As he walks the halls of the Jambo House at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management student Kai Larkin makes sure subcontractors are doing exactly what Disney has requested. Spending his summer as an employee at Boyer Building Corporation based in Bay Lake, Florida, the rising sophomore is gaining valuable experience as a field intern.
In addition to assisting upper management with their day-to-day tasks, which involve anything from subcontractor punch lists to safety enforcement, the Clermont, Florida, native has been working to retain a large volume of new information. The amount of new material he has learned has been insurmountable, but he credits the team at Boyer for being “amazing” and helping him understand it all. With hard hats lining the halls of the Lodge, the only thing more rewarding than seeing the scale of the work has been the people.
“The most fulfilling part of the job so far has been meeting so many great people,” Larkin said. “From the team at Boyer to the subcontractors on the job, there is truly a great atmosphere when you get on the job site that fosters growth and learning. I am so grateful for that.”
Kizzy Ferrer, director of people and organizational development at Boyer, called Larkin an outstanding addition to the team this summer.
“As a construction field intern, he has embraced every opportunity to gain hands-on experience, ask thoughtful questions and contribute in meaningful ways,” Ferrer said. “What sets Kai apart is not only his technical aptitude, but also his positive attitude and willingness to take initiative. We have no doubt he has a bright future in the construction industry.”
The bright outlook no doubt stems from his education at the University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning, which he said prepared him for his internship by giving him the groundwork for understanding building materials used in commercial construction. Whether it was his construction drawing course which taught him to understand the plan drawings of large projects, or attending Rinker panel events hosted by alumni, Larkin has been motivated to succeed in the construction industry to the point where he’s asked to return to Rinker and speak to new students.
“The most important part about the Gator Nation is the connections you make with the people around you,” Larkin said. “A degree is worth a lot, but if you make it through your four years at this great school and don’t take advantage of the vast network of successful people around you, you have wasted your time.”
As a member of the Associated Builders and Contractors Club at Rinker, Larkin hopes one day to break into luxury residential home building. He has always had a passion for real estate and beautifully constructed homes. Even as a 4-year-old boy, he remembers playing with Legos and building. The dream has only grown from there, and he plans to use his internship to further solidify his future goals.
