For many college students, internships are a way to build a resume and gain experience. At The BAM Companies, they can also be the first step toward a full-time career—just ask Marissa Urbanek.

After joining The BAM Companies as a marketing intern last summer, Marissa gained exposure across several areas of the business. Her internship evolved into a part-time role during the school year, and she is now preparing to begin her full-time career with the company after recently graduating from Purdue University.

The work gave Marissa valuable experience in an industry she came to enjoy, but it was the people at The BAM Companies who made the decision to stay an easy one.

“Everyone was incredibly welcoming from day one,” she said. “People knew my name, and they remembered little details about me, even when I was just an intern. That meant a lot. It made me feel valued and showed me that The BAM Companies is a place where people genuinely care about one another.”

The Value of Summer Internships

At The BAM Companies, our summer internship program gives talented students like Marissa a firsthand look at the multifamily real estate industry and the opportunity to build meaningful, hands-on experience. While we’re always excited when interns choose to build a career at The BAM Companies, the program is designed first and foremost to help young professionals develop real-world skills and grow professionally.

“Our internship program is one of the most exciting developments in recent years,” said Jayce Everling, The BAM Companies’ Associate Vice President of Operations. “Now including six different departments, our interns are able to bring a diverse set of ideas and new energy into the office.

“Each year, they exhibit a determination and level of productivity that is welcome and refreshing. In fact, over the course of the program, we’ve extended multiple full-time offers and have invited interns back the following year to continue their work. The company is passionate about people who are willing to learn, grow, and be flexible, and our interns perfectly exemplify these values.”

From Classroom to Career Path

For Marissa, multifamily real estate wasn’t initially on her radar, but that quickly changed once she arrived at The BAM Companies. As a marketing intern, she supported several initiatives on the property management side of the business. Her responsibilities included helping with branding efforts for our apartment communities, creating lead tracking dashboards within the property management team’s CRM, and assisting with various marketing projects designed to strengthen The BAM Companies’ portfolio.

“My previous internships were with organizations in the pharmaceutical and nonprofit sectors,” Marissa said. “I always wanted to work in an industry where I could have an impact on people. Once I started working here and learning more about the industry, I realized how much of an impact it has on people. That really drew me in.”

While she initially focused on creative marketing work, she found herself increasingly interested in data analytics, marketing strategy, and investor-focused initiatives—areas she will continue to build on in her full-time role with the company.

“I think one of the biggest advantages of working at a smaller company is that you’re able to touch a lot of different things,” she said. “You’re not limited to one specialized area. You get exposure to different teams and different skills.”

Marissa’s story reflects what The BAM Companies hopes to achieve through its internship program. While not every intern stays full-time, they leave with a deeper understanding of the business, and some choose to return for another summer.

Returning for a Second Summer

That’s the case for Joey Buscareno and Zach Long, who are both back for a second summer at The BAM Companies.

For Joey, a James Madison University student, the chance to dive deeper into the multifamily real estate industry—while continuing to build on the relationships he formed during his first summer—made returning an easy decision.

“I explored a few other internships for this summer, but quickly realized I wanted to return to The BAM Companies,” said Joey, an investor relations intern. “I had a great experience last summer, and I was excited to expand on that.”

While his days are filled with calling potential leads and setting meetings with the investor team, Joey said the people remain one of the best parts of the internship.

“I like how genuine everyone is,” he said. “People don’t just talk about work; they’re interested in getting to know you outside of work, too. It’s a relaxed environment where people are very supportive.”

Zach, meanwhile, returned to continue the momentum he gained during his first internship here.

“I’ve gained experience across a wide range of functions within the company,” said Zach, a Michigan State University student who works with the acquisitions and asset management team. “I’ve always wanted to work on the principal side of commercial real estate, and this internship has really confirmed that for me.”

He also pointed to leadership’s approach to developing young talent as a highlight of the program.

“Leadership’s availability and willingness to invest in junior talent really stands out,” he said.