11 Aug Week 4: A Week of Movement and Mentorship
Estimated Read Time: 4 Minutes
By Alessia Morante
This week may have only been two days long, but it was easily one of my most hands-on and dynamic weeks so far at Miller Diversified. Between climbing rooftops, touring buildings, and learning the ins and outs of construction budgeting, I felt like I was constantly moving and I loved it. I’m starting to realize just how much I enjoy an active, ever-changing work style, especially when it means I’m learning something new every step of the way.
Wednesday: Starting at the Top
I started the day by meeting with Jerry to go over the week’s assignments, deadlines, and meetings. Once we mapped things out, I headed out with Chris Murphy for a roof inspection. We climbed to the top of a strip mall to take a closer look at the roofing conditions, with humid, 90-degree weather and all. It was definitely a sweaty start to the day, but the experience was worth it!
The inspection team walked us through what they were seeing, and Chris helped break it all down for me. We talked about everything from the different types of roofing materials to how roof slopes prevent water from pooling and causing leaks. I also learned how cracks in a building’s walls can lead to trapped air under the roof membrane, especially with seasonal expansion and contraction. Between the heat, the technical terms, and the hands-on learning, it was a full on crash course on roofing!
After a quick lunch, I joined a building tour. We visited six different properties, ranging from dental offices to bars and traditional office spaces. It was such a collaborative experience, and I loved seeing the diversity of the properties Miller Diversified handles.
Thursday: A Closer Look at Construction
Thursday was busy from the jump! I wrapped up the construction spreadsheet project for Cassie, and then spent the rest of the day shadowing Nate Pearson to learn more about the construction side of commercial real estate.
We kicked off with a 10:30 meeting between Nate, Ethan Hohman, and Kurt Miller, where they reviewed a construction budget for a new warehouse project. It was incredibly detailed! They discussed everything from insulation and foundations to stormwater management and parking lots. What amazed me most was how quickly Kurt caught inconsistencies just by glancing at the spreadsheet. His knowledge of current pricing and regulations was so sharp, and I was impressed by how much he could recall off the top of his head.
It was also fun to hear the team discuss construction codes and practices. I learned about things like insulation depth, sewer drain requirements, and more things I never realized were so crucial to development planning.
Afterward, I joined Nate, Ethan, and Tom Cramer for lunch, where we continued the conversation from the meeting and we continued chatting about some of the details from the meeting earlier that morning. It was a nice way to process everything I’d just observed.
Back at the office, I briefly completed a questionnaire project for our neighbors at the Sisters of Notre Dame. Later, I sat in on another construction discussion. Some of the terminology was new to me, but it was still interesting to listen in and absorb what I could.
That afternoon, Nate took me and Ken Tarry to visit three different sites: a warehouse property in the early planning stages, a completed storage facility they had previously built, and a current active construction site. At each one, Nate explained key details and what made each stage unique.
He shared how dense gravel is placed at site entrances to clean off vehicle tires and reduce debris on public roads, how green mesh barriers are installed to prevent construction runoff from impacting nearby natural areas, and how strategic cuts in curbs help minimize future cracking. There were a lot of details I had never thought about before, and hearing how intentional each element was gave me a deeper appreciation for the planning behind each build.
We wrapped up back at the office where Nate started going over different contracting methods (GC, CMR, CMA, etc.). We didn’t quite get to finish because he had to hop on some important calls, but it was a good starting point and I’m looking forward to picking it back up next time.
Takeaway of the Week:
Some of the most valuable learning comes from simply being present, in conversations, on-site, or riding along with people who know the industry inside and out. Every roof, spreadsheet, and regulation has something to teach you.
This week showed me how layered and collaborative real estate really is. From the maintenance crew to the brokers to the construction team, everyone plays a part in making a property successful. I’m beyond grateful to be learning from so many incredible people here, and I can’t wait to keep exploring all the different sides of this industry.