Business students seek export internship opportunities

Nine business students, seven from Youngstown State University and two from the University of Akron, have been selected to participate in the Ohio Export Internship Program this year.

The YSU students are Mitchell Barcey of Canfield; Ahmed Elkhafif from Cairo, Egypt; Faith Gaffney of McDonald, Pa.; Joshua Gianoutsos from Howland; James Greenawalt of Hubbard; Adam Hauser of Andover; and Hunter Miller of Poland. Jackson Gagne and Prad Georges were chosen from the University of Akron.

The Ohio Export Internship Program, created by the Ohio Development Services Agency and offered at Youngstown State University, The Ohio State University and Cleveland State University, provides an opportunity for businesses interested in expanding their exporting activities. Highly motivated students apply for and are selected for this competitive program. Students complete specialized coursework in exporting and are then matched with an Ohio company for a full-time paid summer internship. Internship projects include export compliance, market research, market expansion and export feasibility studies. In the six years of the statewide program there have been 190 student-company matches, resulting in more than $31 million in expected global sales, 35 full-time job offers to students and 50 extended internships.

The program is a partnership between the Ohio Development Services Agency, Youngstown State University, The Ohio State University and Cleveland State University. To learn more about the Ohio Export Internship Program, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4-1vhvwc7w.

For more information on the Ohio Export Internship Program, contact Mousa Kassis, export assistance network director with the Ohio Small Business Development Center at YSU at 330-941-2415 or mhkassis@ysu.edu.

Mitchell Barcey, Youngstown State University
Barcey grew up in Canfield, Ohio and is currently pursuing his MBA. He completed his BSBA in Business Administration along with an Enterprise Resource Planning certificate from YSU in May 2015. Barcey is currently serving as a graduate assistant in the Ohio Small Business Development Center at YSU. He has also worked at A La Cart Catering for 8 years in various roles. Barcey has been to Guatemala, where he helped to run and organize a soccer camp for children.

Ahmed Elkhafif, Youngstown State University

Originally from Cairo, Egypt, and currently residing in Youngstown, Ohio, Elkhafif is a sophomore majoring in International Business with a minor in Political Science. Elkhafif is fluent in English and Arabic and competent in French. He has been involved in sports his entire life where he learned skills such as teamwork, improvisation and leadership. Elkhafif is involved in the WCBA Student Leadership Council.

Faith Gaffney, Youngstown State University

Gaffney is a second-year student, pursuing a dual degree in International Business and Spanish. Originally, from Pittsburgh, Pa., Gaffney lived in Mexico for six months after high school to learn the Spanish language and now speaks fluent Spanish. She currently holds a position in hospitality as a front desk agent for various hotels, and her previous work experience includes interpretation and translation for a website design company based in Canfield, Ohio. In the future, Gaffney desires to combine both of her degrees to build a career in business within Latin America.

Joshua Gianoutsos, Youngstown State University

From Howland, Ohio, Gianoutsos is pursuing a BSBA in Marketing Management, with a special interest in International Business. Gianoutsos is interested in eventually working overseas in Europe, having visited numerous times.

James Greenawalt, Youngstown State University

Greenawalt is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Marketing Management with a minor in Management. He plans to graduate in the summer of 2018. Greenawalt has worked all through college and is currently working for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport as a Supervisor and Fuel Technician. Greenawalt gained international experience through a trip to Haiti in 2013 with Victory Christian Center. On the trip, Greenawalt was part of the leadership team whose goal was to help restore a Haitian orphanage after the earthquake in 2010.

Adam Hauser, Youngstown State University

Hauser, a senior business major from Andover, Ohio, is pursuing a BSBA in Marketing Management with a minor in Advertising/Public Relations. He is also currently working at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport where he is a Ground Security Coordinator and a Fuel Technician. His international experience involves time in both Haiti and El Salvador where he was a team leader in multiple building projects, and school youth programs. He also co-founded FELO Clothing, a company that specializes in making bamboo t-shirts. In the future, Hauser plans to pursue new business ventures and entrepreneurial activities.

Hunter Miller, Youngstown State University

Originally from Warren, Ohio, Miller is currently pursuing a BSBA with a major in Financial Management and a minor in International Business. He is expecting to graduate in the fall of 2018. For the past two years, Hunter has worked in the Williamson College of Business Admministration as both a student lab assistant, and a student assistant in the Dean’s Office.

Jackson Gagne, University of Akron

Originally from Cortland, Ohio, Gagne is a sophomore at the University of Akron working towards a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business as well as a minor in Arabic. He has worked as a Resident Assistant at UA. Gagne hopes to combine his interest in languages and culture with his education in business.

Prad Georges, University of Akron

From Miami, Florida, Georges was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and holds Bachelor of Art degrees in Spanish and French literature, has a JD/MBA and is currently completing a Master’s of Accounting degree from the University of Akron. Georges has lived in France, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Argentina. He is an entrepreneur at heart, and has worked with the SEED clinic, University of Akron Research Foundation, and Cleveland Clinic Innovations. Georges enjoys filing taxes and has done this as a side business and on a voluntary basis with VITA.