Business briefs and People on the Move
Business Briefs
GROUP TO HOST MIXER: The Valley Lead Group (VLG), a Mahoning Valley-based business networking nonprofit organization, will host an open mixer 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Blue Wolf Tavern in Boardman.
The event is a networking opportunity for business professionals around the Valley interested in growing their business.
For registration purposes, an RSVP is requested to account for all visitors, including name, business name, phone and email.
VLG has openings for representatives from several industries, including audio / visual, automobile repair, carpet cleaning, contractor (plumbing and electrical), contractor (handyman), information technology computer services, signs / banners and florist.
RSVP to Rob Palowitz at 330-599-4141, Ext. 4140 or rpalowitz<\@>palocreative.com.
SHARK TANK ENTREPRENEURS ANNOUNCED: The Youngstown Business Incubator has announced the six companies pitching at 2021 Shark Tank after a tie expanded the field.
They are HIP MD, a 3D Printed BRAIN CROWN designed to protect the brain from concussion using patented technology that monitors brainwaves; smallTalk, which enables parents to introduce their child to a foreign language and unlock developmental benefits starting in infancy; GERAS Home Solutions improves safety and visibility in assisted living facilities with home automation solutions; FELOH Natural Haircare, a social marketplace and community for beauty that connects users with independently owned beauty brands; SupplyNow Food Sourcing, a one-stop procurement platform that helps manage distributors and explore market prices; and NeverEnding Inclusive Gaming Avatar Design, which provides a unique option for people to express themselves by creating, publishing and monetizing content playing as a video game.
This is YBI’s second Shark Tank fundraising event. It will be Oct. 28 at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield.
YBI received 60 applicants hoping to pitch their business at the event. Originally, five finalists would pitch their startups, but a voting tie expanded the field to six.
FIRM CHANGES NAME: Real Living Brokers Realty Group has changed its name to Brokers Realty and is no longer affiliated with Real Living Real Estate. Brokers Realty’s day-to-day operations, leadership team, realtors and staff will all remain the same.
Brokers Realty serves clients in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Stark and Portage counties and Mercer, Butler and Lawrence counties in western Pennsylvania. The firm specializes in residential and commercial real estate, as well as new construction and development.
The new company logo was unveiled to the Brokers Realty team at a conference and awards dinner at The Metropolitan at the Nine last month in Cleveland.
AMERICA MAKES CHANGES EVENT: America Makes has rescheduled its in-person Members Meeting and Exchange (MMX) event, previously scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, to a virtual MMX event Dec. 1 and 2.
The organization will communicate registration for the virtual event.
FIRM NAMED AMONG BEST FOR WOMEN: HD Davis CPAs in Liberty was recently awarded by Accounting Today the third spot in the nation as a Best Firm for Women.
The recognition is based on a nationwide survey of CPA firms, employment demographics and direct surveys of all individual employees at the firm to get their anonymous feedback about the firm.
MCCVB RECOGNIZED: The Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau recently received recognition for achievement in marketing and advertising at the Ohio Travel Association’s RUBY Awards presentation.
The CVB received a first place RUBY Award for their promotional video, Planning Your Perfect Weekend?and second place Certificates of Excellence for their monthly enewsletter as well as a digital campaign promoting golf in Mahoning County.
They were finalists in two additional categories — print advertisement for Rediscover Youngstown and a social media campaign for their Snapshots of Youngstown Winter 2021 promotion.
The association’s RUBY Awards recognize excellence in Ohio’s hospitality and tourism industry for efforts in advertising, marketing and public relations.
HOWMET ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE NEWS: Pittsburgh-based Howmet Aerospace Inc., which has a facility in Weathersfield, has announced that John C. Plant, executive chairman and co-CEO, will assume the position of sole CEO and continue in his role as executive chairman of the board.
Plant has elected to remain with Howmet past his previously expected departure date so he can continue to lead the company through the aerospace market upturn.
Tolga I. Oal, co-CEO, has departed the company to pursue other opportunities.
VIRTUAL FINANCIAL WORKSHOP OFFERED: Credit Union of Ohio’s virtual workshop series will offer four sessions this week to help individuals prepare for success in several aspects of personal finance.
At noon Tuesday, a 60-minute estate planning session will cover information for those nearing retirement, including protecting assets, Medicaid, trust vs. wills and long-term care.
Two workshops will be offered Wednesday. The first 60-minute session at noon will cover Medicare in detail. At 6 p.m., a 60-minute first-time homebuyers workshop will be offered, covering items buyers need to know when getting ready to buy a home in today’s market.
At noon Thursday, a 30-minute session will be offered to help attendees take steps to recover after a financial setback and plan to improve their financial situation.
All virtual sessions are free but registration is required. Those interested can get additional details and register at cuofohio.org.
People on the Move
AMERICA MAKES EXPANDS TEAM: America Makes has grown its leadership team with the hiring of Kimberly Gibson as the institute’s first Ecosystem Director.
Heading into its tenth year of operation, America Makes is prioritizing a focus on maturing the additive ecosystem through continued engagement of its membership community and developing strategic partnerships across the industry. In this newly created role, Gibson will spearhead those efforts and actively engage with the community to advance America Makes mission to accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing.
Prior to joining she served as the chief mischief officer for IC3D, a vertically integrated additive manufacturing / 3D printing company in Columbus.
AIM PROMOTES EIGHT: Aim Transportation Solutions, the largest privately held truck leasing company in North America, has promoted eight employees.
Local residents promoted were Brandon Stieb of Sharpsville, Pa., vice president of operations; Patrick Grandy of Youngstown, regional vice president; Kim Slater of Vienna, director of integrated billing; and Ralph Wilson of Girard, regional field manager.
The others were Scott Leslie of Graham, N.C., regional vice president; Tony Miele of Pittsburgh, regional vice president; Rob Vogan of Columbus, regional vice president; and Bethany Sanchez of Chicago, regional field manager.
LOCAL DENTIST INSTALLED: Dr. Lori Fitzgerald of Canfield was recently installed as president-elect of the Ohio Dental Association during the association’s House of Delegates meeting.
In the role, Fitzgerald will serve on ODA’s executive committee overseeing the management of the association throughout the next year.
Fitzgerald is a general dentist in private practice in Canfield.
The ODA represents more than 5,000 member dentists in Ohio, nearly 70 percent of the state’s licensed dentists.
FARMERS ADDS TO MORTGAGE TEAM: Farmers National Bank has grown its mortgage lending team with the addition of Brandon Pluchinsky as a mortgage loan consultant. He will work out of the bank’s Canfield main location.
Pluchinsky began his career with Farmers in February 2020 as a credit analyst. He is a graduate of Youngstown State University, where he earned his master’s degree in accounting.
Submit items for Business briefs, New Businesses and People on the Move to business<\@>tribtoday.com, fax to 330-841-1717 or online at www.tribtoday.com. The deadline is 4 p.m. Thursday.
Business briefs and People on the Move
BUY BLACK EXPO PLANNED: Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Youngstown Alumnae Chapter, will host a Buy Black Business Expo 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 16 at 5 Grands Boutique, 164 High St. NE, Warren.
This event is part of the chapter’s Midwest Impact Day of Service. The goal of this day of service event is to encourage the community to support local black businesses.
LIBERTY FIRM EXPANDS: HD Davis CPAs & White Glove Payroll are expanding in Liberty with the acquisition of Churchill Park Plaza and Professional Building, 4300-4308 Belmont Ave.
HD Davis plans to share the professional building with current tenant Southwoods Health and renovate before moving in.
The new building will focus on space built for collaboration and team meetings. HD Davis and White Glove Payroll employ 45 at all locations. About 30 percent of their workforce is now fully remote, but the companies still need space to learn, train and collaborate, according to co-owner Joe Kilgore.
HD Davis has been in business since 2006. The company has grown rapidly in recent years thanks to expansions in its fractional chief financial officer services, payroll and human resources services and audit and attestation work. The firm spent its early years offering mostly tax and bookkeeping services and grew into the other areas.
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP TO REVIEW CREDIT SCORE BASICS: Credit scores will be the topic of Credit Union of Ohio’s next free virtual workshop at noon Thursday.
During the 30-minute session, Credit Union of Ohio’s Financial Coach, Cindy Walker, will review the basics of what makes up a credit score, why it’s important to have a good score and how to best monitor scores.
Registration is required for the free session at cuofohio.org.
STATE GRANT TO BUSINESSES AVAILABLE: The Ohio Department of Development has financial resources for businesses to get started or expand on existing export initiatives.
The International Market Access Grant for Exporters provides eligible businesses a 50 percent reimbursement of up to $10,000 on $20,000 in expenditures for activities that promote international business.
The activities can include website development, international advertising, e-commerce, search-engine optimization, marketing and website translation, compliance testing and trade shows (international, domestic, and virtual).
The first application period closes 3 p.m. Nov. 9. Funding for the first round can be used through March 31, 2022. Additional IMAGE funding opportunities will be announced quarterly subject to funding availability.
Applications for export training grants through IMAGE are open now. Grants provide 100 percent reimbursement up to $5,000 for export training activities. Funding for export training activities can be used through Sept. 29, 2022.
Applications must be approved before the activities take place.
People on the Move
CHAMBER BRINGS ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: Melissa Maiorano has joined the economic development team as manager of workforce development at the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber.
In the role, she will lead the chamber’s JobsNow program, the partnership with JobsOhio’s “Ohio To Work” initiative and regional partnerships with educators and training organizations, while working to support the workforce needs of our business members.
Most recently she was a regional pharmacy technician specialist with Rite Aid Pharmacy, where she recruited, hired, trained and developed pharmacy technicians for 20 stores within the Youngstown region to ensure that each associate remained in compliance with the State Board of Pharmacy guidelines and met educational requirements to be certified in the state.
STEWARD WELCOMES ROBOTIC TRAINED SURGEON: Trumbull Regional Medical Center and Steward Medical Group are welcoming Dr. Pablo Giuseppucci to Steward Specialty Care, Elm Road, 2630 Elm Road NE, Building C in Cortland; Steward Specialty Care, Trumbull, 1353 E. Market Street, Suite 302, Warren; and Steward Multispecialty Care, Mahoning County, 1440 S. Canfield Niles Road, Austintown.
With more than 20 years of experience, Giuseppucci is board-certified in general surgery and has a robust clinic interest in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, oncological surgery, upper GI surgery and abdomen-wall surgery.
AGENTS JOIN FIRM: More Options Realty, which has offices in Hubbard and Boardman, recently welcomed new agents Benjamin Clark and Alexandra Ahren.
Clark will be servicing Ohio and Pennsylvania and work out of the Boardman office.
Ahren has worked at More Options Realty for two years as a digital design consultant and recently passed her state exam to become a Realtor.
Submit items for Business briefs, New Businesses and People on the Move to business@tribtoday.com, fax to 330-841-1717 or online at www.tribtoday.com. The deadline is 4 p.m. Thursday.