YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber Foundation has a new director, Michael McGiffin, a Poland native whose ties to the Mahoning Valley run deep.

In the position, McGiffin will oversee all facets of the nonprofit organization that supports the chamber.

The foundation has been involved with many of the Valley’s most important economic development activities, including Steel to Scholars, Operation SOAR (Save Our Air Reserves) and Bring it Home to secure the production of Chevrolet Cruze in Lordstown.

In recent years, the foundation has built support to launch new programming, including the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission, the JobsNow workforce development program and EMERGE

to help local businesses

recover from the pandemic.

Regional chamber CEO Guy Coviello said, “We are fortunate to have on our team someone with so much talent and so respected throughout the community. We are confident that Mike will help the foundation grow so that we can launch more programs that improve the Valley’s economic prosperity and quality of life.”

McGiffin also will be charged with restarting Leadership Mahoning Valley, with continuing a series of networking events that generate business opportunities and promote the Valley; and oversee operations of the Warren Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development and Warren Area Chamber of Commerce Education, Civic and Cultural foundations.

A graduate of Youngstown State University, McGiffin led prior local projects as the chief strategy officer at Stambaugh Auditorium and director of events and special projects for the city of Youngstown.

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