Each year, the Regional Chamber honors community and business leaders for their contributions to the Youngstown-Warren area. Whether they enrich the Mahoning Valley through their philanthropic activity or by advocating for the business community, our Valley owes these individuals and organizations a debt of gratitude for all they do.
ANNUAL AWARDS
William G. Lyden, Jr. Spirit of the Valley Award
This award is presented to an individual or organization displaying exemplary leadership and commitment to the community, economic development and overall progress of the Valley. Past recipients are:
2009: Dr. David Sweet, Youngstown State University
2008: Anthony Lariccia, Merrill Lynch, Pierce & Fenner
2007: Dave Trabert, WYTV
2006: Sister Jerome Corcoran, Mill Creek Childrens’ Center
2005: Walter J. Pishkur, Aqua Ohio
2004: Clarence R. Smith, Jr., Compco
2003: Al Brant, Second National Bank
2002: Tom Hollern, National City Bank
2001: Jim Tressel, OSU
2000: Herman Maass, General Motors Lordstown Complex
1999: Don Cagigas, Bank One
1998: Pat Ungaro, City of Youngstown
1997: Butler Institute of American Art
1996: Tom Humphries, Sprint
1995: Jim Tressel, YSU
1994: Jim Traficant, U.S Congress
Donald Cagigas Spirit of the Chamber Award
Honorees are presented with this award for exceptional dedication, commitment and accomplishments on behalf of the Regional Chamber. Past recipients include:
2009: Brian Governor, P&W Marketing
2008: Anthony Cafaro, Jr., The Cafaro Company
2007: Att. Matt Blair, Blair & Lattell
2006: Ralph Zerbonia, cboss
2005: David J. Kostolansky, Shaefer Equipment
2004: Robert E. Hoy, Paige & Byrnes Insurance
2003: Phil Dennison, Packer Thomas
2002: David Z. Paull, R.M.I. Titanium Company
2001: Bob Faulkner, Delphi Packard Electric
2000: Gib James, President, James & Sons, Inc.
1999: John Getchey, EDATA
Chairman's Political Achievement Award
The Chamber recognizes Mahoning Valley elected political officials (township, city, state or federal) for outstanding accomplishment achieved in the previous year, demonstrating his/her vision, innovation and commitment to excellence. Honorees have included:
2009: U.S. Congressman John Boccieri
2007: John Reardon, former Mahoning County Treasurer/ Supt. of Financial Institutions, Ohio Dept. of Commerce
2006: Ohio Gov. Robert Taft; U.S. Senators Mike Dewine and George Voinovich; U.S. Congressmen Tim Ryan, Ted Strickland and Phil English
2005: Chuck Blasdel, State Rep., Speaker Pro Tempore, Ohio House of Rep.
2004: Sylvester Patton, Ohio State Representative, 60th District
2003: Dan Mamula, Mayor, City of Struthers
2002: Thomas Swift, Probate Judge, Trumbull County Probate Court
ATHENA Award
The ATHENA Award program honors professional women in the Mahoning Valley for exceptional accomplishments in their careers, community leadership and mentoring of other women in their career paths.
The Regional Chamber, in partnership with The Vindicator, has been presenting the prestigious ATHENA Award program for the past 16 years. The Mahoning Valley ATHENA program has the distinction of being among the five-largest Athena programs in the United States. Past recipients are:
2009: Patricia Brozik, President, Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley
2008: Karen Cohen, Packer Thomas
2007: Molly Seals, Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Organizational Development, Humility of Mary Health Partners
2006: Dr. Sheryl Figliano, Centers for Hearing Care
2005: Sr. Patricia McNicholas, OSU, Executive Director, Beatitude House
2004: Cynthia E. Anderson, Ed.D, Vice President of Student Affairs, Youngstown State University.
2003: Eugene C. Atkinson, Executive Director, Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority
2002: Gwendolyn Hughes, MD
2001: Lynn Cavalier, Vice President, Human Resources FirstEnergy
2000: Delores J. Crawford, Director of Community Affairs, WKBN/WYFX TV
1999: Diane R. Sauer, President, Diane Sauer Chevrolet
1998: Nancy Jastatt-Juergens, Vice President, HKM Direct Market Communications
1997: Carolyn L. Anderson, retired, Trumbull Memorial Hospital Foundation
1996: Elaine Sloan Wilson, President, of Elaine Wilson Home Health
1995: Trudy Bayman, retired, Bank One
1991: Marie Izzo-Cartwright, Consultant, Revak & Associates
1990: Helen T. Paes, Vice President, Business Services, Regional Chamber
FROM STEEL TO SCHOLARS AWARDS
Implemented in 2002, this award recognizes all local school systems achieving an “Excellent” rating from the State of Ohio in that given year.
School Districts With "Excellent" Ratings in 2007/2008 School Year:
• Boardman Local Schools
• Bloomfield-Mespo Local Schools
• Canfield Local Schools
• Champion Local Schools
• Columbiana Exempted Village Schools
• Girard City Schools
• Howland Local Schools (Excellent with Distinction)
• Hubbard Exempted Village Schools
• Joseph Badger Local School District
• Lakeview Local School District (Excellent with Distinction)
• Leetonia Exempted Village Schools
• Lowellville Local School District
• McDonald Local School District
• Newton Falls Exempted Village Schools
• Poland Local Schools
• South Range Local Schools
• Struthers City Schools
• United Local School District
• West Branch Local School District
• Western Reserve Local Schools
• Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
SALUTE TO BUSINESS AWARDS
Business Professional of the Year
This award is presented annually in recognition of a Mahoning Valley business owner’s professional leadership in the overall success, continued growth and development, longevity and community presence of his or her company.
Business Advocate of the Year
The Chamber presents this award to an individual or organization that has had a positive and significant impact on the development or advancement of a business in the Mahoning Valley.
Non-Profit Professional of the Year
This award honors leaders of non-profit organizations for their organizational innovation, strategic leadership and collaborative efforts.
Salute to Labor Achievement
Established in 2008, the Salute to Labor Achievement award recognizes labor officials or groups that exemplify the spirit of today’s cooperative labor-management environment and/or positively and significantly enhance the economic vitality or position of the Mahoning Valley.
2008:
• Business Professional of the Year: Debra D’Alesio, Valley Industrial Trucks
• Business Advocate of the Year: Dr. David Sweet, Youngstown State University
• Non-Profit Professional of the Year (Reintroduced): Sr. Patricia McNicholas, Beatitude House
• Salute to Labor Achievement (New): Warren Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (IBEW Local 573-MarkCatello; Electrical Trades Institute of Northeast Ohio-Eric Davis; Mahoning Valley Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Tom Travers
2007:
• Business Professional of the Year: Roger Lindgren
• Business Advocates of the Year: (local sports teams) Steelhounds, Phantoms, Scrappers, Mahoning Valley Thunder and YSU Athletic Department
2006:
• Business Advocates of the Year: Mayors of Youngstown and Warren Jay Williams and Michael O’Brien, respectively
• Business Professional of the Year: Mike Naffah, Naffah Development (The Embassy, Maronite Center, Ironwood Development)
• Non-Profit Professional of the Year: Donald Kacmar, Shepherd of the Valley
2005:
• Business of the Year: Gasser Chair, Gary Gasser, President
• Manufacturer of the Year: Exal Corporation, Delfin Gibert, President
• Small Business of the Year: Valley Electric Consolidated, Inc., Rex Ferry, President
• Service Industry of the Year: Casal’s de Spa, Casal Aveda Institute, Thom Ciarniello, President
2004:
• Business Professional of the Year: John Pogue, Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell
• Business Advocate of the Year: Richard Schiraldi, Cohen & Company
• Business Person of the Year: Leonard Fisher, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt
2003:
• Business Professional of the Year: John Burgan, Burgan Real Estate
• Manufacturer of the Year: Bill Bresnahan, Hynes Industries
• Service Industry Person of the Year: Atty. John Masternick, Sr., Windsor House, Inc.
2002:
• Business Person of the Year: Bruce Beeghly, Altronic, Inc.
• Business Advocate of the Year: Dan Ryan, 570/WKBN
2001:
• Business Person of the Year: Herb Schuler, General Extrusions, Inc.
• Business of the Year: The Schwebel Baking Company
2000:
• Business Person of the Year: Tom Fleming, AIM Nationalease
• Business Advocate of the Year: The Cafaro Company
1999:
• Small Business Advocate of the Year: Andrea Wood, The Business Journal
• Entrepreneur of the Year: Sam Covelli, Covelli Enterprises
• Community Advocate of the Year: The Vindicator
• Business Person of the Year: Clarence Smith, Jr., Compco Industries
• Small Business Person of the Year: Alvin Hopkins, Jerry M. Sutton, CPA & Associates, Inc.
1998:
• Community Advocate Award: Herman Maass, General Motors Lordstown Complex
• Community Leadership Award: David Heilman
• Small Business Advocate Award: Charles B. Cushwa, III
• Entrepreneurial Success Award: Robert A. Hill, Industrial Machining & Design Services, Inc.
• Business Advocate Award: Dr. David A. Allen, Jr., Kent State University Trumbull Campus
1997:
• Small Business Advocate of the Year: Jim Traficant, U.S. Congress
• Small Business Person of the Year: Nancy Jastatt-Juergens
GREATER MAHONING VALLEY GROWTH AWARDS
(PREVIOUSLY FABULOUS TWENTY AWARDS)
2008 Honorees
Increase in Sales, Companies with more than 100 employees
• Home Instead Senior Care (Pinnacle Award Recipient)
• ATC Healthcare Services, Inc.
• Brilex Industries
• Casal's Aveda Institute
• Coronado Steel Company
• Crowe's Cabinet, Inc.
• Enertech Electrical, Inc.
• IES Systems, Inc.
• Jet Stream International, Inc.
• Quality Switch, Inc.
• Reach Magazine
• Specialty Fab, Inc.
• Turning Technologies, LLC
Increase in Sales, Companies with fewer than 100 employees
• SenSource (Pinnacle Award Recipient)
Increase in Employees, Companies with fewer than 100 employees
• ATC Healthcare Services, Inc. (Pinnacle Award Recipient)
• Data Recovery Services, LLC
• Jet Stream International, Inc.
• SenSource
Percent Increase in Exports
• IES Systems, Inc.
Emerging Business Award
• Protect-N-Shred
• Solich Piano and Music Company
• The Growth Coach
MAHONING VALLEY SAFETY COUNCIL AWARDS
Joan Kovach Safety Leadership Award
This annual award, established in 2007, recognizes companies that have proven themselves to be leaders in safety training, operations, funding and communications. The recipients are determined based on company data.
2009: Mike Coates Construction Company, Inc.
2008: American Church
2007: Parker Hannifin
PENDLETON BUSINESS PRIDE AWARD (click here to download a 2009 PDF nomination form)
Given by the Warren Area Council
2008: The Saratoga Restaurant
2007: Diane Sauer Chevrolet
2006: Covelli Enterprises
2005: McFarland & Son Funeral Home
2004: Thom Duma Fine Jewelers
2003: Title Professionals
2002: AVI Food Systems
2001: Book Nook
CANFIELD BUSINESS PRIDE AWARD
(click here for 2009 award nomination form PDF)
2008: Mahoning County Agricultural Society/Canfield Fair
2007: Naffah Hospitality, Inc.
2006: Schrodel, Scullin and Bestic
2005: Harley Davidson
2004: Farmers National Bank
UPTON (N0N-PROFIT) COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
2009: Trumbull 100
2008: Trumbull Art Gallery, Warren
2007: The Public Library of Warren and Trumbull County
WILLIAM CLAYMAN COMMUNITY PRIDE AWARD
(click here for 2009 award nomination form PDF)
2008: Holeton-Yuhasz Funeral Home
INSIDE BUSINESS MANNY AWARDS
Mahoning Valley Recipients:
• Exal
• Turning Technologies
INSIDE BUSINESS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES:
• Mike Broderick, Turning Technologies
• Sam Covelli, Covelli Enterprises
• John Payiavlas, AVI Food Systems
• Clarence Smith, Diamond Steel/Compco
• Joseph Schwebel, Schwebel Baking Co.
• Leon Beeghly, Standard Slag
• Edward J. DeBartolo, The DeBartolo Corporation
• David Tod, Governor of Ohio (Civil War) and Cleveland & Mahoning Railroad
• Raymond John Wean, Wean Engineering