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WARREN -- A leadership training program that's been on hiatus for more than three years will relaunch this month, and give members of the latest cohort an in-depth understanding of themselves and the programs, services, businesses and institutions in the Mahoning Valley.
Leadership Mahoning Valley kicks off Sept. 28 with a breakfast and two-day retreat at the Grand Resort in Howland that begins the 10-month program, which concludes in June with a graduation ceremony.
The program includes several daylong events on topics that include the history and heritage of the valley, government and public service, media and communications, business, health and human services, education, economic development an labor, housing and community development, justice, and public safety and quality of life.
Members also will participate in an assessment "to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others," a release Friday states.
"Participants will enhance their personal leadership development by increasing the skills necessary to raise self-awareness and improve teamwork, productivity and communication," the release states.
Leadership Mahoning Valley formed in 1994 when Leadership Youngstown, which started in 1984, and Leadership Warren, which had been around since 1988, combined.
In 2006, the group came under the umbrella of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, but remained a freestanding nonprofit organization.
It went idle when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As a result, no new programs or activities were in progress, and the board, essentially, disbanded.
Joann Stock was brought on as executive director in 2022 to reassemble the group, starting with the board, which grew from nine to 15 members, re-engage alumni, develop programs and activities, and rebrand the organization with a new website, social media presence and collateral materials like brochures and the application.
Stock said the response to the relaunch "has been tremendous." Forty-three people were selected to participate.
"Upon completion of the program, these individuals will join the 1,200 Leadership Mahoning Valley alumni who have graduated from the program and gone on to serve our community in a variety of leadership roles," Stock said.
Leadership Mahoning Valley is among more than 300 community leadership programs in the United States and is a member of the Association of Leadership Professionals.
43 part of Class of 2024
Leadership Mahoning Valley will formally introduce the 43 individuals selected to participate in the Class of 2024 at a kickoff breakfast 7:30 a.m. Sept. 28 at the Grand Resort, 9519 Market St., Warren. The event is open to the public. Reservations can be made under the Events tab at regionalchamber.com, or by calling 330-744-2131, Ext. 1227.
Members of the Class of 2024 of Leadership Mahoning Valley are:
• Melissa Bateman, director of community engagement, Youngstown Area Jewish Federation
• Reilly Berk, CEO, Berk Enterprises
• Roxanne Bohach, director of career advancement and Campus CARE Center, Eastern Gateway Community College
• Ramesh Dangol, associate professor, Youngstown State University
• Michael Engram, executive coach, Game Changers
• Kyra Fleming, magistrate, Mahoning County Juvenile Court
• Lynnette Forde, president, The Youngstown Foundation
• Jessica Foster, senior manager, assurance, Cohen & Company
• Jenita Gillespie, director, legal operations, Bon Secours Mercy Health
• Jodi Glass, recruiting and marketing coordinator, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center
• Andrew Hampton, principal, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center
• Ryan Hutchison, senior manager, human resources, Vallourec Star
• Christine Jenkins, chief growth officer, Potential Development
• Gerri Jenkins, executive director, MyPath MV
• Steven Jones, CEO / agent, Steven C. Jones Insurance Agency, Inc.
• John Kettler, general manager of mass production, Vallourec Star
• Dionne Lacey, executive director, United Returning Citizens
• Dr. Harriet Lemberger-Schor, physician, Bon Secours Mercy Health
• Melissa Libert, senior tax manager, HD Davis CPAs
• Matthew Longmire, business resource manager, Valley Economic Development Partners
• Michael McGiffin, president, Regional Chamber Foundation
• Trisha Mossor, business development manager, Aim Transportation Solutions
• Blair Mulholland, private equity real estate associate, Sapientia Ventures
• Chelsea Munroe, project specialist II, Dominion Energy
• Linda Nuosci, vice president, commercial relationship manager, First National Bank of Pa.
• Katie Phillips, urban planner, MC Consultants
• Ellie Platt, owner / president, Platt Insurance
• Troy Rhoades, regional external affairs, FirstEnergy / Ohio Edison
• Melissa Russo, chief operating officer, Mercy Health Physicians
• Leah Sakacs, director of foster grandparent and senior companion programs, Family and Community Services, Inc.
• Juan Santiago, vice president /CRA engagement leader, Farmers National Bank
• Roxann Sebest, vice president, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley
• Jody Sexton, human resource business partner, Ultium Cells
• Victor Shaw, youth facilitator / quality assurance specialist, Mahoning County Juvenile Court
• Maria Spencer, director of early care and education services, Early Childhood Resource Center
• Alexa Sweeney Blackann, consultant, #1 Cochran Automotive Group
• Ryan Tekac, health commissioner, Mahoning County Public Health
• Anthony Trevena, executive director, Western Reserve Port Authority
• Candace Turpack, relationship manager, Key Private Bank
• Martin Tursky, market chief operating officer, Mercy Health
• H. Terrell Washington, owner, HLW Fast Track, Inc. / Leaf Relief
• David Wilaj, director, Mahoning Valley Logistics Council, Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber
• Megan Wine, business development executive, TEMA Roofing Services