Internship Story: Kayla Holcomb at Native Maine Produce

Kayla Holcomb, a rising senior from Unity, Maine, spent her summer learning the ins and outs of wholesale food distribution with Native Maine Produce. 

How did you hear about this internship?

I heard about this internship through a relative of mine. I chose to intern here to learn the inner workings of a food distributor. 

What were your internship tasks?

My role was very customer-focused. My tasks included:

• Taking customer orders
• Communicating expected time of arrivals for both deliveries and food products to customers
• Communicating with customers when items are out of stock
• Managing new account inquiries
• Updating customers’ future orders
• Applying credits for items that did not arrive or did not have the best quality
• Inputting delivery requests
• Working with the sales representatives to update them about their customers
• Changing routes of orders

What did you like most about your internship?

What I liked most about this internship was seeing how different departments work. I interacted with the accounting department and saw all the numbers and customer information they manage. From the purchasing team, I learned how they buy the products that our customers need. For the transportation department, I saw how routes were set up for customers and how they changed if a delivery request was entered. The warehouse department showed me the codes they used to find ordered products, how they navigated the warehouse, and how various products require different holding standards. 

What were the biggest challenges you faced as an intern?

I was a little shy in the beginning when talking to people on the phone. I was really quiet and could have been more confident. I also had a hard time reaching out to some clients about certain special order products and if they wanted them. I had to call and confirm with every special order unless they specifically requested to auto-send those products. Special orders were not products we continuously keep stocked in the warehouse. 

What things did you learn during your internship that you couldn’t have learned in the classroom?

I learned a lot about the food industry! A food distributor has a lot of things to manage; on paper, it might seem very simple, but in real-time, it is very complex. An example is when we went through a massive demand wave for a particular product we just couldn’t get from the vendor as frequently as we needed it. We lost sales because we couldn’t get stock.

How will this experience help you as you move forward in your career?

This experience has improved my problem-solving skills and taught me about what I am good at and what I need to improve for my future job after college. It helped me get better at solving real-world challenges in a timely manner.  It was fun to learn about the food industry from the inside. 

Any advice to share with other students considering an internship?

The advice I would give to other students is to not judge a book by its cover. Maybe at first, an internship seems boring or not aligned with your interests – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stick it out. Initially, I didn’t think this internship would teach me much, but I was 100% wrong! I also had a lot of fun with events Native Maine had set up for the employees, like the Fourth of July BBQ,  raffles, and so much more. So take a chance! 

Why did you decide to study business at the Maine Business School?

The Maine Business School because it has taught me more about myself than any other school I’ve attended. It’s like a giant family where everyone is super supportive. Also, the connections I have made at MBS have made me excited for my future after graduation!

Hometown: Unity, Maine
Major: Management
Year of Graduation: 2025
Internship Title: Customer Service Intern, Native Maine Produce