THE CHAMBER TO HOLD AN ANNUAL MEETING: The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber will hold its annual meeting from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on April 13 at the Eastwood Event Centre, 5555 Youngstown Warren Road, Niles.
The event will mark the 30th anniversary of the chamber, which will present its annual awards to three local people.
The Spirit of the Valley award goes to Rick Rajaie, Vice President of North American Electric Vehicle Business, Foxconn EV System, LLC. The Spirit of the Chamber award will be given to Jim Kinnick, Executive Director, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, and the Valley Champion award will be given to Tom Mosure, Chairman of the Board, MS Consultants Inc.
Chamber President and CEO Guy Coviello will also provide an update on the organization’s recent accomplishments and next steps.
The cost to attend is $40 per member and $50 per non-member.
WRTA ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN: Western Reserve Transit Authority launches second annual campaign “Giving a boost to small businesses” campaign.
The campaign is designed to promote small businesses by highlighting 12 local businesses that exemplify Mahoning Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic.
Mahoning County small businesses can fill out a short form at wrtaonline.com to name themselves. Applications are accepted until March 31.
A group of three community leaders who act as co-chairs select the winners from the nominations. Featured companies will be publicly announced and their awards presented at the April 20 launch event at Concept Studio in downtown Youngstown.
Selected businesses will be promoted on WRTA buses, its downtown digital sign and elsewhere.
New companies
UPCOMING RESTAURANT IN THE AREA: A new Southern-style restaurant, Savannah Joe’s, plans to open in Youngstown at 2905 Glenwood Ave.
A soft opening is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. on March 24 and 25. The grand opening is scheduled for 11 a.m. on March 28 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It will be open to customers at 1 p.m. that day.
The restaurant is owned by Joseph Bowers, a native of Savannah, Ga.
people in motion
MILLWOOD Hires CFO: Vienna-based Millwood, Inc. served as CFO with Howland’s Bruce Krarup, who has 22 years of finance and accounting experience.
Prior to joining Millwood, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Nelson Labs, a division of Sotera Health, where he was responsible for overseeing the company’s financial operations and helping drive growth and profitability. Prior to that, he spent six years at Cardinal Health and 13 years at General Electric.
As Millwood’s Chief Financial Officer, Krarup is responsible for managing the company’s financial strategy, overseeing financial operations and ensuring that financial targets are met. This includes financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and managing the company’s financial relationships with lenders.
He replaces interim chief financial officer Tom Paskert, who will return to his role as Millwood’s senior financial adviser.
TWO APPOINTED TO EGCC BOARD: Carlton K. Ingram and Lois E. Thornton, both of Youngstown, were appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to the Eastern Gateway Community College Board of Trustees.
Both terms began on March 10. Ingram’s term ends in October 2024 and Thornton’s term ends in October 2027.
Eastern Gateway has campuses in Youngstown and Steubenville.
AIM PROMOTE: Justin Battisti has been appointed as the Aim Transportation Solution Controller.
In the role, Battisti, who was hired as assistant controller in 2021, will work closely with Paul Slater, who was recently promoted to vice president, corporate controller, on all accounting functions, including high-level accounting. and management accounting.
Born and raised in Struthers, Battisti graduated from Youngstown State University. He also obtained his Chartered Accountant designation.
CANFIELD NATIVE JOINS BURGAN: Canfield’s Morgan Hoover recently joined Youngstown-based Burgan Real Estate as an agent.
SPEARS JOINS FARMERS: Canfield-based Farmers National Bank has hired Chelsea Spears in its marketing department as a digital and communications strategist.
For nearly six years, Spears worked in local television news.
A native of Columbus, Spears is an alumnus of Ohio State University. She has lived and worked in the Mahoning Valley since 2017.
ELECTED OFFICER OF VALLEY NATIVE: Richard L. LaRocca, a native of Youngstown, Certified Club Manager and Certified General Manager, was recently named Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Club Management Association of America at its 2023 World Conference and Club Business Expo in Orlando, Florida.
He was elected to the board in 2018, but joined the association in 1986.
LaRocca, a graduate of Youngstown State University, has been the general manager/chief operating officer of Beechmont Country Club near Cleveland since 2019.
Founded in 1927, the association is the largest professional association for member club managers with more than 7,000 members across the United States and abroad.
MANAGEMENT CHANGE: The Hanna Family of Companies recently announced that Kris Burdick has been promoted to President of Brokerage Operations. Burdick has worked at Howard Hanna Real Estate Services since 2004 and will step down as president of Northern Ohio and Michigan.
Burdick also served as regional sales manager and vice president for the Ohio South and Ohio East regions.
Alicia Kosec will step down as vice president and regional manager of the Eastern Ohio region to take over Burdick’s role as president of Northern Ohio and Michigan.
