Business briefs
STEM EXPO AT YSU: Youngstown State University’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics will host a STEM Expo noon to 4 p.m. Thursday at Stambaugh Stadium, Gymnasiums A & B.
Employers will attend to recruit and fill available internship and co-op, and full-time / entry-level STEM positions. The expo is open to all STEM students who are seeking internships / co-ops and full-time opportunities, as well as all STEM alumni.
YSU STUDENTS ATTEND BUSINESS EVENT: Five students in the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University were among a select group of young people from around the world who attended the weeklong X-Culture Symposium at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.
Seniors Matthew A. Steer, Alanis Chew, John P. Rembis, Mason Scovil and Stephanie Virgallito were among 150 students chosen out of 5,000 eligible students from 40 countries to go to the conference.
X-Culture is a component of the International Business class where YSU business students are placed on virtual teams with students from around the world to work on projects presented by corporate sponsors. Teams solve real business issues and learn international business concepts, time management skills, and the benefits of working in a culturally diverse environment.
RESTAURANT GM HONORED: Joe Bezilla, general manager of the Olive Garden in Boardman, has achieved Diamond Club status, the top honor at parent company Darden Restaurants.
He was recognized this year for his commitment to delivering guest experiences at the highest level, while making a difference in the lives of guests, team members and in his community. This is the second time Bezilla has received the recognition.
Bezilla joins 43 other general managers picked from more than 850 Olive Garden restaurants in North America.
People on the Move
YSU NAMES DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION LEADER: Carol Lynnett Bennett, assistant dean and director of diversity and inclusion at Truman State University in Missouri, has been named assistant provost for diversity and inclusion at Youngstown State University.
Bennett, selected after a national search, starts Oct. 16. She will oversee YSU’s inclusion mission and goals, facilitate a campus culture that embraces and respects human differences across all aspects of diversity, and cultivate a climate of mutual respect and acceptance.
She has since 2014 been at Truman, where her work involved guiding strategic diversity initiatives and programs toward a more inclusive and equitable campus environment, increasing student diversity and graduation and retention rates of underrepresented students and developing a diversity, inclusion and social justice educational curriculum.
NEW CFO AT DeBARTOLO CORPORATION: The DeBartolo Corporation has named Pamela Vidmar the organization’s chief financial officer, bringing with her nearly 30 years of leadership and management experience in the accounting and finance industries.
She replaces Tim Kaple, who retires today. Kaple has served as CFO and a member of the board of directors for the corporation since 2001. He will stay involved with the organization as a consultant.
Vidmar most recently worked as CFO for a privately owned family business in Pittsburgh. Before that, she was vice president of finance for a construction company, held various director level positions at a national energy company and served in the audit function at Deloitte.
To submit local items for Business Briefs, People on the Move or New Business listings, email business@tribtoday.com or go to the Virtual Newsroom at www.vindy.com, click Submit News and then click “business.”
Business briefs
LENNOX SEEKS NOMINATIONS TO HELP FAMILIES: Lennox Industries, with Gault Heating & Cooling, is seeking nominations through its national community outreach program to provide warmth for households in need in the Youngstown area this winter.
The Lennox “Feel The Love” program invites individuals and local organizations to nominate families or individuals in their communities. Recipients are selected based on several criteria, including physical, mental or social disabilities; financial challenges; job loss; military service; and community service.
To make a nomination, visit FeelTheLove.com. Nominations are being accepted through Wednesday.
On the first weekend in October, all participating Lennox dealers install new, high-efficiency Lennox gas furnaces or HVAC systems for selected nominees. Lennox provides the furnaces at no cost, and the dealers and their employees donate their labor and installation materials.
HOSPITAL SYSTEM EARNS AWARD: Akron Children’s Hospital, which has locations in Trumbull and Mahoning counties, has been recognized as one of the best places to work in northeast Ohio. This is the 13th time the health care provider has earned a NorthCoast 99 award.
NorthCoast 99 recognizes 99 workplaces in the region for their efforts to attract, develop, retain and motivate their top performers.
KOMAR PICKED FOR PLUMBING PROJECT: Youngstown-based Komar Anchor Plumbing & Drain Service has been picked to complete the plumbing in the $10 million new construction of the Campus Lofts at Youngstown State University.
Komar will complete the plumbing from the ground up at the student housing building.
AMERICA MAKES MARKS 7TH ANNIVERSARY: America Makes in downtown Youngstown, a national accelerator for additive manufacturing and 3-D printing, marked its seventh anniversary at the end of August.
It is the first of eight manufacturing innovation institutes established and program managed by the U.S. Department of Defense as public-private partnerships. America Makes is also a member of the Manufacturing USA network, which seeks to secure U.S. global leadership in advanced manufacturing.
America Makes is a recognized hub of advanced manufacturing innovation with 88 additive manufacturing research and development projects executed. It started with 65 members and now has more than 225.
New Businesses
STATE FARM OPENS IN AUSTINTOWN: State Farm agent Jamie Blott has opened an office at 253 S. Canfield Niles Road, Suite D, Austintown. The agency provides auto, home, business, property, life and health insurance as well as banking and annuity services.
Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and evenings and weekends by appointment.
People on the Move
LOCAL REPORTER JOINS WKBN: Former Tribune Chronicle and Vindicator reporter Joe Gorman has joined WKBN 27 as local digital content creator.
Gorman, who got his start at the Record Argus newspaper in Greenville, Pa., has 27 years of newspaper reporting experience.
Gorman, of Cortland, will file daily local reports for WKBN’s website.
MERIDIAN HIRES DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR: Rebecca Bayley has joined Meridian HealthCare as director of development.
Bayley, who was a volunteer member of the organization’s board of directors, most recently was director of admissions and marketing at Cardinal Mooney High School.
Meridian is a nonprofit organization that works to eliminate addiction.
To submit local items for Business Briefs, People on the Move or New Business listings, email business@tribtoday.com or go to the Virtual Newsroom at www.tribtoday.com, click Submit News and then click “business.”