Economics Advisory Board

The Economics advisory board helps guide and develop curriculum and programs.

Board Members

Kevin D. Burwell
Trade and Customs Manager, TimkenSteel
Kevin D. Burwell is the Trade & Customs Manager for TimkenSteel. He graduated from Kent State University in 1999 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. He relocated to Virginia to manage the North American logistics efforts of Zim American Israeli Shipping. From there he took on several challenges as Director for the Virginia Port Authority, from providing multi-year strategies and trade development to managing one of the largest foreign-trade zones in the US. In 2012, he returned to his hometown of Canton, Ohio and managed an economic development organization dedicated to finding foreign investors for EB-5 projects in Northeast Ohio. As TimkenSteel became its own entity from a spin-off in 2014, Mr. Burwell was introduced to his current role, which focuses on developing international trade and government contracting compliance policies. He is currently finishing his Juris Doctorate at the University Of Akron School Of Law. During his years in international trade, Mr. Burwell has been a featured speaker at Congressional events, the World Free Zone Conference, and Journal of Commerce conferences.

Albert W Erickson III
Vice President of Public Finance, Fifth Third Securities, Inc., Retired
Mr. Erickson retired from Fifth Third Securities in 2012 after a 35-year career in Public Finance. He graduated from Kent State University in 1970 with a degree in Business Administration and a major in Economics. He went on to earn a Master Degree in Public Administration from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and a Master Degree in Business Administration from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. While at Fifth Third Securities, Inc., Mr. Erickson specialized in university and primary/secondary school bond issues, as well as local government credits. He was financial advisor to The Ohio Turnpike for 16 years, assisting the Turnpike with issuing bonds worth over one billion dollars. Mr. Erickson is a veteran of the United States Army, having received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation from Kent State’s ROTC program. He obtained the rank of Captain in the USAR.

Sam Harper
Web Strategist, Taoti Creative Web Design, Marketing & App Development