Mechanical Engineering Internship Story: Lhoist
Jack Gordinier
Mechanical Engineering
What company did you intern with and where are they located?
The company I work for is Lhoist. I worked at the Montevallo Lime Plant this summer which is in Calera, AL.
How did you identify and apply for your internship? Are there any specific resources you used to find the opportunity (i.e. Handshake, career fairs, other recruitment events)?
I have interned with this company the previous two summers.
What was the application process like?
Fairly simple. Apply for the position, talked with a HR representative, interviewed with the plant I was going to work at, and then signed the offer.
Tell us about your internship experience. What types of tasks and projects did you engage in? Was there a particular project or part of the experience you learned the most from?
This summer I was assigned a capital expenditure project to be the lead project manager on. I was responsible for planning, managing, and executing the project safely and efficiently. Managing third party contractors and communicating to all plant departments was key to the success of this project. Beyond my main project, I coordinated maintenance tasks and aimed to find ways to improve plant reliability and performance.
In what ways did this internship help you prepare for your next destination after Auburn?
Lhoist has given me all the tools and knowledge I need to accept a full time engineering role. I will forever be grateful for their investment in me and the experiences they gave me.
In what ways did your coursework or other experiences at Auburn prepare you for your internships? Are there specific topics or skills you learned from classes that you put into practice on the job?
Project management, machine design, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics gave me the technical knowledge to understand and improve plant processes.
Do you have any advice for other students looking for internships like yours?
Find a company like Lhoist that holds high standards, gives meaningful projects, and actively seek to develop you on all levels.