There are many opportunities to successfully start a career – you just have to know where to look for them.
The UCF Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering provides such an opportunity through its CECE Career Mixer. This event, which takes place in the Pegasus Ballroom on March 10 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., gives students in the department the chance to meet with local engineering firms and discover potential internship or job opportunities. The Career Mixer is offered every fall and spring semester to help CECE students jumpstart their careers.
“The CECE Career Mixer is a really unique opportunity that the department hosts twice a year,” says Kevin Mackie, the department chair. “The mixer brings together our students and representatives from companies – frequently alumni – and students learn information about projects and industry sectors while companies recruit for internships and full-time employment. Students are exposed to the industry while still at UCF, find jobs, and make professional connections, and it is a great example of CECE partnering with companies to enhance workforce development.”
The event is sponsored by both GAI Consultants and KPM Franklin. For Juan Gonzalez ’13, a civil engineering alumnus who now works as a project manager for KPM Franklin, the CECE Career Mixer is a full circle moment. Over a decade ago, he attended as a student. Now, he appears as an employer.
Gonzalez says that during his time as a student, the CECE Career Mixer was a much smaller affair, with fewer companies and opportunities for employment. Now, the event includes more than 60 employers looking to partner with the next generation of UCF talent.
“It’s almost like a mutual relationship there” Gonzalez says. “I have to say come out, talk to individuals, and find a mentor if anything.”
Students who attend the mixer may meet Gonzalez and other representatives of KPM Franklin, an engineering firm that focuses on land development, surveying, planning and landscape architecture. Gonzalez has worked with KPM Franklin for over a year now, overseeing commercial, industrial and residential projects. He encourages students to network with employers and to learn as much as they can about each company.
“It’s prime time to network and meet individuals,” Gonzalez says. “Networking allows you to see what the companies are offering and also to discuss which company has the [right] environment for you.”
Students who attend the mixer are encouraged to bring their resumes and to ask questions as they meet with employers. KPM Franklin will offer internships and other opportunities for students to come to the office, assist with important tasks, and gain knowledge and skills that are necessary for their careers.
Gonzalez says that interns have the chance to progress within the company, or they can take their skills with them to the next destination in their careers. Their goal is to prepare students for the real world and provide them an entryway into the industry. But even if they don’t leave the CECE Career Mixer with an internship secured, students shouldn’t feel discouraged.
“If you don’t come out of it without an internship that’s fine,” Gonzalez says. “Try to find a mentor or just put your name out there. Now is a good time to get employment and also to get experience.”
- Written by Sydney Ford
- March 6, 2025