APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR ‘SHARK TANK’: The application deadline to participate in the Youngstown Business Incubator’s 3rd annual “Shark Tank” pitch competition is Sept. 1.

The event, a take on the popular television show where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of “sharks,” will have regional startups give elevator pitches to a panel of six local and regional entrepreneurs for a chance to earn prize money to fund their businesses.

It is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 6 at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman.

Applications can be found at ybi.org/sharktank/.

MARKETING FIRM MAKES PRESTIGIOUS LIST: Canfield-based 898 Marketing is No. 1,031 on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list, a prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

898 Marketing’s ranking is No. 1 in the Youngstown market, 18th in Ohio and 78th among all advertising / marketing companies in the country.

Owner Jeff Ryznar cites the culture of the company, as well as its advancements in being award-winning digital marketing and programmatic advertising experts, as the sources of 898 Marketing’s most recent growth. Further, the agency has exponentially grown its retainer client revenue over the past three years.

898 Marketing has a staff of 23, all but one from the Mahoning Valley.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.

TWO EARN FUNERAL CERTIFICATION: The Rev. Lewis W. Macklin and Emma Linnen of J.E. Washington Funeral Services recently completed a three-day workshop to become certified funeral celebrants.

A celebrant, who can be a lay person, clergy or funeral director, offers personalized funeral services, tributes, memorial services and graveside memorials. They meet with the family to help them design a service that reflects the life and attributes of their loved one.

The training was held at the Ohio Funeral Directors Association in Columbus.

Macklin is the lead pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church and chaplain for the Youngstown Police Department.

Linnen has a bachelor’s degree in women and gender studies with a minor in philosophy from Youngstown State University. She is enrolled in Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

MERCY HEALTH LABS RECERTIFIED: Mercy Health-Youngstown’s Boardman and Howland electromyography laboratories have earned laboratory recertification with exemplary status from American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

EMG laboratories specialize in tests that evaluate nerve and muscle function and assess potential neurological disease.

To be awarded accreditation with exemplary status, physicians performing studies in the laboratory must have completed a neurology or physical medicine and rehabilitation residency program; have completed a minimum of three months of training in electrodiagnostic medicine as part of a residency or fellowship program; be certified by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, or by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in clinical neurophysiology, or by the ABPN / American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in neuromuscular disease.

BUSINESSMAN NAMED GRAND COMMODORE: Dave Johnson, CEO, Summitville Tiles Inc., and owner of the Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn, of Hanoverton, recently was inducted as grand commodore of the Ohio Association of Commodores.

He succeeds Sam Covelli of Warren-based Covelli Enterprises, one of the nation’s leading chain restaurateurs.

Formed in 1966, the association is a group of men and women appointed by the governor after having been nominated and recognized for their business acumen, civic leadership and community engagement. It supports economic development efforts in the state.

Johnson has served on the association’s board, as a regional director for northeast Ohio and most recently as the second in command of the association.

CHEVY DEALER RECOGNIZED: Greenwood Chevrolet in Austintown recently was recognized with GM Financial’s prestigious President’s Club Award, which honors dealers for their collaboration with GM Financial and for providing excellent customer service.

Greenwood is one of three dealerships in Ohio, and the only in the Mahoning Valley, to receive the recognition.

The award recognizes 80 GM dealerships across the U.S. for working with GM Financial to meet sales and customer service goals.

CHAMBER ANNOUNCES HONOREES: The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber has announced the business leaders who will be honored this year during the organization’s annual Salute to Business event.

They are:

• Traci Miller, president, Color3 Embroidery Inc. — Business Advocate of the Year;

• Vern Richberg, director of supply chain diversity, Youngstown Business Incubator — Business Professional of the Year;

• Jeff Magada, founder / executive director, Flying HIGH Inc. — Nonprofit Professional of the Year;

• Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki and Richard Bernacki, co-owners, Penguin City Brewing Company — Entrepreneurs of the Year;

• Ron and Cecilia Bolar, owners / operators, Nothing Bundt Cakes — Small Business Professionals of the Year;

• Nancy Weibel, business manager, Roofers Local 71 — Salute to Labor Achievement Award.

The event is 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Eastwood Event Centre, Niles. The cost is $40 per member and $50 per nonmember.

The event also marks and is the official kickoff to the Canfield Fair and Youngstown State University football. The keynote speaker is Gen. Michael Brogan, who retired from the Marine Corps in 2011 after honorably serving for 31 years. His primary responsibility was to oversee and maintain the supply chain to American forces in the Middle East.

AVENGE HUNGER CAMPAIGN TO START: Armstrong will conduct its fifth annual Avenge Hunger Month campaign to fight hunger across its service territory through Oct. 2.

Local Armstrong stores will collect nonperishable food and monetary donations for local feeding programs. The resources collected help supply more than 200 community feeding programs in Armstrong’s service area, which includes Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Local donation sites for 2022 include Armstrong in North Lima, local Sparkle Markets, Giant Eagle in Canfield, Nemenz IGA in Struthers, Davis Family YMCA, High Octane Coffee in Boardman, Glista Agency in Canfield, Gateways to Better Living in Austintown, Eastwood Mall and HMS Mfg. Co. in Youngstown.

Food drives also are planned for 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Austintown Park Summer Concert, noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 10 at Boardman fire station 71 on Market Street and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 23 at Armstrong’s North Lima office.

People on the move

DR. JOINS AKRON CHILDREN’S: Dr. Nicole Kendel has joined Akron Children’s Hospital’s Showers Family Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Center as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist.

Kendel completed her residency and fellowship in pediatric hematology / oncology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She earned her doctor of medicine and master of medical sciences degrees from Ohio State University.

The center team treats a variety of pediatric cancers and offers a broad range of expertise in cancer and bleeding disorders. The team participates in national clinical trials for childhood cancer and blood disorders and explores the causes and treatment of these diseases through our basic science research program.

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.