By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Exports are big business for Ohio’s companies, even if those businesses are not large.
The state ranks ninth in the nation for the amount of goods it exports, said Lydia Milhalik, director of the Ohio Office of Development. The state exports over $54 billion in goods.
And it wants to do more.
Last week, Milhalik was at Bowling Green State University, to announce that the university is joining the Ohio Export Internship program. After she traveled to Ohio University later in the day, the program had a foothold in all six regions of the state.
The export internship aims both to teach university students about international trade and then to have them share that knowledge with small and medium size companies.
Milhalik said the program was started in 2012 and had expanded to four campuses – Ohio State, Youngstown State, Cleveland State, and the University of Dayton.
In that period more than 400 students from 19 colleges and universities have taken part. They worked for 232 throughout the state helping them open 400 new markets. She said 136 internships were extended and 69 new positions were created.
“We’re building the workforce,” Milhalik said, “At the same time helping our small businesses.”
BGSU students have participated. That involved going to another campus to take the semester long export-focused class.
Now, Milhalik said, BGSU will be able to take the course on campus. That should increase participation. Students from others institutions will also be able to take the course.
Two BGSU international business students who have participated in the internship gave the program high marks.
Both Kerrigan Dick and Jalin Golden did the coursework at Ohio State and then did their 12-week internships this summer..
Dick had an internship with Endurica, a Findlay-based engineering firm that works to improve rubber durability. She worked on search engine optimization, as well as researching new markets and trade shows that would help the company reach those markets.
She represented Endurica at trade shows and knows that some of those businesses she interacted with later contacted the company for further information.
She has continued to work with the company part time. A third year student, Dick said she plans to work as a corporate translator, primarily in Spanish.
Golden interned with Toledo-based Wurtec, which develops elevator, or vertical transportation, technology.
Golden said he did extensive market research into other elevator companies around the world that Wurtec could partner with. He also studied which regions would be the most promising for expansion.
He created so many company profiles, Golden said, that the company was still sorting through the data.
He said the company helped him learn new skills, and that those administering the program were available to answer his questions.
Golden, a senior, is still sorting through his post-graduation options. He’d like to get more international experience before graduate school, so he’s considering joining the Peace Corps.
Chancellor of Higher Education Randy Gardner said that programs like this are “an affirmation that college matters, and programs like this put an exclamation point on that.”
He also praised BGSU President Rodney Rogers for his business background and acumen.
Rogers said that the internship program is another collaboration that BGSU has been involved in.
Those include the Falcon Flight Center operated by North Star Aviation, the Advanced Manufacturing Centerwith Findlay University and Owens Community College, the resort management program with Cedar Fair, and the new Center for Justice Research created by Attorney General Dave Yost.
“We’re doing our part to connect with our region and support our region” Rogers said.
