In this employee spotlight series, we hear from former interns who have completed their 12-week summer internship program and have since accepted a full-time position at Ruppert Landscape.
Nathan Ramby started his Ruppert career with an internship in the summer of 2023 and is now a Project Manager in our North Carolina landscape construction branch.
How It Started:
How did you first hear about the internship opportunity? What motivated you to apply for/accept the internship?
I first heard about the internship opportunity through East Carolina University’s career fair. While I was going through the internship options, I narrowed it down to Ruppert Landscape because I liked the opportunities that were laid out for me after the internship was completed.
Can you share your experience during the internship? What were some highlights or memorable moments?
I enjoyed the internship and the information I was able to learn while moving through the roles in the company. My favorite part of the internship was working with the project management team and learning the ins and outs of how they go through a day, which is what prompted me to come back and start working as an assistant project manager.
How did the internship contribute to your personal and professional growth? What skills or knowledge did you gain during your internship that have been valuable in your current role?
The internship helped me in many ways while I was finishing out my schooling. I was able to use what I learned in estimating and working with the project management team in many of my classes which helped me to exceed through my final semesters. When I started in my role as an assistant project manager, I already had background knowledge and it was easy for me to get back into the swing of things and become an asset to the team.
When/how were you offered a full-time position at Ruppert, and at what point did you realize that Ruppert was a company where you wanted to establish a platform for your career?
After I completed my internship, I was immediately offered a position in estimating or to be an assistant project manager. I knew after I graduated, I was going to choose to work at Ruppert Landscape because I enjoyed the environment and the people that I would be working with.
How It’s Going:
Can you share some differences between your role as an intern and your role now as a full-time employee?
While I was an intern, I was able to work solely on certain things, but I was also learning how the company works and the different programs that Ruppert uses. Now, being employed with Ruppert I am able to dive deeper into how certain things are conducted and further my knowledge to help the team.
How has your perception of the company or industry changed since becoming a full-time employee?
I believe my perception has stayed the same throughout my time with the company. Ruppert is a great place to work and there are a lot of avenues for help and guidance should you need any.
What advice would you give to current or future interns who aspire to become full-time employees in the same company or industry?
My advice to anyone interning with Ruppert would be to soak in every bit of knowledge you can from people that you work with and never be afraid to ask questions that will help you to grow in the future.
How do you see your career trajectory evolving within the company or industry in the future?
I see my career growing with Ruppert in the future. I started off as an assistant project manager and now within a year I have been able to take on the role of a project manager. I hope to continue this growth and I can’t wait to see where this road takes me.
Is there a Ruppert manager or coworker that you would consider as a mentor, and if so, why?
I would say that I have had multiple people that have mentored me throughout my short time with Ruppert. When I began working with Ruppert, Vinny Stio was my project manager and he taught me a lot and allowed me to learn in the way I needed to. He also allowed me to take on a lot of things that helped me to grow rapidly, which has gotten me to where I am now. The other two mentors that I have had are Dan Flake and Hunter Nielsen. They have been a big part of helping me throughout my career with offering guidance and knowledge that has helped me to be a better person and project manager.