My name is George E. Stewart II, and I am going into my senior year of my collegiate education at the University of Oklahoma. There is a time in every university student’s life when concerns switch from university grades to professional careers. That is exactly the stage I am in right now, and with CEC, it has become a tangible goal for me to become a professional young adult in this industry. I am currently studying civil engineering with a minor in entrepreneurship, and I am eager to learn about the site development industry.
My Interview Process
I originally found out about Civil and Environmental Consultants through a referral from a friend who knew Oklahoma City Operations Lead Dean Koleada. I was then in contact with Mr. Koleada and, shortly after, CEC’s University Relations Recruiter Natalie Wrazen. We scheduled a time and date to talk about my ambitions to see how they aligned with the company and if I would be a good fit at the Oklahoma City office. After that interview, I had another conversation with Dean Koleada and Senior Project Manager George Marquez, which was amazing—one George is great, but two Georges are even better!
After the interview, I waited anxiously to hear a response, wondering if I was able to impress the right people. Out of the blue, I got an offer email for the internship. This was a blessing straight from God. I already had a connection in the office through my ambassador Philip Thompson, who knew some friends of mine at Oklahoma State University. However, it was also very easy to connect with everyone in the office after the interview process.
Pre-Internship Festivities
Prior to my internship, I was able to go to the CEC Christmas Party in December 2024 where I got to see the top of the Devon Tower and the National Autograph Hotel, both in Oklahoma City. I was able to interact with the younger employees and see how to take what I learned from school socially and intellectually and apply it to my professional career ventures. I was also able to test my poker skills by playing just-for-fun hands of poker and learning that what really makes a reliable office is how the team gets along with one another.
Speaking of connecting, I also got to attend an Oklahoma City Thunder Game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the middle of January 2025 with the company that the Thunder won. This culminated in our office also going to the parade once we won the NBA Finals. During my time at CEC, I saw that the office was a place where everyone maintained great relationships and was happy to see each other.
Engineering Experience
I had no idea what to expect when coming into this office, but I did not expect how much I would learn about site development and how it ties cities together. By watching Pinnacle 3D videos on AutoCAD and Civil 3D, I have been able to find out what knowledge I lacked from taking basic AutoCAD classes in high school and college. I have learned about drainage, utility atlas maps, planned unit developments, etc., which has allowed me to grow an understanding of different offices and how they each operate. For example, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and the Oklahoma Utilities Office provide different regulations and standards for our office to follow when creating plats for future use to construct new locations.
I also learned that every project is different because some projects can be in different phases, counties, and cities, the most specific being township, ranges, sections, and quadrants. With the help of everyone in the office, I have been able to learn all about the great potential that every project has to make a lasting impact on each community they are put in. As an Eagle Scout, it was easy to formulate this view because I have always wanted to make an impact while also advancing professionally. Doing land development would allow me to give back creatively, while also helping clients get the kind of building outlook that they want.
Roses Along the Way
I have had many highlights during my time here at CEC, but two have stood out: meeting the mayor of Oklahoma City and being involved in the intern spotlight process. I met the mayor at the Restoration Hardware Gallery Opening in Oklahoma City, where I received a first-class experience eating steak frites and doing wine tastings whilst networking. I was also mentioned on the Corporate CEC page on Instagram and LinkedIn, which was amazing to see. I usually like to do my work and blend in, but it was very nice to see my name mentioned—not for anything special, but just to show a couple of things that get me through the week.
Also, the experience of having another intern on the team to share responsibilities with has been great. We both work diligently to help everyone achieve their utilization goals whilst making valuable connections along the way. Even though she goes to Oklahoma State, it is great to share this professional experience with another colleague. I am excited to see how she will utilize the lessons from this experience at her school.
Final Comments
In closing, this entire experience from October to the present has been an amazing blessing that I will forever cherish. I pray that God blesses other people who are driven to work in the civil, environmental, or surveying fields with an opportunity to work here in this office or any CEC office across the nation. I hope that the other intern, Kaylin Hall, and I can show both the Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma that “WE OWN IT.”
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