Construction Project Management, A.A.S.
From a young age, Ethan Hennessey listened to his father and grandfathers talk about their work in construction-related businesses. It was fascinating to him, and their stories launched a life-long interest.
“One of my grandfathers was a cement truck driver, which allowed me to witness firsthand the construction of the new 35W bridge,” Hennessey said. “I learned a lot about concrete, the construction of bridges, and just how complicated building projects can be.”
His other grandfather, a facilities manager for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, introduced him to the world of maintenance, renovation, and additions to existing buildings.
Hennessey became comfortable working with tools and mechanics from a young age. His father, currently the vice president of Flannery Construction in Saint Paul, involved him in projects like home remodels, boat rebuilds, and car maintenance.
“My earliest memory of these experiences was during a home renovation where I pushed over 100 framing nails into some rigid insulation,” Hennessey said. “This wasn’t terribly helpful, as one might imagine, but it certainly kept me occupied while my father did the real work. From these experiences and stories, I gained profound respect and admiration for people in construction and the industry as a whole.”
Hennessey, who graduated this spring with an associates degree in Construction Project Management, was selected by faculty to receive an Academic Excellence Award. Criteria for the award includes maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher and demonstrating a solid work ethic, extra-curricular participation, collegiate camaraderie, pursuit of excellence, and self-awareness.
Heather Stafford, Associate Dean of Construction Sciences and Business Management, introduced Hennessey at the Student Award ceremony.
“Something that people may not know about Ethan is that he was a psychology major and philosophy minor [before coming to Dunwoody],” she said. “He brings that background to everything he is involved with, and it sets him apart.”
After graduating from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in Saint Paul, Hennessey earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. While considering a career path, he felt drawn to the construction trade — like his father and grandfathers before him. Already familiar with some of the tools and concepts involved in the industry, he felt that his psychology education would give him a unique insight into the human side of the field.
Construction projects involve the complexities of moving parts, heavy machinery, and tight deadlines: understanding how to communicate effectively with and manage contractors and laborers on a job site are vitally important skills.
To ensure he was on the right career track, he investigated options for further education. Dunwoody’s Construction Management program made a lot of sense.
“I decided to attend Dunwoody specifically to be taught by members of the construction industry, along with the networking opportunities it provided,” Hennessey said.
The program, which offers both day and evening classes, gave him the flexibility to continue working a day job. He also felt that, compared to other technical schools in the area, Dunwoody’s name was more prestigious.
Dunwoody’s hands-on approach to learning was also appealing.
“It is my belief that if time passes quickly while you work, that work is something you enjoy doing,” he said. “Being hands-on has always allowed me to focus my concentration and lose track of time.”
Hennessey valued the emphasis on technical training throughout the program, but the final project for the Residential Project Management course was his most memorable experience.
“It allowed everyone to showcase their creativity and technical skills through designing and estimating a custom home,” he said.
A key takeaway for Hennessey: Teamwork is invaluable. And frustrating (sometimes).
Modeling the professional world, Dunwoody class projects sometimes require working as a team. On any team, people have different strengths, and some may work faster or slower than others. Hennessey felt that his psychology background gave him an insight on how to successfully navigate group efforts.
“Being able to manage this dynamic of diverse strengths and weaknesses toward a common goal is an imperative skill,” he said.
Hennessey values the relationships he built with his Dunwoody peers, teachers, and outside professionals he met through class projects.
“Dunwoody is a great environment to form both lasting friendships and professional connections,” he said.
He is already employed in the field as an Assistant Project Manager at Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors.
In his free time, Hennessey enjoys spending time with family and friends, and outdoor activities like camping, hiking, or spending time on a lake. He’s also an avid reader of history, philosophy, and science fiction.
“I hope to continuously learn, work with others, participate in and manage as many projects as possible,” Hennessey said. “True fulfillment for me is being able to drive down the highway and think, ‘I helped build that.’”