My Internship Experience at Meskel

December 11, 2020

By Bettina Huang, Marketing Intern

I’m Bettina Huang, a sophomore at Northwestern University studying Journalism and Psychology. Like most students last April, the pandemic sent me straight back home much to my chagrin and my parents’ excitement. After an abridged freshman year, cancelled internships, and far too much Netflix, I was elated to hear that Meskel & Associates Engineering was looking for a marketing intern! After a rapid application process, I joined the team in June and since then I have had the most rewarding, albeit unexpected, internship experience!

Photo by Bettina Huang

If you follow our social media, you’ve probably seen my work. As the Marketing Intern, I was tasked with launching MAE’s social media, but ended up learning more about hand augers, borings, and Atterberg samples than I’d ever imagined possible in a few months. I found myself in unique situations, sweating profusely alongside our staff engineers as I captured our inspection services and balancing on a boat to get the perfect shot of our drillers on a barge. Though I walked in only expecting to work on our social media and website, Meskel allowed me to go beyond my job description and take initiative on the projects I wanted to pursue. 

Photo by Bettina Huang

Due to this, I was able to pitch and organize Meskel’s first company fundraiser in partnership with Feeding Northeast Florida, raising $4,000 for their efforts to combat hunger. Through this experience, I honed project management, communication, and marketing skills that will transcend my time with Meskel. It would not have been possible without the support of Meskel & Associates staff members, my supervisor and mentor Lu Bryant, and Tina Meskel, who gave the intern with a slide deck a chance. I simply cannot imagine having this opportunity and the level of support I received anywhere else and I am so grateful for my internship with Meskel.

Photo by Bettina Huang
👷‍♂️💧 Geotech Pros, Listen Up! 💧👷‍♀️

When you're out there on a drilling project, what's one of the most critical factors that can make or break your design and construction? The WATER TABLE!

Seriously, understanding the groundwater conditions is NON-NEGOTIABLE. Ignoring it can lead to:

Dynamic failures
Unstable slopes
Unexpected dewatering costs
Delays and budget overruns
Knowing where that water table sits (and how it fluctuates!) allows us to:

✅ Accurately design foundations
✅ Predict soil behavior under various conditions
✅ Plan effective dewatering strategies
✅ Ensure project safety and longevity

So, before you finalize those designs, make sure your geotech drilling plan includes thorough investigation of groundwater levels. It's an investment that pays dividends in project success!

#GeotechnicalEngineering #Drilling #WaterTable #Groundwater #ConstructionSafety #SiteInvestigation #GeotechTips #meskelandassociates #thebuildstartswithus
Happy Father's Day! So much gratitude for all the fathers, grandfathers, stepdads, and father figures today. Thank you for the lessons, the laughter, and for always being there. Your love makes a world of difference.
#HappyFathersDay2025 #meskelandassociates
Today, on Flag Day, let's remember the unity and strength our flag represents. It's a reminder that despite our differences, we are all united under one nation. Wishing everyone a meaningful Flag Day! 

 #FlagDay #Unity #America #meskelandassociates
Geotechnical engineering is an ancient science. Examples of early geotechnical engineering and slope erosion control can be found as far back as 2000 BC, when ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt started employing construction practices to irrigate crops, create dams and dykes and even dig canals. You could argue that we owe the history of civilization to early geotechnical engineers!
#funfact #meskelandassociates #knowledgeispower