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FOUNDATION NAMES TWO TO COMMITTEE: The Youngstown Foundation recently announced it has appointed Amy Cossentino, the founding dean of the Sokolov Honors College at Youngstown State University, and Guy Coviello, president / CEO of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, to its distribution committee.
The committee, a group of six volunteers with leadership experience and deep knowledge of community needs, oversees the foundation's administration and makes final grant award decisions.
Cossentino, who has been at YSU for more than 30 years, also serves as associate provost for strategy and engagement. In addition, she is leading YSU's effort to obtain the Carnegie Foundation Elective Classification for Community Engagement.
Coviello has led the chamber since 2021. Under his leadership, the chamber has experienced strong growth in membership and revenue and has launched many new programs for members.
Before joining the chamber in 2014, Coviello was editor of the Tribune Chronicle, where he worked for nearly 30 years.
EGCC NURSING STUDENTS EXCEL: Eastern Gateway Community College nursing students all passed the National Council Licensure Examination, giving the college a 100 % pass rate.
Nineteen students, 17 from Ohio and 2 from West Virginia, took the exam, and are now licensed to begin working in the medical field to fill much needed nursing vacancies.
FELLOWS SELECTED: Two students from the Mahoning Valley were among three from the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University who were selected as the John D. Beeghly Fellows for the 2024 spring semester.
The program provides students with a paid fellowship working with the Ohio Small Business Development Center, Export Assistance Network and the APEX Accelerator at YSU. Projects include domestic and international market research, financial modeling, export readiness studies, business viability analysis, cash flow projections, sales forecasting, marketing and social media strategies, research on government contracting opportunities, marketing capability statements and outreach for government contracting efforts.
The local students are:
Rebecca Catlos of New Middletown, who has a double major in marketing and supply chain management with a minor in entrepreneurship. Catlos will work for JLC Services as their marketing director as well as attend officer training school for the Air National Guard. She will graduate in May.
Zachary Clark of Youngstown, is a senior also graduating in May with a bachelor's degree in general studies with a focus in management and marketing, an associate degree in business administration and a minor in sales. He will pursue procurement.
LAW FIRM HITS MILESTONE: Attorneys David Betras and Brian Kopp marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of the law firm by reaffirming their commitment to the communities they serve, unveiling a comprehensive plan that will ensure its growth and a new name, Betras Kopp LLC.
The partners recently began implementing their plan for growth by adding attorneys Frank Cassese and James Melfi to the firm's roster. Cassese will focus on civil and criminal litigation. Melfi is a member of the firm's complex litigation practice group.
The new name is part of a rebrand that also includes a new logo and website address, betraskopp.com, revised and upgraded digital platforms and content.
VIRTUAL FINANCIAL WORKSHOP AVAILABLE: Credit Union of Ohio will offer a free debt reduction virtual workshop noon April 23.
The workshop will provide tips on how to pay down debt and see results, including reviewing the importance of a budget, learning about repayment plans and a variety of repayment options. Those interested in attending should register at cuofohio.org.
NAME CHANGE FOR LONGTIME COMPANY: Columbiana Boiler Company, which hit 125 years in business in 2019, has changed its corporate trade name to CBC Global.
The new name better represents the company's expanding product lines and markets, Michael Koprivnak, president, said. Its products are used in the aerospace, pharmaceutical, food manufacturing and other industries.
The company continues to maintain its manufacturing plant and offices at 200 Railroad Street in Columbiana. The website has changed to cbcglobalco.com.
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the move
MACMILLAN JOINS PLATZ: Shea MacMillan has joined Platz Realty Group as a commercial real estate agent in the Mahoning Valley.
He most recently was vice president of economic development for the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber. In the role, he oversaw a team that supported expanded initiatives in workforce development, regional logistics and site readiness, while managing the department's economic development service in Trumbull and Mahoning counties.
MacMillan's experience in project management and economic development contracts brings a unique skill set to Platz, a release from the firm states. Having managed projects that have resulted in more than $3.1 billion in capital investment, providing support for notable projects like the Macy's fulfillment center, Kimberly-Clark and Ultium Cells, his site and building selection services along with his knowledge of local and state incentives will bring significant value to Platz, the release states.
HBK ADDS STAFF: HBK CPAs & Consultants has brought on certified public accountant Shawn O'Brien.
He joins the firm after two decades at Thomson Reuters / AuditWatch, where he was a senior consultant specializing in providing audit efficiency and quality, and core level training for accounting firms.
In addition to working directly with HBK audit clients, O'Brien will lead process improvement in the firm's assurance practice in support of the team's focus on quality results and efficient practices. His role includes supporting the firm's auditors and accounting staff with continuing education and training on everything audit-related, from standards to methodology and processes.
NEW BOARD MEMBERS AT BRITE: BRITE Energy Innovators, a clean energy startup incubator, recently announced members to its board of directors and newly appointed leadership.
The new board members, whose three-year terms began Jan. 1 are Patricia Grospiron, executive director, builder platform for The Engine Accelerator; Samuel Huston, market president, Mahoning Valley for Huntington National Bank; the Rev. Todd Johnson, pastor at Second Baptist Church and Warren 1st Ward councilman; Marvin Logan Jr., director, education and employment at Rocket Community Fund; Jennifer Lynch, principal at Remington Road Group; and Michael Repetto Sr., director, North American EV Business, Foxconn EV System.
Appointed to leadership roles were Michael Stacey, director and ZEV campaign leader for the KPMG Infrastructure Practice, chair; Courtney Gras, startup community lead for Amazon Web Services, vice chair; Tim Petrey, CEO of HD Growth Partners and White Glove Payroll, treasurer; and Alexa Sweeney Blackann, former President of Sweeney Chevrolet and Sweeney Buick GMC, secretary.