When Cainen Crowder arrived at the Bartow County Engineering Department last summer for the Georgia County Internship Program (GCIP), he brought an open mind and a desire to learn. Crowder, an industrial engineering major at Georgia Tech — not a civil engineer by training — took on a role that required him to think like one. Working under Engineering Director Mark Cox, Crowder spent the summer working on a range of civil engineering tasks including AutoCAD drawings, development plan reviews, site visits, and environmental inspections. 

Crowder initially learned about the internship through a familiar face. Gracie Pruitt, a previous GCIP intern and fellow Georgia Tech student, told him about the opportunity. Growing up in Bartow County, Crowder was eager to work in and contribute to his home county. Though his classes had left him curious about environmental science and the inner workings of local systems — "I love knowing what's going on behind the curtain," he said — he had no prior experience with county government. However, he had a deep curiosity and willingness to dive in and learn about local government operations.

One of Crowder's first challenges was learning AutoCAD, the design software that engineers use to produce technical drawings. Cox noted that Crowder picked it up quickly, and Crowder himself reflected that it was one of the most significant successes during his internship. By learning AutoCAD, Crowder was able to review site plans and create his own drawings. He independently developed a diagram for the county road department that detailed the county's utility lines. That detail will be incorporated into Bartow County's standard detail library, making it a lasting part of the county's construction specifications.

Additionally, Crowder worked on road improvement and hydrology plans. Through this, he learned how to read topography and visualize terrain and infrastructure in three dimensions. He reviewed development plans to ensure compliance with erosion and sedimentation standards and county ordinances. Crowder also experienced the public-facing side of county operations. He created educational materials on green infrastructure and drafted formal correspondence to property owners regarding development sites.

Fieldwork was another important part of Crowder's internship. He attended pre-construction meetings, conducted dam inspections, and visited active development sites across the county. One of the most memorable visits was Barnsley Gardens, a historic estate turned luxury resort in Adairsville, where Crowder worked on construction plans for an expansion and joined staff on a site visit. He also worked on the Ladds River Landing development, where he identified issues that placed construction activity too close to a stream buffer. Site visits exposed Crowder to the range of professionals involved in county engineering work and the collaboration needed to work amongst them.

Reflecting on the internship, Crowder noted that it required a level of independent problem-solving that he hadn't yet encountered in the classroom. He grew in his attention to detail and in his willingness to ask for help and receive feedback. He also further developed his technical skills in plan review and engineering detail design, which he said will “help me in deciding if I switch to civil engineering and what it’s like to be a professional.”

Crowder's favorite part of the internship experience was the way the team worked together. He noted that everyone was respectful, supportive, and invested in his growth. "I learned more here than in the classroom," he reflected. He also said the internship gave him the chance to see things he "wouldn't have before” and gain a new perspective on his home county and the work it takes to keep it running. Now, when he travels back home, he can directly pinpoint the projects he’s worked on.

Crowder plans to graduate from Georgia Tech in 2028. His GCIP experience pushed civil engineering back into consideration, though he said he's keeping his options open. He plans to explore his career path further, but his time with Bartow County gave him a firmer understanding of what professional engineering looks like day-to-day. As a GCIP intern, Crowder followed in Gracie Pruitt's footsteps and now carries forward skills, relationships, and a lasting contribution to the county.