Ohio Export Internship Program students pass Global Business exam
Four students recently passed the Certified Global Business Professionals (CGBP) exam after completing the Ohio Export Internship Program (OEIP) at Youngstown State University. The CGBP Certificate is a national certification issued by the National Association for Small Business International Trade Educators and an acknowledgment of international business expertise in management, marketing, supply-chain management and trade finance.
Lugina Bassil, a senior International Business major with a minor in Spanish; DiAnna Buffone, a senior International Business major; Zackary Shumaker, a senior Economics major; and Devin Maddox (from the University of Akron), a senior Supply Chain major, passed the exam. The credentials set the benchmark for global trade knowledge and the certification shows that an individual has the knowledge required to be a successful global commerce professional.
The exam is offered to students who participated in the OEIPcohort at YSU. The Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network at YSU does a full day of training for students at no cost to prepare them before the exam.
YSU Students who pass the certification exam are fully reimbursed for the cost of the exam by the Office of the Dean in the Williamson College of Business Administration.
Bassil, of Boardman, Ohio, is currently employed as an export intern at Columbiana Boiler Company, having secured an extension through the OEIP. Throughout her internship, she has contributed to CBCO's involvement in the Ohio Department of Development's International Market Support Program by fostering partnerships with Brazilian enterprises. Post-graduation in May 2024, she aspires to embark on a professional journey in the field of international business, with a strong ambition to apply her acquired skill set on a global scale.
Buffone, of Leetonia, Ohio, is currently serving as an officer for the Student Information and Supply Chain Association. This past summer, she completed the OEIP where she worked as an exporting, marketing and social media specialist for Safeguard Technology. Previously, she studied abroad in Rome and Florence, Italy. Upon graduation in May of 2024, she plans to continue in the international business field.
Maddox, of Strongsville, Ohio, is currently studying at the University of Akron. This past spring, he successfully completed the OEIP at YSU. Subsequently, he worked as an air freight intern for Midwest Transatlantic Lines which is a freight forwarder in Berea, Ohio. This internship provided him with valuable experience in Incoterms 2020, export compliance and export document preparation. Upon graduating, he plans to pursue a career specializing in exports and imports.
Shumaker, of Austintown, Ohio, completed the OEIP this past summer where he served as an export specialist for manufacturing company Butech Bliss. He previously worked as an administrative assistant for the Mahoning County Commissioner's Office and as a research assistant for the YSU Division of Workforce Education and Innovation. For his academic achievements, he has been inducted into YSU's Clarence P. Gould Academic Honor Society. Upon graduation, Shumaker plans on pursuing a career in international economics.