Name: Connor McNamara
Type of Project: Internship
Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project:
As a college intern for the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) in the office Export Assistance, I worked to support programs that provide grants and information, as well as promote trade, to small-and-medium-sized companies across Ohio. More specifically, I played an integral role in supporting the job-creating focused Ohio Export Internship Program as well as processed grants and collected impact for the International Market Access Grant for Exporters and the International Market Support Program.
What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?
Given that my STEP Signature Project was an internationally focused internship, my view of the world was forced to develop and expand. Without even leaving Columbus, Ohio, I was able to connect to the world and be exposed to new perspectives. I gained a deeper understanding of how trade and economic ties break down barriers– how shared interests can bring people and organizations together in a productive and prosperous manner. I witnessed, first-hand, the fervor and dedication that so many people around the state of Ohio have to travel and learn and trade. While I’ve always had an idea that this network was out there, working on the inside made it and its international benefits all that much more real in my mind.
Additionally, I was able to better understand how I work. That is to say, I practiced and learned more about my work style. I’ve always been one to put my head down and power through, all while wanting to obtain the best results possible. My internship, made possible by the STEP Signature Project, allowed me to grow that work style, increase my work ethic, and gain an understanding of what full-time work in the realm of economic development looks and feels like (my full-time employment arrangements in previous years have not been so career or major focused).
What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you?
A few of the key activities and projects encountered during my STEP Signature Project that led to this transformation were my participation in international conference calls, working with the Ohio Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Export Assistance Network (EAN), communicating with companies and interns, and researching the retaliatory tariffs issue.
First, I had the opportunity to sit in on international conference calls between ODSA, our client companies, and our foreign contractor contacts abroad. Each call that I participated in, I was not only made more knowledgeable about Ohio small companies and their specific products, but, was able to learn first-hand perspectives of foreign markets. This includes but is not limited to product interest, competition levels, tariffs and duties, distributor interest and information, and basic market assessments. As an extension, I was also able to network with the Ohio SBDC EAN members, a dedicated group of trade professionals around the state, as they often participated on the calls as well (not to mention monthly webinars between them and ODSA). From them I was able to glean important information regarding export preparation and compliance standards for trade.
While working closely with the Ohio Export Internship Program (OEIP), I was connected to companies and interns that were traveling and doing business all over the globe. Many of the interns working under the OEIP program completed projects in Australia, China, India, Isreal, Latin America, South Africa, Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom, and more. By extension, I learned of the market needs and interests of each of these countries and regions, as well as learned which Ohio industries were filling those demands.
And, as a special project assigned to me, I researched and closely monitored the events and news surrounding the issue of tariffs and trade. By writing an extensive report on the retaliatory tariffs I opened a door into a deeper understanding of the current climate of international trade, especially as it relates to international political economy and diplomatic strategies. I even had the opportunity to sit in on a call in August regarding tariffs and trade situation with Mexico hosted by the of office of the United State Trade Representative.
Every single project throughout my internship and STEP Signature Project, large or small, served to expand my knowledge and make me more versed in economics and international trade.
Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?
Overall, my STEP Signature Project greatly impacted multiple facets of my life. Due to the nature of the work I was completing, and its international focus, I can more confidently attack my majors at Ohio State. I was forced to manage my time in new ways, which will directly translate into my finding an even better balance when it comes to academic study. While interning at ODSA, I connected with staff and coworkers, ranging in age from twenty-three to mid-seventies, all working on an array of projects across the export, finance, legal, research, communications, and technology offices. This will only serve to increase my confidence and sociability in any workplace I may encounter. Not to mention, I gained incredible references and friends from the experience. And finally, through my STEP Signature Project, I was able to gain necessary professional experience in a field of my interest– an opportunity that would not have been available to me without the financial assistance and personal development that allowed my living in Columbus to work in the specific industry and agency.
