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PARTNERSHIP FORMED: Cincinnati-based Mercy Health and Northeast Ohio Medical University recently formed a strategic partnership aimed at expanding workforce development initiatives and building a strong pipeline of physicians to serve communities statewide. Mercy Health operates the largest number of hospitals in Ohio.
NEOMED students now have increased access to Mercy Health's hospitals and clinical sites in the Youngstown, Lorain and Cincinnati regions, where they are gaining real-world experience caring for a broad range of patient populations. The expanded rotations are expected to deepen students' clinical competencies, strengthen community connections and provide meaningful exposure to practice environments where physician shortages are most pressing.
"This partnership represents a powerful step forward in preparing the next generation of physicians and meeting the healthcare needs of our state," said NEOMED President John Langell, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., FACS. "NEOMED's affiliation with Mercy Health brings to life a shared vision to transform medical education and advance healthcare access."
By expanding clinical training opportunities in Ohio, the partnership also aims to encourage more medical students to remain in the state after graduation. Research shows physicians are more likely to practice in regions where they complete their training, making this effort a critical step in addressing projected physician shortages across Ohio, particularly in underserved and regional communities.
AGENCY ADDITIONS: Lake to River Economic Development has named Christine Vinion director of finance, Vicki Rusu director of engagement and investor relations, and Melissa Demetra consultant, business development.
Vinion brings more than a decade of accounting experience to the role. She most recently served as business manager for Kent State University's Department of Biological Sciences, where she managed departmental budgets, expense reimbursements and foundation funding requests. Previously, she spent six years as fiscal officer for the Northeast Ohio Regional Library System and McKinley Memorial Library.
Rusu joins Lake to River's engagement and investor relations team, where she will support investor engagement, relationship development and stakeholder partnerships across Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties. She previously served as senior manager of strategic initiatives and partnerships at BRITE Energy Innovators, leading fundraising, ecosystem development and industry engagement efforts within Ohio's advanced energy sector.
Demetra brings a background in workforce and economic development to the role. She previously served as director of workforce development at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, where she established the Regional Workforce Coalition, now managed by Lake to River, working directly with labor leaders, service providers and educational institutions to align training with employer needs.
Most recently, she managed multimillion-dollar project portfolios as a project engineer for the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining, coordinating with America Makes members and manufacturing partners on workforce strategy.
Vinion, a Youngstown resident, holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in accounting and a Bachelor of Science in applied science from Youngstown State University.
Rusu, a Poland resident, holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Youngstown State University. She also serves on the Board of Directors for DIVA Donations.
Demetra, a Poland resident, holds the Ohio Certified Economic Developer credential from the Ohio Economic Development Association and a Bachelor of Science degree from Muskingum University.
BOOMING DONATION: Phantom Fireworks, headquartered in Youngstown, recently donated $250,250 to local fire and police departments in communities where the company operates showrooms across the United States.
The donations were made possible through the Phantom Fireworks Round-Up Program, which encourages shoppers to round up their purchases at checkout to support local first responders and community safety initiatives. As part of the promotion, customers who round up their purchases are entered for a chance to win Grounds for Divorce fireworks assortment valued at $1,499.99.
"We want to support the communities that support us. These donations are our way of saying thank you to the local fire and police departments that work every day to keep our communities safe. We are proud to give back to the areas that have welcomed and supported Phantom Fireworks throughout the year," said Ron Zoldan, Phantom Fireworks vice president.
NAMED TO STAFF: The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has announced the addition of Hannah DeAscentis and TaMyah Petty as events coordinators. In their roles, DeAscentis and Petty will help elevate, plan and execute the Chamber's more than 100 annual programs and events.
DeAscentis brings experience planning and managing events in corporate, nonprofit, higher education and residential camp settings. As program director for Hands of Gratitude, she facilitated corporate team-building experiences with Fortune 500 companies that assembled 3D-printed prosthetic hands for individuals in need around the world. She also held roles with Camp Fitch YMCA and PennWest University, where she planned programs and events and developed leadership opportunities. DeAscentis earned a Bachelor of Science in park and recreation management and a Master of Science in hospitality and tourism management from Kent State University.
DeAscentis volunteers with the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley and the Youngstown YMCA. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, tackling home projects in her century home and making memories with family and friends.
Petty previously served as office and events manager at Valley Economic Development Partners, where she planned and executed events supporting small business growth and economic development. Earlier, she worked in lending operations at Valley Partners, gaining experience in financial operations and client service. She is a graduate of Kent State University and is pursuing a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in event leadership. Petty also owns and operates YO-CHILL Water Ice, a mobile Philly Water Ice dessert business.
PROMOTION DETAILED: Pecchia Communications announced the promotion of Kelli Hulea to managing director of the Canfield-based communications firm.
She now leads the day-to-day Mahoning Valley operations, enabling President Dan Pecchia to concentrate more on planning and the national change management business.
Hulea first joined Pecchia Communications as an intern in 2017, became project director in 2020, left in 2021 to work with her family, then returned in 2024. Since then she has become the primary adviser for the agency's Mahoning Valley clients.
"Kelli's impact on our business has been tremendous," Pecchia said. "She has brought extraordinary talent and heart to our work and has strengthened our capability to deliver on our values of expertise and affordability. Our team is eager to support Kelli as she leads our local business in exciting new directions."
Hulea holds a bachelor of arts degree in Communication Studies from Youngstown State University and a master of arts in Communication Studies from Kent State University. She is a member of the Professional Advisory Board for Youngstown State's Department of Strategic Communications and Media. She lives in North Lima with her husband, Gannon, and their three children.
ACQUISITION MADE: Taylor-Winfield Technologies Inc., a leading manufacturer of advanced material joining, tube processing, induction heating and automation systems, announced that it has acquired the assets of Haven Manufacturing Corporation, a recognized industry leader in tube cutting and processing machinery.
For more than five decades, the Brunswick, Georgia, company has earned a reputation worldwide for delivering innovative, high-performance tube and pipe cutting solutions to customers across numerous industries. Through its engineering expertise, commitment to quality, and responsive customer service, Haven established itself as the premier provider of specialized tube cutting equipment designed to meet demanding manufacturing requirements.
The acquisition represents a significant strategic investment by Taylor-Winfield Technologies, further strengthening the Youngstown company's position within the pipe and tube processing industry while expanding its product portfolio, aftermarket support capabilities, and customer reach.
"Haven Manufacturing has built an exceptional legacy of engineering excellence, customer commitment, and innovation within the tube processing industry," said Kyle Benyo, vice president and general manager of Taylor-Winfield Technologies' Pipe and Tube Processing Group. "By bringing Haven's products and expertise into the Taylor-Winfield family, we are preserving that legacy while creating new opportunities for growth, innovation, and enhanced customer support. Existing Haven customers can expect uninterrupted access to spare parts, service, technical support, and future equipment solutions, backed by the engineering and manufacturing resources of Taylor-Winfield Technologies."
Customers of both organizations will benefit from a broader range of integrated manufacturing solutions, combining Haven's industry-leading tube cutting technologies with Taylor-Winfield's expertise in tube forming, end finishing, welding systems, induction heating, and industrial automation.
PUBLISHED: After more than two years of research, Youngstown State University accounting faculty member Yiyang (Ian) Zhang has earned publication in MIS Quarterly, one of the world's leading information systems journals, for research demonstrating how business intelligence systems can help organizations reduce compliance risk.
Zhang, associate professor and Lariccia Family Endowed Faculty Fellow in YSU's Williamson College of Business Administration, recently had his co-authored paper, "Can Business Intelligence Help Companies Avoid Compliance Troubles?" accepted for publication after a rigorous peer-review process.
"Personally, this is probably the highest honor I can receive as a researcher," Zhang said. "Publishing in MIS Quarterly is extremely challenging. It is recognized as both a Financial Times Top 50 journal and a UT Dallas Top 24 journal, making it one of the most prestigious outlets in the field of information systems. It took our team about two and a half years to publish this article."
While the publication represents a significant professional milestone, Zhang hopes the study's findings will have an even greater impact on how businesses approach technology investments.
His research examines whether business intelligence systems - technology organizations use to collect, integrate and analyze data - can help companies reduce compliance risk. The study provides new empirical evidence that organizations with broader adoption of business intelligence systems experience fewer regulatory violations and lawsuits while also reducing litigation costs and the time spent resolving legal disputes.
The full study is available at https://misq.umn.edu/.
RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY: Lyle Huffman, executive vice president of Government Affairs and Community Impact for the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, has earned the nationally recognized Institute for Organization Management recognition.
Awarded through Institute for Organization Management, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's professional development program for association and chamber professionals, the IOM Graduate Recognition signifies completion of 96 credit hours of instruction in nonprofit management. Participants also can earn credit hours toward the Certified Chamber Executive or Certified Association Executive certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend the Institute annually.
"The Institute for Organization Management was an outstanding opportunity to learn from chamber professionals across the country and gain new perspectives on leadership and advocacy. I'm grateful to the Regional Chamber for supporting this opportunity, and I look forward to putting those ideas into practice," Huffman said.
Said Guy Coviello, Regional Chamber president and CEO, "Lyle's commitment to professional growth reflects the standard of excellence we strive for as an organization. The knowledge and perspective he gained through the Institute will further strengthen our advocacy and the value we deliver to our members."
Since it began in 1921, the Institute program has been educating tens of thousands of association, chamber and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates.
COUNCIL CERTIFIED: Vallourec, a world leader in premium seamless tubular solutions, announced that its science-based decarbonization pathway has been certified by the Global Steel Climate Council. This certification provides a framework for the Group's transition plan, driven by operational excellence across its industrial sites and supported by close collaboration with its suppliers, customers and all its partners.
The certification confirms that Vallourec's climate transition pathway is aligned with the GSCC Steel Climate Standard, an internationally recognized framework supporting the Paris Agreement objectives. Following an independent assessment conducted by CARES, a GSCC-approved certification body, Vallourec's Corporate Average Steel Emissions Intensity (CASEI) was certified at 1.70 metric tons of CO₂e per metric ton of hot-rolled steel for its 2021 baseline.
Thanks to the decarbonization initiatives deployed across the Group, this intensity has already been reduced to 1.16 tCO₂e per metric ton in 2025. This demonstrates the Group's alignment with the GSCC standard, which requires the carbon intensity of hot-rolled steel to remain below 1.20 tCO₂e per metric ton by 2030.
Vallourec has pursued an ambitious climate strategy for more than two decades. In 2025, the Group achieved three years ahead of schedule its greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments set under its previous climate roadmap and adopted a new decarbonization pathway aligned with the GSCC Steel Climate Standard.
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