YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Mousa Kassis, director of Youngstown State University’s Small Business Development Center Export Assistance Network and the YSU Ohio Export Internship Program, has been recognized with the 2025 State Star Award from the Ohio SBDC.
The accolade, awarded annually to one exemplary SBDC employee per state, celebrates outstanding contributions in innovation, collaboration, productivity and network development.
Kassis has demonstrated leadership and innovation through his efforts to engage the regional business community. He spearheaded the development of Global Insights, a quarterly publication now in its 20th edition, which offers critical tools and insights to help businesses analyze export markets and seize new opportunities.
In 2014, Kassis introduced the Ohio Export Internship Program to YSU, making it only the second cohort in Ohio. Recognizing a regional need for export-trained talent, he championed the program’s mission to pair companies with skilled interns. Since its inception, OEIP at YSU has graduated 138 students, creating measurable export growth for local companies.
Kassis co-founded the Ohio-Pennsylvania Stateline Export Initiative in 2015 to strengthen cross-border economic partnerships. This initiative – bringing together Ohio SBDC EAN at YSU, Northwest Commission and Lake to River – won the International Economic Development Council’s Silver Award in 2016.
One of Kassis’ most notable achievements was hosting a Vietnamese delegation of nine companies in Ohio, creating export and import opportunities for regional businesses. This collaboration resulted from a relationship he cultivated during Ohio’s 2019 trade mission to Vietnam.
His dedication has earned him numerous honors, including YSU’s Catalyst Award, NASBITE’s Advancing International Trade Award, the Ohio Department’s 2024 Peer Collaboration Award and Ohio Department of Development’s Export Director Award. Under his leadership, the YSU SBDC Export Assistance Network has helped drive $260 million in export sales over the past six years.
Since 2012, Kassis has led the Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network at YSU, guiding more than 180 businesses to expand into new markets, boost export sales and navigate compliance challenges. His efforts embody the SBDC’s mission to accelerate business success while ensuring the future competitiveness of Ohio companies.
Kassis will be recognized at the Orlando ASBDC conference in September.
Pictured Top: Mousa Kassis, export assistance director of the Small Business Development Center at YSU.