NEW MBAC DIRECTOR: The Minority Business Assistance Center at the Youngstown Business Incubator has announced the appointment of its new regional director, Tanisha Wheeler.

Wheeler, previously serving as one of MBAC’s business counselors, has spent the last two years with MBAC providing technical assistance to small- and minority-owned and socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. Her role included providing professional consulting, access to capital and assistance in obtaining contract opportunities for clients.

Prior to coming to the Youngstown Business Incubator, Wheeler worked as the program coordinator for Inspiring Minds one year before taking the position as its program director in 2018.

Wheeler, also the owner of Birthright Consulting, an educational consulting company in Youngstown working to close the gap between families and educators, serves on the board of directors for Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership, advisory committee for Choffin Career & Technical Center and board of directors for United Way of Youngstown and The Mahoning Valley. She also is on the board of directors for Gateways to Better Living.

MBAC has been selected by the Ohio Department of Development’s Minority Business Development Division to receive the Tier 2 award in May. Becoming a Tier 2 agency will mean MBAC will focus on certification, funding and contracts for existing business, whereas before, MBAC also provided help for startup businesses under a Tier 1 status.

Those interested in learning more about what MBAC has to offer can visit ybi.org/programs/mbac.

TWO BUSINESSMEN INDUCTED INTO COMMODORES: Tim Petrey, managing partner of HD Davis CPAs in Liberty, and Tyler Williams, managing member of Twin Realty and Leasing LLC of Warren, recently were inducted into the Association of Ohio Commodores.

The association was founded by former Gov. James A. Rhodes in 1966 to serve as a conduit for growth in the state of Ohio in both community and business development. Although it began as a nonprofit organization, it now partners with the governor’s office and lieutenant governor in efforts to restore Ohio.

It has worked on projects such as shopping Ohio products, which increases the economic development of the state, and consistently have helped Ohio to rank in the top 10 of exporting states in the nation.

The association is made up of a diverse set of individuals spanning from professionals in education, economics, manufacturing and other various industries. It also has members who hold seats in the governor’s cabinet.

NONPROFIT, INSURANCE COMPANY AWARDED: Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance have awarded Ruddy Insurance Group a 2023 Make More Happen citation for its volunteerism with Sight for All United, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for sight by reducing barriers to access for care.

The award includes an initial donation of $5,000 for Sight for All United, which can be doubled to $10,000 by having community supporters vote online.

The Ruddy Insurance Group and Sight For All United community story will be highlighted on the Make More Happen microsite at www.agentgiving.com/Ruddy-Insurance-Group, where supporters can vote to help the team reach its donation goal. If the featured story receives a mix of at least 500 votes and comments, the $5,000 donation will be raised to $10,000.

MAN PICKED FOR LEADERS PROGRAM: The Ohio Health Care Association with Inspira Health Group recently announced that Joseph M. Cilone, administrator of Inspira Health Group’s Caprice and Elmwood facilities, has been chosen by the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living as a national, future leader in long-term and post-acute care.

Cilone will join Future Leaders, a yearlong program that offers training and guidance for industry professionals.

The Caprice facility is in North Lima and Elmwood is in Hubbard.

NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED: Youngstown CityScape is accepting nominations for the 2023 Beautification Awards.

Nominations and more information is available at youngstowncityscape.org under the Events tab.

The award program is Nov. 9 at Concept Studio, 217 W. Federal St., Youngstown.

Qualifications include the property should be litter free; it should have well-maintained flowers, shrubs and / or trees; it should be free of weeds; and it should stand out from its neighbors.

Selected nominees will be notified by phone and informed of the next steps.

MILESTONE AT AIM: Dave Gurska, Aim Integrated Logistics’ chief operating officer, recently marked three decades of service to Aim Transportation Solutions.

He joined the company in 1993, when the company had been operating just nine years. Then, it had about 10 locations and about 100 employees. Now, it has about 1,000 employees in 100 locations across the U.S.

He started as an entry-level lease sales and rental associate and grew to become one of Aim’s youngest regional vice presidents.

Gurska was picked in 2010 to take on Aim Integrated Logistics, the division of Aim offering dedicated fleet services. He helped grow it to a top 25 logistics company with more than 500 trucks and drivers delivering for customers nationwide.

New businesses

PERSONAL TRAINING SITE OPEN: Phoenix Personal Training LLC, 3045 Belmont Ave, Youngstown, recently was opened by Howard Ball, a Marine Corps veteran and certified personal trainer with more than two decades of fitness experience.

The site offers one-on-one private training, cardio cycling and high-intensity interval training.

People on the move

BURGAN ADDS AGENT: Youngstown native Kevin Flinn has joined Burgan Real Estate as an agent. Flinn has experience in sales and residential rentals as he now shifts focus to residential properties.

Submit items for business briefs, new businesses and people on the move by 4 p.m. Thursday. Email business@tribtoday.com or through the Submit News feature at www.tribtoday.com or www.vindy.com.