Four students in a Neumann University senior seminar class produced a report on Cork Industries, a manufacturer of coatings and adhesives in Folcroft, and it has been accepted for presentation at the Pennsylvania Economic Association (PEA) conference from June 1-3 at Alvernia University.

Under the guidance of Dr. Mehdi Hojjat, Amber Clements, Welyne Jargbah, Devon King, and Samantha Mathis researched the company and presented an industry analysis, competitor analysis, and SWOT analysis in their 42-page report. The seminar team’s recommendations addressed the variety of products offered, the feasibility of expansion, and the practicality of the company’s website.

Clements (Chester), Jargbah (Collingdale), and King (Ridley Park) are from Delaware County. Mathis is from Wilmington.

As a service to the community, Dr. Hojjat regularly arranges for business students to work with area executives and small business owners to develop plans to expand the scope and effectiveness of local firms.

Students work closely with their professors, who themselves have extensive, hands-on management experience, to assess the company’s competitiveness and create customized business expansion plans.

The PEA is a professional association of economists and allied social scientists in Pennsylvania and neighboring states. Its conferences have attracted economists not only from Pennsylvania and the surrounding states of Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and West Virginia, but also from other countries, including Japan, Austria, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Mexico, India, France, and Taiwan.

Noted economists from business, government, academia, and the Federal Reserve System address the luncheon and dinner sessions of the meeting.