Sport Management Internship Leads to Cavs Job

Another Cavs season is upon us and the Cleveland community is buzzing with excitement! Alumna Emily Thomas '12 serves as the Community Relations Coordinator for the Cavs and is equally as excited for another fantastic season.

Thomas, a Wooster, Ohio native, double majored in sport management and public relations as an undergraduate student. With the help of her sport management classes and professors, she was able to network with professionals in the industry throughout her four years at BW. Thomas held internships with the Cleveland Gladiators, Cavs and Browns, as well as with the BW Events Management Department and ProCamps Worldwide.

"I would not be where I am today without the experiences I had at, because of, and through BW" she tells us, "I had great professors who cared about my career goals and were willing to do a lot to help me achieve those goals."

Good luck this season, Emily! Go Cavs!

English Major Published in Ohio Magazine

At the end of her interview with Ohio Magazine,  senior English-creative writing major, Alyssa Nieset '16 was offered an internship on the spot.

Nieset spent her summer working as an Editorial Intern with the statewide publication, gaining experience writing for magazines and discovering a possible career path that she hopes to pursue in the not so distant future.

Ohio Magazine published Neiset's articles both online and in print (see photo). Her piece on the Harpersfield Winery in her hometown of Geneva, Ohio, was used as a section of the cover story in the August 2015 issue.

"I was thrilled to be given the chance to write a story of that size," she tells us about the prominent feature, "especially because my family and I have been going there since I was little."

Other articles Neiset bylined included pieces on a cardboard boat regatta, creative bacon recipes, Columbus coffee brewers, and summer fun destinations in Cleveland. Despite juggling some stressful deadlines, Nieset says her overall experience at Ohio Magazine was a positive and rewarding one.

Sport Management Majors Intern with NFL's Dawg Pound

Photo Courtesy of the Cleveland Browns.

Everyone sees Johnny Manziel, Joe Haden and other Cleveland Browns superstars in the news and on the field. But not everyone sees them at work every day.

Eric Kwiatkowski '17 and Kevin Hulsmann '16 are working as Team Operations interns for the Browns this summer. The sport management majors assist with Training Camp in a variety of ways, driving shuttles of Browns players back and fourth from their hotel to the training facilities, taking inventory and distributing training camp schedules to players, managers and other members of the Browns' support staff.

"I like working with the Browns because I get to be a part of something that I've loved my whole life," Kwiatkowski tells us. "I get to see what goes on behind the scenes to make a Browns season happen."

Both students found out about the internship through BW sport management professor Charles Campisi. "The sport management professors at BW are always sending us emails about internships in the sporting industry which gives us many opportunities," says Hulsmann.

Both Kwiatkowski and Hulsmann believe they are fortunate to have landed summer internships that are exposing them to a side of the pro sports industry that they have never seen before.

Student Writer Spends His Summer at Outlook Ohio Magazine

The multi-talented Nathan Cole '17 took his passion for writing to Columbus this summer. Cole, an English major who also writes student and alumni success stories for BW, spent his summer in an editorial internship with Outlook Ohio magazine. Outlook Ohio is a free, monthly publication that is geared for the LGBT and allied community and can be found on newsstands in over 2,000 locations around the state. 

"I have had so many different opportunities to grow in the field of journalism and communications," Cole explains. In addition to contributing to Outlook Ohio's online blog, Cole had articles published in the July and August print magazines, and will have another article published in the upcoming September issue.

He had the opportunity to interview and write about RuPaul's Drag Race Season 7 runner-up, Pearl; fashion director of the Columbus Fashion Meets Music Festival, Horacio Nieto; and Neon Trees lead singer, Tyler Glenn, just to name a few. 

The publishing industry, according to Cole, is nothing like what we see in 'The Devil Wears Prada.' He says that he could not be happier about his summer at Outlook Ohio.

Cole's published article on the 2015 Gay Softball World Series in Outlook Ohio Magazine. 

Pre-Physical Therapy Major has High-Flying Internship Overseas

Levin (bottom) skydiving over the coast of Israel. 

As college students, many of us spend our summers building our resumes through internships and volunteer opportunities. Jon Levin '17 is spending his summer doing just that, but with a major plot twist. Levin's internship is in Bnei Brak, Israel.

The pre-physical therapy and exercise science major is interning as an assistant to the physical therapists at Ateret Rimonim, a retirement home, located in Bnei Brak. The eight week internship has included working with patients on motor functions, occupational therapy activities and daily exercises. Although he is not licensed to lead physical therapy by himself, Levin is able to assist with small physical therapy exercises and activities under supervision.

Representing Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at The Kotel in Jerusalem

Levin and his fellow interns use their days off to travel around Israel. He's had the opportunity to visit Jerusalem and the City of David, repel down a 164-foot cliff in Tel Aviv and, his favorite experience: skydiving over the coast of Israel (see photo!). At 11,000 feet above the coast, he was able to see some incredible views of both Israel and Lebanon.

The Olmsted Falls native tells us that his time in Israel has exceeded his expectations. "I am loving being in Israel for the summer and the experiences that I have had are ones that cannot be replicated in the States."

Levin heard about this opportunity through the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and competed to land the internship in an extensive interview process. The effort, he says,  has proved to be completely worth it!

Sustainability Major Creating a Greener Cleveland

Senior Stephanie Poutz is dedicating her summer to creating a greener Cleveland. The sustainability and business administration double major is working at West Creek Conservancy in an internship that is supported by the Cleveland Foundation. The Foundation's internship program connects undergraduate and graduate students with experiences in nonprofit and public sector agencies.

Just two short years ago, West Creek Conservancy was a run-down ten acre parking lot. After years of planning, the parking lot was demolished and the Conservancy, home to wetlands, plants and wildlife was created. 

Every day on the job is different for Poutz. Her internship responsibilities range from assisting with identifying additional restoration areas for future wetlands to working on volunteer management, open-house activities and professional development.

In a post on the Cleveland Foundation blog, Poutz described how her internship has inspired her passion for sustainability. "I get the pleasure of spending time in nature each day while working with people who share the passion for improving our environment. These experiences have helped me learn more about watersheds than I ever would have in one of my classes, as well as help me discover a new love for the outdoors." 

BW Career Network Helps Marketing Major Land Internship

Senior Kevin Fredrick may be spending his summer days working 8-5, but he doesn't mind.

With help from the BW Career Network (BWCN), the marketing major from Archibold, Ohio found an internship that perfectly aligns with his major and his interests. Fredrick is working at American Tank and Fabrication (AT&F), one of the world's premier metal fabricators, as a Marketing Intern. The BWCN is a web-based platform designed to connect BW students and alumni with employers for jobs and internships.

Fredrick's position keeps him busy throughout the day with a never-ending to-do list that consists of tasks like creating trend reports, maintaining the company's customer relationship software and editing press releases, articles and other publications. Fredrick also assists with internal marketing for the company.

Fredrick tells us he enjoys the variety. "My days aren't repetitive. I do a lot of different things for a lot of different departments and people. Though the workload can be a challenge, it's one that I welcome."


AT&F is a small family owned, family operated business and in the three months that Fredrick has worked there, he feels as though he has created solid relationships with his AT&F colleagues.

"I feel cared about. The people here are seriously focused on group success and it feels much more gratifying to be working with people who share in each other's successes."

Post graduation, Fredrick hopes to work for an advertising agency, doing content marketing, and he feels fortunate to have an internship that is preparing him for a future in his intended career field.

Internship Creates "Summer of Purpose" for English Major

Senior English major Kristina DeGirolamo '16 is spending her summer interning in a field that she feels truly passionate about: nonprofit work. DeGirolamo is as an advancement (fundraising) intern with Stepstone Academy, a charter school associated with Ohio Guidestone.

The paid, competitive internship is supported by the Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship program which connects undergraduate and graduate students with meaningful, career-related experiences in nonprofit and public sector agencies.

During her first week on the job, she experienced fundraising in action on a large scale at Stepstone's annual Golf Classic event.

Writing on the Cleveland's Foundation's blog, DeGirolamo said, from the beginning, she felt at home with the faculty, staff and students. "I've seen staff who come into work with a grin every day, students who are excited about learning and donors who want to impact the lives of others."

DeGirolamo believes that nonprofits are key to any city, especially Cleveland where organizations such as Stepstone Academy have made it their mission to improve the lives of others in the community. For DeGirolamo, this truly is a "Summer of Purpose."

As part of their "Summer of Purpose," DeGirolamo (2nd from left) and 17 other Cleveland Foundation interns visited Cleveland City Hall and met with Mayor Frank Jackson.

Sport Management Major Lands Internship in Florida

Brown (R) with two other HJGT Interns 

Rebecca Brown '16 is spending her summer in the Sunshine State where she landed an on-par internship. The senior sport management major is interning as a State Marketing Representative for the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) in Jacksonville, Fla. HJGT provides junior golfers with the opportunity to play a variety of courses in more than 20 states in a competitive golfing environment. The main focus of Brown's internship is to promote the golf tour's current events, as well as to research venues for future events.

"I am completely operations minded and like hands-on tasks" Brown explained "But I decided to take on a marketing position to expose myself to something new."

No stranger to the world of internships, Brown's resume is already quite lengthy. Some of her past internships have included positions with the Athletic Scholarship Corporation, BW Athletic Department and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. During the upcoming school year Brown will be interning with Cleveland State University.

Recently, Brown was also named one of four recipients of the 2015 Greater Cleveland WISE  (Women in Sports and Events) scholarship. For now, her ultimate career goal is to work in an athletic conference at the collegiate level. However, she says with every new experience, her career goals evolve and change!

Neuroscience and Biology Major Interns at NASA

Rising senior Christin Godale is spending her summer doing an "out of this world" internship. The neuroscience and biology double major is interning at the NASA Glenn Research Center as a Human Research Project intern doing research on a project called the "Digital Astronaut."

According to Godale, a day in the life of a Human Research Project intern consists mainly of working on visual impairment and intracranial pressure models. These models deal with the effects that long-term exposure to microgravity has on the structure of the eye. The research seeks to explain why many astronauts experience poorer vision after returning from space, as astronaut Mike Kelly discussed with CBS News this week from the International Space Station.



Interning at Glenn has benefited Godale in a variety of ways from developing her critical thinking skills to networking with NASA employees. She also has the unique benefit of using the research that she is doing this summer for her BW neuroscience thesis which she will present in Spring 2016.

Godale hopes to eventually pursue her Ph.D. in neuroscience or cell biology, although her experience at NASA has sparked her interest as a possible career path as well.

BW Seniors Offered Elite Fellowships with Cleveland Clinic

2015 Cleveland Clinic Finance Fellows Tom Kasper '15, Josh Ingle '15, and Eric Gase '15

After a rigorous application and interview process, Tom Kasper '15, Eric Gase '15 and Josh Ingle '15 have each earned one of the six positions in the competitive Cleveland Clinic's Finance Fellowship program. 

The program lasts a full year, according to mathematics and economics double major Josh, rotating fellows through several areas of business operations within the Cleveland Clinic, including financial planning and corporate accounting, with the aim of preparing candidates to handle a wide range of operational facets of a healthcare organization.

Tom, a finance and economics double major and accounting minor, credits BW for helping him to develop the analytical skills that made him stand out: "There is a tremendous demand for employees who can understand, interpret, and make business decisions based on the data through statistical and trend analysis," Tom said.

All three seniors also commended the assistance of BW Career Services' Beth Ehrbar who helped them lock down the positions. "I met with [Beth] about two times for each interview and she went over possible interview questions, how to answer interview questions, and overall tips for improvement," said Eric, a finance and international business double major.

When the program concludes, all three aspire to be hired into a full time position in one of the departments where they will be gaining experience over the next year. To date, the Cleveland Clinic has hired all former Finance Fellows into different finance roles, so the future is looking bright for these three BW students.

BW Experiences Help Shape Grad's State Department Career

Coniam in one of the State Department's

original diplomatic reception rooms

Kimberly Coniam ’07, a Foreign Affairs Officer for the Office of Missile Defense and Space Policy at the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C., is thriving in an amazing career in national security and space policy, traveling the world from South Africa to Vietnam, working to improve the security of outer space.

A graduate with majors in both political science and international studies, Coniam says she first became passionate about national security writing her first academic research paper for a class taught by Dr. Morales-Ortiz. Coniam says this experience eventually led to a yearlong internship at the U.S. Department of State where she was able to apply her research to real world situations.

Participating in BW's Model UN and studying various international organizations also helped the Berea, Ohio native to further develop an interest in foreign affairs. "I can better navigate in an often challenging multilateral setting because of those experiences," she says.

Visiting the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency outside Tokyo

Coniam, who also earned a master's degree at Indiana University, says the opportunity to study abroad twice, first to China and then to Japan, not only reinforced her strong interest in U.S.-Asia relations, but also played an important role in her selection for the 18th class of Mansfield Fellows. The government fellowship program allowed her to work within the Japanese government for a year. "I know the adaptability and independence I gained from my study abroad opportunities contributed to my success."

Coniam adds that "the most crucial [factor] in shaping me and leading to my success" was the mentoring of Dr. Judy Krutky, who "pushed me to always expand my interests, try new things, and never settle; under her instruction, I was taught that it is important to try something new and do something unexpected, and that often these new experiences will be the most rewarding."

BW Grad Kicks Career up a Notch with the Cleveland Browns

Corey Kinder '12

BW Sports Management alumnus, Corey Kinder '12, is tackling a new career as Coordinator of Fan Experience for our very own, Cleveland Browns. Kinder overseas the Browns Backers and assists with non-football gameday elements including the National Anthem, mascot preparation, banners, and half-time entertainment.

Kinder says his aspiration to pursue a career in the sports industry surprisingly developed from his role as a manager for the Donato's pizza chain, while he attended community college. Realizing that he had the potential to manage and market a business, Kinder volunteered at a Cleveland Cavaliers game to gain experience in the field he really desired. He was later invited to work for the "Cavs Crew," a promotional team providing entertainment during games, and enrolled at BW that same year, to pursue a degree in sport management.

Kinder (right) standing with Brown's Director of Fan Experience and
Special Events, Carlos Oseguera (left) during rehearsals

Kinder expressed gratitude for the mentoring he received from BW professors,  and also credits the Sports Management Club for shaping his career and helping him secure a 2011 internship with the Cleveland Gladiators which, in turn, helped him land his current job.

Kinder's professional development also included a stint with the Cleveland Indians as a costumed character, which, he says, taught him the value of fan entertainment.


Kinder's advice for students who also hope to work in the sports industry? "Network, network, network."

BW Students First to Intern at North Coast Angel Fund

Michael Bacha '14 (left) and Filip Pinter '14 chat with an Angel Fund investor at Ariel International Center in Cleveland.

During their time at BW, Michael Bacha '14 and Filip Pinter '14, were given the unique opportunity to serve as the first-ever undergraduate interns for North Coast Angel Fund, which includes leading investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from across the region. The internship has given the pair an insiders' view into the world of angel fund investing. At North Coast, investors work toward the goal of "accelerating early-stage ventures" with a focus on industries like biosciences, advanced materials, electronics and controls, information technology, and energy and power/propulsion.

Professor Phil Bessler (left) regularly takes MBA students
to  Angel Fund meetings to soak up the investment
decision making process.

Professor Phillip Bessler of BW's School of Business, who also serves as director of the BW Business Clinic, has been taking BW graduate students to North Coast's monthly meetings for five years now, a unique opportunity as part of his topical seminar. Bessler describes North Coast as "a big part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northeast Ohio."

Bacha said he gained interest in angel investing through Bessler's Business Plan Development course. The internship opportunity developed when Bessler shared the opportunity with the class and other BW entrepreneurship students and faculty.

BW's student Investment Club and Business Clinic also have a connection to North Coast. The two have partnered together to pool funds to invest in one of North Coast's promising funds.

Students Tackle Real-World Technology Challenges for OEC

Tyiler George ’15,  DeShawn Franklin ’15 and Cameron Cordes ’16 are ready to take on a project for EOConnection

Three BW students will be developing solutions for real-world technology challenges under an expanded BW partnership with technology employer OEConnection LLC, the parts e-commerce technology leader for OEM distribution networks.

Computer Science majors Cameron Cordes ’16, from Litchfield, Ohio, Tyiler George ’15, from Medina, Ohio and DeShawn Franklin ’15 from Maple Heights, Ohio are the first BW students to take part in the unique collaboration that will bolster OEC’s commitment to the development of technology talent and create an employment pipeline for students in BW's computer science and newly established software engineering major.
   
“OEC has been a tremendous advocate for technology education and has been working closely with BW to identify ways to prepare our students for the growing field of software development,” said Jodi Tims, chair of Math and Computer Science at BW.

Cordes, George and Franklin are taking on the inaugural project this fall, working as paid interns in BW’s Center for Innovation & Growth (CIG), under the supervision of computer science faculty, and in partnership with developers from OEC. Plans are to expand the partnership in 2015, to include semester and full academic year ‘capstone’ projects.

"It is a privilege to work with brilliant students such as DeShawn and Cameron, and gain valuable real-life experience," said George, expressing the students' appreciation for the internship. "We are honored and very thankful for the opportunity to work with OEConnection."

Read more on this technology partnership on the OEConnection website or at PRWeb.

Student Research Featured in Hospital Video

Stephanie Darm '15, a communication disorders major at BW, is featured in the "Spotlight Video" in the current issue of the Akron Children's Research Pursuits newsletter.

In the video,  Darm appears with her mentor, Megan Cook, a researcher at the Family Children Learning Center.  The pair conducted research through the Summer Pediatric Research Scholars program (SPRS), looking into "the use of the LENA device to record and analyze the effect of preschool activities on language development."

Hear about Darm's research experience in her own words:

Duck Tape Maker Gives BW Senior HR Experience that "Sticks"

An experience that will "stick" with her

Stephanie Knezevic '15 returned to campus this fall with valuable human resources experience under her belt.

Knezevic completed an internship at ShurTech Brands, LLC.,  in Avon, Ohio this summer. Her assignments at the company ranged from researching how to improve training systems, to sitting in on meetings and interviews to observe how HR professionals conduct business. She also scheduled interviews for potential candidates and helped plan company events.

Being a human resource management major in BW's School of Business, Knezevic was more than happy to land the internship at the company, which includes the iconic Duck Tape as one of it's well-known brands.

"I earned first-hand experience in all the various aspects of [Human Resources]," she says. "I [was able] to see what all of the human resource fields were like, and I got a little bit of experience with each."

Broadcasting Alumna Reports for Wake Up Wisconsin

Caroline Bach '12

Viewers of Wake Up Wisconsin Weekend are now waking up to the face and voice of a BW alumna. Caroline Bach '12, a broadcasting and mass communications major, and member of BW's Honor's Program has joined the news team at WKOW-TV Madison, Wisc. and now anchors the weekend morning newscast for the station.

During her undergraduate studies, Bach kick-started her career by producing for Parma Area Community Television, reporting on local issues. She later interned at WEWS-TV Cleveland, and at WTOL-TV Toledo. Bach also landed an internship with Dateline NBC and Rock Center with Brian Williams in New York City.

After graduation from BW, Bach served as a weekend anchor at WVVA-TV in Bluefield, West Virginia, where she reported on stories with national impact, such as Hurricane Sandy and the Freedom Industries chemical spill into the Elk River in Charleston.

Psychology and Public Health Majors Serve in Ghana

For many students, summer includes bonfires at the beach, road trips with friends, and naps by the pool. Two Baldwin Wallace students, Nuha Alshabani ’15 (pictured above) and Mary McHale ’16, spent part of their summer serving in the Cape Coast of Ghana on issues related to public health and education. Both have plans to return to the African nation.

As part of their ProWorld-Intrax internships, Nuha and Mary assisted Cape Coast teachers in classrooms for students with disabilities. The pair also interned in a department for social welfare focusing on health promotion for such issues as HIV/AIDS awareness, personal hygiene, and basic first aid.

While living in Ghana, Nuha and Mary faced the challenges that come with cultural immersion. Both students noted that their liberal arts education at BW helped prepare them. Nuha said, “I realized how important a liberal arts education is and how it can prepare you for practical issues. I felt like I had knowledge in many different areas that I could draw on to help me in my internship and interactions in the community.”

Mary found the experience to be a confidence booster. “I think I have become a friendlier person. In Africa, everyone says hello to each other, and since I have left, I’ve definitely picked that up and do it in the States.”

As a Public Health major, Mary’s experience also supported her career development. She aspires to attend graduate school for public health and an accelerated nursing program after earning her undergraduate degree, and would like to serve in the Peace Corps. After graduation, Nuha hopes to apply her degree in Psychology towards becoming a child and family counselor.

This December, Mary and Nuha will return to Ghana to continue their internships during winter break.

Senior Promotes Affordable Housing in Competitive Internship

This summer, Doanise Thompson '15 got the chance to make positive change in her community when she secured a competitive Cleveland Foundation internship with the Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland.

Working alongside organization's marketing team, Doanise assisted in designing strategies for social media marketing, newspapers, blogs, and other marketing materials. She also coordinated promotion for a summer fundraiser with the Cleveland Indians.

As a sociology major, Doanise's favorite part of the experience was knowing her work was changing the lives of people all over the area.

"[Homeownership is] a dream that has become very hard to obtain for low-income families," she said. "These programs and services give families and individuals the opportunity to dream great dreams and, ultimately, live in those dreams permanently."

At BW, Doanise maintains leadership roles throughout campus as president of the Criminal Justice Club, director of programming for Black Student Alliance, a Buzz Ambassador for the Office of Admissions, and a Multicultural Jacket Link Mentor. She will also lead an alternative spring break trip to promote women's empowerment in Miami, Fla. through BW's Office of Community Outreach.