YOUNGSTOWN — The executive director of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition since the group’s start in 2011, Jessica Borza, is leaving for a role with the Ohio Manufacturers Association.

With the state organization, Borza will serve as managing director for workforce services.

At the local coalition — a group of manufacturers that works to develop a skilled workforce for the region better known as MVMC — Alex Hertzer was promoted to interim executive director.

Under Borza’s leadership, the coalition has grown from 18 founding members to more than 70 manufacturers and dozens more associate members and education partners in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties. The organization also has been awarded more than $26 million in workforce development grant funding.

Hertzer joined MVMC in 2021 and served most recently as assistant director. Membership development and WorkAdvance project management were among his primary responsibilities. Prior to MVMC, Hertzer was plant superintendent at ClarkDietrich Building Systems in Vienna.

“The strategic execution and direction Jessica has led over the past 10 plus years has created a stronger, more collaborative workforce ecosystem throughout the region, and I am excited to build upon this foundation as we continue to work with current and future partners to support the needs of our members,” Hertzer said in a news release.

Borza will lead the OMA Workforce Services management team. OMA leads many workforce initiatives, including supporting a statewide network of endorsed industry sector partnerships, including MVMC.

“I may be stepping down, but I’m certainly not stepping away completely from MVMC,” Borza said. “I have tremendous confidence in Alex’s ability to continue MVMC’s growth and momentum, and because of the collaboration and synergies we’ve maintained with OMA through the years, we’ll certainly have many opportunities to work together.”