Izzy Kane gets real-world experience in project management

After coming home from her third year at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Izzy Kane took part in a different kind of “summer school.” As a project management intern at The Korte Company, she spent her summer working on-site at Highland Primary School.

Originally from Troy, Illinois, Izzy came to The Korte Company with a passion for construction and leadership. Her journey into project management began after several family trips to southern Missouri, where she first noticed Missouri S&T.

“I always used to drive through Rolla, and my dad would proudly tell my sister and I that our great grandpa designed a building on the campus,” Izzy recalls. “At first, I applied to please my dad, but after I went on a tour, I actually really liked the small-town feel compared to the larger schools I had looked at. So, I decided to continue the family legacy at S&T.”

Izzy Kane walks through a jobsite.

Although she began her college career studying aerospace engineering, Izzy’s advisor suggested exploring engineering management after Izzy realized she wanted a different path. “I came to find out that I liked planning, organizing and leading things,” she said. “Engineering management was the best fit for me, so here I am.”

Izzy’s interest in traditionally male-dominated industries comes from her dad. “My dad made sure that my sister and I were exposed to a lot of the dirt-racing industry,” she said. “He always emphasized that I could be anything I wanted to be, no matter the field.”

This summer, Izzy brought that determination to Highland Primary School, a local project close to her heart. “This is little Highland, and we’re building a big school for little kids,” she said. “My heart has always been with kids. So being able to build something that will help them learn, grow and shape their minds is really cool.”

The most remarkable part was fostering the next generation of builders through her work on the primary school. The school, housing pre-k through second graders, will be the first step in many Highland children’s education.

As an intern, Izzy’s role went far beyond what she initially expected. “You think, ‘I’m just the intern.’ But here, you’re not just the intern. You’re a member of the team,” she said. “People on the job come to you, the intern, with questions, which is pretty cool.”

Izzy Kane leads a tour through a jobsite.

While working alongside Korte employees and subcontractors, Izzy experienced firsthand the mindset that drives the company. “Every morning, our construction employees and subcontractors come out with the same mindset: The Job is the Boss.”

The like-minded and goal-oriented team environment on the job is what made Izzy’s tenure at The Korte Company so meaningful.

Izzy was proud to help the Highland Primary School project take shape throughout the summer.

At the beginning of her internship, the primary school was just metal framework. “Now, two and a half months later, we have drywall in every wing, paint going on and finishes happening,” she said. “Seeing how far it’s come and the obstacles we’ve overcome together as a team to stay on schedule is what I’m most proud of.”

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