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17 YSU business students selected for internship program

Posted on by Dsen .N

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Seventeen business students have been selected to participate in the second year of the Ohio Purchasing Internship Program at Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University.

Students selected for the competitive program completed specialized government contracting coursework during the spring semester and were assigned to a full-time, paid summer internship with an Ohio company.

Internship projects include procurement compliance, market research, market expansion and government sales strategy plans.





OPIP, created by the Ohio Department of Development, is being offered at YSU as a pilot initiative. The program provides students with the opportunity to work with small businesses looking to expand their sales to government procurement offices.

This year, 14 of the 17 students taking the course completed internships with Ohio companies. Of the three people who do not directly undergo an internship, two are considering development opportunities for a small business, and one is focusing on their chosen career path.

The course instructor is Joseph Scott, statewide director of the Ohio APEX Accelerator and OPIP. He is supported by Scot Loveland, director of the Ohio APEX Accelerator at YSU, and Dillan Pickel, procurement specialist for the Ohio APEX Accelerator at YSU.

Here are this year’s YSU participants:

  • Russell Adair is pursuing a BSBA in Marketing in the Professional Sales track while working for STEM Professional Services as a student office assistant. Adair will be interning at the Ohio Small Business Development Center at YSU.
  • Tanishka Agnihotri, majoring in business administration, was matched with Specialty Nameplate & Manufacturing Inc. Agnihotri works at the Youngstown Historic Industrial and Labor Center.
  • Carlee Bacon is earning his BSBA and was matched with Servpro through the OPIP program.
  • Marisa Geiss, specializing in marketing, was matched with Marquee Creatives. Geiss is a member of the Sokolov Honors College and works in the Office of Academic Affairs at YSU.
  • Krzysztof Gordon, specializing in finance on the certified financial planner track, was matched with D’Angelo Technologies. Gordon is a member of Beta Alpha Psi and the Institute of Management Accountants at YSU.
  • Mason Granger, accounting graduate, cooperating with Hunt Valve Co. Granger completed her tax accounting internship at HD Davis CPAs and currently works as a student assistant in the YSU Comptroller’s Office.
  • Nathan Heinly, majoring in financial management and will be interning at the Ohio Small Business Development Center at YSU. Heinly is a teaching assistant in the Sokolov Honors College and a member of the Turning Point USA chapter on campus.
  • Nathaniel Huynh, he specialized in business economics and also cooperated with Hunt Valve Co. Huynh helps his family business as a materials manager. Huynh is an active member of the economics club at YSU and has been nominated as a future member of Omicron Delta Epsilon.
  • Vishnavi Lakshmisetty, who is pursuing a master’s degree in computer science and information systems, was matched with REH Systems Solutions LLC. She has worked as a teaching assistant for junior computer science and information systems students, assisting with courses in database management, Cisco networking, and human-computer interaction. Additionally, Lakshmisetty served as an orientation ambassador in the fall of 2023.
  • Roger Linker, business administration graduate, looking for opportunities on his career path. With a variety of experience gained over three years at Target, Linker has gained skills in multiple departments, demonstrating an adaptability and willingness to learn.
  • Nicolino Mascarella, graduate in accounting, was assigned to Winner Aviation Corp. He works as a delivery assistant at the central pickup location on campus and is vice president of the YSU Men’s Club baseball team.
  • Yair Morales Rivera, specialization in human resources management, was matched to Power Tool and Supply. In addition to his studies, Rivera worked at Starbucks throughout his studies, where he excels in customer service and teamwork.
  • Melina Mottiqua, majoring in political science, was matched with Taylor Winfield Technologies. Mottiqua works as an admissions ambassador in the Office of Admissions on campus. He is also a member of the Sokolov Honors College.
  • Aaron Myers, major in Finance – Financial Management, was matched with Tri County Tower LLC. He is an active member of the YSU Student Government Association and Sigma Chi fraternity.
  • Ryan Pribulsky, majoring in business administration, was matched with Engineered Products of Ohio. For the past two years, Pribulsky has served as vice president of the International Business organization and president of the YSU Amateur Radio Club.
  • Madeline Saari, studied finance on the certified financial planner track and was matched with Dawn Inc. Saari is president of the Student Information and Supply Chain Association and is a member of the Women’s Rugby Club. He plans to earn a Master of Business Administration.
  • Jacob Sullivan, specializing in marketing, was matched with PE Systems. Sullivan served in the U.S. Army for four years as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist. He currently works at the Carl A. Nunziato Veterans Resource Center at YSU.


Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.