Business briefs

HBK EMPLOYEES EARN

DESIGNATION: Certified public accountants with HBK CPAs & Consultants, Joseph C. Ledford and Keith A. Veres, have earned the Exit Planning Institute’s Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation.

The designations were awarded upon their successful completion of the institute’s executive MBA-style program, which involves approximately 100 hours of pre-course study, 30 hours of classroom instruction and a three-hour proctored exam.

Ledford is the principal-in-charge of the Northwest Pennsylvania Region and works from HBK’s Meadville, Pa., office location.

Veres is a principal in the Fort Myers, Fla., office of HBK and also serves as the firm’s director of corporate finance. He began his accounting career with HBK in 1991.

PIZZA JOE’S REOPENS: Pizza Joe’s stores in Mineral Ridge in the Ridge Creek Plaza and in Youngstown’s Kirkmere neighborhood at the corner of Bears Den and Canfield Road have reopened.

The grand reopening was Sunday, however, they began serving before Thanksgiving.

Pizza Joe’s will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2020. The company was founded by Joe Seminara in 1980 in a 600-square-foot location in New Castle, Pa. The franchise now has 43 locations in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.

YSU BUSINESS MAJORS EARN AWARD: Three members of the Youngstown State University Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society earned top prizes at the annual Global Leadership Summit in Chicago.

The following students were on teams that won their case categories during the KPMG-sponsored Team Case Competition: Brooke Lissy, an advertising and public relations major from Windham; Amanda Paynter, a human resources management major from Austintown; and Kelli Dougherty, a finance major from Canfield.

In addition, Dougherty’s team was declared the overall case competition winner.

The summit brings together nearly 400 BGS members to explore their talents while building relationships with fellow leaders from chapters around the world. Attendees participate in a series of leadership sessions that culminate in the team competition.

BURGAN AWARD UP FOR GRABS: Youngstown State University students with ideas for new businesses will compete for a $2,400 grant under the new John Burgan Entrepreneurship Prize at the Williamson College of Business Administration.

The prize will be awarded to the YSU student with the most promising business idea. Applicants should submit a three- to five-page proposal outlining their idea and how the $2,400 prize will be used to advance the idea. Businesses do not have to exist, but if they are operating, the proposal should include details on current operations. Proposals will be judged on feasibility, market assessment, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Finalists will present their proposals to a team of judges the week of March 1. Proposals are due Feb. 14. They should be emailed to Joseph Angelo, director of the YSU Entrepreneurship Center, at jfangelo@ysu.edu, with the subject line, John Burgan Entrepreneurship Prize.

DOMINION ANNOUNCES SCO / SSO RATES: Under its latest filing with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, effective last Thursday, Dominion Energy Ohio’s Standard Choice Offer (SCO) and Standard Service Offer (SSO) rates became $2.69 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf).

The new rates are $2.09 per Mcf, or 43.8 percent, less than the December 2018 rates of $4.78 per Mcf. The December rates are down 12 cents, or 4.5 percent, from the November 2019 rates of $2.81 per Mcf.

Under the company’s filing, the average SCO / SSO residential customer’s bill for December would be $81.61, down $27.96, or 25.5 percent, from $109.57 in December 2018.

MERRILL EMPLOYEE HONORED: Katie Solvesky, a wealth management adviser with Merrill Wealth was recently named on the 2019 Forbes “Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list and the 2019 Working Mother / SHOOK Research “Top Wealth Advisor Moms” list.

For Solvesky, who earned a bachelor’s degree in general business administration from Youngstown State University, this is the third time she has been named to both of those lists.

MERCY HEALTH EXPANDS SERVICES: Mercy Health is expanding its walk-in care model that includes evening and weekend hours to its North Lima Medical Center.

The Mercy Health-North Lima Medical Center, 9471 Market St., North Lima, is now open and accepting patients with expanded hours to serve those who need care after 5 p.m.

Walk-in care is focused on treating patients that are experiencing minor illnesses such as cold and flu symptoms, sprains, minor burns, ear and throat pain, animal bites, high fevers and lacerations as well as other non-emergency illness or injury.

The walk-in care office is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

People on

the Move

HD DAVIS CPAs ADDS STAFF: HD Davis CPAs of Youngstown recently brought aboard Lauren Martauz as senior accountant.

Martauz, who has several years of public accounting experience, is working to become a CPA. In her role at the firm she will provide accounting and tax compliance services for clients as well as auditing and write-up work.

DR. JOINS AKRON CHILDREN’S: Dr. Brian Reilly has joined Akron Children’s Hospital as a sports medicine physician.

He is also a general pediatrician working in the emergency department and also will contribute to the work of the Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute. He recently completed a fellowship in sports medicine at Akron Children’s. His pediatric residency was also at Akron Children’s and he served for one year as chief resident.

AMERIFIRST ADDS LOAN ORIGINATOR: Bradley Miller of Salem has been hired as the newest team member at the Amerifirst Home Mortgage branch in Poland.

A professional golfer since 2016, Miller becomes the fourth licensed loan originator on staff. He is a graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

He will support other staff process loans and work with the office’s business development manager to update and manage the branch’s customer relationship management software.

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