GlobalTarget® Program emanating from the Global Business Center at CSU is honored at conference in Annapolis, Maryland

The good times continue to roll at the Monte Ahuja College of Business at Cleveland State University, with the mainstay adding another honor to its resume. As part of the NASBITE International Conference, the GlobalTarget® program emanating from the Global Business Center within the college accepted the Program Excellence Award during a conference at Graduate Annapolis Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, on March 30 during the luncheon.

The award recognizes outstanding and innovative international education, counseling, training, trade promotion, and research developments. The honor is awarded for specific programs developed by public or private sector trade-related organizations or educational institutions to meet a need.

Nate Ward is the Director of the Global Business Center, a part of the Centers for Outreach and Engagement at the Monte Ahuja College of Business. He is also a Trade Advisor for CSU’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Export Assistance Network (EAN).

He was one of the keynote speakers at the conference.

“We are excited and honored to receive such a prestigious recognition [and] it is reflective of the tremendous amount of collaborative energy that goes into the one-of-a-kind program, said Ward.

“Ten years ago, the GlobalTarget® program received the President’s E Award, [and] since that time, we revamped the program to stay current and meet the needs of the small business community. The first substantial transformation was in 2019.”

After a year's hiatus due to the pandemic, the team interviewed peer programs in states across the country, compiled a comprehensive list of improvements, and re-launched under the current format with a focused, complete deliverable which is the creation of an international strategic plan.

“One of the improvements I am especially proud of is the improved engagement between the companies and the program’s mentors,” said Ward.

“The program improvements showcased the mentors’ expertise and empowered the mentors to unleash their full potential to be able to help the companies.”

Ward attributes a lot of the success to the mentors. “I can only attribute the program’s success to the mentors… they volunteer their time,” he said. “Nick Lubar deserves a definite shout-out; he led the committee that helped re-boot the program.”

The GlobalTarget® program is not resting on its laurels; an upcoming boot camp will take place May 8 through the 10, and the next GlobalTarget® cohort will take center stage, beginning in October 2023 and running through May 2024, with the program capped at 10 to 12 companies.

For more information about the GlobalTarget® program, please visit https://business.csuohio.edu/global/globaltarget-program

About GlobalTarget®:
The GlobalTarget® program assists small to medium-sized companies (with sales from $5 million to $50 million) in extending their global resources and building an effective global strategy. Company employees gain the skills to manage global markets more efficiently and effectively. The program includes an interactive series of workshops, mentorships, best practice materials, and more. Qualifying companies can receive 100% reimbursement on the low-cost enrollment fee through the Ohio IMAGE/STEP grant.

Link to program:
https://business.csuohio.edu/global/globaltarget-program

Link to STEP grant:
https://development.ohio.gov/business/export-assistance/international-market-access-grant-exporters

From left to right: Todd Hiser, Director, U.S. Commercial Service Northern Ohio; Verena Kristof, Mentor; David Delgado, Ohio Trade Advisor at CSU SBDC, EAN; Thien Bui (former) Ohio Trade Advisor at CSU SBDC, EAN; Olivier Braquet, Mentor; Dick Seif, Mentor; Nicholas Lubar, Mentor; Ron Swinko, Mentor; Tim Jablonski, Mentor; Nate Ward, Ohio Trade Advisor at CSU SBDC, EAN.

(Not pictured: Darren Srebnick, USEACI; Michel Nouafo, Mentor; Tim Morgan, Mentor; Paula Avila, Ohio Trade Advisor; Colette Hart, Senior Director, Centers for Outreach and Engagement; Meghan Salkin, Program Manager, Centers for Outreach and Engagement).