Local Students Among Young People From 13 Communities Building Practical Skills And Exploring Future Careers At Cummings Properties
WOBURN, MA – Twenty-eight local students are wrapping up a summer of learning, building, and problem-solving at Cummings Properties, where paid seasonal positions provide hands-on experience in commercial real estate and its many related professions.
Each year, the Woburn-based firm welcomes students ranging from high school through graduate school. The youths are paired with experienced mentors and meaningful projects that develop practical skills while supporting day-to-day operations across Cummings’ 11 million-square-foot portfolio.
Working alongside full-time Cummings employees, this year’s summer hires contributed in areas ranging from landscaping, demolition, and general construction to client relations, accounting, and architectural design.
Many students return summer after summer, according to Deputy General Field Manager Bob Heffernan, of North Reading.
“We treat our seasonal hires like real trainees,” said Heffernan, who first joined Cummings in 1991 as a summer worker during college breaks. “Those who are willing to put in the work leave with practical, transferable skills they can continue building year after year.”
One returning student is Will Helstrom, a Woburn native and rising senior at UMASS Amherst. Now in his second summer with the company’s landscaping team, Helstrom has expanded his technical abilities while honing valuable life skills.
“My responsibilities at Cummings have taught me many different skills, including teamwork and accountability,” said Helstrom. “Waking up every morning and working has gotten me into a routine that has helped me become more organized in other parts of my life.”
Ana Grady is completing her third summer with the firm’s Design Department after graduating from Endicott College this spring. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in architecture at Boston Architectural College.
“You get a lot of good hands-on experience in the field,” said Grady, a Reading native. “It isn’t just sitting at a desk all day, which makes the work especially rewarding.”
This summer, Grady has contributed to projects ranging from data management and file organization to schematic drawings, HVAC plans, buildout pricing, wall detailing, and 3-D modeling.
“I’ve basically dabbled in everything, which has helped me learn a ton,” said Grady. “I especially enjoyed going to job sites. It’s cool to see your plans come to life.”
For many participants, a summer job at Cummings becomes the foundation for a long-term career. Julia Foster first joined the company as a summer intern after graduating from Westfield State University in 2019. She accepted a full-time position that fall and has since advanced to senior project coordinator in the firm’s in-house Administration and Sustainability departments.
“Cummings Properties gives students a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of careers,” said Foster, a Lexington native and current Woburn resident. “When I chose business management as my college major, I never imagined I’d end up coordinating everything from state and federal lease negotiations and buildouts to the marketing and development of a condominium complex and energy-efficiency measures across 11 million square feet of real estate.”
For more than 50 years, Cummings has maintained a tradition of employing local students during the summer, providing valuable work experience while introducing them to careers in commercial real estate. The company’s vertically integrated organization includes experts in architecture, engineering, construction trades, sustainability, accounting, legal services, leasing, graphic design, and many other disciplines.
Cummings Properties is currently hiring full-time office and trades professionals for its Woburn and Beverly locations. Visit cummings.com/careers to learn about available opportunities.
