The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber is pleased to announce that Jim Gasior has joined the organization as Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber Foundation President and Ron Selak as Communications Manager.
In his new role, Gasior will oversee the Foundation—the Chamber’s nonprofit fundraising arm—in its work to support several transformational economic and workforce development initiatives that impact the Valley, including population and talent attraction, housing and developing the next generation of business and community leaders.
Before joining the Chamber earlier this month, Gasior had a long career in the banking industry, most notably at Cortland Bancorp, the holding company for Cortland Bank. He joined Cortland in 1992 as director of Internal Audit and served in various executive-level positions at the company, including chief financial officer. In 2009, he became president/CEO, a role he held for 12 years until Cortland merged with Farmers National Banc Corp. With the merger, Gasior joined Farmers as its senior executive vice president and corporate development officer.
“Jim’s yearslong career as a leader in the banking industry, and the relationships he’s forged during that time, make him uniquely suited to serve as Foundation president. Having him as part of the Regional Chamber’s team will allow us to expand our efforts and initiatives that have a meaningful impact on the region’s businesses and residents,” Guy Coviello, Regional Chamber president & CEO, said.
Gasior, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Youngstown State University, lives in Canfield with his wife Tina Marie. The couple have a son and a daughter.
He and his wife are contemporary jazz enthusiasts and have traveled across the U.S. to see some of their favorite jazz artists.
In the role of Communications Manager, Selak will work closely with Kim Calvert, Regional Chamber executive vice president of Membership, Events & MarComm, to create and implement effective external and internal messaging surrounding the organization’s initiatives and programs to create a robust and resilient regional economy.
Prior to joining the Chamber this month, Selak spent 24 years in journalism with the Tribune Chronicle in Warren. During his career there, he served in multiple roles, including reporter, metro editor and business editor, and earned several awards from the Ohio Associated Press for his work.
Calvert said, “Ron brings a wealth of knowledge to our organization, given his long career in journalism. He covered the Regional Chamber the past 10 years while at the Tribune Chronicle and already knows our team and work very well. We’re excited that he will be working to message and tie together our initiatives, efforts and more, across all divisions.”
Selak, a graduate of Walsh University in North Canton with a bachelor’s degree in political science, lives in Warren with his wife Jill and their two children.