School of Business Administration

The Ohio Export Internship Program provides an experiential learning opportunity for students interested in international export management while assisting Ohio-based businesses in overcoming export challenges. This initiative pairs motivated students from the University of Dayton and other Ohio universities and colleges with companies to foster export-focused growth and development.

The program offers a win-win scenario: students gain invaluable real-world experience, while companies benefit from fresh perspectives and dedicated work on export development. These summer interns, trained and working full-time, focus on a uniquely tailored scope of work with specific deliverables, ensuring both parties can learn and grow together.

“Working with Great Lakes Cheese Co. (GLC) this summer has been an incredibly rewarding experience so far. As an intern in the legal department specializing in exports, I have the task of summarizing GLC’s major export products and customers, as well as working on export documentation, and even diving into some legal work like reviewing supplier contracts and writing addendums to existing agreements.I frequently meet with other departments, which not only helps me contribute to the company’s overall goals but also allows me to get to know my colleagues better and work as part of a cohesive team.”  - Charles Strachan 

This year, five students from the University of Dayton are participating in the Ohio Export Internship Program:

• Dylan Peters (Management '26) is interning with Global Gauge in Moraine, Ohio.
• Nicholas Dreyer (Accounting '26) is interning with Terves in Euclid, Ohio.
• Grace Oexeman (Accounting '26) is interning with TQL Global in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Brayden Shepard (Entrepreneurship '25) is interning with Hartzell Hardwoods in Piqua, Ohio.
• Charles Strachan (Finance major '25) is interning with Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc. in Hiram, Ohio.

Mentorship plays a critical role in this program, with students guided by experts from the Ohio Department of Development, the Small Business Development Center Export Assistance Network, and the University of Dayton’s School of Business Administration. The interns are trained to build export readiness, identify new markets, conduct market-specific research and analysis, and streamline current export processes and procedures.

 “My time spent at Hartzell Hardwoods has been incredible so far. I have had the opportunity to speak in weekly meetings, and I have also been able to create global connections for the company’s future business. Not only that, but I have made fast friends with my fellow coworkers, and coming to work every day has been quite joyous” - Brayden Shepard

Before joining the Ohio Export Program, students are required to complete the International Business (INB) 357 Export Management class. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of international export procedures and operations, covering various topics, including managing transactions, export documentation, regulations, NAFTA exports, and designing management systems. The class also features an experiential component involving collaboration with local companies. It also prepares students for the Certified Global Business Professional Certification.

Since initiating the program at UD in 2013, Janet Leonard has overseen the participation of 58 students over 12 years. In the program’s first seven years, 15 students commuted weekly to Ohio State University for the Export Management class. Five years ago, Leonard obtained a grant from the state of Ohio to hire an adjunct faculty member to teach the class at UD, resulting in 43 students participating in the program in the past five years.

"(INB 357) was a fantastic experience where I made great friends and gained valuable knowledge about exports and the global movement of products. Collaborating with Sim2Grow, a local Dayton company, to explore new foreign markets was particularly enjoyable. The opportunity for my team and me to support a small business in our community is something that I will never forget. This class also improved my skills in speaking, presenting, collaborating, and problem-solving. Overall, both my internship and the class have been eye-opening and have helped my personal and professional growth. I couldn’t be more grateful for these opportunities." - Charles Strachan 

The International Business 357 Export Management class, combined with the hands-on experience from the Ohio Export Internship Program, offers students a valuable opportunity to gain essential skills and real-world experience while aiding Ohio businesses in expanding their global reach.