Beth Ryan

Colin Elder ’25 spent the summer as a Data Science Intern on the Business Intelligence team at Sheetz, Inc.

Colin Elder ’25, an  Economics and Data Science double major spent the summer as a Data Science Intern on the Business Intelligence team at Sheetz, Inc. a top-tier convenience and customer service retail company with 675 locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.

We asked Colin…

How did you learn about this opportunity?

Colin: It’s pretty simple – I found this internship on LinkedIn.

What are your duties?

Colin: I do data analysis on both the product and store level for Sheetz. Some projects I worked on include evaluating how price changes of goods have affected sales, as well as a store segmentation project. Grouping stores with similar characteristics allows Sheetz to target marketing towards specific segments as well as optimize pricing and distribution of products.

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Colin: Absolutely. Sheetz is a fantastic family-owned company that cares about their employees and makes sure their interns get involved. If Data Science is not something you are interested in, there are plenty of other opportunities for students- there were almost 50 interns throughout the company this summer.

Colin Elder is a CBE Fellow, scheduled to graduate in May 2025. He serves as the service/philanthropy chair for the Allegheny chapter of Delta Tau Delta and plays the position of winger on the Allegheny men’s soccer team.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

CBE Fellow Nick Tysiachney Attains Specialized Knowledge of Supply Chain Management at Acutec Precision Aerospace

Nicholas Tysiachney '25
Nicholas Tysiachney ’25

Nicholas Tysiachney ’25, an Economics major and Data Science minor at Allegheny College, is participating in an ongoing internship in the Supply Chain department at Acutec Precision Aerospace, an award-winning, family and employee-owned manufacturer of critical components and subassemblies for aerospace and defense applications.

We asked Nick…

How did you learn about this opportunity?

Nick: I connected with Acutec’s Human Resources Director and Allegheny alumnus Austin Rock ’14, through my advisor,  Professor of Economics Russ Ormiston.

What are your duties?

Nick:  I assist with  purchasing consumables, basically anything that doesn’t end up inside of a part. Since I started in October 2023, I’ve purchased more than $2 million worth of goods. I also work on automating business processes to make them more efficient for everyone in the department. In that area of responsibility, I’ve developed more than 28 separate automations across 10 automation families.

Would you recommend this internship to another student?

Nick: Absolutely, if not this internship, then there are many others at Acutec. I feel that Acutec is good at giving people what they can handle in an internship. If you show promise, you can do more, if you are younger or less experienced, they will work with you. I will be happy to talk to anyone about internship opportunities.

Nicholas Tysiachney is scheduled to graduate in May 2025.  A commuting student, he serves as a CBE Fellow and takes advantage of the Wise Center Athletics Center while on campus. Off-campus, he’s continues to work at Acutec in Meadville.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

The Business and Economics Review for Summer 2024

Business and Economics Review front cover
Click on the image to read the newsletter in .pdf format

What’s new at the CBE? Find out  by reading The Business and Economics Review

What’s inside:

  • Dynamic New Program Offers Students a Clear Path to One of the World’s Fastest Growing Professions – Healthcare Management
  • Connecting with the Working Women in the Meadville Community
  • Understanding the National Economic Outlook with the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank
  • VITA Volunteers Make a Real Difference in the Meadville Community
  • The Board of Visitors Prep Students for Life after Graduation
  • Allegheny Students Earn Top Awards at the Sigma XI Intercollegiate Student Conference
  • Business and Economics Undergraduate Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities (URSCA) Students and Faculty Participate in the ACROSS 2024 Summer Research Program
  • Robotics on Display During the Zingale Big Idea Competition Awards Ceremony
  • Celebrating Academic Excellence Beyond Expectations

Please note: activities,  dates and program titles have been updated since publication, please visit the Center for Business and Economics Calendar for updated information.

Dynamic New Program Offers Students a Clear Path to one of the World’s Fastest Growing Professions – Healthcare Management

Naveed Ismael '12
Naveed Ismael ’12 VP of Customer Management, Healthcare Analytics at Craneware – “I am particularly excited for the next generation of Allegheny students to experience the new Healthcare Management program because of how it will bring together critical industry insights, interdisciplinary studies focused around the mission of healthcare, and practical business concepts and theory to prepare graduates to tackle the unique and growing challenges that the U.S. healthcare industry faces in the coming decades”

Allegheny College has unveiled two exciting new degree programs beginning this fall: a Bachelor of Science and an accelerated Master of Science in Healthcare Management. The BS follows a traditional 4-year undergraduate curriculum, while the Master’s program offers students the opportunity to earn both BS and MS degrees in 4 or 5 years. Both pathways benefit from Allegheny’s rigorous coursework and unique interdisciplinary and applied approach to learning.

Healthcare Management involves the study of the healthcare industry, including service providers, health economics and financing, insurers, manufacturers, non-profit organizations, and government entities at all levels. It emphasizes an understanding of the complexities of the US healthcare system in the 21st century, including the organization and delivery of preventive health and healthcare services. It also develops the interpersonal, leadership, and management skills needed by healthcare administrators to efficiently and effectively meet health and institutional goals.

Professor Steven Farrelly-Jackson, Healthcare Management Program Director commented, “These programs develop students’ broader understanding of the pressing challenges posed by soaring costs of US healthcare, inequities of access, and worsening health outcomes – especially for the marginalized and vulnerable. The aim is to train a new generation of healthcare managers who, whatever their role in the healthcare industry, will contribute meaningfully to improved effectiveness, sustainability, and social justice.”

Allegheny’s Healthcare Management programs draw on the college’s  proven strengths in its Business and Economics department and landmark Global Health Studies program, as well as decades of success preparing students for  healthcare professions. Both BS and MS programs emphasize thorough grounding in economics and business management skills, while also including coursework in medicine, public health, the US health system, the social determinants of health, data analytics, human resources, finance, ethics, and sustainability to ensure that graduates are immediately ready to succeed in whatever area of healthcare management they choose to pursue.

Naveed Ismael ’12, VP of Customer Management, Healthcare Analytics at Craneware offered this observation:

“My experience at Allegheny College was transformational for me in developing my strengths in communication and contextualizing challenges, learning to apply myself to solving problems, and thinking strategically, all of which I consider to be core tenets of the liberal arts education I received. Everything I learned I found to be immediately transferable to my career in healthcare management.

I am particularly excited for the next generation of Allegheny students to experience the new Healthcare Management program because of how it will bring together critical industry insights, interdisciplinary studies focused around the mission of healthcare, and practical business concepts and theory to prepare graduates to tackle the unique and growing challenges that the U.S. healthcare industry faces in the coming decades. Healthcare represents nearly 20% of the nation’s GDP and, with an aging population, the industry demand will only grow for well-rounded individuals with the experience and skills this program will produce.”

The Allegheny College Global Health Studies program was founded on the belief that undergraduate liberal education can play an essential role in meeting the world’s health challenges, the GHS program draws upon Allegheny’s longstanding commitments to civic engagement, diverse perspectives, internationalization, project-based and interdisciplinary learning. The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

Zula Stenger ’25 Heads to DC to learn more about the Intersection of Business and Politics

Zula Stenger '25 spent the summer as a a strategic communications and government affairs intern with FGS Global a global strategic advisory and communications consultancy. 
Zula Stenger ’25

Zula Stenger ’25, a Business Major with double Minors in Political Science and Studio Art, headed to Washington DC this summer to become a strategic communications and government affairs intern with FGS Global, a global strategic advisory and communications consultancy.

We asked Zula…

How did you find your summer internship?

Zula: I became aware of FGS Global through Anne Gearan ’85, who sits on the Board of Visitors for the CBE. Anne is a true mentor to me, and inspired by her career, I knew interning with FGS could be the right fit for me to learn more about the intersection of business and politics.

What are your duties?

Zula: As interns, we primarily work with associate-level employees to help offload some of their duties. So far, I have done media coverage, covered congressional hearings, conducted in-depth research, staffed events, and much more. Truly, every day here is a new adventure.

Would you recommend this experience to other students?

Zula: I highly recommend working at FGS Global. The internship is great for anyone interested in communications or government affairs, and because of the vast differences across clients, interns get the chance to work across business sectors, which I have found very valuable. Also, I cannot recommend enough the experience of being in DC to students interested in political science. Being here has been so inspiring, and thanks to the Betsy Dotson, Esquire ’74 Experiential Learning Fund that I received through the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), I am able to afford living here while saving money for my education.

What other activities are you involved in on campus?

Zula: I serve as a Fellow for both the CBE and the Center for Political Participation, as an intern for Residence Life, as the student representative to the Alumni Council, and as the president of the Women in Business and Economics and College Democrats.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

CBE Fellow Graham Kralic ’25 Journeys to Pittsburgh for an Elite Internship in Banking and Finance

Graham Kralic '25
Graham Kralic ’25

Graham Kralic ’25, an economics major and communications minor, journeyed  to the corporate headquarters of PNC for his summer internship. PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States.

We asked Graham…

How did you find your summer internship?

Graham: I found this opportunity through CBE advertising, general knowledge of PNC Bank, and the desire to work here for many years. In obtaining my internship, I  leveraged the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD)  services (Shoutout to Autumn Parker, Jim Fitch, and Brian Collingwood), alumni connections (Jennifer Daurora ’99), and my own personal connections who work at the bank.

What are your duties?

Graham: As a C&IB Treasury Management Intern, I support Treasury Management Officers on my team in the solutioning of treasury management products to corporate and institutional banking clients at PNC. Simply put, Treasury management is the process of extending the funds flow cycle within a company’s treasury department. This means helping companies receive A/R payments more quickly, managing liquidity, and delaying A/P payments for as long as possible.

Would you recommend this experience to other students?

Graham: I would highly recommend a PNC internship to anyone who will listen. There are so many different intern positions that they offer from corporate finance to HR services, there is a niche for everyone. The program has offered me countless opportunities to learn and take on additional responsibility within my business unit.

What other activities are you involved in on campus?

Graham: I am  a CBE Fellow, economics major and communications minor, scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2025. I participates in Men’s Varsity Soccer, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, and serve the department as a Macroeconomic Theory Teaching Assistant.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

Student-Faculty Research into Economic Development in Africa Enters the Second Year of Study

Zachary Wyse '25 presented his ongoing research project entitled, "Busting the Youth Bulge in Africa: Does Demography Foster or Impede African Development" at the June 4th ACRoSS 2024 luncheon.
Zachary Wyse ’25 presenting his ongoing research project entitled, “Busting the Youth Bulge in Africa: Does Demography Foster or Impede African Development”

Zachary Wyse ’25 presented his ongoing research project entitled, “Busting the Youth Bulge in Africa: Does Demography Foster or Impede African Development” at the June 4th ACRoSS 2024 luncheon. Under the mentorship of Professor of Economics, Steve Onyeiwu, Zachary has uncovered insightful information in this, his second year performing research on economic development in Africa. To learn more about his summer of 2023 research in Africa, read our Winter 2024 newsletter.

 Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities (URSCA)

Allegheny College has a rich tradition of undergraduate research that dates back to the college’s founding in 1815. The mission of the URSCA Office is to promote student research, organize on-campus presentations of students projects, and provide information and support to students who present their projects off-campus.

Learn more here about the summer ACRoss program administered through the URSCA office.

2024 National Economic Outlook for the United States

2024 National Economic Outlook for the United StatesOn April 4, the Center for Business and Economics will welcome Russell Mills, Ph.D., Senior Principal and the Senior Regional Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s Pittsburgh Branch. Dr. Mills will present the “National Economic Outlook,” a discussion of current national economic conditions.

Russell Mills is responsible for managing relationships with regional stakeholders, monitoring the region’s economic environment, and speaking to regional audiences on national and regional economic conditions. Additionally, he participates in briefings that support the Bank president’s role on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). He also manages the Bank’s relationships with the Pittsburgh Branch’s board of directors and business advisory councils in Pittsburgh and Erie, Pennsylvania, and in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Dr. Mills joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland in 2023. Prior to taking on his current role, he oversaw the Center for Regional Development at Bowling Green State University, leading a team in economic, community, and workforce development projects across 31 counties in northwestern Ohio. Prior to his time at the center, Dr. Mills was an associate professor of political science at BGSU and a policy analyst at the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington D.C.

He holds a BA in political science from Westminster College, an MPA from the University of Vermont, and a PhD in political science from Kent State University.

The Economics Distinguished Speaker event is supported by the Earl W. Adams, Jr. Endowment, established by Allegheny College Trustee William H. Brown, Jr., Allegheny Class of 1980, in honor of Professor Earl William Adams, Jr. – teacher, mentor and friend.

Spring 2024 Symposium:   Navigating Careers in Business and Economics

Students participating in the Board of Visitors Networking Lunch
Students participating in the Board of Visitors Networking Lunch

Students of all majors are welcome to attend our Spring Symposium, “Navigating Careers in Business and Economics” with the Board of Visitors (BOV)- the Center for Business and Economics alumni advisory board that journeys back to campus each year to help students achieve their career goals.

Our twelve returning BOV members will be our guest speakers throughout the day starting at the Campus Center on Monday, March 18th.

There are three ways to participate:

  1. Attend a session that aligns with your interests.
  2. New for 2024!  From 10:00 am until 12:15 pm Board of Visitors members not in session will hang out at Grounds for Change-students are encouraged to stop by and have a drink on our tab! CBE Fellows will be on hand to make introductions.
  3. Attend our networking lunch at 12:30 pm in the Tippie Alumni Center – RSVP here, it just takes a minute!

Contact Beth Ryan for more information.

Students are free to attend any of these four sessions – here’s the details:

Monday, March 18

10:00 am – 11:00 am, CC 301/302 =>

  •  “What’s Next? Graduate School vs. The Real World” 
  • “The Power of Perception: How Personal Branding Influences Career Success,” sponsored by the Women in Business and Economics Club (WIBE).

11:00 am  – 11:15 am =>  Coffee Break

11:15 am – 12:15 pm CC 301/302 =>

  • “Market Yourself as an Allegheny Grad – Comps and Experiences” 
  • “How to Stand Out at Your First Job,” sponsored by the Wealth Management Club

After the final session, students are invited to attend lunch with the BOV members where they can enjoy the soup and salad buffet and do some “speed networking”!   The lunch will begin at 12:30 pm and the BOV members will be on hand until 2:15 pm.

RSVP here so you don’t miss out on a great lunch experience!

Who’s coming to campus?

  • Dayan Aberaratne ’94 Managing Director, PJT Partners
  • Stacy Corbin ’89, Managing Director, KeyBanc Capital Markets
  • Elizabeth White ’83, President, White Biotech Solutions
  • Anne Gearan ’85, Partner, FGS Global
  • Naveed Ismail ’12, VP Customer Management Healthcare Analytics at Craneware
  • Keith White ’83, VP Risk Management, TD Bank
  • Evelyn Pendleton ’87, VP, CFO, Commercial, Specialty & Markets at Aetna
  • Angelica Runova ’06, VP, Sr. Strategy & Planning Manager, PNC
  • Diane Sutter ’72, President/CEO, ShootingStar Broadcasting
  • Eileen Webb ’06, Senior Manager, Exempt Organization Tax Services, EY
  • Trish Lawless ’92, VP – Transformation Management, PNC
  • Devone McLeod ’13, CFP® Financial Advisor at Wealth Enhancement Group

The Board of Visitors annual event is supported by the Earl W. Adams, Jr. Endowment, established by Allegheny College Trustee William H. Brown, Jr., Allegheny Class of 1980, in honor of Professor Earl William Adams, Jr.  –  teacher, mentor and friend.

New! Winter 2024 Edition of the Business and Economics Review

Winter 2024 Business and Economics ReviewWhat happens during the busy fall semester here in the Business and Economics Department? A lot!

This issue includes stories about the screening and discussion of the documentary “Beyond Zero,” the visit of Devone McCleod ’13 as our Executive in Residence, a Board of Visitors meeting supplemented by the return of recently-graduated CBE Fellows, student-faculty research funded through a new endowment honoring the memory of Steve Casler, new faculty arriving in Quigley, career fairs, career guidance from students and returning alumni, and our Financial Literacy winners.

Click here to download a .pdf version of our Winter 2024 issue