Business students selected for John D. Beeghly Fellows program

Kodi Kinsey, Jan Harter, Nathan Heinly and Aidan Gray, business students from the Williamson College of Business Administration (WCBA), were selected as the John D. Beeghly Fellows for the 2025 Summer Semester.

The John D. Beeghly Fellows program provides students with a paid fellowship working with the Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Export Assistance Network (SBDC EAN) and the APEX Accelerator at YSU. Projects include domestic and international market research, financial modeling, export readiness studies, business viability analysis, cash flow projections, sales forecasting, marketing & social media strategies, research on government contracting opportunities, marketing capability statements and outreach for government contracting efforts. Through the program, students gain valuable work experience to competitively position themselves in the job market upon graduation.

SBDC at YSU received a best practice for their service delivery model that integrates the Beeghly Fellows into SBDC services. The ASBDC Accreditation team visiting Ohio, stated that the model should be an example to other university-based SBDCs for integrating educational, community and economic development services.

The John D. Beeghly Fellows Program is made possible by an endowment established at the YSU Foundation by Beeghly’s wife and children. Beeghly was a lifelong resident and businessman in Youngstown, Ohio, and son of area industrialist and philanthropist, Leon A. Beeghly. From 1967 until his passing in 2005, Beeghly served as vice president and director of Standard Slag Co. and Stancorp, Inc.

“The generous gift made by the John D. Beeghly Family is an important investment in our business students. The gift provides our students with a variety of career-related experiences and provides our Small Business Development Center and its clients with additional capacity,” explained Betty Jo Licata, interim dean of WCBA.

The Williamson College of Business Administration is dedicated to providing educational experiences that enable students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to excel in business careers, ensuring they meet the demands of today's employers. Additionally, the college plays a vital role in strengthening the region's economic prosperity by offering talent, programs and services that enhance business competitiveness.

Kinsey is a senior Business Administration student at YSU, originally from Wellsville, Ohio. As a Beeghly Fellow, Kinsey works closely with the Export Assistance Network, gaining hands-on experience that’s helped shape her future career. She has learned about international markets and the basics of global trade from her time as a student in the Ohio Export Internship Program.

Heinly is a Finance (Management Track) major from Jefferson, Ohio. He graduated with his BSBA in May and will become a Graduate Assistant this fall semester. He earned the opportunity to be a Beeghly Fellow through his participation in the Ohio Procurement Internship Program at YSU. Along with being a Beeghly Fellow Intern, Heinly also works in government contracting at MARQUEE Creatives in downtown Youngstown.

Harter is pursuing a degree in Business Analytics and Economics, with graduation expected in Spring 2026. Originally from Ulm, Germany, he is driven by a strong interest in corporate strategy consulting. His long-term goal is to collaborate with global companies, assisting them in adapting to shifting market conditions and seizing emerging opportunities.

Gray is a Supply Chain Management major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, set to graduate in Spring 2026. After taking the 16-week government contracting and procurement course, leading to the OPIP Internship, he plans on commissioning in the Army as an officer to apply these concepts to logistics to improve systems and reduce waste. Long term goals would be to retire from the Army with full tenure, then work in corporate as an operations or logistics head of department.