This summer we were proud to host the second year of our intern program, welcoming Spencer Baum from Pittsburg State University. Spencer is in his second year of the Architectural Manufacturing Management and Technology program and joined us in May to gain real-world experience in millwork. Over the past few months, he rotated through several departments including production, engineering, project management and estimating. His goal was to learn our business from the ground up, and he embraced that opportunity.

Seeing the Big Picture

From the start, Spencer wanted to dive into both residential and commercial cabinet production. He spent time working with the molder, learning how to feed, tail and set knives in the heads. He also followed the life of a board as it moved through processing, assembly and shipping. “I’ve seen it from beginning to end,” he said. That full-picture view gave him valuable insight into how millwork combines craftsmanship, technology and efficiency.

Finding Community

We work hard to ensure our interns not only gain skills but also feel like part of our community. Spencer lived in a furnished apartment we created for interns, enjoyed time outside of work with our team and connected with our leadership. “I thought it would be cool to be part of what they had going on here, plus the new facility and all the big things happening in the industry,” he shared.

Preparing for the Future

Spencer has been a pleasure to work with, and we are excited to see what his future holds. “We want to make sure interns experience what they are most interested in and feel like they are part of Gator’s community,” said Tom Choppin, Chief Growth Officer. Programs like this strengthen our industry while inspiring the next generation of millwork professionals.