August 13, 2026 – Every summer, GCON’s Elevate Internship Program brings a new group of interns through twelve weeks of real project work, mentorship, and hands-on experience, and it all culminates in one day. This year, that day looked bigger than ever. Elevate’s 22 interns from Arizona, Oregon, Texas, and New Mexico converged on our Rose Garden Headquarters to deliver their final presentations to share what they learned, the projects they joined and where they see their careers heading next.
It’s a day the entire company shows up for. C-suite, vice presidents, field teams and staff from every department — the room was packed, with just as many joining by Zoom from other states. We spent the Friday watching these presentations, sharing lunch together and celebrating the young folks who will shape the future of construction.
A Record Cohort!
2026 was the largest Elevate cohort to date, nearly doubling in size from the year before. It was also the first internship class that went national. What began as an Arizona-based program expanded beyond state lines for the first time, welcoming interns to our New Mexico, Oregon and Texas teams.
The curriculum, too, grew to match the demand and competitiveness of our intern pool. The Elevate Internship Program is structured for project experience. Interns are assigned jobsites with roles shadowing project managers and superintendents, ultimately taking one real project tasks and supervised deliverables. This year, the program added new intern pathways in project accounting, cost engineering, preconstruction and safety. The intent of refining the curriculum is to increase exposure to project lifecycles and construction operations.
A Room Full of Support
Each intern introduced themselves and walked through the business unit and project they spent the summer working on. They talked about what they built, what they learned, and the challenges that pushed them to grow. Many shared how their internship confirmed something bigger: a real passion for the construction industry and a clear sense of where they want to take their careers.
They thanked the mentors who guided them all summer long, the GCON team members who answered their questions, walked them through job sites, and made space for them to learn by doing. That mentorship is the backbone of Elevate, and it showed in every presentation.
GCON’s CEO, Mike Godbehere, shared his admiration of each intern’s drive to spend their summers investing in their futures. “Every year, this day reminds me what makes GCON special. You all didn’t just show up, you leaned in, took on real work, and pushed yourselves to grow,” Mike said to the full room. “Your drive gives me real confidence in where this industry is headed.”
A Program Built to Last
Last year, we officially rebranded our internship initiative as GCON Elevate, a name built around empowering futures and growing opportunity. The program has come a long way since it started eight years ago with just two interns, both of whom are now full-time GCON employees!
Elevate has grown into a structured, immersive experience that includes:
- 12 weeks of paid hands-on, project-based work
- Weekly development sessions with team members, executives, and clients
- Real-world exposure across departments
- Active mentorship from experienced professionals and builders
Interns observe, contribute, build relationships with teammates, subcontractors, and clients, starting to grow the network and reputation that will open doors after graduation. This summer’s final presentations were proof that the model works. A cohort of 22 interns walked in with curiosity and walked out with confidence and a clearer picture of what they want their careers in construction to look like and the pathways they are ready to set forth.
Interested in joining our Elevate Internship Program next year?
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