Internal Insights: A Summer Intern’s Thoughts on Working at Waxwing Business

By Mercer Sullivan

Wake Forest University ‘25

Upon finishing my sophomore year of college, I knew I was entering that time in my life where I needed to get serious about how I was spending my summers and start to dip my toes into the real world. After spending the past five summers teaching sailing, I wanted to find a new opportunity more geared toward my education and future job direction.

I have been traveling to the Blue Hill area with my family for over ten years now, and have a special place in my heart for this community and its people. In my initial job search, I did what every college student does, and applied to national companies with large internship programs because that is what is pushed by most universities. Due to the nature of these large scale internships, they are highly competitive. I did not end up getting a spot in most of the programs I applied, and those that I did receive a spot with, were unpaid. 

This setback made me think about my previous, traditional summers, and my desire to be a part of this community once again. It felt like fate when I stumbled upon Waxwing’s website. As a Psychology and Communications major, I wanted to find somewhere that would allow me greater insight into the world of marketing, and seeing a marketing firm in Blue Hill was a dream come true.

Our summer intern and newest office dog, Mercer and her dog Malcolm.

Upon meeting with Amy and George, I knew that we shared the same passion for the area. I knew this was going to be the ideal place for me because I had the opportunity to give back to small businesses in the area, but also learn a ton of information about the marketing world. With these ideals in mind, I knew I was entering a corner of the community I had not experienced before with people whose vision aligned with my ideals.

Since my time at Waxwing, I am so grateful that I found this company and Amy and George. Because of my connection to the area, Waxwing’s mission was incredibly important to me. Throughout my time on the peninsula, I have watched it become increasingly populated, yet small businesses have continued to struggle. My appreciation for local Maine businesses has only increased since working at Waxwing because every client feels like family, and is helped with their specific needs in mind.

Waxwing is not a one-size fits all marketing firm. George and Amy work tirelessly to make each client feel special and heard, and do what they can to meet the needs of each client both creatively and financially. Within my first month here, I have learned a great deal about not only marketing in general, but also the world of small businesses. Amy and George are engaging, knowledgeable, creative,  but most importantly they are caring. They carry heart and soul behind their mission and apply it to every project. My time so far at Waxwing has shown me the key to success in this field: passion. The passion Waxwing has for the community is evident in everything they do, and has shown me the major role that passion plays in putting one’s best foot forward.  

Small businesses are the cornerstone of the peninsula, and having a small business perform the marketing needs for small businesses is an ideal situation for all parties. Waxwing understands the needs and struggles of small businesses, and is able to carry those commonalities over to each of their clients. Working for Waxwing feels like a much more personal experience than I would find anywhere else. Not only have I had the opportunity to truly feel like I am a part of this world and have my ideas heard, but also learn endless amounts of information that I can use in my future endeavors.