$1 MILLION FOR MERIDIAN: The Ohio Controlling Board approved $1 million in funding for Meridian HealthCare renovations to extend its program space to 26,094 square feet, Meridian and state Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, announced this week.

Additionally, Meridian will be building an in-house pharmacy for easier access to patient care.

“Meridian is grateful to receive this funding,” said Larry Moliterno, president / CEO for Meridian. “These renovations will allow us to continue to provide patient-focused care to our community.”

Meridian is a nonprofit that provides primary care, mental health services and substance-use services and has served the Mahoning Valley for more than 50 years.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Meridian HealthCare and for all the people they serve in the Mahoning Valley,” McNally said. “Mental health, alcohol and drug treatment can save lives. I am excited to see more services and more capacity to help adults, children, and families that are struggling with mental health and / or addiction.”

LUCARELLI NAMED: Farmers National Bank recently hired Anthony Lucarelli, senior vice president, director of mortgage sales, to lead its mortgage sales team.

Lucarelli has been in the financial services industry for more than 34 years, with the previous six as the director of mortgage sales for another financial institution.

“I am thrilled to join the Farmers Mortgage team and continue to build and lead a strong group of lenders committed to cultivating strong client relationships,” Lucarelli said. “Ensuring our communities have the partner of choice, with the right mortgage products for their needs, is top of mind.”

Lucarelli sits on the Greater Cleveland Mortgage Banks Board and is a member of the nonprofit Phe’Be Foundation board of directors.

He will be based out of the Canfield East office and can be reached at ALucarelli@farmersbankgroup.com.

SOUTHWOODS HONORED: Southwoods Health has announced The Surgical Hospital at Southwoods received a 5-star rating for hospital cleanliness from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

This distinction places Southwoods among the cleanest hospitals in the nation, according to a recent report by Becker’s Hospital Review.

The Surgical Hospital at Southwoods is the only hospital in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties to earn this recognition, one of 17 hospitals in Ohio and one of 374 hospitals nationwide to achieve the 5-star rating.

The rating is based on data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey, specifically reflecting how patients rated the cleanliness of their hospital room and bathroom during their stay.

“This recognition from our patients speaks volumes about the trust and satisfaction we’ve built in the community,” said Ed Muransky, Southwoods Health CEO. “I’m incredibly proud of the dedication and diligence of our staff who make this level of excellence possible.”

OUTSTANDING EFFORT: CK Franchising Inc., the franchisor of Comfort Keepers in-home care, recently recognized Mirkin and Associates Inc., owner of the Mahoning and Trumbull counties Comfort Keepers office, for outstanding achievement with the Quest for Excellence Award.

The award recognizes Comfort Keepers franchisees as the top sales performers with revenue growth or who deliver the most significant percentage year-over-year revenue growth within a category.

Mirkin and Associates Inc. is being recognized and honored for delivering a stellar business performance in 2024 and part of the recognition included an incentive trip to Key Largo, Florida, with other winners.

“I am honored to receive this award,” David Mirkin said. “I take pride in the service we provide to our clients, knowing that what we do helps them live better lives each day.”

MS CONTRIBUTION: Demonstrating its commitment to Youngstown’s recovery and revitalization, MS Consultants has contributed $5,000 to the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber Foundation to help advance the strategic redevelopment of the city’s downtown.

The contribution marks the firm’s second $5,000 investment to the downtown initiative, following its initial gift in 2024. Together, the investments reflect MS Consultants’ ongoing commitment to restoring vibrancy to Youngstown’s urban core after years of adversity.

The funding is part of an $8,000 allocation from MS Consultants to support all the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber’s strategic initiatives, including population and talent expansion and housing.

The downtown initiative, led by the Economic Action Group, is supported by $25,000 from the city of Youngstown and a $50,000 JobsOhio Vibrant Communities grant facilitated by Lake to River Economic Development.

“From the pandemic to road closures and the tragic May 28, 2024, Realty Tower explosion, downtown Youngstown businesses have faced extraordinary challenges,” said Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Chamber. “Thanks to partners like MS Consultants and the strategic efforts led by EAG, we are moving forward with a bold plan to rebuild a vibrant and prosperous downtown.”

MS Consultants is a local engineering, architecture and planning firm that was founded in Youngstown in 1963 by Thomas F. Mosure and Thomas Fok. Originally known as Mosure-Fok Engineering in 1963, the firm focused on providing transportation engineering services to improve local communities.

Since then, the family-owned firm has grown to nearly 400 employees in multiple states, offering a range of services including land development, construction, architectural services and more.

“Youngstown holds a special place for us; it’s where MS Consultants was founded more than 60 years ago, and we’ll continue to invest our resources and expertise to help the community thrive,” said Mark Buchenic, Eastern Ohio regional director for MS Consultants.

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: The Center for Nonprofit Leadership at Youngstown State University, housed in the Williamson College of Business Administration, has been awarded a grant from The Wean Foundation to implement the 2025 Nonprofit Leadership Summer Fellowship Program.

The Nonprofit Leadership Summer Fellowship Program is a biennial program that matches YSU students seeking career-related experience in the nonprofit sector with nonprofit organizations in the Mahoning Valley looking to build organizational capacity. This program gives 12 YSU students the opportunity to work full time for 12 weeks, for a total of 480 hours, or part time for 300 hours between May 12 and Aug. 1. All fellows are paid $18 per hour.

The following students and organizations were selected to participate:

The Andrea Mahone Foundation hired MacKenzie Harrington, a master of business administration student; Inspiring Minds Youngstown hired Melea Johnson, a social work major; Mahoning County Land Bank hired Serene Awad, an environmental studies major; Mahoning Valley Historical Society hired Connor Tapp, a history major;

Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley hired Kevin Balella, a marketing major; Meridian HealthCare hired Tara Wine, a marketing major; Northeast Ohio Adoption Services hired Sujey Navarro Negrete, a business administration major; Oh Wow! Children’s Center for Science & Technology hired Aicha Sawaneh, a communication major;

United Way of Trumbull County hired Danuneka Cargill, a business administration major; YMCA of Youngstown hired Haya Farhan, a graduate student studying public health; Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation hired Sabrina Johnson, a psychology major; and YWCA Mahoning Valley hired Miya Brown, an accounting major.

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