Brewing Success: Sofia’s Aroma Joe’s Internship Experience

At the Maine Business School, students are encouraged to seek professional opportunities through connections. For Sofia Pride, a conversation with a stranger at a dental office led to a two-week micro-internship with New England’s favorite—Aroma Joe’s. Taking place over winter break, she explored the company’s financial operations, gaining hands-on experience that sharpened her skills and defined her career goals.

How did you hear about this internship at Aroma Joe’s?

This internship position at Aroma Joe’s was something I created for myself through networking. Last May, while I was at the dentist’s office, another woman was waiting for her appointment in the lobby. As we chatted, I mentioned that I would soon be starting my first year at the University of Maine Business School and that I planned to major in accounting. 

She immediately lit up and told me her name was Carolyn Gammon, and she is the CFO of Aroma Joe’s. After some more conversation, she gave me her contact information and offered to create an internship opportunity for me. We weren’t able to make something work over the summer, but she did offer me a pop-up internship during winter break. 

Why did you choose to intern with Aroma Joe’s?

The flexibility that Aroma Joe’s offered. There aren’t many businesses that provide such short-term internship opportunities. Before meeting Carolyn, I didn’t know much about Aroma Joe’s. My impression was that they were a quirky New England coffee franchise. From my experiences with franchise businesses, I knew there was typically a strong focus on customer relationships and friendly interaction. After getting to know Carolyn better over the summer, I could tell that the headquarters has a positive and supportive work environment. 

What were your internship tasks and responsibilities?

I worked closely with the small finance team at headquarters. I attended weekly meetings where we reviewed bills to ensure all charges were accurate and followed up on ongoing projects. The finance team gave me five projects to complete over the course of two weeks. Most of my work involved Excel, specifically analyzing data, organizing it for easier interpretation, and identifying discrepancies across projects. 

Because I completed my assigned work early, I was given a lot of flexibility during my second week. This allowed me to work with Research & Development, Franchise Development, and IT. 

I observed the R&D process and attended “Cuttings,” which are proposals for new products or replacements for products no longer available from suppliers. In Franchise Development, I provided financial data to better estimate the timeline for store openings. In IT, I analyzed shop statistics, including revenue, average sale, rush hour, etc. I then created a deliverable showing how this data can be better utilized for individual franchisees and future agreements. 

What did you like most about your internship?

My favorite part of the internship was meeting the entire team at the Scarborough headquarters. On my first day, Carolyn scheduled meetings with every department for me.  I was encouraged to ask questions, and I quickly noticed that although each department has its own responsibilities, they are all deeply interconnected. It was really interesting to see those connections come together from meeting to meeting. 

Another thing I appreciated was the kindness and openness throughout the company. Everyone was extremely accessible. While walking around HQ, I could run into the CEO or founders. This experience helped me build confidence in communicating with high-level executives. Aroma Joe’s places a strong emphasis on creating an inclusive environment, supported by an open office layout that encourages communication and relationship-building across departments. 

Any advice to share with other students considering an internship?

If you can’t find an internship that fits your needs or interests, create one for yourself. 

Networking is incredibly important, whether at an MBS event or out in everyday life. The worst someone can say is no, so why not take the chance?

As long as you can demonstrate your value, many businesses are willing to provide opportunities. Even after Carolyn initially offered me the internship, I didn’t have a confirmed position until four months later. During that time, I continued to communicate with her, follow up professionally, and demonstrate my value.

Internships are essential for gaining exposure to different career paths. Through this experience, I’ve realized that I’m more social and outgoing, which has helped me recognize that I may be better suited for a more relationship-driven role.

Internship Title: Finance Intern
Hometown: Falmouth, Maine
Major: Accounting
Graduating Class: 2028

Story by Regan Lawn