Owen Ames Kimball Celebrates 30 Years in Florida

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. (O-A-K) has completed construction of a 31,000-square-foot expansion of Cape Coral Technical College, marking the first major addition to the campus since it opened in 1993.

Students, faculty, community leaders and industry partners gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the expansion at the college, located at 360Santa Barbara Blvd. N. in Cape Coral.

The expansionsignificantly increases the college’s capacity to provide hands-on educationand industry-recognized credentials for careers in high-demand skilled trades. At full capacity, Cape Coral Technical College will serve up to 500 studentsannually, helping create a pipeline of trained workers for industries facingcritical workforce shortages throughout Southwest Florida.

“The completion of the Cape Coral Technical College expansion represents a significant investment inthe future workforce of Southwest Florida,” said Jim Hopper, Florida DivisionPresident of Owen-Ames-Kimball. “Projects like this create real opportunity,giving students access to hands-on training that leads directly to meaningfulcareers while helping local industries meet the growing demand for skilledprofessionals. Owen-Ames-Kimball is proud to partner with the School Districtof Lee County on a project that will have a lasting impact on students,businesses and the economic future of our region.”

The expanded campus allows Cape Coral Technical College to offer programs across three high-demandsectors: transportation, manufacturing, and architecture and construction. Newskilled-trades training includes construction trades, welding, HVAC, automotiverepair and service, marine service technology and additionalconstruction-industry programs.

“The programs in this building were designed hand in hand with local employers, which means ourstudents train on the same equipment and to the same standards they will findon the job,” said Dr. Denise Carlin, superintendent of Lee County Schools.

The expansion will allow more than 150 additional students each year to pursue tradecertifications. Many programs follow a “Career in a Year” model, allowingstudents to earn industry-recognized credentials and enter the workforcequickly. The college also offers dual-enrollment opportunities for high school students, as well as programs for veterans and individuals age 16 and older.

During theribbon-cutting ceremony, Cape Coral Technical College Director Charlie Pease also announced Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats as the college’s first FoundingIndustry Partner. Nor-Tech Chief Operating Officer Henrik Margard presented aninitial $20,000 donation to the college.

“At Nor-Tech, we believe that investing in education is an investment in our community’sfuture,” Margard said.

“Nor-Tech’s commitment gives our Marine Academy students access to the technology and expertise that will set them apart in the workforce,” Pease said.

Cape Coral Technical College currently offers 19 programs designed to prepare students for employment in growing industries. Partnerships with local businesses provide work-based learning opportunities while allowing industry professionals to help shape curriculum based on current workforce needs.

The expansion comes as Cape Coral and Southwest Florida continue to experience strong population and economic growth, increasing demand for skilled workers in construction, marine service, HVAC, automotive technology and other trades.

For more information about Cape Coral Technical College, visit capecoraltech.edu or call (239)574-4440.

Owen-Ames-Kimball is a nationally recognized construction management firm with offices serving Collier and Lee counties for more than four decades. With headquarters in Florida, Michigan, and Colorado, O-A-K delivers unmatched construction management expertise, leading complexprojects through strong partnerships and proven project leadership. Learn more about O-A-K at www.owen-ames-kimball.com or call (239) 561-4141.

O-A-K is packing up the table and hitting the road this fall, with our team showing up at career fairs across Michigan, Florida, and Colorado.

Where to find us

• University of Florida | September 10
• Ferris State University | September 22
• Western Michigan University | September 23
• Michigan State University | September 24
• Michigan Tech University | September 29
• Colorado State University | September 29
• Florida International University | October 6
• Florida Gulf Coast University | October 6
• Louisiana State University | October 23

Why stop by our table

A conversation at our table is a chance for us to actually get to know you, not just your resume. Tell us what you're studying, what kind of work excites you, where you picture yourself in five years. We're listening, and we remember. That connection is what turns into a real interview and, for a lot of students, a real career.

Last summer, twenty-eight interns joined O-A-K across our Michigan and Florida offices, working out of Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Naples, and Fort Myers. They didn't sit on the sidelines. Each was welcomed onto an active project and put to work from day one, alongside on-the-job training, weekly lunch and learns with company leaders, and a built-in community of fellow interns from across the states we serve.

The pathway is real

An internship at O-A-K isn't a summer detour, it's often the start of a career. Over the past decade, at least fourteen former interns have grown into full-time roles with the company. Brian Filipek interned in 2015 and is now a Project Manager. "The company's reputation initially attracted me to the internship, but it was the people and culture that convinced me to stay," Filipek said.

"O-A-K's internship program is designed to give students meaningful, real-world experience that simply can't be replicated in a classroom," said Jim Hopper, Florida Division President. Our interns become real members of project teams, working through problems and building relationships with clients and trade partners along the way.

What sets O-A-K apart

People-First Culture: At O-A-K, people are the driving force behind everything we build. We choose to do what's right, bring a can-do attitude to every job, and show up for each other, not just the project. Here, you're valued as a person, not reduced to a title or a task list.

Full Responsibility: When you join O-A-K, you become part of a company that's 100% employee-owned, so your success is directly tied to ours. You'll have the mentorship, training, and resources to do your best work, plus a real stake in the results. It's been our formula for growing careers, and the company, for more than 130 years.

Safety is Personal: At O-A-K, safety isn't a policy, it's a promise we make to every person on the jobsite and every community we build for. Our procedures are grounded in real field experience, not just paperwork, because protecting people always comes before schedules or deadlines.

If you're ready to build something that lasts, come find us on the road. We'd love to meet you. Have questions before then? Reach Camila directly at camilag@oakmi.com.

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This summer, 28 interns joined O-A-K across our Michigan and Florida offices in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Naples, and Fort Myers. Each intern was was assigned to active projects and put to work.

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The pathway is real

Over the past decade, at least 14 former interns have moved into full-time roles with O-A-K.

Brian Filipek interned in 2015 and is now a Project Manager. "The company's reputation initially attracted me to the internship, but it was the people and culture that convinced me to stay," Filipek said. Marco Garcia interned in 2020 and returned in 2024 as a Project Superintendent. Carlos Rapalo interned in 2024 and became an Assistant Project Manager in 2025. Sammuel Presmy worked the Cape Coral Technical College expansion as an intern and joined full-time in May 2026 as an Assistant Project Manager.

Employee-owned since 1891, O-A-K gives interns room to grow and people willing to invest in that growth. Many stay on part-time while finishing their degrees, then join full-time after graduation.

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Fridays Together: Learning Every Department

Every Friday, interns from all offices came together in-person and virtually to learn the functions that run O-A-K: Preconstruction, Marketing, Safety, Project Management, Accounting, and Superintendent work. Construction does not happen only in the field. These sessions showed our interns the full machine behind a project: Preconstruction planning the work, project managers driving it forward, superintendents leading the field, safety protecting everyone on the jobsite, accounting keeping it honest, and marketing telling the story.

Ian Miller, a Florida Gulf Coast University student, is proof our interns value their time at O-A-K. Ian first interned with us in 2025 on the FGCU Cohen Student Union renovation, following the project from active construction through closeout. He returned this summer for a new project and a wider view of the business.

"O-A-K's internship program is designed to give students meaningful, real-world experience that simply can't be replicated in a classroom," said Jim Hopper, Florida Division President. "Our interns become valuable members of project teams, participate in problem-solving, interact with clients and trade partners, and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to successfully deliver complex construction projects."

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Meet Kejsi from O-A-K Florida

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What comes next

To the 2026 intern class: thank you for your hard work. You strengthened our teams this summer, and we can't wait to build with you again. Interested in an O-A-K internship? Send a message with your resume to camilag@oakmi.com, or learn more on our Careers Page.