HOUCK HONORED: Houck Agency, a Boardman public relations and marketing firm, earned a top recognition at the recent PRSA Cleveland Rocks Awards as it took home the Gold Award in the “Newsletter” category for its work on the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition’s twice-monthly stakeholder communication.

Entries from across the Cleveland and Akron markets were evaluated by guest judges from the PRSA Chicago Chapter. Houck Agency’s submission was the only entry in the category to achieve Gold status, and it was the only Youngstown-area agency recognized at the event.

The award-winning MVMC publication is a crafted, twice-monthly communication that reaches more than 700 manufacturing and workforce development stakeholders throughout the Mahoning Valley and state. Its annual open rate exceeds 65% – well above industry benchmarks — and serves as MVMC’s central owned-media platform for member engagement, workforce initiatives and manufacturing news.

Agency owner Jim Houck and members of his team were on hand in Cleveland to accept the award.

“This one hits differently,” Houck said. “It’s our first time submitting for an industry award in our 11 years in business, and to have peers validate our work at the highest level, especially in a large-market competition, reinforces that quality travels.”

BBB MEETING: The Better Business Bureau, serving Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties, will present its annual meeting of accredited businesses at 9 a.m. Dec. 4 at the Davis Education and Visitor Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown.

The agenda will feature a video presentation featuring PNC Bank, WesBanco, Huntington Bank and Farmers National Bank.

A complimentary breakfast will be served. Guests may bring business cards for a chance to win door prizes.

There is no charge, but reservations are required by Dec. 2. Call 330-744-3111 or email info@youngstown.bbb.org.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS: The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber will launch a new Local Government Leadership Academy in December to help elected and appointed public officials strengthen their knowledge, skills and connections to better serve their communities.

The four-month program will feature leaders from across Ohio, including legislators and representatives from the Ohio Governor’s, Auditor’s and Attorney General’s offices, discussing issues essential to effective local government. The topics are ethics, budget requests and advocacy, efficient and secure government and record management and Sunshine laws. Each session also will include regionally focused courses such as regional collaboration and common obstacles.

Sessions will take place on:

• Dec. 5 — America Makes, 236 W. Boardman St., Youngstown. Topic: Record Management and Sunshine Laws.

• Jan. 9 — Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, 444 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren. Topic: Budget Requests and Advocacy.

• Feb. 6 — The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, 305 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Topic: Efficient and Secure Government.

• March 6 — BRITE Energy Innovators, 125 W. Market St., Warren. Topic: Ethics.

Limited seats are available. Early registration is encouraged at

regionalchamber.com under the Events menu item. Sessions will be half-day programs with lunch provided. Cost is $100 for Chamber members and $150 for nonmembers. The registration fee covers all four sessions. Attendance is required for all four dates to receive a certificate of completion.

NEW ADDITION: Niles Expanded Metals, a leader in the expanded metals industry, announced the addition of a state-of-the-art expanded metal machine designed to produce decorative and architectural patterns with precision and efficiency.

The advanced machine features a 4-foot width capacity and 90 press tons, allowing it to transform raw coils into high-quality sheet products seamlessly. It is also capable of producing acoustical and sound-absorbing expanded metal products, broadening the company’s offerings for customers in industries such as construction and commercial design for noise-reduction solutions.

“Our investment in this new machine underscores our commitment to innovation and the evolving needs of our customers,” said Bill Phillips Jr., president and CEO of Niles Expanded Metals. “Its ability to produce visually stunning decorative patterns while serving efficient sound absorption functions demonstrates the versatility of expanded metal and provides new possibilities for designers and engineers alike.”

Founded in 1959, Niles Expanded Metals has grown into a premier manufacturer of expanded metal products. The company’s expanded metal product lines include flattened and standard expanded metal, Experf, architectural and decorative options, micromesh, security fencing, grating, stair treads and composites.

For more information, visit nilesexpanded

metals.com.

ZHANG SELECTED: Yiyang (Ian) Zhang, associate professor and Lariccia Family Endowed Faculty Fellow in the Lariccia School of Accounting and Finance in the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University, has been appointed associate editor of the Journal of Information Systems, a leading scholarly publication in the field of accounting information systems.The Journal of Information Systems is the official academic journal of the Accounting Information Systems Section of the American Accounting Association. The publication advances research at the intersection of accounting and technology, including systems design, data analytics, cybersecurity and emerging technologies that influence accounting practice and education.

“Being selected as an associate editor for the Journal of Information Systems is truly meaningful to me because it reflects recognition from peers in the AIS community for the quality and impact of my research,” Zhang said.

Zhang is ranked the No. 3 AIS researcher nationwide, according to the Brigham Young University Accounting Research Ranking. His research focuses on topics such as IT capability, Enterprise Resource Planning system, cybersecurity, eXtensible Business Reporting Language implementation and sustainability.

As associate editor, Zhang will help manage the peer-review process for submitted manuscripts, select reviewers, evaluate feedback and guide authors through revision and publication. His goal is to help ensure the journal continues to publish rigorous and relevant research that connects AIS with emerging accounting-related technologies.

INSTALLATION ANNOUNCED: Ellwood Aluminum, a manufacturer of large-diameter aluminum ingots, billets, rectangular slabs and cast plates, has announced the installation of a cutting-edge Behringer high-speed saw system at its manufacturing facility in Hubbard.

The Behringer saw system, overseen by Jonathan Bernhardt, the company’s new Director of Finishing, represents a major leap in production capabilities. Bernhardt’s leadership and expertise have been instrumental in implementing this project. Responsible for overseeing all aspects of the finishing department, including homogenization, sawing, turning, packaging and shipping, Bernhardt ensures Ellwood Aluminum consistently meets or exceeds customer expectations for lead time and quality.

The fully automated Behringer high-speed saw system enhances operational efficiency and precision, revolutionizing the processing of aluminum billets. Designed with cutting-edge technology, the system automatically identifies billets for traceability and faster processing, cutting billets with diameters of up to 20 inches at record speeds of 20-30 seconds per

cut. Its seamless automation streamlines every stage of production, including billet identification, in-feeding, cutting and out-feeding the finished pieces directly to operators for packaging and shipment.

“This investment in advanced technology underscores our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction,” said Patrick Callihan, president of Ellwood Aluminum. “We’re now able to deliver fully customized, cut-to-length aluminum products faster than ever before, giving our customers a competitive advantage in their respective markets.”

GROWTH OFFERINGS: Robert Carr, president of The Ohio Growth Association, recently announced the availability of various levels of discounted healthcare insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, commercial and personal lines of insurance coverage and significant workers’ compensation discounted benefits for all employers and their employees.

For more than 30 years, the association has assisted employers by ensuring savings and adding confidence to their employees’ concerns of coverage.

The association has partnered with BCI Insurance Solutions, an Alliant Insurance Services company, to provide small businesses with strategic, cost-effective employee benefits solutions. For more information, call (330) 719-9066 or (330) 719-5469 or email bcarr@bmsoinc.com or ron@togabenefits.com. Employers may also visit www.togabenefits.com.

CYBERSECURITY WEBINAR: The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose will present a free Cybersecurity Basics for Small Business webinar at 10 a.m. Dec. 2.

Cyberattacks cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars each year and pose serious risks to both individuals and organizations. Businesses, in particular, are attractive targets for cybercriminals — and small businesses are often the most vulnerable, as they may lack the resources to fully protect their digital systems.

Attendees will learn how to protect their business from cyber threats; receive a briefing on national and international threats targeting small business; network with business owners; and hear from a cybersecurity expert.

For questions or more information, contact Joe Merlo, director of member engagement, at Joe@RegionalChamber.com. To register, visit https://shorturl.at/ajpem.

APPRENTICE CANDIDATES: The Cement Masons Local 179 Joint Apprenticeship Program is accepting applications from potential apprentice candidates 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday at the Cement Masons Union Hall, 5204 Mahoning Ave., Suite 108, Austintown.

Upon completion of the three-year apprenticeship program, the current pay rate for journeymen cement finishers is $34 per hour with an additional $24 in benefits.

Applicants must submit the following items with their application: a military service certificate of completion (DD-214), if applicable, and photocopy of driver’s license.

Basic required qualifications are: at least 18 years of age; high school graduate or equivalent; physically capable of performing work of the trade; pass a preemployment drug screen and physical; and driver’s license and reliable transportation.

An aptitude test may be administered at the time the application is submitted or scheduled at a later date during the application process. If selected, apprentices must complete a minimum of 144 hours of classroom training per year for three years.

All training is provided by the program at no cost to the apprentice. Selection of apprentices under this program shall be made on the basis of qualification alone.

A copy of the application for the Cement Masons Apprenticeship Program can be received by calling The Builders Association at (330) 539-6050.

Completed applications can also be returned by mail to Cement Masons Local 179 JATC, P.O. Box 488, Vienna, OH 44473.

Applications must be received no later than Jan. 7.

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