Alumni Spotlight: Charlie Clark ’20

Major: Construction Management: Design and Building ‘20

Hometown: Morrisville, NY

What brought you to SUNY Delhi? I’m from a small town nearby, and Delhi felt like the right size campus for me. I visited the campus on accepted students’ day and loved the scenery and how the college is nestled in the mountains. My high school counselor told me that Delhi is a more hands-on, career-focused college. That’s what really sold me.

Our professors have the experience to back up what they’re saying.

Why construction management? I started in the architecture program because my BOCES instructor saw that type of talent in me and my drawings. Once I got here, I felt like construction was more suitable for me. It’s more practical and allows me to work out in the field. I’ve worked for my dad’s custom counter top and cabinet business since I was a kid, so I have some experience, too. There are always jobs available in the construction industry; it’s a job market that’s always open, and the salary is good. The professors at Delhi are very knowledgeable. They have experience in the industry to back up what they’re saying. Delhi is one of the only schools that have actual labs to work in. Because we’re so hands-on, we know how things work and what to do when problems arise. During my internship, I worked with students from engineering schools who were only used to looking at general concepts and didn’t understand the building components of how things really work. At Delhi, we get to practice what we learn in the classroom. It’s very beneficial. I also like that Delhi’s program is very personal – you know each others’ names. I have all my professors’ phone numbers and have done work for them outside of school.

Biggest challenges in college? I didn’t know anyone on campus to start with, but I have always been outgoing and find it easy to talk to people and make friends. You bond with people in class. When I walked through campus, there were so many people saying hi. In terms of academics, I learned quickly that you have to manage your time well. If you don’t start working on assignments in time, you’ll end up pulling all-nighters. That’s quite common. I learned to plan my time to avoid that.

College highlights? Delhi has a great internship program, and I had the best interning experience. We had a class that prepared us for jobs by working on our resumes and cover letters. Companies come over and present – they’re always looking for people. I sent my resume to the Hayner Hoyt Corporation in Syracuse, and they scooped me right up. They had never had an 8-month internship before. For the first three months, I worked at Colgate University, a high-end college where students drive Mercedes-Benzes and Porsches. We were finishing up the construction of two new residence halls. It was a mix of project management and fieldwork. After that, I got to pick my next project. I wanted to work on the Carrier Dome sports stadium. Growing up as a Syracuse U fan, it was a dream come true. I spent a lot of time shadowing the superintendent. We walked around the stadium, coordinating work efforts, figuring out man-hours, and supervising workers. I enjoyed that job so much, I didn’t want it to end. At the end of my internship, the company sat me down and offered me a salaried position as soon as I graduate from Delhi. I will start out as a field engineer at the stadium. I’m grateful that my internship led to this job.

Delhi made me a better person – it changed me.

Advice for new students? Enjoy college while it lasts. I can’t believe how fast these years went. Get out of your comfort zone. I was stuck in my shell at first, but I’m glad I decided to get involved in things I’d never done before. For example, I’ve never done community service, but at Delhi, I got involved with the O’Connor Center and learned social and clerical skills that will give me a leg up when I go out in the industry. If I had just sat in my room the whole time, I wouldn’t have had many of these advantages. Delhi made me a better person – it changed me. It’s weird coming from a guy who didn’t want to go to college. I’m glad I did.

Co-curriculars? I was a member of Tri-Atelier, a construction-based fraternity for students in architecture, construction, HVAC, plumbing, and carpentry. I shared a house with three other students from my fraternity. I had two campus jobs – in addition to the O’Connor Center, I worked for the student snow shoveling team. After a couple of years, I was promoted to coordinator of the team and managed the student workers. It was good preparation for my management degree. I was also president of a student club called Associated General Contractors. It was another great opportunity on campus to connect with like-minded students and discuss construction industry topics.

Future plans? I would like to work my way up to become a superintendent. In that position, you’re the person who knows the most and gets paid a lot of money. I’m thinking of buying a cheap house in the Syracuse area where my employer is located and fixing it up in my free time to sell it. I also like to spend time outdoors and want to travel more. It’s important to stop to smell the roses and enjoy life.

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