Business students power professional growth with summer internships at Versant

Four students from the University of Maine interned at Versant Power over the summer, powering professional growth in areas from accounting to human resources. 

Maine Business School (MBS) undergraduate students Alanna Berube, Wyatt Byther and Bailey Clarke, along with graduate student Ernest Asane, were able to apply the skills they’ve learned in the classroom to their work with one of Maine’s key energy providers. 

Byther, a finance and accounting major who interned in finance at Versant, said he heard about the opportunity through professional development and networking events at MBS and the UMaine Career Fair. His greatest challenge this summer was learning how to put theoretical skills into practice and adjusting to the industry learning curve.

Berube, a senior majoring in management, also interned in finance. She said she worked with regulatory asset accounts and created Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. She also learned about regulated utility tax laws, which she said she could only do at a power company.

Clarke, another senior majoring in management, interned instead in human resources. Her responsibilities included assisting with the onboarding of new employees, organizing personnel files, supporting recruitment processes, updating internal documents and providing administrative support to Versant’s human resources team team.

Graduate student Asane, who is seeking a master of business administration with a concentration in accounting, interned in financial accounting. He said this experience deepened his understanding of accounting systems, improved his data analysis skills and reinforced the importance of accuracy and transparency in financial reporting. 

“As I move forward, I feel more equipped and confident to take on complex accounting roles, especially in industries where regulatory compliance and precision are paramount,” he said.
Find the full Q&A on the Maine Business School website.