BRON Launches Inaugural Academy for Future STEM Professionals

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Bron Ltd. (“BRON”) recently concluded its inaugural BRON Academy, a two-week program designed to give students practical insight into careers across engineering, architecture, environmental science and island development.

The first cohort included 26 students, from Grade 9 through to recent university graduates,
who participated in interactive virtual sessions led by BRON professionals across the
company’s technical and business disciplines.

Facilitated by BRON HR Administrator Gabrielle Conliffe and educator Monique Sweeting,
the program introduced students to career pathways while showing how different
disciplines work together to move a project from concept to completion.

Sr. Director of Human Resources & Administration Tonya Bethel said the Academy builds
on BRON’s long-standing commitment to internships and early career development.
“We launched BRON Academy because we know firsthand that early exposure changes
career trajectories,” Bethel said. “Many of our own team members, including Principals,
started as interns at BRON. We wanted to scale that success into an impactful, longlasting program.”

A key component of the Academy was a group project challenging students to develop a
conceptual inter-island bridge connecting two Bahamian islands. Working as a “mini
BRON,” teams considered environmental and social impacts, structural design, safety,
road connectivity, construction, maintenance and other factors involved in delivering a
major infrastructure project.

The program concluded with an in-person presentation day at BRON’s Corporate Office,
where four teams, Built Different, The Northern Link, The Gateway and Let’s Connect,
presented their final concepts.

Team Built Different earned the top score with The Grabaco Bridge Concept, a proposed
25.8-kilometre connection between Fox Town, Abaco and East Grand Bahama. Their
concept incorporated a hybrid concrete bridge design, a 65-foot navigation clearance, solar-powered lighting and measures to reduce impacts on mangroves, seagrass and
marine species.

Kevin Sweeting, BRON Managing Principal and Civil Lead, said the quality of the
presentations exceeded expectations.

“Overall, the presentations were outstanding. They exceeded my expectations for the
inaugural year and were comparable to technical presentations by paid STEM
professionals.”

For winning team member Colby Mullin, a May 2026 Mechanical Engineering graduate
of Florida Polytechnic University, the experience also reinforced the opportunities
available at home.

“It was the first time in my life that I had been surrounded by so many Bahamians working
in STEM,” Mullin said. “That experience renewed my spirit and gave me a fresh
perspective on what a career in engineering could look like back home.”

BRON Academy forms part of the company’s ongoing commitment to developing future
talent and creating meaningful pathways for young Bahamians interested in STEM and
island development.

Those interested in future internships, early-career opportunities or employment with
BRON can visit bebron.com/careers to view current openings and learn more about
joining the company’s talent pool.