Signing Day
With pen to paper, construction management students commit to careers
Signing day is known as the day high school athletes commit to play for a particular university. Last week at East Carolina University, four construction management students put pen to paper and signed on to jobs at Barnhill Contracting Company.
“This is the first signing event I’ve ever participated in in my whole career,” said Dr. Harry Ploehn, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology. “It’s a unique event.”
From left, Dr. Jerry Gao, Dr. Harry Ploehn, construction management students Garrett Pannell, Alexis Sessoms, Robert Smith and Aaron Piper, and Penny and Robert Barnhill Jr., pose for a picture at signing day.
Students Garrett Pannell, Aaron Piper, Alexis Sessoms and Robert Smith sat at a table in front of family, ECU faculty and Barnhill leadership to sign paperwork to work for Barnhill Building Group upon graduation.
“It’s really amazing that they took the time to put something like this together for us and to congratulate us for taking this next step in our lives,” said Piper, who graduates in December and accepted a job as a project engineer. “We’ve been here for four years and have been working really hard. It’s really awesome to see it pay off in this type of way.”
The Roxboro native said he had plenty of reasons for his decision to work for Barnhill Building Group.
“How long they’ve been working in North Carolina, the amount of work that they have, the family aspect that they carry throughout everything that they do — that’s what really drew me in,” Piper said. “Being able to stay in North Carolina was also very important.”
Unlike Piper, Pannell and Smith, Sessoms won’t graduate until May. She worked as a Barnhill intern over the summer and knows it’s the place for her.
“I have family ties. My grandfather has worked for them for 40 years,” she said. “They’re a very trusting and loyal company. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for a company that’s been in my family for 40 years, so I’m very grateful and excited.”
Sessoms found her feelings on signing day difficult to put into words.
“I’m ecstatic. I can’t think of any other word,” Sessoms said. “Who wouldn’t want to be here living this dream? We come into this thing knowing that we’re going to get a piece of paper and then a full-time job, but not a lot of people think they’ll come in and have a set position before they even graduate. It’s surreal.”
Pannell, from Rocky Mount, will become a project engineer, while Smith, from Clinton, will become a preconstruction engineer.
“They’re a great group,” Ploehn said of the students. “I’m so very proud of them.”
In his remarks at the event, Ploehn thanked the company for helping ECU’s construction management students.
“Thank you for so many things,” he said. “Thank you for the ongoing support of the Department of Construction Management, for scholarships in the department, for your engagement in the industry advisory board and for participating in career fairs. You do so much to support, motivate and encourage our students.”
Robert Barnhill Jr., of Barnhill Contracting Company, speaks during the signing day event.
Robert Barnhill Jr., former company president and chairman, and son of company founder Robert Barnhill Sr., said he looked forward to having the students on board.
“We’re excited that you will be joining the company, and we’re a company of long-term employees, so I hope that you work with us until you get to a ripe old age and retire,” he said.
Matt Turner, director of business development for the company, called the event special as it brought up memories of his time at ECU and his decision to seek a job with Barnhill.
“The two best choices I made in my young adulthood were coming to East Carolina University and majoring in construction management,” he said in his remarks. “I was on a mission because I wanted to work for Barnhill Contracting Company and make a career in construction. So, it is a surreal moment.”
He said Pannell, Piper, Sessoms and Smith should take the time to enjoy signing day for what it represents.
“I know you worked very hard for this moment,” he said. “You should be very proud, and we’re proud of you. It’s a big day. I know it’s been a long-time coming to get to this point. I know you’ll do a fine job.”
Turner offered the students some advice.
“If I can give you any words of wisdom — I’m not sure when you’re old enough to give words of wisdom, but I’ll give you a few — and that is whatever you do in life, strive for excellence, strive for greatness, do it with pride and have passion,” he said. “If there is one thing that I enjoy about working in construction management and working for Barnhill it’s working with people who take pride in their work. They own it. They work with purpose. And at Barnhill, you have the chance to be a leader, and I see leadership potential in each of you.”
Barnhill was founded in 1949 by Robert E. Barnhill Sr., whose values focused on family and the power of people, according to the company. Barnhill operates a civil group and a building group with more than 1,000 employees and multiple office, shop and asphalt plant locations across the Carolinas. Service areas include commercial building, site infrastructure, heavy highway and asphalt manufacturing.
ECU’s Department of Construction Management started 40 years ago and was the first in North Carolina to be accredited. It is among the largest programs in the Southeast with faculty experienced in industry and an emphasis on applied research, quality teaching and service in the field of construction. Graduates enjoy careers in construction project management; transportation; estimating, scheduling and procurement; property management; manufacturing; installation; and repair and maintenance. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual salary of construction managers is $104,900 with projected job growth at 9% through 2033, a faster rate than the average for all occupations.
Dr. Harry Ploehn, center, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology, speaks during the signing day event.