — taking responsibility for people, processes and the everyday work that keeps a job site safe.
Stepping into the industry
Safety has always been part of Brady’s story. Growing up with a father who worked in the field, he was surrounded by lessons about protecting people and doing the job right. When the opportunity came to join The Korte Company as a safety intern, he stepped in ready to see what driving safety on a job site really meant.
“I kind of stumbled into construction at first,” Brady said. “But as I got further in, it developed its own challenge — and that’s what I found interesting.”
This summer, Brady joined the team on projects stretching from Illinois to his hometown of Dallas, including the Amazon HTX3 site. It was the perfect setting to see how safety connects every trade, every task and every person on the site.
Growing into leadership
Brady’s internship was never about watching from the sidelines. He took on the daily responsibilities of a site safety health officer — managing training sessions, handling documentation and keeping crews ready to work safely.
“I’m kind of reenacting the whole role of an SSHO on a job site,” he said. “Toolbox talks, plan of the day meetings, equipment checks — whatever it takes to keep people safe.”
Toolbox talks are short safety meetings held at the start of a shift to review the day’s work and potential hazards. Leading those meetings in front of more than 150 people gave Brady the chance to see how safety leadership builds trust and teamwork.
Seeing safety differently
The experience changed how Brady viewed his work. Safety wasn’t just about rules or checklists — it was about people.
“Being here made me realize that safety is more personable than I expected,” he said. “You can actually make an impact on people’s lives, and that’s what drives me to do this in the future.”
Brady came to The Korte Company looking for experience. He left with a deeper understanding of leadership, accountability and what it takes to keep every person safe on the job.
He’s ready for whatever project comes next — and ready to keep building smart, one safe step at a time.
