FARMERS PROMOTION ANNOUNCED: Farmers National Insurance, Farmers National Bank’s wholly-owned insurance agency subsidiary, has named Matt Parise as its president.

In this role, Parise will lead the insurance strategy for Farmers. This includes retention and expansion of existing business as well as the acquisition of new business. Parise and his team will continue to work closely with internal business partners to provide protection of its customer’s business and personal assets as well as delivering group and individual health insurance.

Farmers National Insurance was founded in 2008 and grew to acquire The Bowers Group in June of 2016 and Champion Insurance in July of 2022. Parise began his career in the insurance industry upon joining Bowers in 2004. He was preceded as president by Ben Bowers, who retired in the fourth quarter of 2024.

“We are thrilled to appoint Matt to this role. With his deep experience, proven leadership, and dedication to the mission of Farmers, Matt is uniquely positioned to drive this division forward and continue delivering exceptional value to our clients,” says Mark Wenick, senior executive vice president and chief wealth management officer.

STUDENTS PRESENT RESEARCH: Three Youngstown State University students recently took center stage at the Ohio Space Grant Consortium Student Research Symposium to showcase their research projects.

Avinab De, Collin Richards and George Kerg, members of YSU’s Sokolov Honors College and active researchers in STEM disciplines were selected to represent the University at the conference, which gathered top students from institutions across Ohio including Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve and Bowling Green State University, among many others. “Being able to present my research on a NASA-affiliated platform was really cool,” said De, a graduating senior biology major who will begin medical school at Northeast Ohio Medical University this July.

His project focused on engineering metal-resistant bacteria that fluoresce under UV light — a potentially groundbreaking biosensor that could simplify mercury concentration detection.

Richards, a junior chemical engineering major from Hermitage, Pa., presented his work on designing flexible microheaters using laser-induced graphene — a promising step toward wearable therapeutic devices that could release medication for topical wounds on demand.

Kerg, a graduating senior double-majoring in chemistry and Spanish, is preparing to pursue a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry at the University of Houston. His research examined metal-organic frameworks and their potential for absorbing precious metals, a study with promising applications in environmental and industrial fields.

TROYER APPOINTMENT: Farmers National Bank has announced the appointment of Justin Troyer to market president of its Ohio West region.

Troyer has been with Farmers since 2014 and has served in several roles including branch manager, mortgage loan officer and most recently commercial banking team leader. He will continue his role as commercial banking team leader where he works with business customers on their financing and deposit needs and leads a team of commercial lenders. As market president, he will also represent Farmers as a local leader.

“As Farmers has experienced continued growth, the position of market president allows each market to benefit from local leaders who understand the niches and nuances of the communities they serve,” says William Shivers, chief commercial lending officer. “With Justin’s experience and relationships in Wayne County, he is the perfect fit for this position.”

GOODWILL COMMITTEE: Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries launched its first Assembly for Workforce Solutions Steering Committee meeting, an initia tive born from the findings of a regional Community Needs Assessment conducted in partnership with the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber.

The committee brings together cross-sector partners committed to working collaboratively to address critical barriers to workforce participation in the Mahoning Valley, including access to reliable transportation, behavioral health services, and affordable childcare. These challenges, identified through extensive community input and data analysis, impact not only individuals seeking employment, but the overall vitality and well-being of the region, too.

“It’s rare to gather 20 people in a room and find each one shares motivation and inspiration to truly make our Valley a better place to live, work and play, but that’s exactly what happened at the first steering committee meeting,” said Brenda Linert, the Chamber’s director of community impact.

In response to the assessment’s findings, Goodwill also created a new leadership position — community solutions director — which has been filled by Carol Holmes-Chambers and is a role dedicated to facilitating and advancing the strategies generated by the committee.

The committee will meet regularly to develop strategies, foster partnerships, and advance initiatives that create more accessible and supportive environments for individuals navigating the workforce.

BURGAN HONORS KIBREAB: Youngstown State University student Nabayt Kibreab has received this year’s John Burgan Entrepreneurship Award from Burgan Real Estate.

The $2,400 award was donated by Patrick Burgan in honor of his father, John Burgan. Started in 2020, it was established for YSU Williamson College of Business Administration students who believed they had a great idea for a new business. Kibreab, a senior with a dual major in economics and science, was awarded the cash prize for her plan to support the expansion of her business, Velora, an AI-driven software offering an app specializing in stock market predictions and education for those looking to get into trading.

“While we were impressed by all the entries, Nabayt clearly separated herself with her creativity, research and plan for an AI-powered stock market predictor,” said Patrick Burgan, co-broker and second-generation owner of Burgan Real Estate.

Kibreab, who is originally from Ethiopia and came to the United States three years ago to attend YSU, originally used this concept to satisfy her senior capstone project. However, she soon realized the potential of this idea and began focusing on this as a viable business idea. Her persistence and dedication to the idea not only enabled her to be recognized as this year’s John Burgan Entrepreneurship Award winner but also earned her 1st place in YSU’s annual Penguin Shark Tank competition.

Kibreab is on track to graduate in May 2026 from YSU.

LEADERSHIP AWARDS: Fourteen Williamson College of Business Administration students received the Spring 2025 WCBA Senior Leadership Awards. The award is based on students’ academic performance, leadership activities and demonstrated commitment to their professional development.

The Lariccia School of Accounting and Finance selected the following award recipients:

Kabir Abdullahi, an accounting major from Lagos, Nigeria; Emily Basista, an accounting major from Struthers; Michael Cicchillo, an accounting major from Youngstown; Grace Economus, an accounting major from from Poland; Dimetrius Harris, a financial management major from North Canton; and Theodore Ovaska, an economics major from Youngstown.

The Department of Marketing and Management selected the following award recipients: Lili Minich, a business aAdministration major from Frankfurt, Germany; Elizabeth Saur, a business administration major from Grove City, Ohio; Caleb Sturgeon, a business administration major from Beloit; Nathaniel Lewins, a marketing major from Concord Township; and Kaylei Shaffer, a marketing major from Struthers.

The Department of Communication selected the following award recipients: Teegan Graff, a communication major from Poland; Teziah Howard, a journalism major from Baltimore; and Abigail Gutowski, a multimedia communication major from Summerfield.