Murray State University Athletics
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/ Women's Track and Field
I Know What You Did This Summer: Rachel Gootee
7/11/2018 10:26:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
GoRacers.com continues its series on summer internship by Racer student-athletes with track and field's Rachel Gootee, a occupational safety and health major from Madisonville, Kentucky. Gootee is the second Racer to be featured who is interning with Rosendin Electric, though this will be her second summer with the company.
____________________
GoRacers.com: Tell us a little bit about what you are doing this summer at your internship.
Rachel Gootee: This summer, I am interning in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with the number two Electrical Construction Contractor in the United States, Rosendin Electric. Rosendin has been a part of many different construction fields like solar, wind, healthcare, commercial, entertainment, and many more.  I am currently working on data center construction. Each day, I am exposed to many different environments that produce different hazards in the construction field. This helps me gain real life experience outside of the textbooks, that is very valuable for my career. I report to work at 6 a.m/ every day and lead stretch and flex with the crews, this is where we stretch and get our bodies warmed up for the day. I then observe and coach our crews in the field, assisting them with filling out their pre-task plans. Pre-task plans help our crews walk through their day, step-by-step and recognize hazards beforehand so they can be prepared and eliminate them, if possible. I spend a lot of my day out in the field, being a resource for our crews, if they need me. We have employees doing trench work, pulling wire in manholes, cranes setting vaults and everything from underground work to installing equipment inside the data halls. I also do daily safety reports where I log my observations, the good and the bad, that are then sent off to our site managers. We then take the feedback from reports and look for trends to see what we can improve on.
GR: This is your second summer interning for Rosendin. What were some of the reasons that you decided to go back again this year?
RG: Last summer I had the privilege of interning in central Oregon. I was so far from home, but my co-workers welcomed me with open arms, as did many of Rosendin's corporate managers. There was no division between the management and field aspect of construction with Rosendin, which is very rare. It was like I had a little family, even though I was 31 hours from home, which really made me appreciate Rosendin and all that they stand for. Rosendin's vision is to "Lead. Inspire. Build" while focusing on the quality, value, and people that make up our company. Rosendin is also very committed to safety, they say it and mean it. There is an open line of communication whenever it comes to safety. Rosendin even has a "Stop Work Card", which is a card stating that all Rosendin employees have the authority to stop work at any time if they question that something is not safe or if they are just unsure about a situation. Our own VP of Safety, Marty Rouse said, "Safety begins with passion. Passion for ensuring that our people go home safe each day; for building projects that enhance the lives of people in our communities; and building a greater tomorrow." We at Rosendin believe we should take pride in what we do, which some from our passion for construction. Whatever we build we focus on creating it to better those around and add value to the community. Rosendin embodies family, they take care of their employees and value them to help inspire and encourage those in the field to be safe and do things the right way.Â
GR: What are some of the perks of returning to the same company for a second summer internship?
RG: Returning to Rosendin was a great choice because I am already aware of their policies, procedures, and trainings. The people at my Texas site were very welcoming as well and the family aspect is still there.Â
As a returning intern, I received an additional sign on bonus which helped me cover the majority of my moving expenses, which was very helpful. Along with that, Rosendin is an employee owned company. We have our own employee stock ownership plan and my internship time counts toward my time to get vested with the company. Another perk of returning to Rosendin is I am on the same type of site, just at a different time during the construction. Last summer I was on a data center in Oregon towards the end, so I was only exposed to inside work. This summer there are buildings starting and buildings coming to an end, so I get to see a little bit of everything.Â
GR: How will this internship help you get a job in your field after graduation?
RG: These internships are very beneficial because I gain experience I need to be successful in the field that I cannot learn in a classroom setting. I am exercising skills such as relationship building, public speaking, communication, organization and many construction/site specific skills. This is all beneficial, as not only can I use this on a construction site, but also in the real world, which will allow me to be a asset to a company later on.Â
GR: What is something you got to do this summer that you did not get to do last summer?
RG: This summer I exposed to a lot more than I was last summer, this summer I get to experience the field aspect. Last summer I made a lot of site specific power points/trainings along with updating the Rosendin Job Hazard Analysis. This summer I am learning a lot about underground work, electrical, cranes, and how to handle injuries. This summer I also get to explore the Dallas/Fort Worth area. There is a lot of history in Texas and I am trying to see as much as I can while I am here. This is area is full of great food, drinks, and fun times!
GR: What is the one thing you want to take away from this experience?
RG: Building relationships is probably the most important thing in the construction field. As a safety professional I view myself as a coach, I am there to help you and guide you along the way as you try to do things the safest and most efficient way possible. On our sites I have the privilege of interacting with many different trades, which I could work with later on life. It is important to listen to those I interact with so that I can speak with them about issues in a manner that I know they will respect and understand.Â
GR: What has been you favorite thing that you have done so far this summer or something you are looking forward to later in the summer?
RG: I am very adventurous, so I love going to new parts of the country. I am extremely blessed to be in Texas this summer and take in all that it has to offer. While learning a lot at work, I have the weekends to explore Fort Worth and Dallas. The historic stockyards are a fun area with a live rodeo and gun show, they also have daily cattle drives for tourist to enjoy. Sundance Square in Fort Worth is home to many different events is a cool place to enjoy different genres of live music. Rangers games are a good way to spend a Friday night, they even have massive three-foot hot dogs which definitely worth it!! Downtown Dallas has so many different districts to take in with diverse vibes. Deep Ellum is very hipster and the streets are very colorful with murals and sculptures. The historic district is home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and The Sixth Floor Museum, a museum dealing with assassination of John F. Kennedy. Reunion Tower, the Dallas Farmer's Market and uptown are also great areas to check out! For every Fixer Upper fan, I got to experience Waco and Magnolia Farms and the hype is real. The bakery cupcakes were to die for and the lawn and food trucks create a very relaxing atmosphere.
Â
____________________
GoRacers.com: Tell us a little bit about what you are doing this summer at your internship.
Rachel Gootee: This summer, I am interning in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with the number two Electrical Construction Contractor in the United States, Rosendin Electric. Rosendin has been a part of many different construction fields like solar, wind, healthcare, commercial, entertainment, and many more.  I am currently working on data center construction. Each day, I am exposed to many different environments that produce different hazards in the construction field. This helps me gain real life experience outside of the textbooks, that is very valuable for my career. I report to work at 6 a.m/ every day and lead stretch and flex with the crews, this is where we stretch and get our bodies warmed up for the day. I then observe and coach our crews in the field, assisting them with filling out their pre-task plans. Pre-task plans help our crews walk through their day, step-by-step and recognize hazards beforehand so they can be prepared and eliminate them, if possible. I spend a lot of my day out in the field, being a resource for our crews, if they need me. We have employees doing trench work, pulling wire in manholes, cranes setting vaults and everything from underground work to installing equipment inside the data halls. I also do daily safety reports where I log my observations, the good and the bad, that are then sent off to our site managers. We then take the feedback from reports and look for trends to see what we can improve on.
GR: This is your second summer interning for Rosendin. What were some of the reasons that you decided to go back again this year?
RG: Last summer I had the privilege of interning in central Oregon. I was so far from home, but my co-workers welcomed me with open arms, as did many of Rosendin's corporate managers. There was no division between the management and field aspect of construction with Rosendin, which is very rare. It was like I had a little family, even though I was 31 hours from home, which really made me appreciate Rosendin and all that they stand for. Rosendin's vision is to "Lead. Inspire. Build" while focusing on the quality, value, and people that make up our company. Rosendin is also very committed to safety, they say it and mean it. There is an open line of communication whenever it comes to safety. Rosendin even has a "Stop Work Card", which is a card stating that all Rosendin employees have the authority to stop work at any time if they question that something is not safe or if they are just unsure about a situation. Our own VP of Safety, Marty Rouse said, "Safety begins with passion. Passion for ensuring that our people go home safe each day; for building projects that enhance the lives of people in our communities; and building a greater tomorrow." We at Rosendin believe we should take pride in what we do, which some from our passion for construction. Whatever we build we focus on creating it to better those around and add value to the community. Rosendin embodies family, they take care of their employees and value them to help inspire and encourage those in the field to be safe and do things the right way.Â
GR: What are some of the perks of returning to the same company for a second summer internship?
RG: Returning to Rosendin was a great choice because I am already aware of their policies, procedures, and trainings. The people at my Texas site were very welcoming as well and the family aspect is still there.Â
As a returning intern, I received an additional sign on bonus which helped me cover the majority of my moving expenses, which was very helpful. Along with that, Rosendin is an employee owned company. We have our own employee stock ownership plan and my internship time counts toward my time to get vested with the company. Another perk of returning to Rosendin is I am on the same type of site, just at a different time during the construction. Last summer I was on a data center in Oregon towards the end, so I was only exposed to inside work. This summer there are buildings starting and buildings coming to an end, so I get to see a little bit of everything.Â
GR: How will this internship help you get a job in your field after graduation?
RG: These internships are very beneficial because I gain experience I need to be successful in the field that I cannot learn in a classroom setting. I am exercising skills such as relationship building, public speaking, communication, organization and many construction/site specific skills. This is all beneficial, as not only can I use this on a construction site, but also in the real world, which will allow me to be a asset to a company later on.Â
GR: What is something you got to do this summer that you did not get to do last summer?
RG: This summer I exposed to a lot more than I was last summer, this summer I get to experience the field aspect. Last summer I made a lot of site specific power points/trainings along with updating the Rosendin Job Hazard Analysis. This summer I am learning a lot about underground work, electrical, cranes, and how to handle injuries. This summer I also get to explore the Dallas/Fort Worth area. There is a lot of history in Texas and I am trying to see as much as I can while I am here. This is area is full of great food, drinks, and fun times!
GR: What is the one thing you want to take away from this experience?
RG: Building relationships is probably the most important thing in the construction field. As a safety professional I view myself as a coach, I am there to help you and guide you along the way as you try to do things the safest and most efficient way possible. On our sites I have the privilege of interacting with many different trades, which I could work with later on life. It is important to listen to those I interact with so that I can speak with them about issues in a manner that I know they will respect and understand.Â
GR: What has been you favorite thing that you have done so far this summer or something you are looking forward to later in the summer?
RG: I am very adventurous, so I love going to new parts of the country. I am extremely blessed to be in Texas this summer and take in all that it has to offer. While learning a lot at work, I have the weekends to explore Fort Worth and Dallas. The historic stockyards are a fun area with a live rodeo and gun show, they also have daily cattle drives for tourist to enjoy. Sundance Square in Fort Worth is home to many different events is a cool place to enjoy different genres of live music. Rangers games are a good way to spend a Friday night, they even have massive three-foot hot dogs which definitely worth it!! Downtown Dallas has so many different districts to take in with diverse vibes. Deep Ellum is very hipster and the streets are very colorful with murals and sculptures. The historic district is home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and The Sixth Floor Museum, a museum dealing with assassination of John F. Kennedy. Reunion Tower, the Dallas Farmer's Market and uptown are also great areas to check out! For every Fixer Upper fan, I got to experience Waco and Magnolia Farms and the hype is real. The bakery cupcakes were to die for and the lawn and food trucks create a very relaxing atmosphere.
Â
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