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UNC Chapel Hill  ·  Economics & Finance

Ngus M.Ward

Headshot of Ngus M. Ward

Building toward corporate finance & investment analysis.

Grounded in real cost-estimation work on $180M+ of commercial and industrial projects.

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Index

Everything, in one place.

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  1. 01OverviewWho Ngus is and what he's building toward→
  2. 02By the NumbersGPA, projects, hours, titles→
  3. 03Gray ConstructionPre-construction internship · $180M across 3 projects→
  4. 04ResearchUNC Accelerated Research Program→
  5. 05ExperienceResearch, construction, operations→
  6. 06EducationUNC Chapel Hill · Class of 2029→
  7. 07AthleticsTwo-time NCISAA state champion→
  8. 08Leadership & CommunityService, governance, campus life→
  9. 09ToolkitExcel, Bluebeam, Procore, certifications→
  10. 10ContactEmail, phone, LinkedIn→

01Overview

Ngus Ward is a sophomore studying *economics and *finance at UNC Chapel Hill and a member of the *Accelerated *Research *Program. This summer he worked fifty-hour weeks in pre-construction at *Gray *Construction, helping estimate *$180 *million of commercial and industrial projects. Two state wrestling titles shaped how he works: *prepare, *follow *through, and *show *up *for *the *team.

Ngus is an economics and finance student who has already worked with real budgets, on real projects, with real money at stake.

He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a focus on finance at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he holds a 3.8 GPA and has earned Dean's List recognition. His coursework in financial accounting, business finance, microeconomics, macroeconomics, statistics, and calculus gives him the quantitative foundation for the two fields he is building toward: corporate finance and investment analysis.

What sets him apart is how early he started applying that foundation. As a Pre-Construction Intern at Gray Construction, a national commercial construction firm, he spent a summer inside the estimating process for three projects worth a combined $180 million. He measured drawings, priced materials, compared subcontractor bids, and tracked budgets against estimates. That is the same discipline at the core of capital planning: knowing what something will cost before the money is committed.

Every estimate is a forecast. Every bid comparison is an investment decision. Ngus learned both on live projects before most of his classmates had taken a finance course.

On campus, he conducts faculty-guided research through UNC's Accelerated Research Program alongside Honors Carolina students. He is a member of Delta Upsilon and the UNC Boxing Club, and he has served as a residence-hall senator, managing programming budgets for more than 1,000 students.

Before college, he was a three-year varsity wrestling captain and a two-time NCISAA 150 lb state champion, and he helped lead his program to its first-ever team state title. The habits that won those matches are the ones he brings to every team he joins: preparation, accountability, and a refusal to coast.

How he thinks

Analytical.

Turns drawings, subcontractor bids, and market prices into numbers a project team can act on, and checks those numbers against history before trusting them.

How he works

Disciplined.

Fifty-hour weeks for an entire summer. Four years supervising a high-volume operation. Two state titles before that. He shows up prepared and stays until it's done.

How he leads

Team-first.

Captain, mentor, senator, volunteer. Wherever he lands, he invests in the people around him and makes the whole group better.

02By the Numbers

The short version.

Six numbers that capture the work: academic, professional, athletic, and community.

0

Cumulative GPA

Earned in a quantitative economics and finance curriculum, with Dean's List recognition.

0

In projects estimated

Combined value of Project Slice ($100M), Goldhofer ($50M), and Sesajal ($30M) at Gray Construction.

0

Per week, all summer

Three months embedded with estimators and project managers while balancing full-time responsibilities.

0

State champion

Back-to-back NCISAA 150 lb individual titles in 2023–24 and 2024–25, plus a national ranking.

0

Service hours

Mentoring and tutoring 4th–6th graders from families affected by addiction at Cameron's House of Hope.

0

Customers per shift

The volume of the concessions operation he helped supervise for four years, from cash to inventory to staffing.

03Summer 2026 · Pre-Construction Intern

Gray Construction.

Gray is a national commercial construction firm. Ngus was selected for a competitive pre-construction internship in its Charlotte office. Pre-construction is the team that works out what a project will cost, and who will build each piece of it, before ground is ever broken. Over one summer he worked on three projects worth $180 million combined. Keep scrolling to go through them one by one.

May – Aug 2026Charlotte, NCBluebeam RevuBuildingConnectedBid LevelingBudget Tracking
  1. The Internship
  2. Project Slice · $100M
  3. Project Goldhofer · $50M
  4. Project Sesajal · $30M
The Internship
3 months50 hours a week · Charlotte, NC

Ngus was embedded with Gray's estimators and project managers on live bid work. He supported project budgeting, cost estimation, and financial forecasting across large-scale commercial developments.

$180Macross 3 projects
100+bidder calls
50hours / week
  • Quantity take-offs in Bluebeam Revu. He measured areas, lengths, and counts directly from architectural and structural drawings, and completed MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) take-off tasks on bid packages.
  • Material cost estimates. He turned measured quantities into priced estimates and kept them current as drawings and pricing changed.
  • Bid leveling. He lined up subcontractor proposals scope-for-scope so the team could compare true like-for-like pricing instead of headline numbers.
  • Budget tracking. He maintained budget logs across multiple bid packages so project managers always knew where each scope stood.
  • Bidder outreach. He cold called more than 100 subcontractors through BuildingConnected to confirm who was bidding and close coverage gaps before bid day.
  • Field validation. He took site measurements to check architectural and structural drawings against real conditions.
GC
Project 01 · Commercial Facility Development
$100MProject Slice

The largest project of the summer was a $100 million commercial facility. Ngus supported the estimating team from the first take-off through the bid proposal, the stage where the numbers have to be right because the firm is committing to them.

  • Take-offs and material pricing. He produced quantity take-offs and material cost estimates that fed directly into the project's bid packages.
  • Scope-of-work documentation. He helped prepare bid proposals and drafted scope language that defined exactly what each subcontractor was pricing, and what they weren't.
  • Bid leveling. He compared subcontractor bids across multiple packages and flagged exclusions, missing scope, and outliers so estimators could evaluate bids fairly.
  • Budget vs. estimate tracking. He tracked how incoming numbers compared with the project's target budget, package by package, giving the team a running view of where the project stood.
01
Project 02 · Industrial & Site Development
$50MProject Goldhofer

A $50 million industrial and site development with heavy site work and structural scope. Here Ngus built estimates from the ground up and sat in on the meetings where the team looked for savings.

  • Site-work and structural estimates. He assembled cost estimates for site work and structural components, built up from quantity take-offs on the architectural drawings.
  • Weekly cost reviews. He maintained the project's budget tracking and joined weekly pre-construction meetings to review cost status with the team.
  • Value-engineering meetings. He attended bid meetings focused on cost-saving scope reviews, where the team works out how to deliver the same result for less.
  • Subcontractor coordination. He worked directly with subcontractors and ran outreach on BuildingConnected so that every scope had competitive bid coverage.
02
Project 03 · Large-Scale Industrial Facility
$30MProject Sesajal · Completed

A $30 million large-scale industrial facility that the team carried through to completion. Ngus's job was to turn raw cost data into something decision-makers could read at a glance, and to make the estimate more accurate.

  • Budget overviews. He converted line-item cost data into clear budget summaries showing where the money was going by trade and scope.
  • Savings review. He went through subcontractor bids line by line to find savings and scope that could be priced more efficiently.
  • Estimate accuracy. He researched historical costs from past projects and checked them against current market prices, which made the estimate more accurate.
  • Through to completion. He supported the project as it moved from pricing toward completion, keeping the cost picture grounded as decisions were finalized.
03

Inside the Work

How a bid comes together.

Pre-construction is financial analysis applied to buildings. Here is the workflow Ngus took part in at Gray, from a set of drawings to a budget a client can sign off on.

1

Read the drawings

Review the architectural and structural plans, and verify key dimensions in the field with site measurements.

2

Take off quantities

Measure every area, length, and count in Bluebeam Revu, including MEP scope.

3

Price it

Apply current material pricing and historical costs to build the estimate.

4

Find the bidders

Reach subcontractors on BuildingConnected and confirm coverage. For Ngus, that meant 100+ calls.

5

Level the bids

Line proposals up scope-for-scope, flag exclusions, and identify savings.

6

Track the budget

Log budget versus estimate across every bid package and report it in weekly meetings.

Why it matters

Estimating is forecasting under uncertainty, and bid leveling is comparing investments on equal terms. These are the same skills behind corporate finance and investment analysis, practiced here on projects worth $30 million to $100 million.

04Research

Research, the Carolina way.

UNC's Accelerated Research Program selects undergraduates to do faculty-guided research alongside Honors Carolina students, supported by graduate-student mentors. Ngus was selected as a sophomore and began in September 2026. He is learning how real academic research is done: how to find the open question, test it, and defend the answer.

Sept 2026 – Present

Undergraduate Researcher

Accelerated Research Program · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Faculty-guided, with graduate mentorship.

01

Read

Reviews academic literature to learn what is already known about the project's subject, and where the gaps and open questions are.

02

Analyze

Gathers and analyzes information for an ongoing faculty research project, separating what the evidence supports from what it doesn't.

03

Ask

Works with faculty and graduate mentors to develop sharp, testable research questions that move the project forward.

04

Collaborate

Works alongside fellow student researchers, comparing findings and strengthening analytical, writing, and critical-thinking skills as a group.

05Experience

Where he's put in the work.

From a high-volume concessions stand to a $100 million bid package, every role has added responsibility.

Undergraduate Researcher Current

Sept 2026 – Present

Accelerated Research Program, UNC Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC

Selected for UNC's accelerated undergraduate research track, Ngus does faculty-guided research with graduate-student mentorship alongside Honors Carolina students.

  • Reviews academic literature to build a working knowledge of the field and identify where an ongoing research project can add something new.
  • Analyzes information and data for the project, and helps develop research questions with faculty and graduate mentors.
  • Collaborates with fellow student researchers, building the analytical, writing, and critical-thinking skills needed for independent research at Carolina.

Pre-Construction Intern

May – Aug 2026

Gray Construction · Charlotte, NC · National commercial construction firm

Selected for a competitive internship, Ngus supported budgeting, cost estimation, and financial forecasting on three developments worth $180 million combined, working about 50 hours a week for three months.

  • Performed quantity take-offs in Bluebeam Revu and built material cost estimates, including MEP scope on bid packages.
  • Reviewed and leveled subcontractor bids, and maintained budget tracking logs across multiple bid packages.
  • Partnered with project managers and estimators on cost analysis, and took site measurements to validate architectural and structural drawings.
  • Cold called 100+ subcontractors on BuildingConnected to confirm bid coverage, and attended bid meetings and weekly pre-construction cost reviews.
See the three projects ↑

Low-Voltage Installer

May – Aug 2025

Unique Electrical Contractors · Charlotte, NC

Hands-on field work on active commercial construction sites, the summer before Ngus moved into the estimating side of the industry.

  • Installed low-voltage systems on active commercial job sites alongside licensed technicians.
  • Worked under real site conditions, with schedules, safety requirements, and coordination with other trades.
  • Saw firsthand how drawings turn into buildings, which gave him useful context for reading plans and pricing scope in pre-construction a year later.

Concessions Supervisor

Feb 2021 – Apr 2025

Creative Food Concepts · Charlotte, NC

Four years running day-to-day operations at a high-volume venue serving more than 2,000 customers per shift, Ngus's first real lesson in managing money, inventory, and people at scale.

  • Managed daily operations including cash handling, food preparation, inventory, and overall store performance.
  • Kept service fast and accurate during peak demand, when small mistakes in cash or inventory add up quickly.
  • Trained and supervised new employees for four years, helping the staff keep operations efficient and customer service strong.

06Education

Carolina, Class of 2029.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Bachelor of Science, Economics · Finance

Expected May 2029 · Chapel Hill, NC

Ngus's curriculum combines economic theory with the quantitative tools finance depends on. Accounting teaches him to read a business. Finance teaches him to value it. Economics teaches him how markets behave. Statistics and calculus make all of it measurable.

Relevant Coursework

Financial AccountingReading and building financial statements
Business FinanceValuation, capital budgeting, cost of capital
MicroeconomicsFirms, pricing, and market structure
MacroeconomicsGrowth, rates, and the broader economy
StatisticsData analysis and inference
CalculusThe math behind optimization and modeling
0Cumulative GPA · Dean's List
Accelerated Research Program

Selected to do faculty-guided research alongside Honors Carolina students, developing research, analytical, and critical-thinking skills through an accelerated academic research experience.

Professional Development

Procore Certified: Estimator. Completed the Goldman Sachs Operations Job Simulation on Forage.

2×
NCISAA State Champion · 150 lb

07Athletics

Discipline, earned on the mat.

As a three-year Varsity Wrestling captain, Ngus led team strategy and mentored underclassmen. He helped bring his program its first-ever NCISAA Team State Championship and won back-to-back individual 150 lb titles himself.

  • 2023–24
    NCISAA 150 lb State ChampionFirst individual state title
  • 2024–25
    NCISAA 150 lb State ChampionBack-to-back individual title
  • 2022–25
    Varsity Team CaptainProgram's first NCISAA Team State Championship
  • Honors
    Nationally Ranked WrestlerWarrior Award · Heart of the Team Award

Preparation

Wrestling at a championship level means years of early mornings, weight management, and film study before anyone sees a match. Ngus brings the same preparation to an estimate or an exam.

Accountability

On the mat there is no one else to blame. That ownership carries into his work: when Ngus is given a bid package or a deadline, it's his to get right.

Leadership

As captain he set the standard in the practice room and mentored younger wrestlers. That earned him the Warrior Award and the Heart of the Team Award, and he later passed it on as a youth coach with C2X Wrestling.

08Leadership & Community

Showing up for people.

Keep scrolling →
Aug 2024 – May 2025

Cameron's House of Hope

Volunteer · Warrior Student Leadership · Charlotte, NC

Ngus mentored and tutored 4th–6th graders from families affected by addiction, helping with schoolwork and building the kind of steady relationship that gives a kid confidence.

He was selected through a competitive application that required teacher recommendations. Through regular visits he created a safe environment where the kids could focus on school, friendships, and positive experiences. He also organized supply drives for hurricane-relief donations.

200+service hours
Aug 2025 – May 2026

Senator, Residential Hall Association

Clemson University

Ngus represented student residents in campus governance, advocating for their needs and helping plan community events and programming.

He budgeted for events serving more than 1,000 students. That meant managing real funds against real demand, and building genuine relationships with residents and fellow ambassadors along the way.

1,000+students served
Aug 2026 – Present

Delta Upsilon Fraternity

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Ngus takes part in philanthropic events and fundraising initiatives that support local communities and charitable organizations.

He works with fellow members to plan chapter events, community service projects, and social activities, and he builds professional relationships and teamwork skills through active involvement in the chapter.

DUphilanthropy & service
Sept 2026 – Present

UNC Boxing Club

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Ngus trains with a club of more than 50 students, focused on boxing technique, conditioning, and skill development.

The club is competitive and team-oriented, built around discipline, fitness, and personal development. It's a natural next step for a former state-champion wrestler.

50+club members
2023 – 2024

Youth Wrestling Coach

C2X Wrestling · 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Ngus volunteered as a coach with a nonprofit youth wrestling club, teaching young athletes the fundamentals of the sport.

He passed on the technique, work ethic, and composure that took him to two state titles, and showed younger wrestlers what consistent effort can turn into.

C2Xyouth coaching

Honors & Recognition

Accelerated Research Program2× NCISAA State ChampionNationally Ranked WrestlerDean's ListNSHSS MemberWarrior AwardHeart of the Team AwardACSI Distinguished Christian High School Student

09Toolkit

The tools behind the numbers.

The software, certifications, and focus areas Ngus brings to a finance team, each one used on real work.

Primary tool

Microsoft Excel

Data analysis and financial reporting. At Gray, Excel was where take-off quantities became priced estimates, where bids were leveled side by side, and where budget-versus-estimate logs were tracked across every bid package.

BudgetEstimateIllustrative
Take-offs

Bluebeam Revu

Measuring quantities straight from architectural, structural, and MEP drawings: areas, lengths, and counts that become the foundation of every estimate.

Certification

Procore Certified: Estimator

PRO
CORE
Job Simulation

Goldman Sachs Operations

Completed the Goldman Sachs Operations Job Simulation on Forage.

Bidder outreach

BuildingConnected

Used to find and contact subcontractors and confirm bid coverage.

100+
Communication

Word & PowerPoint

Scope-of-work documentation, bid proposals, and clear presentations of cost data.

Focus Areas

Where he's headed.

Corporate finance and investment analysis, built on hands-on experience in cost estimation and capital planning and sharpened through undergraduate research.

Corporate FinanceInvestment AnalysisCost EstimationCapital PlanningUndergraduate Research
Industries

Construction & Financial Markets.

He has experience on both the field side and the estimating side of commercial construction, and he is building toward finance and the financial markets.

Commercial ConstructionIndustrial DevelopmentFinanceFinancial Markets