2025 Internship Wrap-Up and Summer Showcase
This summer, Herrera hired six student interns to support projects throughout their Seattle, Bellingham, Missoula, and Casper offices. As the marketing intern, I get the opportunity to capture their experiences in this post.
Our tasks as interns varied from construction management on a mine reclamation project to restructuring content for Herrera’s website redesign. The intern cohort, led by Talent Management Partner, Morgan St. Maxens, had the opportunity to meet Herrera’s Practice Directors, learn about Herrera’s history and brand, and have regular check-ins with our cohort, peer mentors, and others throughout the office. From our initial meeting to final presentations about our summer accomplishments, it’s clear that we have all enjoyed Herrera’s welcoming company, environmental stewardship, and the variety of work the firm is involved in. A special shoutout to our People Leaders for guiding us throughout the summer, and for your support and commitment that shined through our work.
As Herrera’s summer internship program has come to an end, each of the students recapped their internship experience at Herrera through a Summer Project Showcase to the company:
Juliana – People and Culture Intern in Seattle
Favorite intern project: Working with Michelle on redesigning the Careers page for Herrera’s website.
What surprised you the most: I was surprised how frequently employment laws evolve and how regulations or court rulings can change what employers need to do to stay compliant.
Advice for next year’s interns: Ask as many questions as you have and use everyone as a resource, they are all happy to help!
Rose – Stormwater Design Engineering Intern in Seattle
Favorite intern project: I enjoyed getting to design my own model bioretention column.
Fun fact I learned: Every city, county, state can have slightly different permitting requirements and you have to do proper research of the design requirements for each location.
Advice for next year’s interns: Don’t be afraid to take a short walk around the office. You never know who might be free to chat.
Maddie – Restoration Science Intern in Missoula
What surprised you the most: From day one, I was surprised to be given responsibilities and project work as an intern, especially tasks assigned directly from our client and the opportunity to work closely with them.
Something that stuck out about Herrera: The willingness to share insights and connections was invaluable. My conversations with professionals in high-level positions had a significant impact on the trajectory of my summer.
Advice for next year’s Interns: Embrace your role as an intern by staying curious and acknowledging that you won’t have all the answers/skills.
Blake – Reclamation Intern in Casper
Favorite intern project: Spending a week in Montana doing construction management on subsidence mining reclamation.
Fun fact I learned: Abandoned mine land is not uncommon in western states due to the fact that it is often cheaper for mining companies to release their bond than it is for them physically do reclamation on site.
Advice for next year’s interns: Ask to be involved in every aspect of your project. Take initiative and do everything.
Cathy – Coastal Science Intern in Bellingham
A skill I will take with me through my career: I never took a botany class in school, but the field work I did this summer motivated me to learn how to identify plants.
Fun fact I learned: Mountain Beavers are not really beavers and make networks of cozy burrows that they live in alone.
Advice for next year’s interns: Be flexible as it will open up more opportunities and knowing it is okay to not know most things when you first start.
As for me, Michelle – the Marketing Intern in Seattle – here’s some of what stood out to me:
What surprised me the most: Learning about the AEC industry and the marketing roles within them opened my eyes to a whole new area of expertise.
A skill I’ll take with me through my career: I learned how to utilize MSExcel as a marketer and to communicate technical content into more approachable writing.
My advice for next year’s interns: Make goals in the beginning and utilize your time wisely to make sure you are able to accomplish your goals.
It’s clear to all of us that Herrera is proud of the work of our summer cohort!
Written by Michelle Kamiya, Marketing Intern (2025 Summer Cohort)
Herrera IS proud of the work and growth of these students and we look forward to seeing the impact they’ll make as they move forward in their careers.
Check out their work in our Summer Showcase Gallery below!
