Business Alum Constructs his Future at Widener
Michael Fehrle ’22 is no stranger to making the most of his resources and opportunities at Widener.
- School of Business
Michael Fehrle knew that Widener would have the building blocks he needed to start his career.
A class of 2022 graduate, Michael now works full time at INTECH Construction as an assistant construction project manager after interning there for 2 years prior through Widener’s opportunities.
From the beginning, Michael knew that Widener’s location would be of great benefit to him. Located in a prime location with Philadelphia at his fingertips, he knew he had access to countless opportunities.
He believes that the culmination of his four years at Widener were valuable to his career, leadership, and academic development today.
Michael started his internship at INTECH Construction in the fall of 2020 as a junior during the height of COVID-19. Serving as assistant construction project manager, he found himself adjusting quickly to the job.
“A lot of what allowed me to flow into a part-time position was the support and flexibility that Widener gave me,” he says of Widener’s co-op opportunities and resources.
Working with INTECH allowed him to embark on five substantial construction projects throughout Conshohocken that gave him experience to continue collaborating with them after graduation.
From building a 12-story parking garage, to a 525,000 square foot office building, and renovating a previous firehouse into a restaurant, Michael felt thankful to be able to gain more confidence in the field of construction management.
Now in Philadelphia, he has the opportunity to manage schedules, budgets, construction plans, and more. He is a firm believer that Widener gave him that opportunity to grow in the field because of his internship.
Michael felt supported every step of the way because faculty, mentors, and family constantly encouraged him to pursue his career while also attending school as a full-time student.
He understood early on that, “it’s an understanding at Widener that the faculty and staff want their students to succeed” because his professors made sure that they could assist Michael in any way that he needed.
With after-hours Zoom sessions, flexibility from his professors, and additional tutoring, Michael and his professors built a solid relationship that allowed him to intern full-time and be a student full-time.
Professors like Dr. Mary Shoemaker helped to ensure that his LinkedIn, resume, networking skills, and transition into his internship was seamless. He notes that she consistently made sure that he was able to succeed in everything that he wanted to do with work and school.
Michael also gives special thanks to his father for inspiring him to pursue his career in construction. Michael’s father worked in construction his whole life, and having great admiration for him, Michael believes that construction was his path too.
Keeping a keen eye on his emails, Michael often filled out scholarship opportunities that Career Design & Development would send out. One notable scholarship that stands out is the CFMA Philadelphia Barbara Mosteller 2021 Scholarship where he was one of four awardees selected out of hundreds of applicants to win $4,000 in scholarship money.
Sharpening on his leadership skills, he joined Alpha Tau Omega and Pi Sigma Epsilon. Being involved in a social and professional fraternity has given Michael a chance to network with his peers and professionals. He received the Future Leaders Scholarship from Pi Sigma Epsilon and was able to travel to the 2020 PSE National Convention in Virginia.
Even outside of work and academics, Michael had energy to be involved on campus, serving as captain and recruitment chair for Club Rugby, a tour guide for Widener, and acting as a Senator for the Student Government Association.
He found ways to juggle many responsibilities while still enjoying his time as a college student. Michael shares that he “had a great four years and would easily do them over again” if he had the chance.
