CSU Global Trade Assistance Team Earns Statewide Award

Named Ohio’s Top Performing Center for 2024-25

On November 19, 2025 in Columbus at the annual Ohio Small Business Development Center statewide summit the Cleveland State University-based Ohio Export Assistance Network office (EAN) was awarded as the top performing center in the state for 2024-25. The EAN is hosted by the Global Business Center at the Monte Ahuja College of Business.  This is the first time since 2016 the CSU group captured this prestigious award. This recognition reflects an ongoing commitment to serving Ohio’s companies seeking to grow their business through tapping into customers in world markets. This award represents countless hours of consultations, research sessions, strategy meetings, and company visits the center provided to help businesses expand confidently into global markets. 

This past year the dedicated EAN team contributed 39% of all statewide export clients (150), 45% of advising hours (1,828), 64% of all statewide export sales increases ($21m), and nearly half of the jobs retained across Ohio among our peers (443). Seeing this hard work acknowledged at the state level is both humbling and motivating. 

This year’s success was illustrated by examples such as Julie Onderak, a Marketing and International Business double major at CSU. Julie was one of our standout students who took part in the Ohio Export Internship Program. The team placed her to work for the Karg Corporation, a small manufacturer in Tallmadge Ohio. Prior to this role, Julie’s work experience consisted of rising to the rank of supervisor at a Marc’s store. In her new position, she was exposed to the roles and challenges of global business from the perspective of a small company. At the end of her internship, Karg offered her a part-time role, which she accepted. 

The EAN assisted 149 Ohio companies this past year. One company that stands out is Brunswick-based DRR USA, maker of electric All-Terrain Vehicles (better known as ATVs). In July they were featured by local media outlet Ideastream Public Media, where their overseas success was highlighted.  DRR USA is not an exception. In fact, we commonly work with companies over a course of years to get them to the point where they can take on, fulfill, and sustain sales beyond our borders. DRR’s success was accelerated through their participation in our flagship program GlobalTarget which, going into its 21st year is still accepting applications for a cohort that begins January 16, 2026. 

What makes this achievement meaningful is the team behind it. The expert team put forth their knowledge, positivity, and willingness to step up.  Many thanks go to David Delgado, Christopher Lees, GA Eylem Yiğit, TA Gowri Savkoor center director Nate Ward, and our partners at the Ohio USEAC who the EAN would like to share this award with for all their assistance this past year: Todd Hiser, Michel Nouafo, Rissa Harris, & Yuki Fujiyama. This award is a testament to our cooperation. Being surrounded by people who work with purpose and dedication made this success possible. We are also grateful to our generous sponsors at the Burton D. Morgan Foundation for their support of the work we do at the Global Business Center at Cleveland State University. This recognition not only celebrates what we achieved together but also reminds us of the strong foundation we have built as a team and the even greater impact we can make moving forward. 

About the Global Business Center (GBC)

The Global Business Center (GBC) is the focal point of the Monte Ahuja College of Business’s international business programs, services, and activities. The GBC’s mission is to connect the College of Business, its faculty and students, and its surrounding community to the larger international business world.

The GBC is also the regional host for the Ohio Small Business Development Center Export Assistance Network (EAN). The EAN provides consulting services and access to state export programs to Ohio’s SME business community in a 32-county region that spans from Lake County to the east all the way to the Indiana border to the west. 

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