Global Business

The world of global business came alive for Kristin Troianello while studying and interning in Italy. Troianello enrolled in an international marketing program at Umbra Institute in Perugia, Italy. She also interned for Pashmere, a family-run cashmere clothing company in Perugia. Troianello, alongside other interns, helped Pashmere by researching current and potential market trends and conducted a review of Pashmere's business operations.

Troianello said her Italy experience left her "more open-minded and open to experience."

"I want to see the world now," she said. Her study abroad has cemented her focus in the international marketing and global business fields.

Alex Tuck '05 is the president and executive director of People Helping People Global, a Vermont-based organization that primarily focuses on micro-lending in Central America with a goal of providing the tools necessary to help people in extreme poverty.

"In 2009, I partnered with a small team of individuals to start a nonprofit that focused on international development," Tuck said. "After many months of research and planning, we decided to make micro-lending in Central America our primary focus. We work with families where the members live on less than two U.S. dollars per day. The leaders of the families – typically single mothers – submit simple business plans and form lending groups. In April, we distributed our 500th business loan."

"One of the major reasons that I chose to attend Roanoke was the strong focus on service and community-building," Tuck said. "The constant focus and opportunity to serve the community at Roanoke is a huge reason why I chose the path that I did with PHPG."