Where Are They Now?

Aspire Alumni Reflect on Their Journey from Interns to Full-Time Employees

Just a few years ago, Ethan Bright stood on the other side of the recruiting table at a career fair, hoping to land an internship through the IEA Aspire Internship Program.

Today, he’s back at those same recruiting events, but this time representing IEA and helping identify the next generation of Aspire interns.

His journey from intern to recruiter reflects exactly what the Aspire Internship Program was created to do: provide students with meaningful opportunities that can grow into long-term careers.

Now an Engineer-in-Training (EIT), Ethan helps recruit students for the Fort Worth office, including this year’s Aspire intern, Megan DiGiovanni. It is a role that has given him a new appreciation for the program that helped in his own career.

“When I work with today’s interns, I see a lot of myself in their shoes,” Ethan said. “It’s a unique experience to grow within Aspire, build a career at IEA and then have the opportunity to help the next generation of engineers.”

Earlier this year, Ethan met Megan at the UT Arlington University Engineering Career Fair and helped introduce her to IEA. While others now guide her day-to-day development, he takes pride in helping students take that first step into the profession.

“It’s rewarding to help new interns gain the same experience that helped shape my career,” Ethan said.

Ethan’s journey from intern to recruiter reflects the Aspire vision to develop students into professionals.

Since taking over the program in 2024, that vision has been a major focus for Communications Manager and Aspire Program Coordinator, Emily Babcock. Through mentorship, project experience, and professional development opportunities, Aspire continues to strengthen IEA’s future talent.

“We have a really strong track record of bringing interns back and helping them grow into full-time employees,” Emily said.

Learning Through Experience

For former Aspire intern Lindsey Salisbury, now Project Analyst, the program provided professional experience and more. “I felt supported from day one and was trusted with work that made a real impact,” Lindsey said.

Lindsey began her career in IEA’s Marketing department before transitioning into Operations as a Project Analyst. That experience gave her a unique perspective on how projects move through the company, from pursuing opportunities to delivering successful work for clients.

“Aspire showed me that IEA invests in people, not just positions,” Lindsey said. “I’ve always felt that people at IEA genuinely want to see you succeed.”

Today, that knowledge helps her approach project reviews with a broader understanding of the business.

“That foundation gave me a completely different perspective going into Operations,” Lindsey said. “When I’m sitting in the project reviews today, I understand the bigger picture and how everything connects.”

The skills she developed also extended beyond the workplace. Lindsey continues to use Adobe Illustrator and other design tools she learned as an intern to create graphics and branding for a running club she started with friends in Austin.

Learning by Action

For Alex Rakowitz, now an EIT, the Aspire Program stood out because of the meaningful responsibilities he was given as an intern. “I never felt like I was just an intern, I felt like part of the team,” Alex said.

Working alongside AnnaMarie Tomczyk, PE, and Jim Reiser, PE on the SL 88 Segment 3E project, Alex contributed to sheet production and roadway design, giving him experience typically reserved for full-time employees.

Rather than observing in the background, Alex was presented with opportunities that helped accelerate his growth and confidence. “I was trusted with real work and learned more than I ever expected,” he said.

The opportunity to explore software, learn new processes, and make mistakes in a supportive environment prepared him for the independence required in his current role. “The internship gave me the confidence to work independently,” Alex said.

When asked what advice he would give current Aspire interns, his answer was simple: “It’s okay to make mistakes, that’s one of the best ways to learn.”

Building the Future

For IEA employees like Ethan, Lindsey, and Alex, Aspire was the beginning of a career.

Their stories show the lasting impact the program can have by developing future professionals and creating future leaders who invest in the next generation.

As the new group of interns begin their Aspire journey this summer, the program continues to fulfill its mission: providing meaningful opportunities, helping professional growth, and building the future of IEA one intern at a time.

“We’re building a program of future talent that can continue growing with IEA for years to come,” Emily said.