AMERICA MAKES GATHERING: The 14th annual America Makes Members Meeting and Exchange will take place Aug. 4-5 at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield. The institute’s hallmark gathering brings together the nation’s leading voices in additive manufacturing.

MMX is designed as an intensive two-day experience where collaboration, innovation and industry leadership converge. Attendees will participate in high-impact discussions and strategic networking focused on accelerating next-generation AM adoption across the defense industrial base, strengthening the workforce, increasing supply chain resiliency and enabling more responsive, cost-effective production in support of national mission readiness.

America Makes’ leadership will present its annual State of the Union address, including a preview of new funding and contracting pathways that will shape future partnerships and project activity.

Leaders across AM technology, workforce development, and the industrial base will guide keynote sessions, panel discussions, and “Industry Perspectives,” highlighting member companies that are pioneering transformative AM applications across diverse sectors. Recipients of the Distinguished Collaborator and Ambassador Awards also will be honored.

Program information can be found at https://rb.gy/lpjsno.

“BLAIR & BLOOM”: Eastwood Mall will welcome Blair & Bloom, an independently owned women’s fashion and lifestyle boutique, to its Center Court on July 31.

The new store marks a major milestone for local entrepreneur and retail veteran Alyssa Langenheim, who brings nearly two decades of industry expertise to a new, curated shopping experience focused on community, growth and personal style.

“Opening Blair & Bloom is the realization of a lifelong dream and a new chapter in my retail journey,” Langenheim said. “After spending nearly 20 years serving customers throughout the Mahoning Valley, I’m incredibly grateful for the relationships I’ve built along the way.

“One of the things I’m most excited about is welcoming many of those familiar faces into a business of my own and sharing this journey with them.”

Blair & Bloom will offer a blend of affordable, fashion-forward and wearable everyday pieces designed to appeal to women across generations and lifestyles. The extensive inventory will feature contemporary women’s apparel, accessories, jewelry, shoes, handbags and unique gifts.

To celebrate the July 31 grand opening, Blair & Bloom will host special giveaways to welcome early shoppers. Plans are also underway for an official ribboncutting ceremony, with exact scheduling details to be released as the opening approaches.

Shoppers wanting a sneak peek can follow the boutique on Facebook and Instagram @shopblairandbloom, or visit shopblairandbloom.com.

KOPER JOINS STAFF: Pecchia Communications announced the hiring of Sophia Koper as project coordinator. She provides writing, website management, social media coordination, research and other services for Pecchia Communications and its clients.

Before joining Pecchia Communications, Koper served as content creator and office assistant at Old North Church in Canfield, where she created and edited content for ongoing social media and podcast programs. She also operates, with her husband, a wedding photography business.

Koper graduated summa cum laude from Youngstown State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

She lives in Boardman with her husband and newborn baby. When she’s not working, Koper enjoys crocheting, reading and spending time with her family and cats.

Established in November 2005, Pecchia Communications provides public relations, content marketing and change management services to organizations in the Mahoning Valley and beyond. Primary clients include Adobe Inc., Ohio Living, Harrington Hoppe & Mitchell, A. Stucki Company, Matthias Media, the Mahoning County Land Bank and the Youngstown Foundation. More information is available at pecchiacomm.com.

WELLNESS BOUTIQUE: The grand opening of Highland Wellness Co., 132 S. Broad St., Suite B2, Canfield, took place July 7 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Owner Amy Rizer founded Highland Wellness Co. with a mission to create more than just a retail store. The boutique aims to become a trusted community resource where visitors can learn about ingredients, healthier skincare practices and holistic wellness in a welcoming and educational environment.

The boutique offers curated clean and nontoxic skincare, Korean skincare, handcrafted tallow-based products, organic wellness essentials and personalized consultations designed to help customers make informed choices about their health and skincare.

“Turning 50 changed the way I looked at skincare,” Rizer said. “I realized there was so much I didn’t know about ingredients, aging, and skin health. That journey took me around the world–from learning about Korean skincare to discovering European clean beauty standards. My mission is to bring the best wellness discoveries from around the world home to our community while creating a boutique experience that’s personal, educational, and inspiring.”

For more information, call (419) 967-3969.

KLINE HONORED: Madisen Kline, an accounting student in Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business Administration, has been selected as a 2026-27 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board PCAOB Scholar.

The Western Pennsylvania resident will receive a $15,000 scholarship in recognition of her academic excellence and promise as a future accounting professional.

The PCAOB Scholars Program recognizes outstanding accounting students enrolled in accredited accounting degree programs across the country. Scholarship recipients are nominated by their institutions based on academic achievement and demonstrated potential to contribute to the accounting profession.

Kline is engaged in the YSU community as a member of the Economics Club, vice president of finance for Beta Gamma Sigma and a student in the Sokolov Honors College. She gained valuable professional experience as a part-time accounting intern with SSB CPA in Canfield during the spring semester, where she supported administrative accounting functions. She will return to the firm as a full-time accounting intern in spring 2027.

Established by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the PCAOB Scholars Program is funded through monetary penalties collected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The program supports students pursuing accounting degrees at accredited institutions while strengthening the pipeline of highly qualified accounting professionals dedicated to protecting investors and serving the public interest.

MAJOR CONTRACT: Vallourec, a multinational seamless tubular company with facilities in the Mahoning Valley, reported recently it has been awarded a major contract by Azule Energy, the joint venture formed by Eni and BP, for the Greater PAJ offshore development project in Angola.

Under this contract, Vallourec will supply more than 26,000 tons of seamless carbon steel line pipes, representing approximately 130.5 miles of pipeline, including advanced solutions with heavy thermal insulation coating. Deliveries associated with this order will begin in July 2027 and continue through December 2027.This contract will support the development of one of the largest and most technically demanding deepwater projects currently underway offshore Angola.

Located approximately 124 miles offshore Angola in water depths ranging from 0.9 to 1.2 miles, the Greater PAJ project encompasses the development of five offshore fields: Palas, Astraea, Juno, Dione and Urano.

Vallourec will deliver line pipe solutions for production lines, service lines, water injection lines and gas export lines, supporting critical infrastructure required for safe and efficient hydrocarbon production and transportation in ultra-deepwater conditions.

“This contract is a strong recognition of Vallourec’s unique expertise in complex offshore line pipe projects and advanced thermal insulation solutions,” said Philippe Guillemot, chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of the Valourlec group. “It reinforces our position as a trusted partner for major deepwater developments and further strengthens our presence in Angola, where we have built a proven track record of execution.”

RELOCATION CELEBRATED: FirstLight Home Care of the Valley, a provider of nonmedical home care services, will present a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. July 14 to celebrate the relocation of its corporate offices to the Expand Health Medical Office Complex, 397 Churchill

Hubbard Road, Liberty.

Owners Mike and Michael Senchak recently finalized the sale of their building on Mahoning Avenue in Austintown to move into this newly updated medical complex, owned and occupied by Expand Health at Home. This transition follows 13 years of dedicated service to seniors throughout the Mahoning Valley.

“Relocating to the Expand Health Medical Office Complex allows FirstLight Home Care to more

effectively support both our caregivers and clients,” the company said in a news release. “This new location improves staff accessibility and situates us alongside essential medical partners, strengthening our integration within the local healthcare network and reinforcing our commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-focused home care.”

For more information on services or employment opportunities, visit thevalley.firstlighthomecare.com or call 330-318-3234.

AWARD WINNER: Sarah Jenyk, senior lecturer of economics in Youngstown State University’s Lariccia School of Accounting and Finance, has received a Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Award, recognizing her ECON 1505 Personal Financial Literacy course for excellence in course design, student engagement and instructional quality.

The Blackboard Exemplary Course Program recognizes faculty members and course designers from schools, colleges and universities worldwide who develop innovative, engaging courses that exemplify best practices in teaching and learning through technology.

Jenyk’s ECON 1505 Personal Financial Literacy course equips students with practical financial skills they can use long after graduation, including budgeting, financing a vehicle, navigating the mortgage process, planning for retirement and participating in a hands-on stock market project in which students research a company and analyze its performance.

The course was recognized for excellence in four areas: course design; interaction and collaboration; assessment; and learner support.

“We are proud to recognize educators like Sarah Jenyk, whose work reflects the creativity, care and intention behind impactful course design,” said Lisa Clark, associate vice president of Academic Transformation at Blackboard. “Their efforts help create learning experiences that are more engaging, effective and supportive for students.”

The recognition adds to Jenyk’s record of teaching excellence. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from YSU and received the university’s Distinguished Professor Award in Teaching in 2025. A member of the YSU faculty since 2009, she teaches Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics, Survey of Economics and Personal Financial Literacy.

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