Insights from My Internship at McLane

As I reflect on my journey as a Sales Intern at McLane, I am enthralled by the power of hands-on learning and in-depth knowledge I've gained throughout this transformative experience. McLane Company, Inc. is one of the largest wholesale distributors in the nation. Their commitment to an agile, innovative, and unified supply chain in the distribution industry has not only shaped my understanding of sales but has also equipped me with invaluable skills. Throughout my internship, I've traveled across the country working on all different teams and accounts broadening my knowledge. These teams/ accounts all operate differently ranging from a Field Sales team (independents), Chain Sales team (c-stores), and Regional Chain teams (mass stores). Below I will be discussing my learnings throughout visiting all these different accounts.

Key Notes

As I continue to expand my knowledge, listed below are my key takeaways thus far:

• Communication and relationships are key when it comes to customers, vendors, teammates, buyers, etc.
• An effective supply chain = an effective sales team
• Delays and overstocks are inevitable, but it's how you generate an effective solution
• McLane's motto is to spoil the customer

Conclusion

This week I am at the Walgreens headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois- with 2 weeks left to go before my big capstone presentation at the McLane headquarters in Temple, TX. Altogether, my internship has been nothing short of exhilarating and full of acquiring new knowledge every day. As I wrap up my internship these next few weeks, I am so grateful to work for a company with such an amazing, collaborative, hands-on culture filled with incredible leadership. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Adam McGowen Kristen Lee, SHRM-CP Grant Demers and everyone else on the sales team for putting together such a unique internship. I would also like to thank all the McLane teammates I have met along the way who have welcomed me with open arms, shared their expertise, and answered any questions I've had. Lastly, I would like to thank my mentor Kyle Norman for guiding me throughout this summer and always being there for any questions/ concerns I have. I'm excited to continue learning these next few weeks and cannot wait to see everyone back in Temple, TX again for capstone week!