NEW HIRES: YBI, formerly known as the Youngstown Business Incubator, announced this week the addition of five new staff members along with the promotion of Stephanie Gaffney to chief manufacturing officer.

YBI is a leading nonprofit economic development organization and the designated Ohio Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing.

“YBI is continuing to build an exceptional team to support the growth of entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and emerging businesses across our region,” said Colleen Kelly, YBI senior vice president of YBI. “The addition of these five talented professionals, along with the promotion of our new chief manufacturing officer, Stephanie Gaffney, reflects our commitment to strengthening innovation, expanding our impact, and ensuring we have the leadership and expertise needed to support the evolving needs of the companies and communities we serve. We are so very excited for this next chapter of growth at YBI.”

• Stephanie Gaffney, chief manufacturing officer, YBI Advanced Manufacturing Services: Gaffney has been promoted from vice president of Advanced Manufacturing. She brings more than 26 years of engineering program management experience to the role, with expertise in technology transition and in integrating additive manufacturing into small- and medium-sized manufacturers throughout Ohio.

Over the course of her career, Gaffney has managed $80 million in unclassified R&D projects addressing urgent joint operational needs across industry, military, academia and nonprofits.

• Rochelle Landy, director of Explore VR: An accomplished marketing and communications professional, she began her career in New York City, where she worked with major agencies, including J. Walter Thompson. She later managed licensing for globally recognized properties such as National Geographic, Peanuts and PBS at United Media. After returning to Youngstown, Rochelle held leadership positions with Compass Family & Community Services, PALO Creative, Ursuline Sisters Ministries and Youngstown CityScape, where she served as associate director.

• Cara Mia Battaglia, program coordinator, Explore VR: Battaglia will support the planning and delivery of virtual reality experiences, workforce development initiatives and STEM education programs for students across the region. Originally from McDonald, she is completing her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing and Human Resource Management at Youngstown State University, where she has earned Dean’s List recognition and is a member of the American Marketing Association and the Society for Human Resource Management chapters.

• Jason Neal, industrial base integration manager, Advanced Manufacturing: Neal brings a background in economic development, business attraction and community revitalization. A seasoned professional with experience at the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and Euphrates International Investment Company, Neal has helped create more than 5,000 jobs and secure more than $2 billion in capital investment, with a focus on rural and distressed communities. He is also the co-founder of MEVPAC Enterprises, which develops mobile EV charging solutions for clean energy infrastructure.

• Lauren Carter, program coordinator, Engine Tech Incubator: Carter supports marketing, branding and client engagement initiatives for the program and the startups it serves. Originally from Canton,she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Kent State University, graduating Cum Laude with a 3.6 GPA. Before joining YBI, she gained experience in marketing, data management and customer-facing roles, with particular strengths in content creation, social media, and digital engagement.

* Ciera Garcia, marketing coordinator: Garcia supports branding, content creation, social media management, campaign development, graphic design and strategic communications across the organization’s programs. She graduated in December 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a focus in Social Media from Youngstown State University, where she also earned double minors in Psychology and Graphic Design. During her time at YSU, Ciera led marketing and communications projects for the Cliffe College of Creative Arts.

STREETSBORO EXPANSION: 7 17 Credit Union celebrated the economic development and expansion into Downtown Streetsboro area with a groundbreaking ceremony Monday.

The credit union is redeveloping a former Walgreens location into a modern, full-service branch that will also house additional 7 17 Credit Union operations. As part of the renovation, the space will be retrofitted to include a 7 17 Café, operated in partnership with a locally owned business, further supporting local entrepreneurship and community engagement.

“We’ve been part of Portage County for over 60 years,” said credit union CEO John Demmler. “We’re thrilled to expand alongside the city of Streetsboro and be part of its downtown transformation.”

The branch is slated to open in late summer to early fall 2026 and will eventually bring 30+ jobs to the Streetsboro area.

DIVE IN: Complete Physical Therapy & Aquatics LLC,  843 N. Main Street, Hubbard, will open its new aquatic therapy pool during a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Refreshments will be served and tours will be given to the community. Visitors are invited to meet the team, explore the new facility, and learn about the broad range of physical therapy and aquatic services Complete Physical Therapy & Aquatics provides.

The new aquatic facility has been specially designed for therapeutic comfort and performance. Kept at a 90°F, the pool offers a private, supportive environment for recovery and exercise. Therapy sessions with highly qualified staff will include specialized techniques such as Bad Ragaz, Ai Chi, Halliwick and BackHab, among others–each tailored to meet unique patient needs and goals.

Aquatic therapy provides numerous benefits, including improved muscle relaxation, pain management, balance, circulation and emotional well-being. The buoyancy of the water supports easier movement and reduced joint stress, making it especially helpful for individuals with arthritis, neurological conditions, sports injuries, post-surgical recovery needs or age-related mobility challenges

New patient referrals are being accepted for land-based and aquatic physical therapy. For more information, call (330) 724‒7644, email CPTA@ptaquatics.net or visit completeptandaquatics.weebly.com.

WRTA LEADERSHIP: The Western Reserve Transit Authority Board of Trustees unanimously voted to elect officers for the upcoming year during its May board meeting.

The board elected Anthony Stratis to continue serving as president and John P. Brown III to continue service as vice president.

Stratis and Brown previously served in these leadership roles over the past year. Under WRTA bylaws, the board president may serve up to two consecutive terms.

“WRTA is entering an exciting period of growth and transformation, and I look forward to continuing our work to strengthen public transportation and support the communities we serve throughout the Mahoning Valley, ” Stratis said.

Dean Harris, WRTA’s chief executive officer, said the importance of leadership continuity as the agency prepares for several major initiatives aimed at modernizing and enhancing public transportation in the Valley.

“Anthony and John have provided steady, forward-thinking leadership during a transformational period for WRTA,” Harris said. “As we prepare for significant investments, including major construction projects slated to begin this summer and a new fleet expected to come online next year, their commitment to ensuring WRTA remains a leader in public transportation has positioned us well for the future.”

WRTA provides more than two million rides annually, connecting residents to employment opportunities, retail destinations, dining, health care services, educational institutions and everything in between. As a fare-free public transportation provider, WRTA continues to play a vital role in supporting economic mobility, accessibility, and quality of life throughout Mahoning County and the surrounding region.

APICELLA NAMED: First Commonwealth Bank has named a new regional president for its Northern Ohio market, which includes 14 total retail, mortgage and commercial offices throughout Stark, Mahoning, Cuyahoga, Summit and Ashtabula counties.

Sean Apicella brings more than two decades of experience in the commercial banking space to First Commonwealth Bank. He replaces Matt Zuro, who was promoted to executive vice president/regional banking in April. Apicella will be based out of First Commonwealth’s Northern Ohio Business Center in Independence.

Prior to joining FCB, Apicella spent the last seven years as the Northeast Ohio Market Executive for another community bank in the market and has extensive experience in C&I and commercial real estate lending during nearly a 20-year banking career.

“I am thrilled to announce that Sean has joined our leadership team as the new Regional President for Northern Ohio,” Zuro said. “I have personally known Sean for several years and am excited the time is now for him to join us. His experience, energy and familiarity in our Northern Ohio markets will be tremendous assets to our strong foundation of leaders. I am confident he’ll fit right into our culture and be a fantastic leader for the region.”

In his role, Apicella will be the catalyst for business development, recruitment and partner collaboration and lead the region’s corporate banking team in Northern Ohio, while working closely with all regional partners as part of First Commonwealth’s regional model to drive growth in the region across all areas of business.

NEW SALEM LOCATION: Alta Care Group opened new doors to mental health care in Columbiana County with the opening of its Salem location last month.

The new facility located at 333 W. Fourth St. marks a new chapter for Alta as it expands its reach into Columbiana County and introduces expanded services to the community including Therapeutic Behavioral Services, psychiatry, along with the counseling and specialized programs that Alta has become known for.

“We believe that every child and family deserves access to compassionate, quality mental and behavioral healthcare close to home. And this expansion into Salem reflects our commitment to meeting families where they are and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive throughout our Valley,” Vince Paolucci, Alta Care Group CEO, said.

To request an appointment, families can call 330-793-2487 or visit altacaregroup.org.

FIVE-STAR CLEANLINESS: Salem Regional Medical Center has once again been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of the Cleanest Hospitals in the United States, earning a five-star cleanliness rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

This distinction places SRMC among an elite group of just 396 hospitals nationwide and one of only 21 facilities in Ohio recognized for exceptional cleanliness. The ranking is based on patient feedback from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems surveys collected between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Over 4,000 hospitals in the United States participate in the HCAHPS survey.

“Cleanliness is essential to safe, high-quality patient care,” said Anita Hackstedde, M.D., SRMC president/CEO. “Maintaining the CMS five-star rating highlights our ongoing commitment to providing a comfortable and healing environment for our patients.”

SRMC consistently evaluates and enhances its cleaning protocols, staff training programs and patient feedback systems to exceed industry standards and support patient safety.

Therese Smith, Xanitos Director of Housekeeping Services, oversees the day-to-day operations. She added, “Our team takes great pride in meeting the highest standards of cleanliness. This achievement reflects their hard work and dedication to the care and safety of every patient and visitor from the moment they arrive at the hospital.”

COHORT ANNOUNCEMENT: The Youngstown State University Center for Nonprofit Leadership, housed in the Williamson College of Business Administration, recently announced the 2026 cohort of the Zoldan Yampolsky Family Executive Fellows Program.

The 2026 Zoldan Yampolsky Family Executive Fellows and their host organizations include marketing major Danuneka Cargill, serving as Development Fellow at the Butler Institute of American Art; business administration major Tyrone Lindsey III, serving as Development & Marketing Fellow at Leadership Mahoning Valley; marketing major Aeryonnah Zura, serving as Marketing & Events Fellow at OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology; and human resource management major Talea Littrell, serving as Community Solutions Fellow at Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries.

Established in 2020 by the Zoldan family to honor the legacy of Abe Yampolsky, the endowed program supports the next generation of nonprofit leaders by providing YSU students with high-impact, paid professional experiences.

Designed to mentor students through meaningful, career-related work, the Executive Fellows Program pairs each participant with a nonprofit organization where they complete 225 hours of hands-on experience under the guidance of senior leaders.

“These students represent the talent, commitment and leadership potential that the Zoldan Yampolsky Family Executive Fellows Program was designed to elevate,” said Laura Dewberry, director of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership. “Their work will not only support the missions of their host organizations but will also create meaningful impact throughout the Mahoning Valley.”

The program is open to students of all majors who meet eligibility requirements. As the program continues to grow, it remains a cornerstone initiative linking YSU students with meaningful opportunities to learn, lead and serve, while advancing the work of nonprofit organizations across the region.

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