Building the Next Generation: Gulfstream Homes Gives Students a Hands-On Look at Careers in Construction
Southwest Florida custom home builder’s internship program introduces young people to the many career paths behind the building process
NAPLES, Fla. — September 16, 2026 — Before committing to a college major or career path, how often does a high school student get the opportunity to step onto a jobsite and experience an industry from the inside?
At Gulfstream Homes, a summer internship program is helping make that possible for students interested in construction—providing firsthand exposure to everything from reading plans and construction sequencing to scheduling, quality control, working with trades and the day-to-day coordination required to bring a custom home to life.
This summer, Naples resident Owen Jennings, a student at The Village School of Naples, spent time alongside Gulfstream Homes’ project managers and field staff, gaining an inside look at an industry he was already considering pursuing in college.
The experience only strengthened his interest.
“Absolutely,” Jennings said when asked whether the internship reinforced his interest in a construction career. “It helps so much going into this internship and before going into college and spending money. It’s good to know what you’re going into.”
More Than What Happens on a Jobsite
Gulfstream Homes Project Manager David Matulay created the internship program in part to give young people an opportunity he believes many established professionals wish they had received themselves.
“It’s difficult to know if a career is right for you when your only understanding of it comes from a classroom or what you see from the outside,” Matulay said. “We wanted to give a student the opportunity to actually spend time in the field, work alongside our team, and see what a career in construction really looks like.”
During the summer, Jennings learned about construction codes and observed how field managers communicate with contractors and subcontractors. He sat in on meetings and saw firsthand the amount of coordination required to keep a project progressing each day.
Matulay said Jennings’ experience extended across many stages of custom home construction.
“He was exposed to everything from reading plans and understanding construction sequencing to punch-out, quality control, scheduling, and working with our trades,” Matulay said. “He also got to participate in some of the training we provide our project managers and field staff.”
The result, Matulay said, was a much broader understanding of the people, decisions and details required to transform architectural plans into a finished home.
It also exposed Jennings to the range of professions available within the industry.
“Construction isn’t just about physically building something,” Matulay said. “There is project management, estimating, design, engineering, scheduling, working with customers and subcontractors, and problem-solving every day.”
Learning by Doing
For Jennings, one of the most valuable parts of the experience was getting beyond the classroom and seeing how construction professionals actually work together.
His favorite part was sitting in on meetings and experiencing what a field manager does, while one of his biggest observations was the level of coordination among Gulfstream’s field managers and the importance of accomplishing something each day to keep a project moving forward.
That type of exposure is precisely what Matulay hopes students take away from the program.
“Reading a set of plans is one thing; standing in the house and seeing those plans come to life is completely different,” Matulay said. “You also get to see the problem-solving, communication, coordination, and decision-making that happens every day.”
Matulay said he doesn’t expect an intern to arrive with extensive construction knowledge. Instead, he looks for curiosity, punctuality, a positive attitude, a willingness to ask questions and an eagerness to learn—even when the day’s assignment isn’t particularly glamorous.
Jennings demonstrated those qualities throughout the summer.
“He was punctual, never complained about what was thrown his way, and was willing to learn from everyone around him,” Matulay said.
Jennings has also learned one of the most valuable lessons of career exploration: experiencing different sides of an industry before deciding where he ultimately wants to land. After learning about residential custom home building with Gulfstream Homes, he hopes to gain exposure to commercial construction as well before determining which direction he prefers.
His advice to other students is similarly practical: meet as many people as possible, even if doing so requires stepping outside their comfort zones, and take advantage of opportunities to learn directly from people already working in the field.
Investing in Construction’s Future
For Gulfstream Homes, the internship program represents more than an opportunity for one student each summer. Matulay hopes it can play a role in developing the industry’s future workforce.
“Our industry needs the next generation of builders, project managers, superintendents, tradespeople, estimators, and leaders,” Matulay said. “I think we have a responsibility to show young people that construction can be a great career and that there are a lot more opportunities within the industry than they may realize.”
As Gulfstream Homes continues developing the program, Matulay hopes future interns can gain exposure to even more areas of construction and learn directly from additional Gulfstream team members and trade partners.
“Ultimately, if we can help a young person discover a career they enjoy while also helping develop the next generation of people entering our industry, I think the program has done exactly what we hoped it would do,” Matulay said.
About Gulfstream Homes
Since 1998, Gulfstream Homes has been a premier design-build firm in Southwest Florida. Specializing in luxury custom homes and large-scale renovations, the company is dedicated to architectural excellence, structural integrity and a client-focused building experience.
For more information about Gulfstream Homes, visit GulfstreamHomes.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Juls Marcus
Gulfstream Homes
239.254.1664
jmarcus@arcs-gh.com
