We Collaborate. We Commit. We Grow Careers.

Jackson’s journey with CobbFendley began in the summer of 2021 as a Utility Design/Utility Coordination Intern. Over the next two summers, he continued gaining experience through the company’s summer rotation program, which allowed him to explore different departments and discover where his interests truly aligned. “I came in with basically zero expectations or experience and was blown away at the end by how much I had learned“, Jackson recalls. “During my internships, it became clear that CobbFendley had a culture I wanted to be a part of. I didn’t have any interest in looking at other firms because I was confident that CobbFendley offered great opportunities and would allow me to grow personally and professionally.”

To his intern self, he’d simply say: “Enjoy it!”

Lauren recently celebrated five years at CobbFendley, a milestone that began with a successful internship.

While CobbFendley’s traditional internship program offers valuable rotations through engineering departments, there are also meaningful opportunities in other departments. In 2020, Lauren joined the firm as a Marketing Intern. She was later hired full-time as a Proposal Coordinator and eventually transitioned into her current role in Marketing Communications. “CobbFendley gives you the opportunity to grow and learn in the areas that interest you,” she shares. Her story is a testament to how the internship program can lead to a fulfilling career, even outside of engineering.

Looking back, she would remind herself: “What excites you now will open doors later. Keep pursuing your interests.“

Zach, now a CobbFendley Emerging Leader, began his CobbFendley journey as an intern in 2019 and didn’t hesitate when offered a full-time position. “I enjoyed the team I worked with, I felt utilized and that I was benefiting my team,” he says. “It was also nice to spend my final year at school not dealing with the stress of finding post-graduation employment.”

His internship gave him hands-on experience and pushed him to grow quickly. “I continue to do tasks that might be out of my comfort zone for now, but the experience provides great learning opportunities“.

If he could go back, Zach would remind his intern self: “Don’t beat yourself over mistakes, the mistakes turn into learning opportunities.”

Now a full-time team member in CobbFendley’s Broadband Department, Cortland began his journey as a 2022 summer intern in the San Marcos office. “It was an amazing experience full of new challenges,” he said.

Accepting a full-time offer was a clear choice,“my internship taught me how to work effectively within a team and how to navigate working professionally within the industry, which I now use every day.” Cortland recalls. “I appreciated the close-knit atmosphere that CF creates, and the opportunity I saw to grow both myself and the company as a whole.”

If he could go back, he’d offer his intern self one reminder: “Appreciate every moment of it. It’s over before you know it.”

Jacob started his internship in Utility Design at CobbFendley’s Houston office and later became a full-time employee in the Transportation department. His favorite part of his internship? “The site visits and tours.” as pictured below.

His internship helped bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world. “In school you have all these problems and scenarios that have a single, clear solution, but that isn’t always the case for the real world. There are multiple ways to approach a problem, and while they all might work, you have to figure out which one works the best for your situation.”

His advice to his past self? “Watch, listen, and learn.”

Gretchen, now a CobbFendley Associate and Development Project Manager, didn’t start off in that role. Her journey began in 2012 as an intern, where she rotated through nearly every department, including several weeks in the field. “Although working in the Houston heat with the field crews was not my idea of an office job, I learned so much from them, like why they need so much safety training.” “I also learned that roaches love to hang out in sanitary manholes,” she laughed.

She also recalls a personal moment that left a lasting impression: “I remember Mr. Fendley stopping by my cubicle almost every day, and we’d just talk about whatever, but I specifically remember talking with him about soccer (one of my favorite topics), and it was so neat that the namesake of CF was chatting with a lowly intern.”

From fieldwork to leadership, Gretchen’s path shows how valuable early experiences and genuine connections can be in shaping a career.

Jacob, now a CobbFendley Emerging Leader began his CobbFendley journey in 2015 as a summer intern while studying at the University of Houston. His first rotation took him through the Municipal and Survey Departments, where he learned software like AutoCAD, ArcMap, and WaterCAD, and gained insight into surveying processes and design.

He returned the following summers, gaining hands-on experience in Utility Coordination and Design, including permitting small cell sites around Houston ahead of Super Bowl LI. “This internship experience was unique because I got to see how dynamic CobbFendley could be.”

Jacob says the culture made a lasting impression. “I was given the opportunity to learn about new technologies, ask questions to anyone from my intern lead to the president of the company, and participate in community service events.”

That culture and sense of belonging led him to accept a full-time offer after graduation. “I felt like I was part of a family” he remembers.

If he could go back? “Participate in as many department outings and community service events as you can.”