
Kyla Jamison, COL ’25, Salem, OH
As a project development intern at Blackdog Contracting, I had the opportunity to develop skills and gain knowledge that will help me pursue a career in real estate. Working with the team of contractors and developers, I was able to understand how many components of the business must work together and communicate directly to conduct projects smoothly. Developing ways to help the company optimize financial estimates and project organization, I learned the importance of detail in the growing real estate market.
Located in Northeast Ohio, Blackdog Contracting has a unique position in the market. Blackdog manages 13 Airbnbs and many new construction and remodeling projects, providing insight into the versatile market of real estate. Although property management and new construction pose different challenges, both require solid organization of building materials, large equipment, and expenses. Using technology to streamline daily operations and boost marketing efforts allows operations to evolve alongside technological innovation. Technology is important for the management of Airbnb properties and allows for easy access and distribution of construction estimates and development plans.
Studying the tourism trends and demographics of Northeast Ohio, I was able to help target potential areas for new construction. Having a diverse economy and growing population, the real estate market has the power to make positive changes in the area. The local community can be uplifted socially and economically through intentional land development, and identifying the factors that influence the landscape of Ohio’s housing market is vital. As a sociology student at Penn, I believe there is an opportunity to pursue continual improvement through community development. Intentional investment into socioeconomically conscious projects is a career I hope to pursue upon graduation.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2023 Career Services Summer Funding Grant. We’ve asked funding recipients to reflect on their summer experiences and talk about the industries in which they spent their summer. You can read the entire series here