Apprenticeship At Webster Groves Remodeling Company Gives Mizzou Student Hands-On Construction Experience

College sophomore Max Gravette was presented with a perfect opportunity over the summer when Second Stories, a family-owned remodeling company in Webster Groves, offered him a hands-on apprenticeship with real-world construction experience. 

A 19-year-old graduate of Lutheran High School South, Gravette is pursuing a degree in business management at the University of Missouri, and hopes to eventually have a career in construction management.

He became aware of Second Stories through his aunt, who had used the firm for a home renovation project. Second Stories owner Pat Ayres’ father had also helped with a remodel of Gravette’s family’s kitchen several years ago. 

Looking to get a foot in the door in construction, Gravette reached out to Second Stories at his aunt’s suggestion to inquire about any opportunities available for a college student wanting to learn the business. 
Coincidentally, the company had already been considering creating an apprenticeship role of some kind for a local college student. Gravette’s initiative and interest sparked the plan into action. 

“The stars aligned. It was just perfect,” Gravette said of the timing.

Rather than creating a typical office-based internship, Second Stories immediately put Gravette alongside its crew on active residential remodeling projects.

“We weren’t looking for someone with experience — we were looking for attitude, effort and curiosity,” said Daryn Ayres, wife of Pat Ayres and co-owner of Second Stories, who helped develop the program. “This wasn’t a ‘grab coffee’ internship. It was measure-twice-cut-once, real tool safety, and figuring out a problem on the fly when the plan on paper doesn’t quite match the wall you’re looking at.”

Gravette got to work on construction projects from the permitting phase through completion, gaining knowledge and real-world experience every step of the way. On his first day, he started on a basement remodel that would be the firm’s largest project of the summer.

“We showed up there on day one and it was a completely empty basement. By the end, it was really cool to see that we had put up the bedroom walls, and everything was drywalled and mudded and taped,” Gravette said. 

“I know that the amount of effort that goes into the project — not just the physical, but budgeting and having the floor plans, and communicating with clients about all of the different things they want. I have really learned an appreciation for what the entire process entails,” he added.

This outcome is precisely what the Second Stories team hoped the new apprenticeship would provide. 

“I learned this trade watching my dad build a second story onto our family home. Not every kid gets that kind of exposure,” Pat Ayres said. “We wanted to see if we could create that opportunity for somebody else. If we can help one young person discover something they’re good at and proud of doing, that’s worth investing in.”

In addition to the hands-on construction and business management skills the apprenticeship provided, Gravette believes the workplace experience with the Second Stories staff was equally valuable. 

“The team is so positive and they love coming to work — I think that’s a great environment to be in,” he said. “They’re such good role models for me, Pat and Daryn, because they care so much about their family. I definitely try to model my work ethic and kind of my overall life after them. I’m very blessed to have had this opportunity.”

The apprenticeship comes at a time when the construction industry is facing a significant shortage of skilled workers. 

Associated Builders and Contractors estimates the industry will need about 349,000 additional workers in 2026 beyond normal hiring to meet demand, with the shortage projected to grow in 2027. Patrick Ayres believes small local contractors such as Second Stories can play a role in addressing the situation.

“It’s really a pipeline problem. A student can’t seriously consider a career they’ve never had the opportunity to see,” he said. “College is a great path for a lot of people, but there are also kids who are wired to build. They’re curious, they like working with their hands, they like solving problems and they want to see something tangible at the end of the day. We want those students to know there’s a future for them here.”

Back at Mizzou, Gravette is continuing his studies. While he is not yet certain what type of construction management he will ultimately work in — whether commercial, residential or industrial — he is grateful for the lessons and skills he gained at Second Stories. He also hopes to work with Second Stories again next summer. 

“Starting out small when I’m 19 and having little to no experience in the actual field, putting my foot in the door for this has been a great opportunity to see how much goes into a small project, so that in the future when I have to prepare myself for a big project, I know the basics of what you do and how you start,” he said. “It’s been a great way for me to get experience on the smaller side of construction before I get thrown into the real world.”