PortalYSU business students support regional export activities
Thirteen Williamson College of Business Administration students have been selected to participate in the 2025 Ohio Export Internship Program at Youngstown State University.
Students selected for this competitive program completed specialized coursework in exporting this spring semester and have been matched with an Ohio company for a full-time paid summer internship. Internship projects include export compliance, market research, market expansion and international business plans.
The Ohio Export Internship Program, created by the Ohio Department of Development and offered at YSU since 2014, provides professional preparation for students to develop the knowledge and skills to help companies expand their exporting activities and supports businesses by providing skilled and knowledgeable interns.
In 11 years, 132 students have completed the program, 27 have received full-time job offers and 23 have become Certified Global Business Professionals.
All students in the 2025 cohort earned six industry specialized badges: Export Documentation, Incoterms 2020, Duty Drawback, International Terms of Payment and Export Compliance. If a student passes all five main topics, they will receive the sixth badge, Mastery in Export- Global Supply Chain.
Mousa Kassis, director of the Export Assistance Network within the Ohio Small Business Development Center at YSU, is the instructor for the Ohio Export Internship Program course. He is assisted by Mariah Hauser, international trade specialist with the Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network.
This year’s participants are:
Batool Alkarain, from Palestine and born in Jordan, is a senior majoring in International Business. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in data analytics and earn a master’s degree in Business Analytics. Alkarain was matched with Universal Metal Products Inc. in Wickliffe, Ohio.
Cara Mia Battaglia, a junior majoring in Marketing and a minor in International Business, was matched with D’Marie Inc. in Chagrin Falls. She hopes to build a career in international marketing by helping companies grow their brands globally.
Moritz Bayer, from Vienna, Austria, is a junior majoring in Finance – Financial Management track. He currently holds a position as an Beeghly Fellow Intern at the Ohio SBDC at YSU and plans to pursue a financial analyst career. Bayer was matched with Humtown Pattern Company in Columbiana.
Andrew Cvetkovic, who is majoring in Business Analytics and Economics, along with a second major in Philosophy, plans to work in economic political policy after graduation. Cvetkovic was matched with Advanced Polymer Coatings Inc. in Avon.
Hannah Egli, from Homeworth, Ohio, is a second-year student majoring in Marketing. Egli was matched with Dover Chemical in Dover, Ohio.
Amber Henriquez is majoring in Business Analytics and Economics with a minor in Finance. Henriquez plans to graduate in the spring of 2026 and pursue a career in finance and economics. Henriquez was matched with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.
Gretchen George, from Austintown, is a third-year student majoring in Supply Chain Management. George was matched with Brilex Tech Services Inc. in Youngstown.
Maria Insana is majoring in Business Administration with a double minor in Marketing and Nutrition and Health. Insana is currently working as a marketing and sales representative for The ACME Company in Poland. She plans to pursue a career in international marketing or sales and was matched with Rust Buster Frame Repair in North Lima.
Sara Sahagun is a third-year student majoring in International Business, who expects to graduate in December 2026. She currently holds a position at Jag'd Construction Inc. In the future, she plans to attend law school and become an international trade attorney. Sahagun was matched with D. A. Surgical in Newbury, Ohio.
Andrew Seaman is majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Finance. He is currently working for Fastenal as a sales associate. Seaman plans to graduate in the fall and pursue a career in international business. Seaman was matched with Ohio Ordnance Works Inc. in Chardon.
James Slessor, a third-year student from Auckland, New Zealand, is majoring in Supply Chain Management with a double minor in International Business and Professional Selling, along with certificates in Enterprise Resource Planning and Leadership. Upon graduation, Slessor aims to build a career in international logistics and supply chain strategy. He was matched with Haltec Corporation in Leetonia.
Alyssa Sugar is a junior from Struthers, majoring in Supply Chain Management. Throughout her college career, Sugar has held a management position at a McDonald’s in Canfield. She was matched with Haltec Corporation in Leetonia.
Nicolas Velez is majoring in International Business with a minor in Entrepreneurship and a certificate in Supply Chain Management. Currently Velez works on campus as lead student assistant in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and as an office assistant at the non-profit Game Changers. After graduation, he plans to work in international business and one day open his own business. Velez was matched with Performance Results Plus Inc. in Columbus.
WCBA is dedicated to providing educational experiences and applied learning opportunities that prepare students for careers. In the spring/summer semester, more than 340 students earned their undergraduate or graduate degrees in business, economics and communication.