YSU Students Support Regional Government Contracting Activities

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Fourteen business students have been selected to participate in the pilot Ohio Procurement Internship Program in the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University.

Students selected for the program completed specialized coursework in government contracting this spring semester and have been matched with an Ohio company for a full-time paid summer internship. Internship projects include procurement compliance, market research, market expansion and government sales strategy plans.

The program, created by the Ohio Department of Development, is being offered at YSU as a pilot initiative. The program provides an opportunity for businesses interested in expanding their government contracting activities to leverage the skills and knowledge of specially trained college students.

Four of the 14 students are not pursuing internships directly with companies. Of those four, one is considering opportunities in small business development, and three are focusing on their own chosen career paths.

The students are:

• Jacqueline Baldwin is a first-year student pursuing a BSBA degree in accounting. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, she is a member of the Sokolov Honors College at YSU and a former member and competitor of the Career and Technical Student Organization, Business Professionals of America. She is expecting to graduate in spring 2026, after which she plans to become a Certified Public Accountant with the goal of working for a global development and publishing company. Baldwin was matched with D’Angelo Technologies.

• Colin Burdette is a first-year finance major from Canfield, Ohio. He is pursuing a BSBA in Finance on the Certified Financial Planner track. He is also doing research and drafting for a patent attorney and is an active member of the YSU Student Investment Fund. He plans to finish his undergraduate studies at YSU and then pursue either law school or a Certified Financial Analyst certification. Burdette was matched with Servpro.

• Rebecca Catlos is a junior pursuing a double major in marketing and supply chain management, a minor in entrepreneurship and a certificate in enterprise research planning. She works as a State Tested Nurse Aide at St. Mary’s Alzheimer’s Center. She serves as the vice president of the National Society of Leadership and Success and the vice president of membership and PR of Beta Gamma Sigma. She plans to obtain her MBA. Catlos was matched with JLC Services Inc.

• Adam Czerniak graduated in May 2023 with his BSBA degree in supply chain management. He has spent six years in the military, working on active duty for three years and in the Air National Guard for three years. Over the past six years, he has been working in the logistics field, and he plans to continue in this field.

• Zach Clark is a third-year student pursuing a degree in General Studies with a dual minor in management and marketing. He has worked all through college at the Kilcawley Center on campus, working as part of the setup crew for half a semester before getting promoted to building manager, a position he has continued in for three years. Clark will pursue an internship with the Ohio Small Business Development Center at YSU.

• Talita Foschi de Souza is a junior majoring in marketing sales with a minor in graphic design. She expects to graduate in fall 2024. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil and currently living in Youngstown, she is fluent in Portuguese and English and competent in Spanish. She is involved in the International Student Organization on campus. She plans to work in marketing sales and advertising and be involved in entrepreneurial activities. Foschi de Souza was matched with Dawn Inc.

• Jason Gibson of Niles, Ohio, is pursuing a BSBA with a major in finance and a double minor in economics and marketing. He expects to graduate in spring 2024. For the past two years, he has worked on campus in Jones Hall for First Year Student Services as an office assistant. He plans to become a certified financial modeling and valuation analyst, with the desire of becoming an investment banking analyst upon graduation. Gibson was matched with Hunt Valve Co.

• Samantha Heikkila graduated in May with a BSBA in the Individualized Curriculum Plan with a focus on international business. She has been involved in various on-campus organizations, including the International Business Organization and the Bible Talks Organization. Heikkila will pursue a career in marketing or international business.

• Natasha Miller is a sophomore originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is majoring in accounting but wants to explore the idea of having a career in procurement. Upon completing her bachelor’s degree, she plans to pursue a master’s degree at YSU. Miller was matched with Power Tool and Supply.

• Sophia Miller, originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a second-year student majoring in business administration. She has work experience as a shift supervisor at multiple restaurants and holds a manager position at a restaurant in Boardman, Ohio. Miller plans to pursue and build a career in the marketing field.

• Nadia Pace of Oakland, California, graduated with a BSBA in entrepreneurship. She was involved in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Black Student Union and Presidential Mentors. She is also working with the small business Dalia’s Caribbean Kitchen as the marketing and social media manager. She plans to obtain her MBA in marketing at Clark Atlanta University. Pace was matched with Simon Roofing and Sheet Metal Corp.

• Jakob Peters of Boardman, Ohio, is a senior economics major pursuing a BA in economics with a minor in international business. He is an intern for the Ohio Small Business Development Center at YSU, and prior to the Procurement Internship Program, he completed the Ohio Export Internship Program. He also works as a tutor at the Resch Academic Success Center. He serves as vice president of both the Economics Club and the International Business Organization, and he is also an Eagle Scout. He aspires to have a career in international trade or government contracting. Peters was matched with Tri County Tower LLC.

• Charles Quinn is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business economics. He represents the WCBA in student government and is an officer in the Economics Club. He has also worked as a residents assistant for two years and plans to graduate in spring 2024. He plans to pursue a master’s degree. Quinn was matched with Petra Power.

• Tien Tran is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and minoring in business. He was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, and went to Boardman High School. He is a first-generation Vietnamese American, trailblazing a path as the first college student from his family. He previously worked as a sales associate at Sunglass Hut in Southern Park Mall and as a a UPS package handler. He hopes to make an impact with his degree in pursuing goals that can help people and open his own business one day. Tran was matched with REM Electronics.

CREDIT: YSU

Pictured at top: Back row, from left, are Joseph Scott, program professor; Colin Burdette; Samantha Heikkila; Jason Gibson; Adam Czerniak; Nadia Pace; Zachary Clark; Charles Quinn; Jacqueline Baldwin; Talita Foschi de Souza; and Scot Loveland, APEX Accelerator consultant. Front row, from left, are Tien Tran; Jakob Peters; Sophia Miller; Rebecca Catlos; and Natasha Miller.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.