MVMC RECOGNIZED: The Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition has again earned The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s Industry Sector Partnership endorsement, reaffirming its position among a statewide network of manufacturer-led collaborations focused on workforce development and industry growth.

The renewal recognizes MVMC’s continued work to bring employers, educators and workforce partners together to address the talent needs of the Mahoning Valley’s manufacturing sector.

“Being an OMA-endorsed industry sector partnership is an important affirmation of MVMC’s mission and the collaborative work taking place across our region,” said Alex Hertzer, executive director of MVMC. “This partnership amplifies our efforts, strengthens our ability to advance workforce development and supports our shared goal of building a strong manufacturing industry in the Mahoning Valley and beyond.”

Based in Columbus, The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association is a statewide organization that supports, advocates for and advances Ohio’s manufacturing industry.

ON THE MOVE: Seven Seventeen Credit Union has announced recent promotions and hirings.

Amber Price has been promoted to Cortland Branch manager. Price has been with 7 17 for four years. As branch manager, she will oversee member service and maintain daily operations of the branch.

Aaron Shaw has been promoted to Larchmont assistant branch manager and has been with the company for seven years. Shaw will assist in overseeing member service and maintaining daily operations of the branch.

Jerry Eisen has been recently hired as market manager, Geauga. Eisen earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green University. In his position, he is responsible for driving growth, profitability and community impact across assigned markets.

Cheri Dodson has been named Wallhaven Branch manager, one of 7 17’s newest branches in Akron. Dodson has been with 7 17 for 28 years. As branch manager, she will oversee member service and maintain daily operations of the branch.

Lindsay Coles has been promoted to Central Lending manager and has been with the credit union for eight years. In her position, she will manage and promote quality service within the Central Lending staff.

Kristy Fisher has been promoted to director of Human Resources and has been with 7 17 for nine years. Fisher will oversee the functional responsibilities of labor/employee relations, benefits/payroll and HRIS administration.

De’Andre Davis recently has been hired as director of Digital Projects and Innovation. Davis earned a Master of Science Degree in Accounting from University of Akron. His responsibilities include shaping the credit union’s end-to-end digital member experience and digital strategy.

7 17 is slated to open new branches in Streetsboro and Stow; both due to open mid to late summer. Derrick Thomas has been recently hired as Streetsboro branch manager. Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Youngstown State University.

Dan Dudley has been named Stow Branch manager. Branch managers will oversee the member service and maintain daily operations of the branch.

NAMED TO BOARD: Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries has announced the appointment of Kriss Richey‑Wolford and Heather McCowin to its board of directors.

Richey‑Wolford brings more than 20 years of experience in health care and behavioral health. She spent 22 years in radiology and X‑ray services at Akron Children’s Hospital and currently serves with Alta Behavioral Healthcare. Since 2016, she has also been a dedicated family advocate for children with mental health and developmental disabilities, working to improve access to resources and support for families across the region.

McCowin serves as Chief Nursing Officer at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, where she provides executive leadership for nursing operations and patient care strategy. She began her career as a registered nurse in emergency services and has advanced into senior leadership roles overseeing complex systems and large clinical teams.

Both new board members share a strong commitment to service and to Goodwill’s mission of empowering individuals and strengthening communities.

“We are honored to welcome Kriss and Heather to our board of directors,” said Dr. Shelley Murray, CEO of Goodwill. “Each brings valuable experience, thoughtful leadership, and a deep commitment to helping individuals and communities move forward. Their service will help us continue building pathways to opportunity and expand the impact of our work across the communities we serve.”

HARVEY AWARDS: Nearly 200 people gathered March 19 at The Barn at Firestone Farms for the 73rd Annual Harvey Awards, a celebration of the people and organizations driving Columbiana forward.

The annual event honors those whose work strengthens education, inspires young leaders, fuels entrepreneurship, advances business growth and improves quality of life across the community.

Award recipients were Brian Frederick, The Eldritch Bazaar, Business Development Award; Garwood Arena, Justin Garwood and Ashley Tyler, Business of the Year Award; Michael Clark, Citizen of the Year Award; Amanda Moore, Joshua Dixon Elementary, Educator of the Year Award; Taylor Yuhanick and Katie King, Unsung Hero Award; Dylan Fletcher, Young Citizen of the Year Award; an Lilly Quetot, Main Street Esthetics, Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Sponsors of the event were Compco Industries, HBK CPAs and Consultants, Humtown, MS Consultants, #1 Cochran, AIM Transportation Solutions, Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley, Cafaro Company, HD Growth Partners, HSH Contractor, Huntington, Trumbull Industries, Vallourec, WesBanco, Window World, Windsor House, Platz Realty Group and Advanced Technology Partners.

YSU TEAM TAKES SECOND: Students in Youngstown State University’s Civil and Construction Engineering Technology program earned second place at the Ohio Contractors Association Annual Estimating Competition, held March 13-14.

The two-day competition brought together teams from 10 Ohio universities, challenging students to prepare a comprehensive construction cost estimate under real-world conditions. Participating schools included Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, Ohio Northern University, Ohio University, The University of Akron, The University of Cincinnati, The University of Dayton, The University of Toledo and Kent State University.

YSU’s team was mentored by Joe Sanson, associate professor in computer science, information and engineering technology, with additional guidance from industry mentor Joe Brown of Beaver Excavating. Their combined academic and industry support helped prepare students for the competition’s real-world demands.

During the event, teams were assigned a construction project and tasked with developing a complete estimate within a single day. The OCA designed the competition to mirror industry practices, providing subcontractors quotes, addenda and project documentation to simulate an active construction bid.

Following submission, judges evaluated each bid for accuracy and responsiveness. Teams then delivered formal presentations, explaining their estimated process and defending their decisions during a question-and-answer session.

After two days of competition, YSU earned second place, finishing behind The University of Akron and ahead of Case Western Reserve University.

LAMMERS HONORED: Phil Lammers, vice president, senior investment executive of Farmers National Investments, earned the Platinum Qualifier award at Cetera Financial Group’s annual awards conference, Circle of Excellence.

Since 2008, Phil has been affiliated with Cetera, the premiere financial adviser Wealth Hub where financial advisers and institutions optimize their control and value creation. Each year, Circle of Excellence recognizes the accomplishments and leadership of Cetera’s top financial professionals.

“It’s an extreme honor to be part of the Circle of Excellence,” Lammers said. “I’m hoping to be able to be part of this high performing group for years to come.”

Besides participating in the Circle of Excellence awards, attendees to the conference also enjoyed a variety of sessions, networking opportunities and presenters, including informative and inspirational keynote speakers.

Lammers has 26 years of experience in the financial services industry.

INTERVIEW HELP: Students from the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University are helping local high school students build confidence and career readiness through hands-on mock interview experiences.

Student officers from the Society for Human Resource Management chapter at WCBA recently partnered with Crestview High School to conduct mock interviews for 40 students enrolled in a personal finance and career exploration course. Each high school student participated in a 10-minute interview session with a YSU student, receiving individualized feedback and a formal evaluation of their performance.

Christina O’Connell, executive director of the Center for Career Management at WCBA, attended the event alongside student volunteers, further supporting the college’s commitment to career readiness and employer-aligned learning experiences.

The initiative provided Crestview students with real-world interview practice while allowing WCBA students to apply their human resource management skills in a professional setting.

In addition to verbal feedback, YSU students provided written evaluations to help participants strengthen their communication, professionalism and interview techniques. The collaboration reflects WCBA’s continued commitment to experiential learning and community engagement, connecting college students with opportunities to serve as mentors and role models for the next generation.

ETHICAL PRACTICS: Kimberly-Clark Corporation was recently recognized as one of the 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

Kimberly-Clark has been awarded this recognition for eight consecutive years and 11 times overall. It is one of only two honorees in the Consumer Products industry. In 2026, 138 honorees were recognized, spanning 17 countries and 40 industries. This year’s class includes 19 first-time honorees, and six organizations recognized 20 times.

“Being named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® for the eighth consecutive year is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our teams around the world to lead with integrity,” said Jeff Melucci, Chief Strategy, Business Development and Administrative Officer at Kimberly-Clark. “As we advance the largest transformation in our company’s 154-year history, this honor reinforces that doing what is right is not only essential to who we are, but also fundamental to driving long-term, sustainable growth and delivering better care for our customers, consumers and communities, every day.”

The company is constructing a manufacturing facility in Trumbull County.

CONTRACTS INKED: Vallourec, a world leader in seamless tubular solutions, signed two contracts in February for 14,000 tons of OCTG products, which are part of a series of five contracts signed recently with different operators in Indonesia. These orders represent a total volume of approximately 36,000 tons of premium pipes and connections to support the oil and gas operations of around 140 wells in the region.

Primarily located in deep offshore environments, these projects illustrate the technical challenges of Indonesia’s energy sector that require solutions capable of withstanding high pressures and extreme conditions. To meet these specific requirements, Vallourec will supply a range of its advanced connections, including VAM 21, a leading market standard that delivers safe and reliable performance.

The pipes will be heat treated and threaded at Vallourec’s subsidiary in Indonesia, providing operators with solutions that maximizes local production and brings value to the country.

Vallourec also operates its main U.S. production facility along the Trumbull and Mahoning County border in Youngstown and Girard.

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