Inside Shive-Hattery’s Emerging Professionals Swarm 

This summer, more than 60 interns from across the country traveled to our Des Moines office for Shive-Hattery’s first-ever Emerging Professionals Swarm — a two-day experience designed to go beyond the typical internship.

In an industry often focused on technical skills and deadlines, this event focused on something deeper: connection, growth, and making a long-term impact.

“This event made me feel like I belong here and strengthened my admiration for the leadership. Shive-Hattery has always provided a great work-life balance to me, something I was struggling with before, and the meaningful workshops added to the quality of growth.”

— Soumya Pandit, Architectural | Chicago, IL

More Than Just a Summer Gig

President Jen Bennett shares the firm’s vision and values with interns during a welcome session.

“We didn’t want to just give our interns a tour of the office and a project to shadow,” said President Jen Bennett. “We wanted them to feel what it’s like to be part of this firm. To see our values in action, meet our people, and start building their own professional identity.”

Shive-Hattery interns didn’t just learn how to “work the room” — they got to practice it.

From workshops on personal branding and financial literacy to a lively intern panel and community project tours, the Swarm offered more than surface-level networking. A night at the Iowa Cubs game gave interns a chance to connect with firm leaders in a relaxed, low stakes setting.

“This event only reaffirmed my belief in Shive-Hattery being one of the most amazing companies to work for. It’s hard to imagine many other companies placing this amount of emphasis or importance on my personal development.”

— Sofia Silva Castellanos, Architecture | Tucson, AZ

Workshops That Made a Mark

Experts from Bankers Trust lead a hands-on session on budgeting, investing, and financial wellness.

The Personal Finance session was a standout, which went beyond budgets and credit scores. Experts Cristiane AbouAssaly and Zach Holmes from Bankers Trust shared real-life investment strategies, warned of common pitfalls, and took the mystery out of managing money.

“If we don’t provide our interns with financial literacy, we’re doing them a disservice — we’re leaving them vulnerable,” said Public Infrastructure Director Nathan Hardisty. “This was a gift we gave them, and it will pay off.”

Personal Branding workshop led by Drake University’s Chris Snider helps interns define their professional identity.

A Personal Branding workshop, led by Drake University’s Chris Snider, gave interns the chance to clarify their purpose, fine-tune their LinkedIn profiles, and explore how AI is changing the way you can present yourself professionally.

One of the most talked-about sessions was the Proposal and Persuasion Workshop, where interns took the mic and made their case in simulated project pitches.

When you give young professionals the tools and the platform to use their voice, they rise to the moment—and remind us why investing in their growth matters.

“Our interns absolutely nailed their presentation,” said Kyle Copelin, Public Buildings Director. “It made me think, ‘I want them on my team someday.’ That’s what happens when you give young professionals the tools and the platform to use their voice.”

What’s Next?

The buzz isn’t dying down anytime soon. Many interns expressed interest in becoming ambassadors for next year’s Swarm, and several team members said the experience reinvigorated their connection to the firm.

For Talent Partner Connor Moellenbeck, the event proved a powerful truth: “When you invest in early-career professionals not just as workers but as whole people, they remember it. They carry it. And they carry us forward.”