Summer internship season is here. Fisk University and Enterprise Solutions recently marked the 5th Construction Project Management (CPM) Signing Ceremony, placing seven Fisk students into guaranteed summer internships at top construction firms, including JE Dunn, DPR, Pinnacle Construction Partners, Layton Construction, Brasfield & Gorrie, and Enterprise Solutions. Launched in 2021 by a founding group^* of industry leaders, the program has grown from an industry-taught certificate into a credited Minor taught by adjunct industry professionals, while continuing to offer paid, hands-on summer placements that accelerate career entry and help close critical workforce gaps.

“This program proves what happens when industry invests directly in talent,” said James C. Seabury, Chairman and CEO of Enterprise Solutions and a co-founder of the Fisk Construction Project Management Program. “Students gain skills and employers gain leaders. We’re proud to partner with Fisk and our industry peers to grow this program.”

The coursework was developed by Dr. Tom Gormley, an experienced educator who helped build successful construction programs at multiple Middle Tennessee institutions, and is delivered by adjunct professors who bring current, real-world experience into the classroom. The curriculum focuses on practical skills and industry readiness, with guaranteed summer placements that give students direct exposure to project management, estimating, the critical path method, construction operations, and other topics.

“This is an innovative approach to recruit bright young business administration and accounting majors from Fisk to the construction industry,” said Dr. Tom Gormley, Associate Professor of Middle Tennessee State University. “We developed the Fisk construction classes based on proven core classes from the MTSU School of Concrete and Construction Management.”

Dr. Duncan Pelly, Dean of Fisk’s Business School, emphasized the partnership’s academic and career impact: “Thanks to the close working relationship with our school and industry partners, Fisk’s Construction Project Management Minor marries academic rigor with the realities of the job landscape. The guaranteed internships change lives and demonstrate Fisk’s commitment to career pathways for our students.” Adjunct professor Yezan Swaies, COO of Phillips Framing & Associates, noted, “The passion these students have to learn and desire to enter the construction industry keeps me motivated to keep teaching our amazing students.”

Industry partners praised the program’s value as a talent pipeline. “At JE Dunn, we are incredibly proud of the growth of the Fisk Construction Project Management program over the past five years,” said Matt Vineyard, Group Manager/Vice President of JE Dunn Construction. “What began as a bold idea has become a proven pipeline for developing talented young professionals. The program has been a valuable resource for connecting us with high-quality interns who might not otherwise have entered design or construction and who continue to grow into construction professionals.”

Alumni success stories underscore the program’s impact. Christopher Dixon, a Safety Coordinator at Enterprise Solutions and Fisk CPM alumnus, reflected: “The Fisk Construction Project Management program introduced me to an industry that has provided tremendous opportunities for professional growth and development. It also exposed me to a diverse group of professionals working together to build and improve communities. I’m extremely grateful the program helped open the door to my career at Enterprise Solutions.”

Since 2021, the CPM program has helped place students into meaningful roles across the construction industry — including project engineering, safety, accounting, and engagement — demonstrating how targeted industry-academic partnerships can produce workforce-ready talent while expanding access and opportunity for students at historically Black colleges and universities.

Founding members celebrated the program’s progress and potential. “As a Founding Member of the Fisk CPM Program, it is wonderful to see how the program has developed beyond those early years,” said Richard L. Miller, Chairman of Earl Swensson & Associates. “The potential to positively affect young lives by providing exciting career options is an admirable goal in and of itself. The added benefit of providing a much-needed influx of talent into our building industry makes it a win/win for everyone.”

Jeff Fuller, President of Healthcare, JE Dunn Construction, and a co-founder of the CMP, said, “Hiring students from Fisk’s program gives us fresh perspectives and trained candidates who are ready to contribute to our summer programming and beyond.”

We look forward to growing this partnership with Fisk and celebrating more success stories like Christopher’s. To learn more about the Construction Project Management program or partnership opportunities, please visit our website.

*Founding Group: James C. Seabury III, Chairman and CEO, Enterprise Solutions; Jeffrey Fuller, President of Healthcare, JE Dunn Construction; Richard L. Miller, Chairman, Earl Swensson & Associates (ESa); Dennis K. Jacobs, SVP of Engineering & Construction, Vanguard Health Systems (retired); Margaret Anne Byerly, VP of Development and Engagement, Enterprise Solutions; Kyle Harris, Safety Manager, Enterprise Solutions and Fisk alumnus