Agile Professionals

Executives in Residence Urge Students to Take Advantage of Every Opportunity

By May 25th 2023

Keith and Beth White '83, 2023 Executives in Residence, gather with students after networking lunch
Keith and Beth White ’83, 2023 Executives in Residence, gather with students after the traditional networking lunch

Keith and Elizabeth McCullough White ’83 journeyed to campus to become this year’s Business and Economics Executives in Residence. The 1983 graduates shared with students, faculty and staff on the ups and downs of managing their work/life balance throughout their 40 year marriage all while navigating their professional careers.

The Whites spoke to classes in both the Business and Economics and Biology Departments, met with the CBE Fellows, Wealth Management and Women in Business and Economics Clubs, and presented a Lunchtime Learning Lecture entitled, “Using Our Liberal Arts Experience to Build Successful Executive Careers Together.”

During their presentation, the Whites left students with these suggestions for business and personal success:

  • Take advantage of every opportunity,
  • Push yourself academically,
  • Don’t let your studies get in the way of your education — get involved on campus,
  • Work for a small struggling company because you can learn a lot,
  • Learn something about project management, and
  • Make the best choices for you and your family.

CBE Fellow Andrew Strobel ’24 commented, “The Whites were super interesting, and I really appreciated the opportunity to meet and engage with them over their visit.”  Fellow Rutendo Mavunga ’24 added, “It was lovely to meet Keith and Elizabeth White.”

2023 Executives

Elizabeth (Beth) McCullough White ’83, Ph.D. is a highly experienced and entrepreneurial biopharmaceutical C-level executive with a unique blend of business and scientific experience, and a diverse skill set gained through leadership roles covering corporate strategy and operations, business development, drug development, commercial planning and development, global brand management, communications, program and portfolio management, and intellectual property strategy in start-up to large companies.

Keith R. White ’83 has 30 years of experience in financial services with TD Bank, PNC Bank and Citibank, along with an “informative” five-year detour with a start-up. As an SVP at TD Bank, he leveraged his expertise in combining traditional commercial lending and credit with new age risk management practices in modeling and data governance to deliver on complex and high-profile projects and positions. Keith’s PNC Bank experience was primarily on the credit side of commercial lending with concentrations in Large Corporate, Media and Communications Finance./

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy. The Executive in Residence program is designed to connect Allegheny students and faculty with prominent business executives who spend several days on the Allegheny campus speaking about their life experiences in business, paths to success and lessons learned

CBE Summer Experiences with Binderiya Batsaikhan ’25

By September 5th 2022

Binderiya Batsaikhan
Binderiya Batsaikhan at her internship at Sartoria Premier Tailor LLC

This past summer, Binderiya Batsaikhan(Bindy) was a marketing intern at Sartoria Premier Tailor LLC in Mongolia, a company that operates luxury brands from Europe into the Mongolian market overseeing four major high end stores in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. 

How did the summer go? We asked Bindy…

What are your duties and what are you learning about?

Bindy: As a marketing intern for Sartoria Premier Tailor LLC, I needed to work for two multi-brand stores, and two mono-brands. The multi-brand stores required a lot of my marketing skills gained from inside the classroom, but equally challenged my creative skills as well.  I managed all of the social media content and posts for four stores, creating social media content such as instagram reels, stories, and posts.  In addition, I would create a mood board for each store, come up with photoshoots or content ideas to discuss with the creative director. Once approved, I would work with our photographer to come up with different set designs that incorporated the appropriate visual merchandising elements. One important lesson that I learned about working with luxury brands is that I have to deliver a certain standard of promotion that meets the expectations of luxury consumers.

Besides managing social media accounts, I assisted with the creation of marketing plans for new luxury brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Zadig & Voltaire, and Saphir médaille d’or openings in the Mongolian market. My duties ranged from training the sales assistants about the brands and their recent collection, to organizing different events such as the Zadig & Voltaire pop-up event and creating marketing ideas for the stores. One of my last duties was to plan, market, and operate a clearance sale event for the company, combining all the stores and holding the sales event in an art gallery. From this experience, I gained a lot of understanding and experience about planning a successful strategic event. From the invitation list to the structure of the event to the financial budgeting, it was truly a comprehensive list of lessons learned from my experience.

How did you discover your internship?

Bindy:  I created a list of companies I wanted to work for during my summer trip back home in Mongolia and found different ways to contact these companies. I found my internship with Sartoria through LinkedIn after connecting with the Creative Director of the company. I sent a direct message with my resume and received an interview a week later. 

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Bindy: I would recommend that everyone should explore and experience their passions and interests, for me, it was always marketing, particularly luxury fashion marketing. I think my internship taught me a lot about who I want to be, what I can bring to the table, and also what I need to work on in order to elevate my skills. I also want to say that students should just reach out to people and companies, don’t be afraid to get rejected or get no answers back. You never know what opportunities you might have missed if you did not try.

Binderiya is a double major in Economics and International Studies with a French minor planning to graduate in 2025. She serves as a RA, participates in the Law and Policy program, and is a first place winner for her company, Blue Ciel – Cashmere Imports in the 2022 annual Zingale Big Idea Competition.

At the Allegheny College Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics, students may pursue a major in economics or business with each course of study applying the rigor of economic theory, with the benefit of interdisciplinary coursework that allows students to create a personalized concentration. An extensive portfolio of co-curricular activities complements our curriculum, enhancing student learning and real-world experience and soft skill development to ensure that each student succeeds in pursuing internships, job, and graduate school opportunities at Allegheny College, and throughout their professional careers. The distinctive Allegheny model requires students to declare a minor in a non-business and non-social science discipline, for example philosophy, religious studies, a foreign language, music, English, fine arts, biology, World Health, mathematics, and computer science among other fields.

CBE Summer Experiences with Richard Swanson ’24

By August 11th 2022

RJ Swanson served as a 2022 finance intern at Koppers, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA
RJ Swanson served as a 2022 finance intern at Koppers, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA

CBE Fellow, Richard (RJ) Swanson served as a 2022 finance intern at Koppers, Inc. Koppers, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals and carbon compounds. Its products and services are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end-markets, including the railroad, specialty chemical, utility, residential lumber, agriculture, aluminum, steel, rubber, and construction industries.

How did the summer go? We asked RJ…

How did you find your summer internship experience?

RJ: I was aware of Koppers in high school when they were a sponsor for a nonprofit I was involved with, so I knew that they were a company with the right values. As I looked for job postings on LinkedIn, this made Koppers specifically stand out to me.

What are your duties and what are you learning about? 

RJ: I worked in the finance department under the title, “Shared Service Intern.” I completed tasks for every position in the department, giving me a better understanding of the finance department at Koppers as a whole. Most of my work was centered around payables, receivables, and some work with the banks Koppers use.

Would you recommend this experience to other students?

RJ: Absolutely. The biggest difference with Koppers is their company culture. Koppers is consistently ranked one of the best workplaces in Pittsburgh, and Newsweek ranked Koppers as one of the most responsible companies in 2021.

RJ is a CBE Fellow and incoming President of the Wealth Management Club, planning to graduate in 2024.  He is a major in Economics and minors in Communications and Political Science.  He is the Delta Tau Delta Alpha Chapter Public Relations Chair and Interfraternity Council Vice President.

Studying economics at Allegheny College teaches students how people respond to incentives in making choices, and how those choices affect outcomes at both the micro and macro scale. A microeconomist might study how a firm or a family chooses to finance a new piece of equipment or a home purchase. A macroeconomist might study how a change in interest rates affects economic growth, unemployment, or the balance of trade. While economists address topics often associated with the field, like banking and finance, the range of topics studied by economists is very broad, including sports, the environment, health, crime, discrimination, and business.

CBE Summer Experiences with Andrew Strobel ’24

By August 8th 2022

Andrew Strobel '24, Richard (R.J.) Swanson '24 and John Fazio ‘20 at the Karnea conference for Delta Tau Delta
Andrew Strobel ’24 intern at First Bank of the lake), Richard (R.J.) Swanson ’24 (intern at Koppers, Inc.) and John Fazio ‘20 (will begin Duquesne Law School in the fall) at the Karnea conference for Delta Tau Delta in Norfolk

CBE Fellow Andrew Strobel ’24 is continuing his remote internship that began in January 2022 at the First Bank of the Lake.  The First Bank of the Lake provides a full range of deposit products and services, along with consumer, residential mortgage, and commercial lending. The Bank is also an SBA lender throughout the United States.

How is the summer going?  We asked Andrew…

How did you find your internship?

Andrew: “I was recommended from a senior who just graduated, Blake Gendron ’22, who was offered a full time position at their office in South Carolina.”

What are you doing during this experience?

Andrew: “I am learning about loan forgiveness and the processes of how small businesses receive aid from the SBA. I’m also learning about how to interact with borrowers on the custom service side and help answer their questions and get them the help they need.  It feels so great to help get a loan across the finish line fully forgiven that helped a business through the pandemic.”

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Andrew: “I would highly recommend this internship as the team and leadership supervising us is very supportive and helpful.”

Andrew is an Economics major and German minor, scheduled to graduate in 2024.  He is a student athlete returning to campus in August to play defense for the Allegheny College men’s soccer team.

Studying economics at Allegheny College teaches students how people respond to incentives in making choices, and how those choices affect outcomes at both the micro and macro scale. A microeconomist might study how a firm or a family chooses to finance a new piece of equipment or a home purchase. A macroeconomist might study how a change in interest rates affects economic growth, unemployment, or the balance of trade. While economists address topics often associated with the field, like banking and finance, the range of topics studied by economists is very broad, including sports, the environment, health, crime, discrimination, and business.

CBE Summer Experiences with Rutendo Mavunga ’24

By August 3rd 2022

CBE Fellow Rutendo Mavunga ’24 at her internship at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pittsburgh
CBE Fellow Rutendo Mavunga ’24  at her internship at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pittsburgh

CBE Fellow Rutendo Mavunga ’24 is working at her internship at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pittsburgh.  EY serves customers worldwide offering professional services for assurance, audit, tax, financial, and business advisory services to automotive, financial, government, entertainment, mining, real estate, technology, and telecommunication industries.

How is the summer going? We asked Rutendo…

How did you find your internship?

Rutendo: “I discovered this opportunity through Allegheny College’s career services who supported me for a very long time, and I used Handshake* to apply.”

What are you doing during this experience?

Rutendo: “I’m a Financial Services (FSO) business consulting intern in Pittsburgh. The FSO area is focused on the financial sector exclusively, and learning how to develop feasible solutions to support clients within this sector. I have thoroughly enjoyed my internship and learning about the field of consulting and financial services.”

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Rutendo:  “This has been a rigorous yet enjoyable experiences and I would highly recommend this experience to other students.”

Rutendo is an Economics and International Studies major and French minor, planning to graduate in 2024.  A CBE Fellow and Social Entrepreneur, she earned 2nd prize recognition at the 2022 Zingale Big Idea Competition, pitching her company, Batanai, where she plans to have an impact on women’s health In Zimbabwe.  Rutendo’s summer activities included participation in the 19th Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics program at Chatham University.

International Studies is an interdivisional, liberal arts program that endeavors to develop and relate those analytical skills most appropriate for the examination of increasingly complex interactions among nations and regions of the world. It draws upon the disciplines of economics, history, language, and political science.

*Allegheny College is a partner of the Handshake career community to provide students and recent graduates with access to job and internship opportunities from more than 400,000 employers. 

CBE Summer Experiences with Lucia Jueguen ’24

By August 1st 2022

CBE Fellow Lucia Jueguen ’24 at her summer experience at the American University and U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington D.C.
CBE Fellow Lucia Jueguen ’24 at her summer experience at the American University and U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington D.C.

This summer CBE Fellow Lucia Jueguen ’24 is taking a class about International Relations at American University, as well as working at the Small Business Administration in the office of International Trade in Washington D.C.  The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of International Trade’s mission is to enhance the ability of small businesses to compete in the global marketplace.

How is the summer going? We asked Lucia…

How did you find your internship?

Lucia: “I found the internship thanks to the American University’s network in D.C.”

What are you doing during this experience?

Lucia: “At my internship, I am learning all about small businesses in America, international trade, and finance. My duties consist of working with the finance and marketing teams to improve the business owner experience in the international trade area of the SBA. I performed research on international trade finance, gathered reports, collected and analyzed data, and collaborated with other agencies such as the Department of Commerce. I also worked on the creation of a webinar that will be presented in August!”

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

I would highly recommend working at the SBA to everyone as getting experience in a federal agency can be rewarding and can allow you to find a new unexpected career path!

Lucia is an International Studies, Business, and Arabic student with a graduation date of May 2024. She is a CBE Fellow and  serves as the President of the International Club. She participates in the Model UN, and is a Global Citizen Scholar.

Allegheny’s Business major is designed to help students gain a deep knowledge of the managerial and business concepts typically used by the business and non-profit world. The program also focuses on the tools, skills, and competencies needed to solve practical problems faced by organizations. The  business majors from Allegheny will graduate with a strong liberal arts background enabling them to learn how they can use their financial success to serve humanity, make a difference in people’s lives and leave a legacy of success and service. Every business major is expected to engage in a mentored experiential learning project or activity – this may be satisfied by a study abroad program or an internship that exposes the student to cultural, civic engagement and global issues.

CBE Summer Experiences with Morgan Libell ’23

By July 20th 2022

Morgan Libell at her internship at Giant Eagle Corporate in Pittsburgh, PA
Morgan Libell in front of her office at Giant Eagle Corporate

This summer CBE Fellow and rising senior, Morgan Libell is a Merchandising Intern for the Procurement and Space Planning teams at Giant Eagle Corporate. Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked among the top 40 on Forbes magazine’s largest private corporations list, is one of the nation’s largest food retailers and distributors with approximately $9.7 billion in annual sales. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has grown to be a leading food, fuel and pharmacy retailer in the region with more than 470 stores throughout western Pennsylvania, north central Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.

How is the summer going?  We asked Morgan…

How did you find your internship?

Morgan: “I found my internship through LinkedIn and through friends of mine.”

What are you doing during this experience?

Morgan:  ” My job is to facilitate meetings with people all over the company to understand the seasonal merchandise process better, and at the end of the summer I will present on these issues and solutions I have found viable to make Giant Eagle a ‘seasonal destination’.”

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Morgan:  “Giant Eagle has created a great environment for young people to grow and learn more about retail and various roles in general. I would happy to return there this January, if they will have me back. I would definitely recommend this internship, I would just try to ensure that you have a contact before applying. ”

Morgan is a Business Major and Global Health Studies Minor, planning to graduate in January 2023. She is  currently a CBE Fellow and the past President and Senior Advisor to the Allegheny College Wealth Management Club.

Allegheny’s Business major is designed to help students gain a deep knowledge of the managerial and business concepts typically used by the business and non-profit world. The program also focuses on the tools, skills, and competencies needed to solve practical problems faced by organizations. The  business majors from Allegheny will graduate with a strong liberal arts background enabling them to learn how they can use their financial success to serve humanity, make a difference in people’s lives and leave a legacy of success and service. Every business major is expected to engage in a mentored experiential learning project or activity – this may be satisfied by a study abroad program or an internship that exposes the student to cultural, civic engagement and global issues.

2022 Zingale Big Idea Competition Crowns 10 Winners

By May 2nd 2022

2022 Zingale Big Idea Competition Winner's Circle - – from the left: Event Sponsor Lance Zingale, Arigun Bayaraa, Tergel Buyanbat, Binderiya Batsaikhan, Mariah Nablo, Dakchyata Thapa, Entrepreneur in Residence, Chris Allison
2022 Zingale Big Idea Competition Winner’s Circle – – from the left: Event Sponsor Lance Zingale, Arigun Bayaraa, Tergel Buyanbat, Binderiya Batsaikhan, Mariah Nablo, Dakchyata Thapa, Entrepreneur in Residence, Chris Allison

On Saturday, April 30, the judges of the 2022 Zingale Big Idea Competition crowned 10 winners including Edible Roots, a social purpose venture seeking to create green spaces and community gardens in urban settings and Blue Ciel, an importer of Mongolian cashmere.  This year’s winners shared a total prize pool of $32,000.

“This year’s pool of entrants could be the most interesting and diverse in the competition’s history,” said Chris Allison, Co-Director of Allegheny College’s Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics. “And for the first time, we had more social venture ideas than for-profit enterprises,” he added.

Here is a list of the winners:

Competitor Big Idea
First Place
Mariah Nablo Edible Roots Urban Green Space Developer
Binderiya Batsaikhan Blue Ciel Cashmere Importer
Second Place
Funda Eskalen Conmigo College Social Networking
Rutendo Mavunga Batanai Women’s Health In Zimbabwe
Third Place
Samone Brosier O’Day’s Relief Free Credit Counseling
Arigun Bayaraa Campus Carpool College Ridesharing
Dakchyata Thapa Campus Carpool College Ridesharing
Riley Sawyer Campus Carpool College Ridesharing
Alexander Lawson Transamerica Partnership Job Placement For Central Americans
Andrew Strobel Transamerica Partnership Job Placement For Central Americans
Lucia Jueguen Transamerica Partnership Job Placement For Central Americans
Meadville Community Track
Shannon Gilmore Meadville Bed Bug Task Force Bed Bug Remediation
Abigail Marshall Meadville Bed Bug Task Force Bed Bug Remediation
John Walton Angel Animal Haven, Inc. Pet Pantry & Shelter
Next Big Idea
Tergel Buyanbat Food For Thought Healthy Eating Awareness

This year’s judges included:

  • Lisa Frankovitch, CEO, Uplogix;
  • John Golden, Associate Professor of Economics, Allegheny College;
  • Andrew Gottlieb ’11, CEO, No Typical Moments;
  • Liana Leja ’17, Clinical Research Coordinator, Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute;
  • Rich McIntyre ’88, President, McIntyre, Thanasides, Bringgold, Elliott, Grimaldi, Guito & Matthews, P.A.;
  • Clayton Morris ’15, Vice President of Development and Leasing, Sampson Morris Group;
  • Byron Rich, Director of Academic Innovation Partnerships, Allegheny College;
  • Rob Smith ’73, Executive Chairman, Acutec Precision Aerospace;
  • Andy Walker ’00, Executive Director, Allegheny Office of Economic, Civic and Community Engagement;
  • Christian D. Walker ’20, Social Media Marketing Manager, Bitski;
  • Lance Zingale ’77, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Sykes Enterprises (retired).

The Zingale Big Idea Competition is a student-focused seed-funding business pitch presentation competition.  It is designed for new business ideas, which have yet-to-receive funding.  This contest emulates the experiences seen on the popular CNBC broadcast, Shark Tank, but with a heart.

Allegheny Students Take Top Prizes in Marketing and Economics at the PSU Behrend-Sigma Xi Conference

By April 26th 2022

Sigma Xi participants, first row from left: Arigun Bayaraa, Professor Gaia Rancati, Khalid Mohamed; second row: Raymond Englert, Nabid Agag, Thi Thao Nguyen

The Penn State Behrend-Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference provides an opportunity for students to present their research and creative accomplishment results in a public setting. Many students use this regional conference to practice their presentations prior to presenting them in a national or international setting.

Allegheny students having recently completed their senior projects, participated in the Marketing and Economics session in preparation for their upcoming oral defense.  The students presented before a panel of judges made up of academics from a variety of disciplines from western Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The Allegheny College Senior Project

The Allegheny College Senior Project is not a mere report or semester paper, but a significant piece of independent study, research or creative work conducted under the supervision of one or more faculty members. The outcome of a Senior Project is more than a grade or a written document; for the student it often results in a new way of looking at complex problems and inspires an appreciation for the power of ideas that might previously have seemed like abstract concepts in a textbook. Often it can be a pivotal time when a student realizes his or her own abilities and potential. The Senior Project also improves opportunities for graduate school and employment. Learn more

The Department of Business and Economics

At the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics, students may choose to pursue a major in economics or business with each course of study applying the rigor of a strong background in economic theory with the added benefit of interdisciplinary course work that allows students to create a concentration that matches their personal interests. Like many related disciplines in a liberal arts curriculum, Business and Economics emphasizes oral, written, and quantitative methods in courses and seminars.

We offer students a program that requires a balance of theory and application in its curriculum. The offerings are a combination of theory courses, quantitative work, and a number of field courses that are also accessible to non-majors and minors. It is a program designed to provide a liberal educational foundation for citizen and voter, for postgraduate study and careers such as international affairs, law, business, banking and finance, human resources, accounting, marketing, education and public policy. Learn more

 

The CBE Fellows Inspire Students to Ace Their Next Interview

By April 21st 2022

The CBE Fellows Inspire Students to Master the Art of the Ace Interview
CBE Fellows from left: Morgan Douglas ’23, Noah Tart ’22, Megan Dennis ’23, Maya Ginter-Frankovitch ’22, Kaylin Tang ’22, Arigun Bayaraa ’22

The CBE Fellows created their second event of the academic year in March, organizing an informational and interactive workshop to enable students to learn how to prepare for, and ace their next interview for a job or internship.  According to the Fellows, “interviews can be intimidating. If you aren’t sure about the kinds of questions people will ask or how to prepare, we can help!”

Quigley auditorium was filled with students on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to listen to the Fellow’s informative and sometimes humorous presentation of the dos and don’ts of interviewing.

The Fellows created an engaging interviewing experience for fellow students, beginning with an informative slide presentation presented by Maya Ginter-Frankovitch ‘22 and Kaylin Tang ‘22. Arigun Bayaraa ‘22 demonstrated how to find opportunities and resources on the Allegheny Handshake website, with a special invitation for students to take advantage of the Career Education’s interviewing rooms in Pelletier Library.

The CBE Fellows Inspire Students to Master the Art of the Ace Interview
Morgan Douglas demonstrates how not to dress and what not to say, while Noah Tart illustrates a successful interview. Megan Dennis plays the role of interviewer.

To illustrate the points in their presentation, the Fellows did a humorous demonstration with Noah Tart ‘22 as the “good” interview, and Morgan Douglas ‘23 as the “bad” interview. Megan Dennis ‘23 was the interviewer, doing a great job as “the boss.”

CBE Fellow Kaylin Tang commented, “We split the 40 students into pairs in all the Quigley rooms and had them practice answering questions. I heard a lot of good answers. We then brought them all back for a Q&A at the end, and passed out interviewing survival kits as prizes!”

Director of Career Education, Jim Fitch commented, “Congratulations on a well-developed and presented Interviewing Workshop on Sunday!  It has been such a pleasure to read about how you engaged students and demonstrated real-time examples of how to ‘Ace’ an interview.  Thank you for the investment of time, energy, planning, and resources that you made and for the valuable gift that you presented to the community.”

The CBE Fellows Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics would like to thank Jim Fitch and the Career Education team for their guidance and support for the Fellows as they conducted the research for this important event.  The CBE Fellows are a select group of motivated students that function as a leadership team to support CBE programming and act as student ambassadors. Activities are structured to enable students to include this position on their respective resumes as a valuable work experience.  To qualify for this position, students must have a keen interest in both business and economics, maintain a good academic standing, and regularly attend all CBE activities.