Merchants Welcomes Six Summer Interns
This summer, Merchants Insurance Group welcomed six interns to its corporate headquarters in downtown Buffalo, New York. Merchants’ paid internship program provides students with valuable hands-on experience, giving them the opportunity to develop professional skills, contribute to meaningful projects, and work alongside colleagues across a variety of business areas.
Merchants’ 2026 Summer Interns:
- Sebastian LaTorre, Corporate Services
- Peter McGowan, Corporate Services
- Emma McWilliams, Marketing
- Mariela Mulready, Information Technology
- Sarah Read, Marketing
- Kristin Sheridan, Internal Audit
2026 Summer Intern Spotlight
See what our interns had to say about spending the summer at Merchants!
Sebastian LaTorre, Corporate Services Intern
School: Lynn University
Major(s): Finance, Wealth Management
Year: Class of 2028
Sebastian said:
“My summer internship at Merchants Insurance Group has been too short and flew by. During my internship with Merchants, I worked on daily underwriting tasks while leading a process improvement project to redesign the undeliverable workflow. The opportunity to contribute to a project that will be used by the team made this internship both rewarding and an excellent learning experience.”
Peter McGowan, Corporate Services Intern
School: SUNY Brockport
Major(s): Business
Year: Class of 2028
Peter said:
“My internship at Merchants Insurance this summer was an incredibly valuable and rewarding experience. My supervisor Peter Lyons along with the Support Center staff made me feel welcomed and taught me meaningful skills throughout my time. The positive culture at Merchants made each day enjoyable and demonstrated the significant benefits that a strong workplace culture can have on an organization.”
Emma McWilliams, Digital Marketing Intern
School: John Carroll University
Major(s): Marketing, Minor in Entrepreneurship
Year: Class of 2028
Emma said:
“I have learned so much through my experience at Merchants this summer! I am very grateful for the opportunity to not only learn more about the Marketing department, but to learn more about other departments as well. I really appreciated getting to know everyone and learning from them. Everyone was very kind and willing to answer any questions that I had. Having the opportunity to learn new skills and having hands-on learning has been an extremely valuable experience. I am very grateful for my time with Merchants this summer!”
Mariela Mulready, Information Technology Intern
School: Niagara University
Major(s): Computer and Information Sciences
Year: Class of 2027
Mariela said:
“Interning this summer at Merchants has truly been an incredibly rewarding and valuable experience. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity. As someone interested in exploring many career paths of my major, this experience provided real-world industry skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Everyone here has been welcoming, supportive, and so knowledgeable in their areas of expertise. When I started, I had little to no experience in developing an application, but I was given all the resources and support I needed to be successful and learn so much along the way. I have gained a deeper understanding of software development and have the confidence to code now after contributing to a real-world application. Very special thank you to Zachary Pataky and Umesh Mallya for their trust, guidance, and mentorship throughout the summer!”
Sarah Read, Graphic Design Intern
School: Nazareth University
Major(s): Visual Communication Design
Year: Class of 2027
Sarah said:
“I am so happy I chose to intern with Merchants this summer. My team was incredible, and the company culture overall is so warm and friendly. Everyone was more than happy to answer any questions I had and give me any help or advice I asked for. I learned a lot of skills that are directly related to my career as well as many skills for professional work in general. I really enjoyed being able to see my work being used within the company and knowing that the things I did will continue to be used after my internship ends. Thank you to everyone that I worked with. I will miss you all!”
Kristin Sheridan, Internal Audit Intern
School: University at Buffalo
Major(s): Accounting
Year: Class of 2026
Kristin said:
“My time at Merchants was shaped by an extremely welcoming and encouraging environment that cultivated a strong sense of support and belonging from the very beginning. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside and observe knowledgeable professionals who gave me a clearer understanding of how strong teamwork, thoughtful guidance, and everyday professional habits form a positive work experience. This internship enhanced my confidence and provided meaningful clarity about the skills and direction I intend to continue developing in my career.”
Graphic Design Intern Sarah Read and Digital Marketing Intern Emma McWilliams present their collaborative internship project to Merchants’ corporate marketing team! From left: Kyra-Jade Bogdan, Video Production Strategist; Erica Kellogg, Marketing Manager; Sarah Read, Graphic Design Intern; Emma McWilliams, Digital Marketing Intern; Jo Eberts, Graphic Design & Digital Media Specialist; Katherine Trautwein, Senior Content Marketing Specialist
As part of their internship experience, the interns joined President & CEO Charles Makey III and Vice President of Human Resources Laurie Brinkerhoff for a lunch at Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, across the street from Merchants’ corporate headquarters. The afternoon provided an opportunity to reflect on the summer, discuss career goals, and celebrate the interns’ accomplishments.
Interested in an internship or career at Merchants Insurance Group? Visit our Careers page to view current opportunities!
