Curiosity Creates Opportunity
10/13/2026
His experience also gave him an opportunity to apply lessons from Bluffton’s MBA program. While he did not have responsibility for major financial decisions, Sarcheck saw connections between his coursework and the leadership and management skills he encountered in the workplace.
From Bluffton Connections to Career Opportunities
For Zane Sarcheck ’25, student life graduate assistant, a summer internship opportunity began with a Bluffton connection and became a chance to explore a new career path, develop practical skills and learn from a complex, fast-moving industry.
Sarcheck learned about the opportunity through fellow Bluffton graduate Seth Altman ’24, who connected him with Sauer Group, LLC. Sarcheck joined the company as an assistant project manager intern, gaining experience in project management, scheduling, purchasing, quality control and other areas.
The opportunity was one Sarcheck was eager to pursue. He had previously worked in a manufacturing environment as a floor lead at a wood crate building facility, but this internship introduced him to a different side of the business world.
“I applied extraordinarily early, and they accepted me extraordinarily early,” he said.
As an assistant project manager, Sarcheck worked on several different aspects of the project. He tracked construction progress through photos and visual maps, helped with scheduling, completed an audit of a large warehouse, managed purchase orders and assisted with submittals.
Rather than focusing on one specific assignment, Sarcheck embraced the opportunity to learn about the many pieces that contribute to a large project. That variety was one of the things he enjoyed most.
“I enjoy learning, so that's why I enjoyed being there and learning as much as possible,” Sarcheck said.
His experience also gave him an opportunity to apply lessons from Bluffton’s MBA program. While he did not have responsibility for major financial decisions, Sarcheck saw connections between his coursework and the leadership and management skills he encountered in the workplace.
“There are some things that were definitely applicable, like the leadership aspects, the management aspects, the psychology behind being a leader, and the efficacy in leadership, which I appreciated,” he said.
The internship also reinforced the value of practical skills that can carry from one workplace to another. Sarcheck gained experience with programs including Excel, Bluebeam and Procore, while also learning how different teams coordinate their work.
But the most important lesson Sarcheck took from the experience may have been his own approach to learning. “What I learned most of all was if you are willing to learn and be engaged in learning and you enjoy learning, you're going to have a blast.”
For Sarcheck, being part of a large-scale project made learning especially exciting. “I had so much fun just because, I mean you're building a multi-billion dollar project. That's so much fun,” he said.
His willingness to step into an unfamiliar industry also gave Sarcheck a chance to see possibilities he had never considered before.
“There are a lot of different ways of thinking about how systems operate that, because I'm not from an engineering background, I have never been introduced to. I think that side, where I get to see the progression of these new engineering feats that they have within this industry, is extremely cool,” he said. “Something I never would have thought I would have opportunity to see.”
Now, after gaining experience in project management, Sarcheck said he can see himself continuing in the field. “I enjoyed my time there. It was a lot to learn,” he said. “I can definitely see a future career there, for sure.”
For Sarcheck, the experience was a reminder of how much can come from being willing to learn something new, and from the relationships that help create those opportunities in the first place.
His connection with Altman gave him an introduction to Sauer Group, but Sarcheck's willingness to ask questions, stay engaged and learn helped him turn that introduction into meaningful professional experience. As he looks toward a future in project management, he carries both the experience and the relationships from that summer with him.