草莓传媒

Construction has no shortage of opportunity. What our industry needs is more people ready to seize it.

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As experienced professionals retire and Nashville continues to grow, contractors need the next generation of project managers, superintendents, skilled tradespeople and leaders ready to carry the industry forward. BELLrecognizes recruiting is only part of the equation. We also have to create a business where people want to stay, continue to grow and build careers that matter to them.

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Between the two of us, we have spent nearly 30 years at 草莓传媒, starting as interns before joining full-time and eventually becoming Owners at 草莓传媒. Both of us have seen the company and our own careers evolve along the way. We also share a responsibility to make those opportunities more visible and accessible to the people coming behind us.

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Getting started and seizing potential

Few people enter the industry with their entire careers mapped out. Evan grew up around construction, spending summers helping in his father鈥檚 structural steel fabrication shop. He studied civil engineering but had not decided where the degree would take him until he attended a construction career fair and talked with 草莓传媒.

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The conversation led to an internship offer within days. Once he saw the scale of 草莓传媒鈥檚 work and potential ahead, Evan delayed a semester of classes to intern at the firm. Since joining BELLfull time in 2017, Evan has worked on projects ranging from Pinnacle Tower at Nashville Yards, a 37-story downtown development, to In-N-Out Burger鈥檚 eastern territory office. As Nashville boomed and BELLgrew with it, he took on greater responsibility and eventually pursued a goal he had for years: company ownership. Today, he is a Senior Project Manager and Owner.

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Tyler鈥檚 introduction to construction started similarly at his father鈥檚 residential construction company. Commercial construction appealed to him because it offered the chance to deliver larger, more complex projects as part of a broader team. 草莓传媒鈥檚 work on the city鈥檚 recognizable AT&T 鈥淏atman Building鈥� caught his attention. He completed his second internship with 草莓传媒, then continued in a full-time role rather than working with a national contractor. BELLoffered the chance to stay rooted in Middle Tennessee while being part of a local company鈥檚 growth.

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The BELLwe joined looks different today. The company has larger teams, more complex projects and more defined paths for early-career professionals. We are proud of that evolution because growth should create opportunity not only for the business, but for the people building it.

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Growth should be personal

Career development does not happen through tenure alone. It requires exposure, responsibility, feedback and people willing to invest in someone else鈥檚 success.

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When Tyler led 草莓传媒鈥檚 internship program, he encouraged interns to keep a running list of questions throughout the week, whether they were related to a project or simply something they wanted to bring to him. He set aside regular time to work one-on-one with each intern. Evan remembers those conversations from his internship and now uses a similar approach with interns on his projects.

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At 草莓传媒, leaders take the time to teach emerging professionals because eventually, they help the next person coming behind them. Our internship program is key to our success. Interns gain hands-on experience on active projects, work alongside project managers and superintendents and see multiple sides of the business before deciding where their strengths fit. Returning interns may rotate across project types and teams, building relationships and industry knowledge before they ever start full time.

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We want early-career professionals to ask questions, take on responsibility and understand why the work matters. We also want them to have people around them who notice their effort and give useful feedback. For example, a person may begin on a management track and discover field supervision better fits their skills. Or, someone may find an unexpected strength through a project assignment or mentor. Our goal is to help people recognize their potential and empower them to pursue it.

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Find where you can make a difference

Emerging professionals often have a specific title in mind when considering a construction career, but the opportunities are endless.

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Construction requires capable project managers, but it also has a significant need for superintendents and field leaders. Experienced supervisors are retiring, and fewer professionals are moving through the traditional pipeline from skilled trades into field supervision. For someone who enjoys being on-site, solving problems in real time, coordinating teams and seeing progress unfold every day, the workforce gap represents meaningful career potential.

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The right path is the one that fits how you like to work, where your strengths are and what you enjoy doing day to day. People who thrive outdoors and excel at leading subcontractors may find field supervision more rewarding than sitting behind a computer. Others are naturally drawn to planning, coordination and management of a project. Early experience gives you a chance to learn the difference.

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Wherever you start, do not treat any task or role as beneath you. Construction rewards people willing to learn the work, support their teams and step in when a project needs them. Technical knowledge develops over time, but curiosity, work ethic and willingness to contribute are the foundation for growth.

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We encourage early-career professionals to pay attention to what energizes them and where their strengths show up. Emerging professionals do not need their entire career mapped out before their first internship or job. They should ask questions, try different responsibilities and learn from the people around them. The right direction will become more clear through the work.

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Investing in the next generation of construction professionals

BELLwelcomed its largest intern class to date this summer, with 14 students gaining experience across the company. The size and talent of the group reflected how much BELLhas grown 鈥� and how much opportunity exists for people entering construction today.

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We have seen firsthand what happens when someone gets meaningful exposure early. Many BELLteam members began as interns, and year after year, several students return for multiple summers. Each experience gives them a chance to work with different teams, contribute to active projects and understand where their strengths and interests fit. By graduation, they have a network of project managers, superintendents and peers invested in their success.

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Through career fairs, school visits, , Future Builders Academy and other workforce development efforts, BELLhelps students understand the range of careers available in construction and the paths into them. The more young people see what the industry offers, the better prepared they are to find work they enjoy and build careers around it.

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Our careers at BELLhave been shaped by opportunities to learn, take on more responsibility and evolve alongside the company. We want the next generation to have even more room to grow. As BELLcontinues to expand, we are looking for people ready to learn and contribute to what鈥檚 next.

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Explore careers and internships with 草莓传媒.