Chamber breakfast salutes business, community leaders

Staff report

Four Mahoning Valley business and community leaders were honored for their contributions to the area during the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber's annual Salute to Business breakfast Thursday at Eastwood Event Centre in Niles.

"Salute to Business gives us an opportunity each year to recognize people who are doing great work in the Mahoning Valley," said Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Regional Chamber.

This year's recipients are:

• Jordan Taylor, executive vice president of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Business Professional of the Year.

The award is presented to a Valley business leader whose leadership has played a vital role in their company's success, growth and community presence. Taylor is in his 25th year with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and has served as executive vice president since 2019 after 12 years as general manager. He also has held leadership roles with numerous Valley community organizations.

• Stephanie Gilchrist, director of economic development for the city of Youngstown, Business Advocate of the Year.

The award recognizes an individual or organization that has advanced or supported business development in the Valley. As Youngstown's director of economic development, Gilchrist leads initiatives focused on business attraction, redevelopment and neighborhood revitalization, including projects involving advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, technology and downtown revitalization.

• Meghan Reed, executive director of the Trumbull County Historical Society and Museum of Science Fiction & Fantasy Arts, Nonprofit Professional of the Year.

The award honors a nonprofit leader who demonstrates strong leadership, innovation and community collaboration. Reed leads public programming, placemaking, fundraising and strategic planning for the Trumbull County Historical Society and is spearheading development of the Museum of Science Fiction & Fantasy Arts in Warren, the first U.S. museum dedicated exclusively to those genres.

• Tom Duma, president and owner of Thom Duma Fine Jewelers, Small Business Professional of the Year.

The award recognizes a small business leader who demonstrates strong leadership, customer service and commitment to the community. Duma founded Thom Duma Fine Jewelers with his wife and business partner, Jacki, in 2002, building the Warren business into an award-winning luxury jewelry retailer. He also has served on industry boards and national panels and mentored independent jewelers.

Coviello also highlighted signs of economic strength across the Mahoning Valley, including Youngstown-Warren's No. 23 ranking among 411 U.S. metros for economic and business development and No. 7 ranking among 123 midsized metros. He pointed to national recognition of the Valley's housing market, encouraging labor force and population trends and major investments including Kimberly-Clark, Trumbull Energy Center, Vallourec and the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense.

The program also featured Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers' Association, one of the state's leading industry trade organizations. Augsburger discussed the strength of Ohio manufacturing, which contributes $138 billion annually to the state's economy, as well as opportunities and challenges involving workforce and energy. He also addressed the importance of affordable, reliable power and the impact of growing data center demand on Ohio's energy landscape.

Mark Lamoncha, president and CEO of Columbiana-based Humtown, participated in a Q&A with Augsburger on manufacturing, entrepreneurship and business growth. The third-generation manufacturer, founded in 1959, has evolved from a local pattern-making shop into a leader in 3D-printed sand cores and molds. The Chamber also presented Lamoncha with special recognition honoring his selection by the U.S. Small Business Administration as its 2026 National Small Business Person of the Year.