Construction companies are expanding hands-on workforce programs as the industry seeks to introduce students to project delivery and specialized construction careers. GCON's 2026 Elevate Internship Program brought 22 interns into project and business operations across four states, marking the program's largest cohort since its launch.
The program concluded with final presentations at GCON's Rose Garden headquarters in Phoenix, where interns reviewed their summer assignments and project experiences.
The 2026 class nearly doubled from the previous year and represented the first national expansion of the Elevate program. Interns participated in Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Texas.
GCON structured the 12-week program around direct project exposure rather than observation alone. Interns worked alongside project managers and superintendents and completed supervised assignments tied to active construction operations.
The program also broadened its career pathways this year. New opportunities were added in project accounting, cost engineering, preconstruction and safety, giving participants exposure to functions that support project delivery beyond traditional field roles.
The Elevate program includes paid project work, weekly development sessions and mentorship from GCON personnel, executives and other construction professionals.
Interns interacted with project teams, subcontractors and clients while gaining exposure to different stages of construction operations. The final presentations provided an opportunity for participants to document their assignments and discuss the skills and career interests developed during the program.
GCON began its internship initiative eight years ago with two interns. Both participants eventually joined the company as full-time employees. The program has since developed into a structured workforce-development initiative serving students across multiple markets.
For construction owners and contractors, programs such as Elevate provide an early pathway into project management, preconstruction, safety, estimating and other industry roles.
GCON's expansion from an Arizona-based internship to a four-state program also demonstrates how construction companies can use structured project experience and mentorship to introduce students to multiple career paths within the industry. The addition of specialized business and technical tracks further connects internship assignments with the operational functions required to deliver construction projects.
Source: GCON.
