News

Madison Whitaker

Intern

Start Date: 2020

We decided to give our intern, Madison Whitaker, a chance to tell her story. She is a nationally ranked collegiate softball player as well as a top-notch intern. She decided to write about her number-one fan, who happens to be her dad, Brad Whitaker, our chief estimator.

California, Ohio, New Jersey, and Colorado are just some of the places I have visited with my dad, thanks to softball. Playing softball has allowed me to travel the country while being dedicated to the game and determined to be the best player I could be. I remember my dad always telling me to never give up: “Don’t roll over and let others beat you,” he’d tell me.

I still carry this into life today, and so does he. My dad played football at Indiana State University, where he learned to become a Division 1 athlete, while also getting his studies done and maintaining a social life. For some that is not as easy as it sounds, but for me I knew that it is what I wanted to do. To become the best I could be, I practiced constantly with my dad, whether that was throwing in the front yard or going to the softball field to hit. He was always there for me, reminding me to stay determined, stay consistent, and never give up on myself.

When I was a senior in high school, I received a softball scholarship to Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. It was a small, mid-major Division 1 school but exactly what I needed to boost my confidence. I played shortstop there for two years, earning All-Freshmen Team honors my first year. I remember telling my dad about my award, and honestly, I thought he was about to cry. Finally, all my hard work paid off. As soon as we got off the phone, though, he texted me and told me to get even better and never settle.

My junior year at Wright State, I decided to leave, enter the transfer portal, and go to a new school and continue to play softball. I told my dad, maybe I should just quit and give up the game I love and have played so long. Once again, he told me to “suck it up and finish out what you started.” And so, I did. I transferred to Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, and still can hear my dad’s voice telling me to stay focused and “keep your eye on the prize.”

After getting a summer internship at RLTurner and returning to work over Christmas break, I finally got to see and learn what my dad does for the company. He is a determined, trustworthy man who gets the job done and does it very well. I can see that everything he taught me while growing up applies to his everyday life and work. Working with my dad is fun; I mean I get to annoy him almost every day, so why wouldn’t that be fun? But overall, I get to hang out with the best person and someone I call my best friend.

Thank you for everything. Love you, Dad!