Martee Grainger is an Associate Director on the Talent Management team. This month, we sat down with Martee to learn about her mindset at work, her passion for career development, and what’s next for the Talent Management team.
You were promoted to Associate Director at the end of 2023–congratulations! What path did you follow to reach this goal and what advice do you have for others hoping to achieve a similar goal?
My journey into the construction and engineering industry began with my first internship. At the time, my brother was stationed in Hawaii in the United States Army, and I wanted to spend time with him while he was on the islands. I went to a career fair and secured an internship with an engineering and construction company in Hawaii, though my internship was within human resources. It was there that I discovered my passion for developing people and careers–a passion that I wanted to use as fuel for a career within talent management.
The network I gained through that internship ultimately led me to Atwell and a job I’m truly passionate about. The promotion to associate director was a result of curiosity and a willingness to take risks by suggesting new ideas. Putting yourself out there by suggesting a new idea can be a risk itself, but it also positions you as a thought leader and voice of innovation. Rejection is a possibility, but so too is an opportunity to learn and even create change. Innovation is a core value at Atwell, and innovation requires risks.
What would you like people to know about our Talent Management team?
We want people to know we’re here to support their continuous growth and development at Atwell, whether they’re in their first internship or 20 years into their career. As a nation, we’re seeing a 13-year low of employee engagement. We’ve made it our mission in Talent Management to offset that low. Our team is here to improve company culture, support individual development, and activate employee engagement.
We know that our internship program provides valuable hands-on experience and education to our interns. What are other benefits of the program?
Our priorities for the internship program are two-fold. First, we seek to introduce interns to the vast and various departments and opportunities available at Atwell. This company is rapidly growing, and so, too, is the pool of subject matter experts. We want our interns to meet as many people as possible.
Second, we want to see our interns fully engaged and making the most out of the opportunity. We do this through weekly talks from different departments, a book club, mentorships, photo challenges, and supplying Atwell gear.
My network has greatly benefitted me in my career development and job search, so it’s important to me that our interns start building their networks while working with our team. We love giving them an all-encompassing look at the company while learning what it is that drew our interns to the Atwell internship itself. We view their time with us as a “try-out” rather than a chance to delegate undesirable tasks. We believe this internship experience has the potential to impact their entire lives, and we take that very seriously. As a company, we benefit from the fresh perspective of new grads or soon-to-be grads and know that it’s very possible that this summer’s interns will be full-time staff next year.
You’ve shown your passion for volunteering through leading the internship program and the Young Professionals ERG. Why are philanthropy and volunteerism important to you?
I grew up in a great community that always supported me in my goals and helped wherever they could. It was that community that made me passionate about taking any opportunity to give back and extend that good fortune. I sincerely wish everyone could feel as supported as I have felt throughout my life. I love being able to work every day in a role that is entirely geared towards supporting individuals be their best. As I was hunting for a place to begin my career, I saw that same passion for philanthropy and community in the company values of Atwell. Working with initiatives that help maintain Atwell’s culture while enabling talent to perpetually develop makes coming to work easy.
You spent almost three years living and working in Honolulu, Hawaii. What do you miss about life in the Aloha state?
The weather and the culture. The internship had us working alongside locals, so we were invited into the community in a way many visitors aren’t. That made it a special experience and gave me an even greater appreciation for native Hawaiians. I loved learning about the history of the islands, the history of the United States on the islands, and of course, going straight to the beach after work.
You’ve lived in multiple states across the United States. Do you have any plans for travel in the coming months?
I recently moved back to Iowa to spend the summer with family. I am planning on traveling a lot in the fall and moving sometime next year, though I’m not yet sure where. Some of the top contenders are Charlotte, North Carolina; Kansas City, Kansas; and Minneapolis, Minnesota!
Speed round:
Hawaii or Colorado?
Hawaii
TikTok or Instagram?
TikTok
Books or Podcasts?
Books
Glasses or contacts?
Glasses
Vh1 or MTV?
MTV
