Summer Intern Spotlight: Lily Ren

In our second Summer Intern Spotlight, please get to know Lily Ren! Lily started a Data Engineering internship with McLean back in May and is wrapping things up in early August to head back to Atlanta, where she is a student at Georgia Tech pursuing a Computer Science degree.

Orignally from Moultrie, Lily learned of the internship opportunity through a member of the local Rotary Club. “She was able to connect me with Sean Knowles, who then introduced me to Stacey (Cimowsky),” Lily explained. “From that point on, everything fell into place smoothly!”

Liiy has worked on a variety of projects over the summer, supporting various clients and using the data submitted by McLean’s contract field inspectors who are working on projects all over the country.

“Some of my typical tasks include editing conductor maps for different substations in QGIS, performing QAQC inspections for different projects by reviewing flagged issues from inspectors or confirming that the data is what the customer wants, and creating apps in Fulcrum for the different substations in each project by importing poles and updating attachment notes,” she said.

While she has learned quite a bit of the practical side of data engineering, Lily feels she has also gained intangible experience in working with a firm and how that firm conducts daily business.

“Everything about McLean and what they do as a company was all very new to me, so coming in, it made everything entirely unfamiliar to me,” she explained. “However, over the course of the summer, I definitely have learned and grown a lot with the company. The diverse range of projects we handle has taught me to become more flexible and adaptable in handling any situation that arises. Working on these projects has allowed me to gain hands-on experience with the data side of McLean, and I've been able to grasp the underlying concepts by asking questions and seeking a deeper understanding of my work. Being able to learn more while working and experiencing everything first-hand has been a valuable opportunity.”

The people she worked with over the summer have been among the most enjoyable aspects of her internship. “I really enjoyed learning and working with the people at the office. During my time at McLean, I have asked numerous questions. However, everyone is always willing to answer any questions I have and explain the concepts further in-depth. Also, I enjoyed connecting with everyone at the office and feeling like a valuable team member.”

McLean appreciates Lily’s contributions and hard work during her internship, and we wish her a fantastic school year ahead!