PITCH NIGHT SET: The Minority Business Assistance Center at the Youngstown Business Incubator is hosting pitch night for 24 minority and women entrepreneurs enrolled in the MBAC Launch program 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at BRITE Energy Innovators in Warren.

After four weeks of the program, the minority entrepreneurs will spend their last night of class pitching their business plan to lenders and procurement officers for a $5,000 grant award sponsored by Chase Bank.

Each presentation will include the entrepreneur’s business plan and the course material they’ve learned throughout the program, giving the grant winner a chance to launch their product into the marketplace.

Launch is a program primarily focused on those who have started their own business, but need assistance launching their product into the market and gaining greater access to government and state institutional contracts. Participants who attended Launch courses learned about marketing tools and strategies, partnerships, accessing capital and certifying their business in Ohio as a Minority Business Enterprise from industry experts.

Those interested in learning more about what MBAC offers at YBI are invited to visit ybi.org/programs/mbac.

PANEL DISCUSSION PLANNED: The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber and Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 396 will host a panel discussion on permitting reform 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Local 396’s office, 493 Bev Road, Suite 3, Youngstown.

The discussion will be led by U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta.

Go to regionalchamber.com and click on the Events tab to register.

McCONNELL MARKETING ACQUIRED: Carson Lisko and Deanna Clement have acquired McConnell Marketing of Canfield.

The acquisition was completed in June. Lisko and Clement are equal partners and are dedicated to maintaining the company’s commitment to integrity, creativity, service and social responsibility.

Under the new ownership, McConnell Marketing will continue to operate under its brand name and bring forth opportunities for growth, new services and enhanced client support.

Lisko and Clement are Youngstown natives and graduates of Youngstown State University with degrees in graphic and interactive design. They have a combined 15 years of marketing experience and are proficient in graphic and web design, brand development, copywriting and public relations.

McConnell Marketing was founded in 1991 by Mark McConnell, a former luxury hotel director of sales and marketing and purchased in 2015 by longtime senior associates, Katie Swain and Megan Magnetta.

PEDIATRICS OFFICE OPENS: Akron Children’s Hospital will provide pediatric primary care to Campbell and surrounding communities with the opening of a new practice Aug. 28.

At the Community Literacy Workforce and Cultural Center, the new office is located at 434 Struthers-Coitsville Road in Lowellville. It is the 40th office in the Akron Children’s Pediatrics network.

Akron Children’s Pediatrics, Campbell office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Providers Dr. Aaron Sweeney and certified nurse practitioners Laurie McGlynn, Terri McCaughtry and Marie Lingenfelter offer wellness checkups, immunizations and treatment for illness and chronic disease management.

MERCHANT LECTURE SERIES ANNOUNCED: The Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor has announced the fall lineup of the Downtown Merchants Lecture Series.

The lecture series begins 5:30 p.m. Sept. 28. Former trainman in the mills and founder and director of the Mahoning Valley Railroad Heritage Association, Carl Jacobson, will present the story of trains and their pivotal role in keeping the mills in operation.

Jacob Harver, a local entrepreneur and doctoral student at Kent State University, will recount his rides along the Ohio Canals and the industries of a bygone era 4:30 p.m. Oct. 13.

Former co-director of the Center for Working-Class Studies at Youngstown State University, Sherry Linkon, director of the writing program at Georgetown University and professor of English, will lead a discussion during the closing reception of the “Women at Work” exhibit 6 p.m. Nov. 10.

Allison Bye, assistant director of YSU Alumni Engagement, will discuss the importance of community engagement and the role local citizens and alumni play in promoting local organizations 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16.

Jonathan Cambouris, president of the Hellenic Preservation Society of Cleveland will speak on Greek culture and its community contributions to industry and labor 5 p.m. Dec. 8.

All events are free and open to the public. Reservations, which are preferred, but not required, can be made by calling 330-941-1314.

PROGRAM HONORED: Valley Little Melodies in Canfield has been named a Top Program by Kindermusik International, a provider of music-based education for infants, toddlers and young children.

Valley Little Melodies placed fifth in the United States and eighth in the world. The Top Program award recognizes excellence in spreading the power of music and movement to young children and their families through Kindermusik’s curricula.

Cara Vernal is a Kindermusik-accredited educator and the owner of Valley Little Melodies, which has been open since 2017.

Vernal presented at the Kindermusik International Conference in July on how she creates community in and out of the classroom for grown-ups. She believes one of the greatest influences in her studio’s growth and retention is the connectedness that her grownups feel to her educators and to each other.

New business

VIRTUAL KITCHEN LAUNCHED: Jimboy’s Tacos has opened its first virtual location in Youngstown with delivery-only service. Guests can order menu items for delivery through the Jimboy’s Tacos online ordering system or through third-party delivery services like DoorDash and Grubhub.

Also known as ghost, dark or cloud kitchens, virtual kitchens are designed for off-premises dining with a focus on cooking for online ordering and delivery services.

The Youngstown location is open for delivery from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The website is jimboystacos.com.

People on the move

PREMIER PROMOTES: Premier Bank recently promoted Jonathan J. Guerrier to branch manager of the Newport Glen office.

Guerrier, who joined Premier Bank in June 2015, has held various positions at the bank, starting as a customer service representative then universal banker. He most recently served as a relationship banker at the office in Struthers.

In his new role, Guerrier of Austintown, will lead his team to deliver exceptional customer experience, with a focus on driving growth and developing key business and community relationships.

Guerrier studied political science and pre-law at Youngstown State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Penn State University. He also earned an executive certificate in leadership coaching from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

MARKETER GROWS STAFF: Sable Beshara-Kyle has been hired as an account and digital growth manager at 898 Marketing, a full-service strategic and integrated marketing agency in Canfield.

She previously worked as digital growth manager at Optimal Digital Marketing, an out-of-state agency. Prior to that, Beshara-Kyle worked at the Cafaro Company in positions that included digital marketing manager and marketing campaign manager.

At 898 Marketing, she will handle account management and digital marketing strategies for a range of consumer clients.

Beshara-Kyle is a Mahoning Valley native with an economics degree from Miami University.

FARMERS ANNOUNCES BOARD ADDITIONS: Farmers National Banc Corp., the holding company of Farmers National Bank, has added two new members to its board of directors, Carl D. Culp and Gina A. Richardson.

Culp was appointed to serve as a Class III director, with a term expiring at the 2025 annual shareholders meeting. He spent 32 years at Farmers National Bank and retired in 2021 as senior executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Richardson has been appointed to serve as a Class II director, with a term expiring in 2024. As founder of Gina Richardson LLC, she focuses her legal practice in Canfield on business and commercial matters, real estate and employee compensation.

Culp will serve on the board’s enterprise risk management committee. Richardson will serve on the board’s audit and corporate governance and nominating committees.

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