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EWM HELPING SECOND HARVEST: The Eastwood Mall Complex is looking for imaginative people to create works of art from canned foods, which will be used by Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley to feed hungry people.

The best design, meanwhile, wins the title of Best CAN-struction in the Summer Bites: Building Joy One Can at a Time competition.

Teams from local organizations, businesses, social clubs, schools and other groups are being sought to collect canned goods, then design and build structures inside Eastwood Mall. Each CAN-struction must fit within a 10-by-10-by-10 space.

Enter a team by contacting Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley at 330-792-5522 or online at rfuller@shfbmv.org.

The deadline to enter is July 8.The structures will be built Aug. 2 and judging and awards are Aug. 3. The structures will be displayed in the mall Aug. 4 to Sept. 1.

BOOM BOOM WINS: Boom Boom Bourbon Reserve Edition has won its second Double Gold Medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The event is the second oldest and largest spirits competition in the world, including more than 5,500 entries In 2021. Boom Boom Bourbon Reserve Edition won its first Double Gold Medal, a milestone for Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini's signature bourbon 2021.

The second win was in April.

A Double Gold medal is awarded to the entries that receive a gold medal rating by all members of the judging panel.

WOMAN PICKED FOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: Kimberly Garrett, deputy director of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, has been selected to participate in a statewide library leadership program.

Garrett will join other library leaders from around the state in July at Library Leadership Ohio 2024. The State Library of Ohio and OhioNet announced the cohort of library leaders selected to participate in the program based on leadership potential, collaborative spirit and commitment to the profession.

Library Leadership Ohio spans nearly 30 years and includes hundreds of alumni in a variety of positions in libraries across Ohio and across the country. With programming focused on personal development and transferable leadership skills, it fosters connections and collaboration within Ohio's library community.

YSU STUDENT ACCEPTED INTO PROGRAM: Lainey Mercure, business law major in the Individualized Curriculum Program in the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University, has been accepted to the University of Akron Law School through the joint BSBA to J.D. 3 + 3 program.

The program allows Mercure to earn her bachelor's degree in business administration and her law degree in six years instead of the usual seven. Doing so allows her to save a full year of undergraduate study, tuition and living expenses, and she will have the opportunity to enter the field a year earlier than others, increasing her long-term earning potential and getting a head start on making a difference in her field.

Mercure of Columbiana County, anticipates earning her bachelor's degree from YSU in the spring of 2025 and will continue her studies at the University of Akron to receive her law degree in spring 2027.

COMPANIES PARTNER ON T-SHIRT DESIGN: Meridian HealthCare is celebrating its 50th anniversary and Mental Health Awareness Month by partnering with Youngstown Clothing Company on the limited release of the Power of Care T-shirt. The shirt has the phrase "The Power of Care" as a reminder to be kind to others.

Youngstown Clothing Company will donate 10% of the proceeds for each Power of Care shirt to the Meridian HealthCare Foundation, which provides care to those in our community. The shirt can be purchased on Youngstown Clothing Company's website, with options for shipping or in-store pick-up.

New businesses

FUNERAL HOME OPENS: Beacon Funeral and Cremation Services and eCremation has begun offering services in Warren and surrounding areas from its location in the lower level of the Community Church of God in Christ, 310 Austin Ave. SW, Warren.

Services can be conducted at the funeral home or Beacon can come to another location.

For more information about Beacon Funeral and Cremation Services, go to beaconfuneral.com or call 330-598-0217.

REFRESHING OPTION: Bubbles Tea & Juice Company recently held its grand opening at the Eastwood Mall.

The refreshment stop is in the mall's food court, and is open daily during mall hours. It offers flavored teas, milk teas and dairy-free milk options featuring popping bubbles on the bottom, cold-press juices, smoothies and acai bowls.

Bubbles Tea & Juice Company began in 2005 in the North Market of Columbus. The mall location is the company's 13th.

People on the move

MERIDIAN ADDS STAFF: Meridian HealthCare recently brought on Breanna Whirrett as development coordinator.

In the role, Whirrett will organize and raise funds for The Meridian HealthCare Foundation to support individuals and their caregivers in recovery from addiction, mental health problems and other diseases.

Previously, Whirrett served as director of development at Shelter Care, Inc. for five years. In that role, she wrote grants, planned events and built relationships with individuals, local businesses, foundations and community partners to provide residential and mental health support to the homeless.

PREMIER PROMOTES: Premier Bank has promoted Thomas D. Crew to branch manager of the Newport Glen office.

Crew joined Premier Bank in September 2020 as a customer service representative at the Newport Glen office and has held various positions, including client service manager at the Kirk Road office and then relationship banker at the Canfield office.

In the new role, he will lead the Newport Glen office.

Crew of Boardman, was selected in 2024 to join the bank's employer of choice committee, an internal committee designed to support Premier's work environment and culture. The activities of the committee focus on employee engagement, enrichment, productivity and efficiency. He also participated in this year's Premier Bank Mentor Program, a nine-month developmental program that pairs mentees seeking career enhancement with mentors.

BURGAN BRINGS ON AGENT: Burgan Real Estate recently announced the latest addition to the firm's group of agents, Kalina Wisniewski.

Before joining Burgan, Wisniewski, a native of North Jackson, was a VIP supervisor at FirstEnergy Stadium for events.

Submit items for business briefs, new businesses and people on the move to business@tribtoday.com.

Business News

Business briefs

FINANCIAL ADVISOR / AUTHOR TO SPEAK: Youngstown native J. Derek Penn, who spent 34 years working on Wall Street, dealing for financial giants like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers, will speak May 21 at the downtown Youngstown branch of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County about his book, "Diary of a Black Man on Wall Street: From Youngstown, Ohio to the Big Apple."

The event begins at 6 p.m.

The book details Penn's life and obstacles growing up in Youngstown to attending Duke University and its prestigious Fuqua School of Business to his career on Wall Street.

COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED: The winning students from the Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania's first Pre-Apprentice Competition are James Mincks, West Branch High School, first place; Mitchell Hoffman, West Branch High School, second place; and Darren Kemp of East Palestine High School, third place.

The school winner was Brookfield Local Schools.

In the competition, 18 submissions were judged. For this year's project, students were tasked with the completion of an Adirondack chair from a specified set of plans in the pre-apprentice project book.

The association's executive committee gave the students Power Tool and Supply gift certificates to help kick start their careers or apprenticeships in the trades after high school graduation.

The preapprentice program has more than 500 students participating from Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana counties.

The association represents about 150 contractors and affiliated construction industry services members from Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties in Ohio, and Lawrence and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania.

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP AVAILABLE: Credit Union of Ohio's free Ins and Outs of Home Equity Loans virtual workshop will be noon Wednesday.

The workshop will cover a variety of different uses for home equity loans and also will cover specific types of financing available, including the pros and cons of each option.

Those interested in attending should register at cuofohio.org.

HOSPITAL EARNS MAGNET DESIGNATION: St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, a Mercy Health facility, has again achieved Magnet recognition, a designation that serves as a reflection of nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care.

With this credential, through the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program, the hospital is among select company. Only about 610 of hospitals across the country and about 40 hospitals in Ohio have achieved Magnet recognition.

To achieve the distinction, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that includes an electronic application, written patient care documentation, an onsite visit and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.

Mercy Health's St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital and St. Joseph Warren Hospital also have achieved Magnet status.

CHAMBER TO HOLD EVENT The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber's Good Morning, Warren! event is 7:30 to 9 a.m. May 24 at the Hippodrome, 150 High St. NE, Warren.

Warren Mayor Doug Franklin will give his annual State of the City address and Warren City Schools Superintendent Steve Chiaro will give an update on the school district.

Register at regionalchamber.com under the Events tab.

People on the move

DOCTOR APPOINTED: The Grand Resort has announced the appointment of Dr. Robert T. Moosally as the new medical director of the resort's comprehensive Med Spa.

As medical director, Moosally will oversee all Med Spa operations, including the services offered, staff management, expansion of additional service lines and quality and competency standards by staff and partner vendors.

His previous roles include vice president of medical affairs for Mercy Health's St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital and central region chairman for emergency medicine with Steward Health Care and medical director of the emergency room at Trumbull Regional Medical Center.

Submit items for business briefs, new businesses and people on the move to business@tribtoday.com.

Business News

Business briefs

COMPANY OPENS NILES STORE: Ford Office Technologies, a provider of IT solutions and office equipment, has opened a location in Niles at 922 Great East Plaza.

The expansion, according to the company, is "a strategic move to better serve the Youngstown / Warren area."

Services include managed IT, print, cybersecurity, copiers and printers, and computer hardware, software and parts.

The store is the company's fifth. Others are in Pennsylvania in Erie, Pittsburgh, Monroeville and Connellsville.

BANK HELPS AHA: Together with its customers, Farmers National Bank donated more than $8,000 to the local American Heart Association.

The money will be used to fund cardiovascular research, advocate for heart-healthier communities and spread awareness of heart attack / stroke.

Julianna Begalla, marketing director for Farmers, led the bank's efforts. She was the 2024 American Heart Association Woman of Impact nominee.

In addition to providing corporate sponsorship, the bank raised more than $5,500 in February through staff donations and by selling paper hearts to customers in branches.

CONTEST CELEBRATES TALENT, FAMILY VALUES: Aim Transportation Solutions has concluded its Aim 2024 "What My Grown-up Does" drawing contest, which highlighted the company's commitment to fostering a positive, family-focused workplace culture.

For the contest, Aim employees were asked to share information with the children in their lives about their job and how it impacts the transportation industry. Children were then asked to draw what their "grown-up" does for Aim.

The contest received 66 submissions, with several photographs that acquired more than 1,000 reactions. The reach of the contest extended to nearly 78,000 individuals, generating more than 5,000 engagements on the submitted photos. Numerous images were shared by Aim employees within driver and mechanic groups on social media.

There were four winners by age category. Each received a $100 Amazon Gift card to buy a toy or electronic for their child, and an Aim die-cast truck. The Aim employee with the winning child submission in each category received an extra day of paid time off to spend with their child.

FRAUD, CYBERSECURITY EVENT SET: Farmers National Bank will host a fraud prevention and cybersecurity event for local business owners 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. May 22 at the bank's Canfield Lab branch, 4538 Boardman-Canfield Road, Canfield.

Representatives from the Farmers security team will be there with tips on how to avoid cybersecurity pitfalls and common scams.

RSVP to Bryttanie Burton at bburton@farmersbankgroup.com, 330-533-2686 or via https://lp.constantcontact

pages.com/ev/reg/sn2ch7s. The event is free.

CHAMBER TO HOST EVENT: The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber will host state Rep. Jay Edwards, R-Nelsonville, for the agency's Lattes with Legislators event 7:30 to 9 a.m. May 20 at the Grand Resort Ballroom, 9519 E. Market St., Warren.

Edwards, in his fourth term as a state representative, is chairman of the Ohio House's finance committee, which is responsible for producing the state's main operating and capital budgets.

Register at regionalchamber.com under the Events tab.

TEAM FROM YSU FINISHES FOURTH: Youngstown State University placed fourth overall recently in the e-Human Powered Vehicle Challenge at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Festival.

The Penguins competed against 15 teams from other universities, including the University of Central Florida, NC State University, University of Iowa, University of South Florida and the University of Wisconsin.

As a part of their senior design project, students were tasked with working on the competition vehicle in their senior design project class. Competing students included Sean Armold, Jacob Brundrett, Matthew Fabian, Joshua Gray and Kristopher McCowin.

In addition, the mechanical engineering team finished third in the design event, fifth in the drag event and fifth in the endurance event.

The e-HPVC is an engineering design and innovation competition that gives students the opportunity to network and apply engineering principles through the design, fabrication and racing of human powered vehicles.

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR MATCHMAKER EVENT: Small businesses across Ohio will have the opportunity to develop relationships with local, state and federal government agencies and contractors that award billions of dollars in contracts each year at the Matchmaker event May 8 and 9 at the Nutter Center at Wright State University in Dayton.

The event will include training opportunities for small businesses May 8. The matchmaking event is May 9. Businesses can either preschedule appointments or create their own unscheduled matchmaking the day of the event.

The cost to register is $130. On-site registration will cost $180. Government agencies and prime contracts can register for free. Register at

ohiobusinessmatchmaker.com.

People on the move

WOMAN NAMED DIRECTOR: Linda Jones has been appointed Ohio junior director for the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) Ohio.

Jones recently accepted the title at The Junior Women's League Gala and Installation Ceremony in Columbus. Her theme is "Empowering Change -- Stronger Together."

Her special emphasis for Ohio is to help children in the foster care system by providing them with comfort bags when they're being placed in or removed from foster homes.

Jones serves at the local, state and national level as a result of her years of leadership, volunteering, committee work and fundraising for the Austintown Junior Women's League.

In March, she was named in the GFWC Ohio Blue Book of Distinguished Women for her dedication to the organization's volunteer efforts

She is Austintown branch manager for Farmers National Bank.

CHAIR AT YSU NAMED: Tomi Ovaska, economics professor at Youngstown State University's Lariccia School of Accounting and Finance, has been named the Paul J. Thomas Endowed Chair in Economics at YSU.

The endowed faculty position was created in honor of Paul J. Thomas, a successful Mahoning Valley businessman, through a $1.5 million donation by Thomas' daughters in 2018.

Ovaska is a lieutenant in the Finnish Naval Reserve. He received his master's degree in political science from the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, in 1997 and his doctorate in economics from West Virginia University in 2003.

He has been a professor at YSU since 2007. His research interests include behavioral economics, comparative economic systems, entrepreneurship and life satisfaction.

Submit items for business briefs, new businesses and people on the move to business@tribtoday.com.