Hi! My name is Adi Mitchell, and I am a junior majoring in Marketing and Supply Chain Management with certificates in Sustainability and Public and Professional Writing. Outside of my coursework, I am a Stamps Scholar, first-year business class teaching assistant, intern for the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, social coordinator for Girls Inc., and a member of Phi Beta Lambda. Last spring, I was fortunate to study abroad and intern in Sydney, Australia for the semester.

I am extremely excited to be involved in the Appalachia Collegiate Research Initiative Pitt cohort this fall. I initially heard about the partnership my freshman year from an older friend that was involved in the 2024 cohort and have been pursuing ways to get involved since. The location component of our work is particularly interesting to me. I grew up in Bloomsburg, PA, a small town in Northeastern Pennsylvania that borders the Coal Region. The Coal Region is made up of five counties in Pennsylvania and has the largest known deposits of anthracite coal in the world. I also live 20 minutes from Centralia, an abandoned mining town where a 1962 coal fire still burns underground. Appalachia culture, specifically related to the coal industry, is woven into my family’s roots. The geography and demographics of my hometown closely mirror that of Fayette County.

In addition to the hometown ties, being part of the ACRI program combines my interests in business, sustainability, and economic development.  My future career goal is to work at the intersection of business and sustainability, whether that be in sustainable operations, consulting, or project management. Learning in a project-based environment is an incredible opportunity to expand on my professional skills and solidify my career path. Further, I am excited to build professional connections with small business owners and learn about consultant-like relationships. Having applicable experience in a sustainable business-related course will add applicable skills to my resume and help me with future jobs or graduate school applications.

My current work with the Fayette County Cultural Trust (FCCT) as part of the Appalachia Collegiate Research Initiative is to begin secondary research for my assigned small business owner. I have also thoroughly enjoyed getting to research Fayette County and gain a better understanding of the area we are operating in for the remainder of the semester. By understanding the environment, I am better able to cater to my business owner’s ideas and needs. I was assigned to Salon Layne LLC, a small beauty salon located in Latrobe, PA. They currently offer hair and nail services, as well as bridal makeup and hair. The goal of their collaboration with Pitt and the FCCT is to expand their services into massage and body treatments. The owner, Brenda, also wants to establish loyalty programs and online gift certificates.

Working with a real small business that influences the greater community adds stake to the project. The secondary research I provide and conversations I have with Brenda will directly influence the decisions she makes to expand her business and her reach in Fayette County. Through my research, I am excited to refine my skills in academic processes and communication to translate findings into recommendations for my client. My hope for my individualized portion of the project is to simply help my small business owner understand the best course of action for her expansion ideas. Most of all, I am excited to be part of a years long collaboration to foster resiliency in an area similar to my hometown. The ability to be a small part in something greater than myself is truly meaningful, and I look forward to giving my best for the betterment of this collaboration.