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Growth Report 2010

The Valley’s Business Matters www.BusinessJournalDaily.com


ISSN 1047-8582 Vol. 26 No. 14 MidJANUARY
JANUARY 2010
2010 $2.50

Small Automakers Race to Market


Entrepreneurs drive development
of electric vehicles like industry
visionaries of 100 years ago.
By Maraline Kubik

T
he race is on, the competition stiff. Who will
break away from the pack is anybody’s guess.
Only one thing is certain – the automotive
industry is in the midst of the greatest revolution
in its history, with hordes of startup companies that
develop products worlds apart from those the major
automakers put out.
Much like the visionaries of a hundred years ago,
who built the forerunners of the modern automo-
bile, today’s entrepreneurs envision – and in some
cases build – vehicles that get the equivalent of 100
miles per gallon of fuel, produce zero emissions,
manuever through crowded streets and stopped
traffic, fit between parked cars and catch the eyes
of passersby.
“The Tango is the world’s fastest urban car and ar-
guably the safest,” boasts Rick Woodbury, president Oliver Kuttner, CEO of Edison2, in the running for the Automotive X Prize, hopes his Very Light Car will win the $10 million purse.
of Commuter Cars (CommuterCars.com).
Based in Spokane, Wash., Commuter Cars competing for the Progressive Insurance Automotive that showcased the latest electric vehicles and
manufactures the Tango, an all-electric vehicle that X Prize and one of seven competitors that were on technology.
features tandem seating for the driver and one pas- display along Electric Avenue at the North American The Automotive X Prize, much like the Explora-
senger, goes from zero to 60 mph in four seconds, International Auto Show in Detroit. tion X Prize that grabbed international headlines
can reach speeds of up to 130 mph in one gear and Electric Avenue, new to the auto show this year, when it was awarded to Burt Rutan, who built and
produces zero emissions. It is among 51 vehicles was a 37,000-square-foot exhibit on the main floor See ELECTRIC VEHICLES, page 12

Ford Dealers Ride High


With Culture Shift
By Dan O’Brien all without fail, and solved every issue
I’ve brought to him. Every one.”

W hen Ford dealer Terry


Poulton has a question
related to his business, he
goes right to the top for answers.
“Every time I’ve e-mailed Alan Mu-
For the CEO of a major U.S. cor-
poration to take time and address
questions from a small dealer from a
quiet town in Ohio reflects the seismic
cultural shift at Ford – and why the
lally, he’s gotten back to me,” Poulton automaker is at the top of its game,
says of the president and CEO of the Poulton says.
Ford Motor Co. “He’s answered them Poulton, owner of Columbiana
Ford, Columbiana, says the company’s
Ford dealer Terry Poulton shows off the decision in 2006 to hire Mulally, a
interior of one the company’s new models. See FORD DEALERS, page 9
2 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 3

Inside
Growth Report 2010

2009 Progress, Goals for 2010


More than 170 companies and organiza-
tions answered our call to “Tell Us Your
Story” for publication in our annual Growth
Report. This 116-page edition is the most
comprehensive reference guide ever pub- A.J. Summell, assistant professor of economics at Youngstown State University, understands that businesses are having a tough
lished on local business. Enjoy! time getting credit. “But it’s getting easier,” he says. “It’s still a problem to get the credit they need but things will improve.”

Jobless Recovery Ahead


Survey of economists finds some their cards close to their vests, lack confidence the
rebound will last and remain loath to rehire those
reason for mild optimism. they laid off, economists say.
There’s another factor as well, something Ken
By Dennis LaRue Mayland, president of ClearView Economics LLC,
Pepper Pike, calls “overemployment.”

W
ith more than a half-trillion dollars from Before the recession hit in December 2007, he
16 Taking Aim at Detroit’s Big 3 the stimulus package unspent, economists explains, “For whatever reason, American business
agree that the economy will enjoy a got complacent and lost something of its manage-
Joseph J. White, chief operating officer of sustained recovery this year. It’s 2011 they’re not ment edge. People were employed but managed not
CT&T United Inc. of Korea, stands before so sure about. to produce at their full potential. Even though the
one of the 25 models his company brought “A lot of correction in the economy has already measured unemployment rate dropped to 4.4% in
to the North American International Auto taken place,” observes George Mokrzan, senior late 2006, the ‘true’ unemployment rate was higher
Show. New Asian automakers are setting economist at Huntington Investment Management because some of the potential of employed workers
their sights on the domestic market. Services, Columbus. “There’s a lot of government was not fully tapped.”
spending in the pipeline. Spending will rise astro- When the recession took hold, management
nomically in the next couple of years.” laid off workers then “figured out how to get more
While the recovery, which began last summer potential out of the remaining workers,” he says.
with the gross domestic product growing 2.2% in “The extra potential was there.”
the third quarter, will continue this year, the rate of The need to hire workers back is reduced, May-
unemployment will remain high. Employers, playing See RECOVERY, page 4

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Recovery: From Page 3 pattern of the last two recoveries and gains strength
only gradually, it may take longer for the virtuous
land continues, and with management discovering cycle of strengthening income, confidence and
they weren’t getting workers’ full potential, they spending to get going this time. ... And even if it
won’t return to previous levels of employment. does, it will take several years at least to re-employ
“Some jobs have been permanently lost.” all of the resources idled by this downturn.”
And unlike some previous recessions and recov- All economists see reason for mild optimism. The
eries, “the job cuts and rehiring will not [Mayland’s housing market has “stabilized,” their term for not
emphasis] be symmetrical.” getting any worse. “That’s a huge step,” Huntington’s
By the end of 2010, says Bill Stone, senior vice Mokrzan says. The prices of houses for sale have
president and chief investment strategist in Phila- fallen all they’re going to, providing both buyer and
delphia for PNC Wealth Management Institutional seller a sense of confidence.
Investments, the formal unemployment rate should While Americans are buying homes – sales are
drop to 9.6%. Growth for this year should be in trending upward (“Up five straight months,” May-
the neighborhood of 3% and growth for the fourth land notes, “and the sixth is flat) – most are moving
quarter of 2009 should come in at 2.8% (figures into existing houses or condominiums, not building
won’t be released until Jan. 29). new houses. So the only aspect contributing to GDP
“Less down is the new up,” he suggests. statistics, Mayland points out, are the real estate
Helping to sustain the recovery, Stone says, will agents’ commissions.
be the “greater availability of credit. It’s getting bet- New housing starts are at an annual rate of
ter,” he says. 500,000, Mayland notes, when “the nation can sus-
That would be welcome news to small businesses tain a 1.5 million or 1.6 million annual pace.”
in the Mahoning Valley where Lori Fuzo is a con- Bill Stone of PNC Wealth Management Institutional Investments Also contributing to the relative surge in home
sultant. Fuzo, a certified public accountant, reports believes growth this year should be in the neighborhood of 3%. sales are the income-tax credits Congress has pro-
most of her clients have yet to feel the recovery and simistically, [national] unemployment will remain vided most homebuyers. Without them, the market
remain frustrated at their bankers’ unwillingness to at 10% throughout the year.” would still be in the doldrums.
extend credit or restore their pre-recession limits. Whether the Labor Department’s figures released Consumer spending is rising, even leaving out
She does not expect any to rehire any time soon. Jan. 21 – against expectations, unemployment claims vehicle sales and gasoline, PNC’s Stone says.
“Businesses are still having a hard time getting rose to 482,000, an increase of 36,000 for the week “The savings rate has stabilized, even reduced,”
credit,” agrees A.J. Summell, assistant professor of ended Jan. 15 – is a blip or a harbinger is too soon Mayland adds. “The 90% who remain employed are
economics at Youngstown State University who to say. more confident.”
tracks the regional economy. “But it’s getting easier. Fourth-quarter GDP is expected to be somewhere “Consumer spending is picking up,” Mokrzan
It’s still a problem to get the credit they need but between 3% and 4%, Mayland, says, who projects says. “Some are returning to work.” He expects to
things will improve.” this year’s growth to end up just shy of 4%. “But I see “positive net payrolls” early this year.
Complicating the situation, he observes: “You always hasten to add that recovery does not mean With salaries and wages outside Wall Street
can’t force banks to make loans,” especially when a return to good times,” he cautions. “There’s still a expected to remain flat or grow only slightly, infla-
they are resisting re-regulation from Congress, the lot of unemployment.” tion is unlikely to threaten the economy this year,
scope and severity of which are both uncertain and In the Valley, still home to heavy manufacturing, the economists agree. “I regret to say there’s been a
unwelcome. With increased regulation comes banks’ employment should recover this year, Summell deceleration in the growth of wages,” Mokrzan says.
desire for more assurance they can lend profitably. says. Northeastern Ohio has reduced its reliance on “Year over year, the average hourly earnings have
The increased loan guarantees the U.S. Small manufacturing, Team NEO reports, citing the 30% risen only 2.2%. At the beginning of 2007, it was
Business Administration presented last February of the work force who depended on manufacturing near 4%. And we’re not at the bottom yet.”
were temporary. Still, they “had an impact,” Summell for their paychecks in 1981 to the 12% today. “We won’t see increases in real income until we
says. “They reduced small-business owners’ costs “I expect manufacturing employment to in- see a [significant] decrease in unemployment,” YSU’s
associated with loans. But how wise is it from the crease,” Summell says. “It will be more dramatic and Summell says. “As long as it’s above 8%, there’ll be
government’s perspective? You want to encourage happen more quickly than in the other sectors. ... no increase in real income.”
loan growth,” but should the government be as- Employment, pay and salaries, all will rise,” but not “With 10% unemployment, there’s a lot of slack
suming bank risk? The Federal Reserve Bank can’t enough to recoup all the jobs that disappeared. in the economy,” Mayland points out, and no incen-
reduce rates any lower, he says. The only bright spot in the unemployment pic- tive for employers to offer higher wages to attract
Investors’ allocations of their portfolios reflect ture he sees is, “In the last six months, job losses new workers.
the battering the first decade of this century inflicted stabilized. I expect employment manufacturing to Paradoxically, an economy in recovery may well
on stocks, Stone says, with most PNC clients more increase. It will be more dramatic and happen more spur the unemployed no longer counted in Depart-
interested in safety than return. “It’s 50% stocks, 50% quickly than in the other sectors.” ment of Labor statistics (long out of work and no
bonds at the moment,” he reports. “There’s still an Like Mayland, Summell sees some jobs lost for longer looking) to seek to re-enter the work force
eye on the risk out there.” good. “We’ll never get back all those jobs. To transi- and be counted as among the unemployed, Mokrzan
Huntington Investments’ Mokrzan expects to tion is neither easy nor pleasant,” he says, pointing says, thus making it appear that unemployment
see growth this year of 3.4% in what he describes to the need for more workers in the health and numbers are worse.
as a “moderate recovery.” He calls himself “more transportation sectors. That does not mean those Last October the rate of inflation fell 0.2% year
optimistic than most economists” as he see payrolls laid off from manufacturing can switch easily to over year but November’s numbers saw better than
and the labor market rebounding. “There was no another field that might pay less. a 1.8% increase over November 2008, Mayland says.
labor hoarding during the downturn,” he says with The most optimistic outlook comes from Joshua He sees a 3% rise in inflation this year. PNC’s Stone
intended understatement. N. Feinman, chief economist at DB Advisors, a concurs, noting, “The long-term average for inflation
November’s numbers buttress his optimism that subsidiary of the Deutsche Bank Group. He sees since the 1930s is a little over 3%.”
unemployment may fall more than most economists an annual growth rate this year of 2.5% the first Summell and Mokrzan agree that, as the latter
predict. “The weekly hours worked rose at their quarter, 3.2% the second, 3.5% the third and 4.0% puts it, “Inflation is not so much a near-term worry.
quickest pace since January ’06,” he points out. “This the last. And he predicts 2011 will start strong with ... Three to five years from now it could be.” Summell
confirms that the recovery is broad-based, covering 4.2% growth. says, “It’s not an immediate concern. Potentially, it’s
manufacturing and nonmanufacturing as well.” Fourth-quarter 2009 growth, he points out, “re- a major problem in the not-so-distant future.”
In the Mahoning Valley, Summell says, it won’t be flects a slower pace of inventory liquidation rather “Stocks have moved ahead of the economic
until 2014 “before we see 2007 employment levels. than an acceleration of final demands.” recovery,” PNC’s Stone says, “and so far the stocks
2012 is the earliest we’ll see 6% unemployment. Pes- Feinman notes, “If the labor market follows the have been right.”
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 5

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6 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

1st National Community Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 MultiMedia Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92


Aebischer’s Jewelry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Aim NationaLease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 NewBold Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 NewLife Technical Institute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Growth
Akron-Canton Airport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Ohio Edison Penn Power Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Alcyon Wealth Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Orthopaedic Surgery Center at Beeghly Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Allegheny County Airport Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Packer Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Report
America’s Insurance Agency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Paisley House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
American Business Center Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Palo Creative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Associated School Employees Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Park Vista. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Augenstein, Gabriele and Mapes CPAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Penn-Northwest Development Corp... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
B.J. Alan Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Phoenix CPAs and Consultants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Basinger Auction Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Phoenix Systems Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Beatitude House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Polish Youngstown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Belleria Pizza and Italian Restaurant, Boardman . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Precision Manufacturing Institute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Belleria Pizza and Italian Restaurant, Hubbard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Premier HR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Berner International Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 PRM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

2010
Best Western Penn-Ohio Inn and Suites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Prodigal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Bob and Chuck Eddy Chrysler Dodge Jeep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Regional Chamber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Briarfield Health Care Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Reminger Co. LPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Bury Financial Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Salem Area Visiting Nurse Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Butler County Community College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Salem Community Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Butler Institute of American Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Home Savings and Loan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Sam Pitzulo Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
C. Tucker Cope and Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Humility of Mary Health Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Schroedel, Scullin and Bestic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Cafaro Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Huntington Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 SenSource . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Cailor Fleming Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 I-Conn Video Productions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Service Corps of Retired Executives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Canfield Computers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 IDMI.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Seven Seventeen Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Carney-McNicholas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Infinity Design Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Sharon Regional Health System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Castlo Community Improvement Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 InfoCision Management Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Sharon Regional Health System School of Nursing. . . . . . . . . . . 61
Cboss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Innis Maggiore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Cerni Motor Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 J.P. Marsh and Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Retirement Services . . . . . . . . 63
Chappell’s House of Pictures and Frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Jameson Health System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Stambaugh Auditorium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Cohen and Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 JaneCo’s Sensible Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Stifel, Nicolaus and Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Columbiana County Port Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 JFS Wealth Advisors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 TDDS School of Allied Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Come Stay and Play Pet Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Jolley Industrial Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 The FitNesst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
CommonCents Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Kent State University Trumbull Campus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Thiel College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Keynote Media Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Tri-County Tower Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Covelli Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Kiraly Tool and Die. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Trumbull County Planning Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Cure-All Professionals.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Komara Jewelers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Trumbull County Tourism Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
DRS LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Kravitz Delicatessen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 UPMC Horizon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Drywall Barn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Kutlick Realty LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Valley Electrical Consolidated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Duncan’s Bath and Kitchen Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Lawrence County Economic Development Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Valley Office Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Eastern Gateway Community College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Lien Forward Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 VisitMercerCountyPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Empyra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Lyle Printing and Publishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 W3 Wealth Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Facial Plastic and Aesthetic Laser Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Mahoning and Columbiana Training Association. . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Wallace and Pancher Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Fallsway Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Warren-Trumbull County Public Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Farmers National Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Mahoning County Mental Health Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Westminster College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Farmers Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 William Price Heating and Cooling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Farris Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Mahoning Valley Electrical Contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Window World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Fastsigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Mayflower Wollam Insurance Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Windsor House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
First National Bank of Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 McCarthy Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Woodlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
First Place Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 McDonald Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 WSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Flex-Strut Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Meridian Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 WYSU 88.5 FM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Focal Point Coaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Method 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Youngstown Business Incubator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Gorant Chocolatier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 MetroPlex Hotel and Conference Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Youngstown Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Gordon Bros. Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Micro Doctor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Youngstown Orthopaedic Associates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Great Garage Doors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Middlefield Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Youngstown State University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Greenville-Reynolds Development Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Modern Office Products, Boardman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 YSU Williamson College of Business Administration. . . . . . . . . . 29
HD Davis Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Yurchyk and Davis CPAs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Hill, Barth, and King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 MS Consultants Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 7

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8 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Ford Says Awards


Demonstrate
Its Profitability
Consumers are excited about
Ford’s new lineup of vehicles.
By Maraline Kubik
DETROIT – Ford Motor Co., the only American
automaker to escape bankruptcy last year, is riding
a wave of success that executives and analysts expect
will carry it well into the realm of profitability and
may place it at the forefront of the American auto
industry.
Touting its “doubleheader” win after capturing
both the North American Car of the Year – the Fu-
sion Hybrid – and North American Truck of the
Year – the Transit Connect – awards, presented at
the North American International Auto Show earlier
this month, Ford set the stage before unveiling its
new Ford Focus by bombarding journalists with
the names of awards its products have won around
the world.
Among the dozens of awards flashed on the big
screen as reporters crowded into the arena were the
Fiesta, named Romania’s car of the year, Consum-
See FORD, page 10 Mark Fields, executive vice president of Ford Motor Co., accepts the car and truck awards at the Detroit auto show.

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 9

Ford Dealers: Ride High with Culture Shift


From Page 1 such as audio turn-by-turn directions and automatic
former executive vice president at Boeing, marked speed reduction – a cruise-control device that kicks
a turning point in the history of the automaker. in and slows your vehicle when it’s coming too close
“When Mulally took over, he mortgaged all of Ford’s to another car – are also available on smaller models.
assets,” Poulton notes, securing $23.6 billion to Before, such technology was limited to higher-end
finance a complete remake of the then-struggling vehicles.
automaker. “It’s helped us boost our market share,” McCor-
The restructuring plan worked and gave the mick says.
company sufficient cushion to withstand the dev- That’s always been a challenge for Ford, especially
astating economic crisis that forced General Motors in the Mahoning Valley, adds Columbiana Ford’s
Corp. and Chrysler LLC into bankruptcy and accept Poulton. “This is still a GM town,” he stresses, point-
government bailouts. ing to the significance of the automaker’s Lordstown
“You’re seeing the results right now [of those Complex. “Is Ford going to make a big splash in
decisions],” Poulton relates. a GM town? Probably not, but we are increasing
In December, Ford posted sales gains of 33% – a market share here.”
performance better than any other major automaker Still, a strong GM is much better for business at
doing business in the United States. Moreover, in his dealership, Poulton relates. “We’re all rooting for
2009 the company recorded its first full-year increase the [Chevrolet] Cruze to do well,” he says, referring
in market share in nearly 15 years while simultane- to the new model slated to roll off the production line
ously boosting retail market share 14 times over at Lordstown in August. “When GM’s doing well, it
15 months. Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co., answers creates money in the marketplace so other buyers
But it’s the nearly universal accolades Ford is reporters’ questions during the auto show in Detroit. can come in and buy Ford. It creates jobs, but not
receiving for its new line of products that is driving much. And the needle is moving.” everybody drives a GM car.”
the most interest, area dealers say. Meantime, he reports, sales of the Ford F-150 Along with the Fusion and Focus, buyers are
“What Ford is doing right is that they are building truck continue very strong. “It’s still the No. 1-sell- also enamored with the newly redesigned Ford
the best cars and trucks they’ve ever built,” observes ing vehicle in the country,” he says, noting that Taurus, says Donny Murphy, sales manager at Don-
Bob Davis, general manager at Fairway Ford-Mer- Fairway’s showroom does more volume business of nell Auto Group, Boardman. “It’s a totally different
cury Inc., Canfield. “We personally had a great year F-150s than any of the 300 dealers in the Pittsburgh car,” he says. “This vehicle could easily hold up to
in 2009,” he reports, noting his dealership logged metropolitan region. Mercedes.”
better sales last year in both new and used units than Dealers say younger buyers are walking into Ford The new Taurus contains all the bells and whis-
the previous year. showrooms, attracted to the high-tech content avail- tles of a luxury automobile and comes equipped
Leading Ford’s product mix of passenger cars able in just about every model. with features such as seats that can be heated and
is the Ford Fusion – Motor Trend’s Car of the Year “Ford used to focus on trucks and sport-utility cooled.
– and the Taurus, Davis relates. The Fusion Hybrid vehicles,” relates Brian McCormick, general sales “They’re making money and making quality ve-
took North American Car of the Year at the North manager at Fred Martin Ford, Austintown. “Now, hicles,” Murphy says. “It’s always been difficult to
American Auto Show in Detroit earlier this month; they’ve gone to smaller cars such as the Fusion, compete selling Fords in Youngstown, but I’m really
the automaker’s Transit Connect earned the North Focus and Escape.” proud to be at the top of the game rather than just
American Truck of the Year award. The three models are the most popular at the the middle of the game.”
The Fusion’s best-in-class fuel economy and Martin dealership, McCormick says, who adds that Murphy relates customers are looking at Ford
safety ratings – plus a roomy interior that’s just big today even the entry-level vehicles have options once more intently because many were turned away from
enough to accommodate families without alienating reserved for luxury cars. “Small cars never used to GM and Chrysler in the wake of their bankruptcies
younger, single buyers – creates a broad appeal in have a remote auto start – some didn’t have power and the nearly $80 billion they took in government
the market, Davis says. locks or windows,” he laughs. bailout money.
And, trade-ins of passenger cars manufactured by Options such as Sync technology would’ve been “There are people defecting from GM and Chrys-
foreign automakers such as Honda and Toyota for unthinkable in a small car a decade ago, McCormick ler to Ford,” Murphy says. “A lot of people are proud
Fusions are on the rise since the vehicle made its says. Sync is a software system that allows drivers of the fact that Ford didn’t take the bailout.”
debut in 2006, Davis says. “If most Americans could to remotely connect their cellular phones to the And, he says Ford is working to keep its inventory
get the vehicle they want – and keep the money with vehicle’s car radio and is activated on the vehicle’s mix low, thereby increasing the resale value of some
an American company – they’d choose the American steering wheel. The technology thereby eliminates of its latest models, Murphy says. “Used Fords are
company,” he says. “Ford’s quality has improved that the need to talk on a hand-held unit. Other options, bringing top dollar right now.”

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10 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Ford: Automaker Says Awards Demonstrate Its Profitability


From Page 8 sumers with great products that harness the best of business models that include alternative propulsion
ers Digest ranking eight models “best buys” in their Ford Motor Co.,” Mulally said. “The efficiencies gen- technologies.
classes, and the Taurus, named “Best New Family erated by our new global C-car platform will enable These goals won’t be achieved quickly. “We are in
Car” by automotive journalists in Canada. us to provide Ford Focus customers with an afford- an era of massive structural change,” he said. “This
The North American Car of the Year, Ford Fusion, able product offering quality, fuel efficiency, safety is true upheaval that I think will last for decades.”
is also Motor Trend Car of and technology beyond However, he added, “a sharp rebound [in automak-
the Year, one of Car and Ford has made steady progress in the three their expectations.” ers’ profitability] is probable – highly probable.”
Driver magazine’s 10 Best Up to 10 unique mod- “Ford is the darling now,” agreed Neil DeKoker,
Cars for 2010, an Auto- areas all of the American automakers must els will be built on the C- president and CEO of the Original Equipment Sup-
mobile magazine 2010 All address if they are to succeed: restructuring, car platform, each tailored plier Association.
Star and achieved a Top growing in emerging markets and develop- for the markets where The company’s stock price has risen from $1 to
Safety Pick rating from ing new business models that include alter- they will be sold. Ford $11 in the last year, he noted, but “GM is ahead of
the Insurance Institute for expects to sell as many Ford in terms of product.”
Highway Safety in 2009. native propulsion technologies. as two million units built Justin Mirro, managing director and head of the
The success of all of on this platform by 2012, automotive investment banking group at Moelis
these models is part of Ford’s plan, One Ford, which and achieve extraordinary economies of scale. & Co. LLC, is more conservative. He believes the
Alan Mulally, CEO and president, described as “one Simultaneous production is slated to begin late quick run-up in Ford’s stock price illustrates “over-
compelling vision” that brings together one team this year in North America and Europe, with indi- excitement” on the part of investors. Both Ford and
and one goal: to build the best cars and trucks in vidual market launches beginning early next year. GM are on the right path, he admitted. “Chrysler
the world. Those will be followed by launches in Asia, Africa has a lot of work to do.”
According to Mulally, Ford is on its way, building and South America. The crisis in the automotive industry has, how-
highly desired automobiles that are recognized as Auto analysts are just as optimistic about Ford’s ever, paved the way for a brighter future, DeKoker
the best – as demonstrated by the long list of awards future – and the future of the domestic industry. pointed out. All of the American automakers have
– in markets around the world. “Ford has been very consistent. I’m very optimis- become more efficient, making it possible to turn a
Most important, consumers are excited about tic about Ford,” John Casesa, managing partner at profit producing fewer vehicles.
the lineup and are buying them. All of Ford’s opera- Casesa Shapiro Group LLC told journalists during In 2007, American automakers needed to turn
tions around the world were profitable in the third the Society of Automotive Analysts 22nd Annual out 80% of their capacity to break even, DeKoker
quarter of last year, Mulally reported proudly. The Outlook Conference. said. Today, they can break even producing 50% to
next generation of Ford vehicles and Ford’s future Casesa says Ford has made steady progress in 60% of capacity, or 9.5 million vehicles. In a market
is even more promising, he said. the three areas all of the American automakers where the Detroit Three have lost much of their
“The new Ford Focus is a clear demonstration must address if they are to succeed: restructuring, market share to foreign competitors, he pointed out,
that our One Ford strategy is providing global con- growing in emerging markets and developing new that is imperative.

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 11

Asians Map Course to Unseat Detroit


Chinese automaker BYD aims to
be the world’s largest by 2025.
By Maraline Kubik

A
merican automakers may have announced
plans to slash the number of models they
produce, eliminating some brands altogether,
but the global market is growing evermore crowded
as Asian companies, unheard of until just a few years
ago, target profitable markets in the United States
and Europe and map a plan to unseat the Detroit
Big Three.
Chinese automaker BYD, which stands for Build
Your Dreams, plans to sell the e6 in the United States
later this year, an early step toward becoming the
world’s largest automaker – a goal company leaders
say it plans to achieve by 2025.
Considering the company’s success so far, that
may not be an unreasonable expectation. BYD Auto
has achieved impressive benchmarks since BYD,
an electronic parts manufacturer founded in 1995,
acquired Geijing Jichi Car Module Co. Ltd. in 2003
to establish BYD Auto.
It unveiled its first new car two years later and
captured 68 of China’s top automotive awards within
CT&T’s amphibious concept car drew the attention of this reporter, who lingered long after the vehicle was unveiled.
10 months. The Chinese automaker developed its
first “pure electric car” in 2006, the same year it Beach, Calif. Three other assembly and sales centers will be shipped from Korea with final assembly
began exporting large numbers of its automobiles are in the works, one slated to open near Philadel- performed in the United States, White explains.
to Ukraine. phia later this year, with another 34 set to open Within two years, he adds, the company hopes to
By January 2007, BYD was selling more than throughout the country by 2012, reports Joseph J. source most of the parts required for its electric
10,000 units of its most popular model, the F3, each White, chief operating officer. cars from domestic suppliers near its assembly and
month and celebrated production of its 100,000th Young Gi Lee, a former executive at Hyundai sales centers.
unit that June – a milestone achieved in just 20 Motor Corp., established CT&T after becoming Target markets include coastal and retirement
months. This set a record for independent automak- frustrated because all of the golf cars in Korea were communities where small, low-speed electric ve-
ers in China, and sales have continued to expand at produced by foreign manufacturers, White says. hicles and recreational vehicles are likely to be in
an equally impressive rate. Today, CT&T, he notes, is the world’s largest manu- strong demand from residents, White says. Although
During a press conference at the auto show in facturer of electric vehicles. the vehicles can be registered and licensed for opera-
Detroit earlier this month, company leaders told The privately held company has manufacturing tion on public roadways, laws that restrict how fast
reporters that BYD had sold 450,000 new cars in sites in Korea and China with plans to add seven they can travel prevent them from using high-speed
China last year, up 160% over 2008. This year, they more throughout Asia and 30 regional assembly and thoroughfares.
reported, the goal is to sell 800,000 units, putting sales centers throughout Europe. This is in addition The car company is also targeting customers
the company on track to become China’s largest to the 40 assembly and sales centers it plans to open that could benefit by using electric utility vehicles
automaker by 2015 and the largest in the world in the United States. for commercial purposes: municipalities that could
by 2025. The regional assembly sales center (RAS) is an use them to patrol parking areas, postal services that
While BYD was the only Chinese automaker entirely new business model that locates manufac- could use them to deliver mail, amusement parks
with a full-blown display at the North American turing sites near target markets and eliminates chains and other entertainment centers that could use them
International Auto Show in Detroit this year – ap- of dealers, White says. Buyers visit the assembly to transport visitors, factories that could use them
pearing on the main show floor rather than the lobby plants, which also include a showroom and track to provide meal services to workers, companies that
where it exhibited last year – auto analysts have for test-drives, to order and pick up their vehicles. could use them to replace existing fleets of delivery
identified at least three other Chinese automakers Cars can also be ordered online. vehicles and the list goes on.
with the potential to become major players in the Not only does this greatly reduce costs – because Cost of CT&T’s electric cars range from $10,000
global auto industry. They include Geely Automobile vehicles need not be shipped long distances – White to $24,000 reports its president, CEO and founder.
Holdings and Chery Automobile – both exhibited says, but it allows managers to be more accessible Factor in federal and state tax credits designed
at the NAIAS last year – and Shanghai Automotive and responsive to customers. Buyers are also more to encourage consumers to buy environmentally
Industry Corp. likely to identify with and choose to purchase friendly cars – credits that range up to $7,000 – and
Korean automaker CT&T, founded in 2002, vehicles manufactured in their communities by final costs could be as little as $6,000 or $7,000,
made its first appearance at the Detroit show this companies that employ their friends, families and Lee says.
year with 24 models of its all-electric vehicles on neighbors. The greatest challenge Lee says his company
display, including three concept cars: a flashy sports Eash RAS in the United States is expected to faces in the United States is “educating Americans
car, a six-wheeled amphibian capable of going from employ about 100 hourly and 15 salaried workers to the benefits of electric vehicles.” In Korea, CT&T
land to water and vice versa, and its next-generation and produce 10,000 vehicles a year while operating has captured nearly 90% of the electric vehicle
passenger car. on one shift. market.
CT&T has already sold 5,000 of its cars in the CT&T began exporting vehicles to the United The company forecasts global sales of its electric
United States and is ramping up regional assembly States in October 2009. As the regional assembly vehicles designed for use in cities will generate $25
and sales centers in Atlanta, Duncan, S.C., and Long and sales centers ramp up, partially assembled cars billion this year and $250 billion in 2013.
12 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Electric Vehicles:
From Page 1
flew the world’s first private vehicle into space in
2004, was developed to inspire “radical break-
throughs for the benefit of humanity,” says an X
Prize Foundation spokeswoman.
The Automotive X Prize, she explains, is designed
“to inspire a new generation of super fuel-efficient
vehicles” – cars that achieve the equivalent of 100
miles per gallon of fuel or better – and are safe,
produce little or no emissions, and are capable of
being produced in mass and sold at prices most
consumers could afford.
Winners, selected based on their performances
in a series of competitions and evaluations slated
to take place from April through August, will be
announced in September and awarded a share of
the $10 million purse.
“There are 140 million workers in the United
States and 106 million of them drive to work alone.
Commuting is a single-occupant job,” Commuter
Cars’ Woodbury observes.
Citing statistics from the U.S. Department of
Transportation, he reports that 90% of all automobile
trips involve a single occupant. For these trips, he
says, the Tango is ideal. It isn’t designed to replace
the family car, but to provide more efficient trans-
portation for commuters.
The Tango, its developer explains, is especially
suited for congested urban areas because of its size
and functionality. It is 8-feet, five-inches long, 39
inches wide and 60 inches high, making it more
comparable to a motorcyle than traditional auto-
mobiles. The EVI Special from EV Innovations Inc. is among several lithium-powered vehicles the Charlotte, N.C.-based company makes.
Much like a motorcycle, Woodbury says, the SABA Motors’ Carbon-Zero Roadster, is a sleek, technology and taken it to the max.”
Tango can park in tight spaces and maneuver 100% electric two-seater that goes from zero to 60 What that means is that engineers and designers,
through traffic easily. In communities where lane in five seconds, can reach a top speed of 105 mph using traditional methods and materials, have suc-
splitting is legal, he says, the advantages Tango of- and travels up to 140 miles on a single charge. cessfully reduced the weight and aerodynamic drag
fers can be “staggering,” reducing the time it takes The Carbon-Zero Roadster’s traditional styling of the vehicle to achieve extreme efficiencies.
to travel along congested roadways to a fraction of offers “mass appeal,” observes Chris Arcus, direc- The Very Light Car, Kuttner reports, weighs
what it would take to cover the same distance in a tor of electrical engineering at SABA Motors Inc. less than 1,200 pounds, can travel up to 100 miles
traditional car or truck. (SABAMotors.com). “It’s a very conventional-look- per gallon of E85, reaching speeds up to 110 mph
Some drivers may be hesitant to operate the tiny ing sportscar.” and going from zero to 60 in seven seconds. It can
car on the same roads and highways as large com- The Carbon-Zero Roadster consists of an aircraft- accommodate up to four passengers and has more
mercial vehicles, Woodbury acknowledges. But, he strength aluminum and steel frame and fiberglass than 10 cubic feet of storage space. So, unlike some
insists, the Tango “is arguably the safest” vehicle on shell and could be on the market within six months of the other X Prize contenders, it could replace
the road. It incorporates a racecar-style roll cage and if the San Jose, Calif.-based company is successful the family car.
four-point harness system, has four times more steel in securing funding. Arcus estimates $75 million Kuttner says his team chose to develop a vehicle
in its doors than an SUV and, Woodbury reports, would be required to begin mass production of the that could run on E85 rather than electricity for a
“so much acceleration you car, about one-tenth of number of reasons. First, he says, E85 is available.
can just squirt out of the “There are 140 million workers in the United what he says it would cost Many consumers, he notes, don’t have the facilities
way [of larger vehicles] in to ramp up production for to charge electric vehicles at their homes or places
a hurry.”
States and 106 million of them drive to work a steel-bodied car. of business and the infrastructure is not in place to
Thus far, Commuter alone. Commuting is a single-occupant job,” One of the require- open charging stations.
Cars has sold 11 Tangos, Commuter Cars’ Woodbury observes. ments contenders for the Second, electric vehicles may produce zero
the first in 2005 to actor Automotive X Prize must emissions but most electricity in the United States
George Clooney. The downside, Woodbury says, is meet, Arcus notes, is submission of a viable busi- – electricity used to recharge the batteries of electric
its price: $150,000 and cars are built to order with ness plan that demonstrates the feasibility of mass vehicles – is generated by burning coal and other
a $75,000 deposit. producing the vehicle. According to SABA Motors’ fossil fuels. So, describing electric vehicles as emis-
With enough capital to go into mass produc- plan, the price of the Carbon-Zero Roadster would sions-free is misleading, Kuttner explains. Further,
tion, Woodbury says the price could come down initially be in the mid-$40,000s and drop as produc- increased demand for electricity to charge vehicles
substantially. “With $50 million of capital we could tion increased. should they displace traditional vehicles would
build 5,000 units over two years and sell them for Yet another contender, The Very Light Car, built require substantial investment in power plant up-
$44,000,” he says. With $150 million, Woodbury by Edison2 (Edison2.com), based in Lynchburg, Va., grades and expansion of existing infrastructure.
says his company could build 30,000 units and sell stood out along Electric Avenue not only because of Finally, Kuttner says, electric vehicles are best
them for $29,000 apiece. its unique design, which loosely resembles a wing- suited to urban environments where commuters
The Tango can travel up to 60 miles on a full less airplane, but because it runs on E85. travel distances that remain within the range of a
charge using lead-acid batteries and more than 200 The Very Light Car “is extremely simple and ex- single charge.
miles using lithium-ion batteries. tremely reproduceable,” says Oliver Kuttner, owner Although Kuttner declined to say how much
Another contender in the X Prize competition, and CEO. “We’ve incorporated all conventional CONTINUES NEXT PAGE
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 13

Very Light Car might cost if put into production, he


said most of the expense to develop the vehicle was
spent to engineer “completely new components.”
The greatest savings, he stresses, will be experienced
as a result of the greatly reduced operating costs.
Other Automotive X Prize contenders that were
on display at the auto show in Detroit are the 2SSIC-
65 (Simple Solutions Inclusive Car) from SSI Racing
in San Diego (SSIRacing.com), the EVI Special from
EV Innovations Inc. (EVIInnovations.com), based in
Charlotte, N.C., the Alias from ZAP Electric Vehicles
(ZapWorld.com) in Santa Rosa, Calif., and the Amp
electric car.
Amp Inc., (ampmotorworks.com) based in Cin-
cinnati, developed an all-electric, high-performance
drive train for installation into the Saturn Sky and
Pontiac Solstice.
ZAP’s Alias is a high-performance, three-wheeled
electric roadster with a list price of $35,000 and is
expected to be in showrooms throughout the United
States late this year.
EV Innovations, incorporated 10 years ago in
Nevada, focuses on developing and marketing
lithium-powered vehicles including automobiles,
motorcycles and scooters.
SSI Racing specializes in high-performance elec-
tric vehicles and conversions. The 2SSIC goes from
zero to 60 in less than four seconds and has a range
of 100 miles. Prices start at $120,000 and 10 are
available for delivery this year.
In addition to the X Prize contenders, Electric
Avenue featured more than a dozen other innova-
tive vehicles from traditional automakers, private The Carbon-Zero Roadster from SABA Motors offers traditional styling that appeals to consumers, says Chris Arcus, director of
companies and independent entrepreneurs. electrical engineering. The car is among 51 competing for the Progressive Automotive X Prize.

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14 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

The Valley’s Business Matters


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P.O. Box 714, Youngstown, Ohio 44501-0714
Telephone 330 744 5023
Fax 330 744 5838 • 330 744 0634
Email: info@business-journal.com
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Publisher Andrea Wood


Assistant Publisher Eileen Lovell
Copy Editor Dennis LaRue
Page Editor Maraline Kubik
Daily Buzz Anchor Stacia Erdos
Videographers Jeremy Lydic
Tony Marr
Mike Moliterno
Senior Reporters Dan O’Brien
George Nelson
Jeremy Lydic
Columnists Monnie Ryan
Lou Zona

Journal Opinion
Photographer Tony Mancino
Rate Comparisons Cara J. McClure
Sales Manager Janet O’Malley
Account Executives Gail S. White
Dan Gonder
Art Director/ Fred Sipe
Webmaster
Joining the Resistance
“I refuse to participate in the recession.” ter some 30 years is no miracle, but a testament
That simple message, on a button worn by a to prudent management, a work force that turns
visitor to Prodigal in late 2008, stuck in the mind out a competitive product, and being sufficiently
of Prodigal founder Jeff Hedrich. He recalled it as nimble to respond to changing conditions and op-
his company submitted its story for this, our 25th portunities.
Growth Report. Then there is this story, reported on Business-
T he Business Journal is published semi- The man knew all was not well with the economy. JournalDaily.com as Growth Report 2010 went to
monthly (twice a month) in Youngstown, Ohio. Pretending otherwise is a prescription for failure but press, of Michael Garvey of M-7 Technologies and
Copyright 2010 by Youngstown Publishing Co. don’t let bad times blind you to the opportunities Jack Scott of ASC2, who have pooled their resources
within reach, he was saying. Take some effort and to form Ohio Clean Technologies Group.
All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, with- develop a plan so you’ll emerge prepared for better Their venture will act as a “commercialization
out written permission, of editorial or graphic times ahead. engine,” as Garvey put it, for the green technolo-
content in any manner is prohibited. Or as George Bernard Shaw wrote in another gies expected to emerge from the Warren incubator
context: Others look around and ask, Why? I look under development. The businessmen plan to spend
Average Issue Readership: 45,000
around and ask, Why not? $1 million to start their venture, which includes
Mail Subscription Rates: $42 for 12 months; Another company, McDonald Steel, relates in its construction of a headquarters building to house
$77 for 24 months; $96 for 36 months. Growth Report how it has adapted to the crash it demonstration projects showcasing how these
Back Issues: If available, $4.75 apiece saw coming. CEO Timothy Egnot writes that his technologies work.
prepaid (mailed); $3.25 apiece prepaid management team identified and addressed potential Stories such as these are far from uncommon in
(picked up at our office). problems before they became insurmountable. The the Mahoning Valley, as readers will see in these
mini-mill continued to diversify its product mix. pages. Refusing to participate in the recession is
Submission Policy: News articles and photographs Among its new shapes are prototype door hinges simply having a strong work ethic and harnessing
may be submitted but cannot be returned. We reserve
the right to select and edit all articles and letters.
that will be used in a Volkswagen midsize sedan it to the innovative thinking for which this region
All submissions become the editorial property of The built in Chattanooga, Tenn. has been known.
Business Journal. Submissions may be edited and Few industries have seen the turmoil that has af- We received a record number of submissions
may be published or re-used in any medium including flicted steel, and certainly not here in the Mahoning for Growth Report 2010. Such an outpouring, we
Business Journal television and radio reports and the Valley. Global competitors that don’t play fairly to believe, is a response to the economic environment
Daily Business Journal Online. reluctance by labor and management to acknowl- in which we all operate. Yes, there are challenges,
Locally owned by the edge the shifts in the industry are only two aspects markets have shrunk and some of our customers
of this turmoil. have gone out of business or gone bankrupt. But we
Youngstown Publishing Co. That McDonald Steel continues to operate af- survive to grow another day. And grow we will.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 15

BY LOUIS A. ZONA ����������������������������������������������������

Impressions �����������������
���������������
Bullies Then and Now, ������������������������������������
In Their Bully Pulpits
From the schoolyard All of us have experienced some
form of bullying at one time or
to the workplace to another. Back when I was a sopho- ������ �����������
the media to politics. more in high school, the toughest, �����������

������ ������ ����������

meanest rogue senior, a fellow named

I ����������
n an early episode of the Andy Gary Schuster, bullied my good friend
Griffith show, a bully confronts Bill Wise and me. I dreaded arriving
Andy Taylor’s small son, Opie.
This much bigger
at school each morning wondering
what new form of
�����������������
and tougher kid There are big-time bullies in humiliation Gary
terrorized Opie our own country who use their would come up
and extorted his
lunch money every
bully pulpits to promote hatred with. One of us
might have to retie
morning. “Gimme against anyone with whom they his shoes, carry
that nickel or I’ll disagree. his cafeteria tray, ������������
punch you in the
eye,” the bully would threaten.
And with each threat, Opie reached
or serve as a look-
out so Gary could pull off some sort
of mischief.
������������
into his pocket for the money – that is, I still see him in my mind – a char- ����������������� ����������������
until Andy figured out what was go- acter right out of the movie version of ������������������������������������������������������������
ing on. After a pep talk when he told “Grease,” with his T- shirt, tight jeans
his son that the only way to end the and oiled hair in a D.A. cut. Gary ru-
threat was to confront the bully, Opie ined my sophomore year and I regret
did. Opie ended up with a black eye that I did not stand up to him. If I had,
but he stood up to his tormentor and though, I probably couldn’t brag today
the bullying stopped. See ZONA, page 16

BY GAIL WHITE

Commentary
¡Viva la Revolución!
W hen we launched our
new multi-media Web site,
BusinessJournalDaily.com,
last year, we thought it was a pretty
good idea.
Much like the Internet naysay-
ers, many thought the “picture box”
would be a passing fad.
Instead, television became a revo-
lution.
We were wrong. We l c o m e t o R e v o l u t i o n 2
It was an incredibly, stupendously (squared).
great idea! As a child, I remember life stopped
There was no way for us to antici- at 6 p.m. when Mom and Dad sat
pate the reaction to this brainstorm. down to watch the news. Unless the
Since the dawn of the Internet, house – or a sibling – was on fire, you
the media industry suspected that knew better than to disturb them.
this new communication outlet was Back then, nearly 100% of the homes
going to be a force to be reckoned that had their televisions on at 6 p.m.
with. were watching the local news. (Of
I liken it to the days when every- course, there were no other programs
one gathered around the radio every to watch back then.)
evening – and then television came According to most recent Neilson
along. See WHITE, page 16
16 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Zona: Bullies Then and Now in Their Bully Pulpits Goldstein’s armies will attack Oceania,
From Page 15 who had no scruples about elimi- to leave the United States. its citizens were reminded daily. His
that I still have all my own teeth. nating anyone he even suspected One bright spot of that sordid force will attack and destroy what we
I visited my old school chum Bill a of thinking about challenging his time, still rerun on documentaries, have, Big Brother warned. It’ll be ever
little while ago. We reminisced about authority. was one man who publicly stood up so much worse.
our high school years and, yes, we Today we have such international to him, Joseph N. Welch, counsel When the Communists were a
discussed Gary Schuster. Bill con- bullies as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in for the U.S. Army during what have threat, voices in the media and Con-
fessed that in the summer after Gary Iran, Kim Jong Il in North Korea, and become known as the Army-McCar- gress focused on the menace from the
graduated, he got back at Gary for an assortment of others in nations thy hearings: “Until this moment, Russians, the Chinese and the North
both of us. Bill, armed with two eggs where dissent is equated with treason, Senator, I think I never really gauged Vietnamese.
and under cover of darkness, quietly no matter how noble-sounding their your cruelty or your recklessness. … Now that Communism is much,
approached Gary’s house. He found constitutions. Have you no sense of decency sir, at much less of a threat, a new boogie-
the bully in his back yard talking with I also feel strongly that there are long last? Have you left no sense of man had to be invented. The new
a friend. big-time bullies in our own country decency?” boogiemen are in our midst and have
Bill, who was a terrific baseball who use their bully pulpits to promote And of course, Joe McCarthy ex- adopted the guise of anyone on the
player, reared back and fired both hatred against anyone with whom ited the stage of history as have so other side of the political spectrum.
eggs at Schuster. Both hit their they disagree. many bullies in this country, before So we’re told.
mark. Screaming, “I’ve been shot and Sadly, there are people in the me- and since, once someone stood up to And what is so sad is that political
I’m bleeding,” Gary called out for his dia today who feel that the only way them. And we always ask, What took debate has been replaced by bullying
mother as Bill hopped on his bicycle that they can maintain their ratings so long? Why didn’t anyone stand up those of the opposing point of view.
and sped away. is by spreading fear of, and promot- or speak out earlier? No matter what form bullying takes,
“I did it for both of us,” Bill said. ing hatred toward, people who don’t In 1984, George Orwell laid out the only way to get rid of it is stand-
Incidentally, Bill is now a retired agree 100% with their political view- an ugly truth, that bullies try to keep ing up to it and saying, “Enough is
teacher, counselor and respected points. themselves in power by creating a enough!”
western Pennsylvania coach. I love history, particularly Amer- boogieman for the people to hate As Opie told his dad when Andy
Unfortunately, bullies exist in every ica’s 20th century. One of the most and fear. asked about his black eye, “Yeah, Dad,
facet of life, from the schoolyard bully, disgraceful chapters, though, was In Orwell’s dystopia, it was Gold- it’s a beaut. But you should see the
like Gary, to the to the workplace Sen. Joe McCarthy’s use of the fear stein. Let down our guard and traitor shiner on him!”
bully. There are corporate bullies of Communism to bully and destroy
and those who use their positions of
authority to coerce others so they can
the lives of many people to promote
himself. He even accused Charlie
White: ¡Viva la Revolución!
unfairly get their way. Chaplin of being a Communist sympa- From Page 15 Journal.
Josef Stalin was a political bully thizer and ultimately forced Chaplin Ratings for the Youngstown television Couple the Web news videos with
market, fewer than 45% of the house- daily e-mail blasts, distributing the

����
holds with their TVs on at 6 p.m. are day’s news to thousands of desktops,
� � ������������������������������������������������ watching the local news these days. and you have Revolution2.
� � � � ������������������������� Statistics like this prompt the Of course, all of this is just a fancy
question – Where are people getting schmancy newfangled idea unless
� � � � � � ������������ their news? it can positively affect the bottom
� � � � � � ������������ The answer to this question has
been studied for years and, quite
line.
It would be a lie to say we knew
frankly, is not rocket science. With this would be profitable. At best, we

��������
more news outlets and all-day news kind-of-thought it maybe-might make
programming, people don’t have to some money. Accounting blew a gas-
wait for 6 p.m. ket more than once in the early days as

�������
At The Business Journal, we chose the publisher submitted invoice after
to answer a different question: How do invoice while setting up our in-house
people WANT to get their news? video production department.
The concept of multi-media news We delayed going live with our
when you want it, for as long as you first video newscast to iron out the
������������������������ want it – and delivered to your desk- glitches; for one month the produc-
top – has struck a chord with our tion team rehearsed and revised to
readers (and viewers). ensure a flawless launch. But the mo-
When you visit our Web site today, ment the segments hit, we knew we
Melmor Associates, Inc. you can read local business news
stories that you may first have learned
had a winner.
Our eclectic readers know quality
“World’s Largest Since 1963
Material Handling about by reading our Daily Headlines news and from Day One that is what
Distributor” e-mailed to your in-box or watch they received from BusinessJournal-
���������
video segments on our daily newscast, Daily.com.
Baskets
Boxes
Cabinets
Carts
Dock Boards
Hoists
Hoppers
Lift Tables
��
��������
����������
the Business Journal Daily Buzz, and
on our “3 Minutes With…” interview
series. If the phone rings while you
are watching our video news, one
The dollars have followed, which
has eased the tension in accounting.
But more important, we are pleased
to provide more local business news
Casters Motors
Containers Paint Pots
������ click and the news is paused. One and more advertising opportunities to
Conveyors Racking ���������������� more click and our newscast or Mahoning Valley businesses.
Cranes Tote Pans interview resumes right where you The video production department
Call today left off. Then there is the most com- received a call from a paper in Indiana
840 Ann Street – PO Box 511 – Niles, OH 44446
for a FREE prehensive source of local business the other day. They wanted to know
330-652-1784 Phone – 330-652-1667 Fax catalog news you won’t find anywhere else, how we do this.
www.melmor.com
the print edition of The Business ¡Viva la Revolución!
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 17

�����
YOUNGSTOWN - WARREN

Regional Chamber Report


Watch Our Video Report
Regional Chamber
��������
����������
economy’s reported turnaround. Also
at the breakfast event, the chamber’s
Report runs Monday Walter Good will recap his economic ��������������������
on the Daily Buzz. development team’s efforts in 2009
with our second-annual economic-
���������������������������������
����������������������

C atch the Regional Chamber


Report as part of ever y
Monday’s “Business Journal
Daily Buzz” webcast. We’re excited
about the possibilities this partnership
development video.
The event is Jan. 27 from 7:30 to
9 a.m. at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman.
To learn more about this event, spon-
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sored by First National Bank, or make
with The Business Journal brings reservations, go to RegionalChamber. ���������������������������������������� ��������� ������ ����� ����� ������� ���
the chamber and our members: It’s com, and click “Event Calendar” or ��������������������������������������� ��������� ��� ������ ��� �������� ����������
a chance to spotlight members and call 330 744 2131, ext. 12. The cost ������ ����� ��� ������� ��� ���������������� ����������������������
projects like never before. is $20 for chamber members, $30 for ���� ���� ����������� ���� ������� ��������
Each week, The Business Journal nonmembers. ��������������������������������������� ��������������������������������
records, edits and produces our video ������������������������������������� ������ ������ ���������� ����� ���� �����
segments, and carries them Monday
Government Affairs Council ���������������������������������������� ������� ��� ���� ���� ��� ������ ���� �����
within its “Business Journal Daily To Host Big Political Names ���������������������� �������� ����� �������� �������� �����
Buzz” webcast, posted at Business- ������������������������������������ ���������� ���� ����� �������� ����� �����
On Feb. 5, the Regional Chamber’s
JournalDaily.com and sent to the ��������� ���� ��� �������� ���� �� ����� ����������������������������������������
Government Affairs Council and
boxes of 4,500 e-mail subscribers. sponsor Youngstown State University ������� ���������������������������������������
A longer version of each segment will welcome back Ohio Speaker of ��������������������������������������
is posted on the home page of the the House Armond Budish at a 7:30 �������������������������������� ��������������������������������������
Regional Chamber’s Web site, Re- a.m. breakfast in the Chestnut Room ������������������� ����� ����������� ����������������������������������������
gionalChamber.com, for an entire of YSU’s Kilcawley Center. ���������� ���� ������� ��� �� ����� ������ ���������������������������������������
week, for hundreds of the site’s daily And on Feb. 17, the Government ����� ���� ��������� ���� �������� ����� ���������������������������������������
visitors to see. Archives of the videos Affairs Council and sponsor AT&T ��� ���� ��� ��� ��������� ���� ��������� ���������������
are kept on the Chamber’s YouTube will host a luncheon featuring U.S. ��������� ����� ����� �� ����� ���� ������ ������ ������ ������������ ������
channel, www.youtube.com/user/Re- Rep. Tim Ryan, in his fourth term ���������� ���������� ���� ������� ����������������������������������������
gionalChamber. in the U.S. House of Representatives ���������� ���� �������� ������ ��� ���� �����������
If you would like to be considered serving the 17th congressional dis- ������ ���������� ��������� ����������� ������� ������� ����� ���� ���� �����
for a video segment, call Kim Gonda trict. The event will begin at 11:30 ������ ���� �� ���������� ������ ��������� ����������� �������������� ������ ����
at 330 744 2131, ext. 35, or e-mail a.m. at Leo’s Ristorante in Warren. ������������������������������������� ������� ��� �������� ����� ����� ����������
Kim@regionalchamber.com. The cost for each event is $20 �������������������������������������� ������� ���� �������������� ����� ��������
An International Approach for chamber members, $30 for non- ��� ���������� ����� ��������� ��������� ���������� ����� ��� ��������� �����������
members. For more information or to ���� ������������ ���� ����� ����� ��� ��������������������������
To Mahoning Valley’s Future register, go to RegionalChamber.com ������������������������������������ �������� ������� �������� ��� ����� �����
You’ve probably heard about the and click “Event Calendar” or call 330 ����� ��� ��������� ���� ���� ������� ���������������������������
Regional Chamber’s recent economic 744 2131, ext. 12. ����������������������������������������� ������ ���� ��������� ��� ������ ���
development trips to China, Taiwan ����������������������������������������
and Israel, but the February issue of
Nominations Due March 1 ������ ���� ������� ��� �������� ����� �����
������ ������������ ����� ��� ������ ���
����� ����������� �������������� ������
Valley Magazine will take a more in- For Athena Awards ��� ���� ����� ������ ���� ��������� ������ ���������������������������������������
depth look at chamber officials’ travels Nominations are being accepted ������� ���������� ������ ������������� �������� �������� ��� ��������� ��� �����
and efforts to drum up business over- through March 1 for the 18th an- �������� ����� ����������� ����� ��� �������������������������������������������
seas. We invite you to read the story nual Athena Award, which will be ������������������������������������� ���� ��� ������ ��� ������ �������� ���� �����
and learn about the opportunities that presented May 20 to an outstanding ��������������������������������������� ����������
exist beyond our borders. professional woman from the Mahon- ������������������������������� ��������� ���� ��������� ������ ����
Economy Turning Around? ing Valley. ����� ���� ����������� ����� ������������
The award, sponsored by the ����� ������ �������� �������� ���� ��������� ����� ���� �������� ��
Find Out at Breakfast Event Regional Chamber and The Vindica- �������� ����������� ���� ����� ����� ������������ ���������� ����� ��� �����
Each year, the Chamber’s Economic tor/Vindy.com, honors women for ac- ������� ����� ������� ������� ����������� ��������������������������������������
Forecast Breakfast provides a glimpse complishments in their organizations, ��� ���� ���� ��� ������ ����� ���� ������ ��������������������
of the new year’s economy. leadership in the community and ��������� ����� ������� ������� ������ ���� ������� ������ ��� ���� ������� ���
This year, we’ve brought back a mentoring of other women. Nomina- �������� ���� ��������� ������ ��� ����� �����������������������������������������
favorite, Dr. Edward (Ned) W. Hill, tion forms have been sent to members ��������������������������������������� �����������������������
professor and distinguished scholar of and are available at the chamber Web
economic development at the Maxine site, RegionalChamber.com.
Goodman Levin College of Urban For more information, contact Kim ��������������� �� ������������������
Affairs at Cleveland State University. Gonda at 330 744 2131, ext. 35, or
Hill will provide insights into the Kim@regionalchamber.com.
18 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

January 22,
2010 Interest Rates CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT PASSBOOK
www.carneyplastics.com / info@carneyplastics.com
STATEMENT
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION ANNUAL

Lowest Plastic Material Prices TERM PERCENTAGE YIELD, SAVINGS


2-Week Trend APY*

in Ohio and Pennsylvania. CF BANK (formerly Central Federal S&L) 1 Year 1.50 — .10/
Personal, Professional Service. Wellsville 24 Mos. 1.75 — N.A.

CHARTER ONE BANK 12 Mos. .40 — N.A./


All Plastic Materials + Custom Fabrication 5 Year 2.50 — .05

CONSUMERS NATIONAL BANK 12 Mos. .60 — .10/


Acrylic Polycarbonate UHMW Salem 4 Year 2.50  .18
Phenolics Polyurethane Nylon CORTLAND BANKS 1 Year .75 — .25/
Cortland 5 Year 2.50 — .25
Cutting Bending Machining Welding E.S.B. BANK 1 Year .80 — .30/
Ellwood City, Pa. 4 Year 2.25 — .30
Equipment Safety Guards Table Tops FARMERS NATIONAL BANK 1 Year .85 — .10/
P.O.P Displays Machine Parts Canfield 4 Year 1.90 — .25

Windows Custom Displays FIRST MERIT BANK 1 Year .35 — N.A./


New Castle, Pa. 2 Year .90 — .05
Riverbend Business Park FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PA. 1 Year .50 — N.A./
1010 W. Rayen Ave. Youngstown, OH 44502 Hermitage, Pa. 5 Year 2.25 — .10
330-746-8273 fax 330-746-8276
1ST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANK 1 Year 1.00 — .20/
East Liverpool 37 Mos. 2.38 — .40

FIRST PLACE BANK 6 Mos. .45 — .25/


Boardman 12 Mos. 1.00 — .25

HOME FEDERAL 1 Year 1.00 — .50/


Niles 3 Year 1.81 — .60

1.50 
HOME SAVINGS 12 Mos. Minimum $500 .35/
Youngstown 5 Year 2.75 — .35
Minimum $500

HUNTINGTON BANK 1 Year 1.10 — N.A./


Youngstown 4 Year 2.75 — N.A.

KEYBANK 1 Year .10 — N.A./


Youngstown 3 Year .85 — .45

����������������� MIDDLEFIELD BANKING COMPANY


5 Year

1 Year
1.85 —

1.15 — .50/
Cortland 13 Mos. 1.91 — .75

� � � � ���������
������������ 2 Year 1.91 —

���������������� PNC BANK 1 Year .70 — N.A./

� � � � �������
Youngstown 48 Mos. 1.25 — N.A.
��������������������
PNC BANK 1 Year .70 — N.A./

� � � � �������
Conneaut Lake, Pa. 5 Year 1.55 — .05

������������ US BANK (formerly Firstar Bank) 1 Year .30  N.A./


3.10 

� � � � ������
Boardman 59 Mos. .10

���������������������� *Annual Percentage Yield Arrows tell whether rates rose or fell since last issue. Dashes indicate “unchanged.”
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of The Business Journal compilations. Rates are subject to change without notice and should be
confirmed with the individual financial institution before entering into transactions. ©2010 Youngstown Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 19

Regional Chamber Grows Business Here, Globally


Reaches out to local startups, five-year campaign to an annual drive. members through a partnership with The Business
companies overseas. The Economic Development Action Team com-
pleted 20 projects, resulting in 1,052 new jobs and
Journal and its Daily Buzz video webcast at Busi-
nessJournalDaily.com. Each week, Kim Gonda, vice
By Tom Humphries investments of $81 million. Projects included: president of marketing & business services, will take
Regional Chamber President & CEO • Reinforcement Systems’ $28 million manufac- viewers on location to feature companies, organiza-
turing plant/headquarters in Warren. tions, individuals and projects in the works.
2010 will be a year of growth and change for the • VXI’s new call center in downtown Youngstown In spite of the economic downturn, the Regional
Chamber after seeing a surprisingly productive 2009 that created hundreds of jobs. Chamber Foundation had a robust 2009. Since 1994,
despite the economic downtown. • Spearheading efforts to secure V&M Star’s the foundation has raised an average of $400,000
Here are some expectations for the new year: proposed $1 billion expansion. annually for local economic development activi-
• There is hope that the proposed $1 billion ex- The chamber won NE Ohio’s Business Attraction ties. During 2009, the foundation garnered nearly
pansion of V&M Star in Youngstown will materialize Project of the Year award for landing Patriot Special $700,000 in private investment through the Project
and include opportunities for spinoff industries. Metals’ $64 million complex in North Jackson. 360° Campaign, led by Anthony Cafaro Jr.
• After trade trips to China in 2009 and Israel The REACH program assisted more than 100 Government Affairs had a productive year in
earlier in January, the chamber will conduct more clients last year, and obtained funding for two start- government and education advocacy, collaboration
business-seeking forays to Europe and Asia and ups with investments of $520,000 that will create and reform including the following activities:
possibly a follow-up trip to China. 35 jobs over three years. • Created the first two-year, public policy agenda
• The chamber’s Regional Entrepreneurial As- With the hiring of international banker Eric that advances the business community’s priorities.
sistance Channel of the Mahoning Valley (REACH), Planey, the chamber entered the international busi- • Strengthened ties with groups that promote the
created in 2009 to help businesses start up and grow, ness attraction arena by traveling to China and chamber’s priorities including EfficientGovNow,
should double its caseload this year. Taiwan and coming back with five short- and long- Ohio Metro Chambers of Commerce and the Great
• Business services, which saw a decline in cham- term business prospects. Lakes Chambers of Commerce.
ber membership last year, is developing strategies to Our business services division added another • Coordinated activities of two Valley institu-
recover the losses and see significant membership cost-savings benefit to its membership package with tions involved in local government collaboration:
growth in the region’s MSA. The division also will an office supplies discount program in partnership Mahoning County Metro Leaders Roundtable and
reinvent its programs department and market the with Staples Business Advantage. Giving smaller Trumbull County Roundtable.
region using advertising in the Wall Street Journal. companies discounts that larger companies typi- • Assisted in forming the Eastern Ohio P-16
• The chamber’s Project 360° fundraising cam- cally receive, this new program is saving chamber Partnership for Education that will promote student
paign for economic development will continue to members an average of $200 per month. achievement and career preparedness in Mahoning,
grow after a successful transition in 2009 from a Additionally, the chamber will promote its Columbiana, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.
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20 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

January 22,
2010 Credit Union Rates
FINANCIAL CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT AUTO LOANS MORTGAGE LOANS
INSTITUTION Term APY Minimum Term Rate Type Down Payment Term Rate, 2-Wk Trend Fees

ASSOCIATED SCHOOL 1 Year 1.00 — $1,000 Up to 48 Mos. 5.25 Fixed 20% 15 Year 5.00 — 2+200
EMPLOYEES 2 Year 1.76 — $1,000 Up to 66 Mos. 5.50 Fixed 20% 20 Year 5.25 — 2+200

FIRST CHOICE COMMUNITY 1 Year 1.65 — $500 Up to 48 Mos. 5.65 Fixed 20% 15 Year 5.50  2+200
(formerly RMI CO. EMPLOYEES) 2 Year 2.00 — $500 Up to 60 Mos. 5.65

OHIO EDISON/ 1 Year 1.00 — $1,000 Up to 48 Mos. 5.70 Fixed 5% 15 Year 4.625  0+costs
PENN POWER 2 Year 1.76 — $1,000 Up to 60 Mos. 5.99 Fixed 5% 30 Year 5.25  0+costs

SEVEN SEVENTEEN 1 Year 1.00 — $1,000 Up to 48 Mos. 5.99 Fixed 5% 15 Year 4.375  0+costs
2 Year 1.75 — $1,000 Up to 60 Mos. 5.99 Fixed 5% 30 Year 5.00  0+costs

STRUTHERS FEDERAL 1 Year 1.00 — $1,000 Up to 48 Mos. 6.00 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
2 Year 1.51 — $1,000 Up to 66 Mos. 6.00

YOUNGSTOWN CITY 1 Year 1.00 — $2,000 Up to 60 Mos. 5.99


EMPLOYEES FEDERAL 2 Year 1.56 — $2,000 Up to 72 Mos. 6.99 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Arrows tell whether rates rose or fell since last issue. Dashes indicate “unchanged.” Rates are subject to change without notice and should be confirmed before entering into transactions.
©2010 Youngstown Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 21

MVEDC’s 30 Years Bring $867M, 19,000 New Jobs


Development agency financing from local commercial lend- Warren Commerce Park located in the or sale, French says.
helps 67 firms in ’09. ing institutions to help complete these
projects, he reports.
city of Warren have a combined total
of 411 acres of industrial land, which
Last year, MVEDC upgraded its rail
line that serves Warren Steel Holdings,

L
ast year marked 30 years in Among the loan programs MVEDC includes sites ready for immediate the former Copperweld Steel complex
business for the Mahoning Valley spearheads are the state of Ohio 166 development. The two parks currently in Champion, French says.
Economic Development Corp., program and the Mahoning Valley have 25 tenants that collectively em- “Economic Development Rail Corp.
an agency devoted to job creation and Industrial Loan Fund. MVEDC as- ploy 950 people. and Economic Development Rail
economic diversification activities in sists Mahoning County and the cities The parks have been improved II Corp., both affiliates of MVEDC,
the Mahoning Valley. of Youngstown, Struthers, Niles and with utilities, roadways and railroads, experienced an active year of rail-car
As it looks ahead to the next 30 Girard by lending funds for business and are close to the interstate highway hauling of raw materials and finished
years, the agency is committed to expansions and retention. A micro- system. In addition, the parks offer a products to numerous companies in
further helping small companies loan fund was recently established to variety of existing structures for lease the Valley,” he reports.
take root or expand in the region, as assist the Youngstown Metropolitan
it improves MVEDC’s rail lines and
industrial parks, says its executive
director, Don French.
Housing Authority, or YMHA, to make
loans to businesses owned by YMHA
residents.
Development Network Tops
“MVEDC begins 2010 with a sub-
stantial amount of business develop-
ment work in progress and expects
The agency administers mini-
loan funds in both Columbiana and
Mahoning counties. The programs
Agenda at Shenango Chamber
2010 will be a productive year for
economic diver-
– funded by consortiums of banks
and governmental
sification in the During 2009, MVEDC assisted agencies – provide
Mahoning Valley,” 40 companies with loans total- s m a l l - b u s i n e s s
relates French. loans to individu-
T he Shenango Valley Chamber of
Commerce’s goal for 2010 is to
establish an alliance of Mercer
County development agencies to
bring more business to the county and
the leaders of the three agencies that
collaborated to form OH/PENN, the
first multi-state work-force develop-
ment alliance in the country. The
individuals recognized were Bert Cene
During the past ing $4 million through its own als and companies create more jobs for its residents. of Mahoning and Columbiana Train-
30 years, MVEDC funds and several public-lending unable to secure George Gerhart, executive direc- ing Association, Sam Gianetti of the
has directly assist- programs it administers. financing through tor, says major efforts by the chamber West Central Workforce Investment
ed 1,725 compa- traditional lending in 2009 included communicating Board, and William Turner of Trum-
nies, which collectively have invested sources, French says. with public officials about business bull County One-Stop.
$867 million while creating and pre- “MVEDC can also assist companies concerns relative to legislative issues, Recipients of the chamber’s annual
serving over 19,000 jobs, he reports. located anywhere within the state of such as the proposal to levy tolls on Phoenix Awards included Anytime
Through its affiliates and various Ohio as well as Beaver, Lawrence and Interstate 80, federal health care leg- Fitness, a startup; Minuteman Press,
lending programs, MVEDC assisted Mercer counties in Pennsylvania, with islation and the proposed “card check” entrepreneur; Cross IT Services and
67 companies with development funding through programs sponsored organized labor would use to recruit. Solutions, innovation; Crosstex In-
projects in 2009. These companies by the U.S. Small Business Adminis- “Local issues with which the cham- ternational, growth, small manufac-
represent a broad range of industries, tration,” French relates. ber was involved and supported in- turing; Dean Dairy Products, growth,
which together created and preserved The Technical Procurement Cen- cluded consolidating some school dis- large manufacturing; Buhl Mansion
over 1,350 jobs in the Mahoning Val- ter, jointly operated by MVEDC and tricts and changing the city of Sharon’s Guesthouse and Spa, growth, small
ley, French says. the Eastgate Regional Council of form of government,” he says. service; Wallace and Pancher, growth,
During 2009, MVEDC assisted Governments, assisted 18 companies The chamber welcomed 40 new large service; Community Action
40 Mahoning Valley companies with last year to obtain $10.1 million in members last year but also lost some Partnership of Mercer County, non-
loans totaling $4 million through its contracts for the sale of goods and due to the economy, Gerhart says. profit/service organization; and Ava-
own funds and several public-lend- services to various agencies of the Chamber events included its Busi- lon Golf and Country Club at Buhl
ing programs it administers. Total federal government. This activity ness Expo and banquet, during which Park, beautification.
investments by these companies will created and retained 288 jobs in the Jack Laeng, CEO of the Primary Other activities promoted by the
be $12.2 million and 1,057 jobs will Mahoning Valley. Health Network, was honored as per- chamber included Leadership Shenan-
be created or preserved. These lend- The Youngstown Commerce Park son of the year. go and various networking events and
ing activities also leveraged additional located in Jackson Township and the Also given special recognition were informational workshops.

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22 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

First Place Bank introduces


Lawrence County Bets
SBA Lender as part of On Business Growth
$10 million stimulus program Development officials Lighting was recently awarded a con-
tract to supply LED lighting fixtures
for local small businesses hope for racino project. to the parking lots of the Pittsburgh
International Airport as well as the

A
tour of Lawrence County yields Allegheny County Jail.
snapshots of business activity In Shenango Township, the 15
and new projects in the midst tenants in Shenango Commerce Park
of a very difficult economy, reports continue to manufacture a variety of
The U.S. Small Business Linda Nitch, executive director of products ranging from Berner Inter-
Administration (SBA) the Lawrence County Economic national’s air curtains to Ferguson
Recovery Act has made Development Corp. Perforating’s metal products. About
“During the past 12 months, 300 people are employed at these
improvements to its Lawrence County’s residents and companies, Nitch says.
7(A) program, including businesses cre- In the city of
eliminating fees and ated many op - Ellwood City is working on a New Castle, the
portunities while insurance com-
providing a 90 percent living within the capital improvement project pany Treloar &
bank guarantee. constraints of the that will transform the down- Heisel is redevel-
global economy,” town business district. oping a building
Since SBA program details she says. on East Washing-
are often complicated for In Mahoning Township, sewer ton and Mill streets into new, modern
business owners to navigate, improvements are under way for offices for its 30 employees.
residents there as hopes run high that “Richardson Cooling Packages
First Place Bank has Centaur LLC could secure sufficient is another bright star shining in
appointed John Yurchison financing through bankruptcy court New Castle,” Nitch adds. The com-
as our SBA banker. to begin construction on Valley View pany started seven years ago in a
John Yurchison Downs, one of the largest potential rented building and then moved to
SBA Lender With over 25 years’ banking commercial development endeavors the New Castle Commerce Park,
to hit the region in decades. where it has expanded over the last
Vice President experience and 7 years “With the success of Washington three years.
First Place Bank specializing in SBA lending, County’s Meadows Racetrack and In Union Township, retail activity
John has the expertise to Casino and the Rivers Casino now remains strong. A new arrival in the
open, Valley View Downs is poised township, Beaver County Commu-
help local small businesses to capture the gaming dollars of the nity College at Lawrence Crossings,
Call today take advantage of new community and the region,” Nitch marked its first year in its new 25,000-
at 330-726-3623 national SBA initiatives says. square-foot building. The school has
In the southern part of the county, experienced “unprecedented growth
or 1-800-997-9856 on 7(A) loans. Ellwood City is working on a capital and is planning for additional stu-
or e-mail John at First Place is dedicating improvement project that will trans- dents,” Nitch says.
form the downtown business district Traveling northeast, many of Ne-
jyurchison@fpfc.net $10 million to assist local into an avenue lined with trees, side- shannock Township’s businesses con-
thriving small businesses walk cafes, and anchored by a com- tinue to do well. IPEC, the Interna-
through the SBA Recovery munity plaza, Nitch says. Meantime, tional Plastics and Equipment Corp.,
a number of initiatives stand to benefit continues to grow, largely because of
Act. We’re proud to this part of Lawrence County in terms the owners’ decision to reinvest profits
introduce John as the of job creation and retention. in infrastructure improvements, Nitch
small business community’s The Horsehead Corp. recently pur- says. Axion Power, which has opera-
chased locally operated International tions at the former New Castle Battery
advocate in boosting the Metals Reclamation Co., or Inmetco, sites as well as in Neshannock Busi-
local economy. for $35 million, she says. Inmetco em- ness Park, is poised to take advantage
ploys 97 people and operates the only of green technology, providing new
secondary smelter in North America products to the auto industry.
dedicated to recycling nickel, chromi- Neshannock Township last year
um and other metals from hazardous completed a sewer installation provid-
and nonhazardous wastes. ing Millennium Technology Park with
In addition Appalachian Lighting trunk lines and a lift station capable of
Systems Inc. located its corporate handling more than 800,000 gallons
®
headquarters in Wayne Township. of waste per day, Nitch says.
“This company is in the vanguard In New Wilmington, Westminster
of producing LED lighting that can College is a strong catalyst for the lo-
www.firstplacebank.com save at least 70% of energy consump- cal economy, she adds. With its 1,900
tion and produce a brighter, longer- students and faculty, its economic ef-
Member FDIC
lasting light for business and govern- fect is estimated at $96 million with
ment,” Nitch relates. Appalachian $32 million spent locally.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 23

Youngstown Business Incubator Builds Tech Base


N ew ventures for the Youngstown Business
Incubator slated for 2010 include building
a stronger, more viable technology base in
the Mahoning Valley, says Julie Michael Smith, chief
development officer.
technology companies in northeastern Ohio. The
award is the result of a partnership involving the
YBI, Youngstown State University, Lorain County
Community College and the University of Akron.
Two Incubator companies – BizVeo and Zethus
neurial Internship Program, which gives students
experience working with startup companies. Among
the initiatives was IdeaLaunch, a new student busi-
ness plan competition, Smith says.
The Incubator crafted another entrepreneurial
This year marks an expansion to the tech foot- Software – secured funding of $25,000 and $100,000 partnership with YSU called the Garden Club An-
print in downtown Youngstown as renovations for respectively for various projects, Smith reports. gels. The effort’s goal is to create a fund that can
the Semple building are finished and new tenants And YBI, along with YSU’s Williamson College invest money and talent in local businesses that
move in. of Business Administration, developed the Entrepre- could bring benefits to the Mahoning Valley.
Smith says the Youngstown Business Incubator

Greenville-Reynolds Sees Signs of Recovery


welcomed two new tenants last year. Knotable, a
software company that develops task-management
solutions, set up shop in 2009, while another tech
company, BizVeo, became the first graduate of the There’s evidence that business in the Green- Last year, two businesses relocated their op-
incubator’s new Inspire program. The program al- ville, Pa., area is starting to rebound, says Brad erations to the Reynolds Industrial Park, Gosser
lowed the company to build a management team, Gosser, executive director of Greenville-Reynolds notes. America’s Basement Contractor moved to
secure funding and prepare for beta testing at St. Development Corp. the park in January, and in June so did Specialty
Elizabeth’s Hospital of its Web-based software. “This time last year, many companies were Surface Preparation Co.
“Inspire allows entrepreneurs to easily interact laying off employees,” he observes. “Now, it The industrial parks provide amenities such as
with other entrepreneurs and begin their companies appears some of them are starting to grow their high-speed wireless service, rail access, Keystone
in a professional setting,” Smith says. The develop- work force. I hope that this is a sign that the Opportunity Expansion Zones, and PA Select
ment suite is designed for early-stage businesses and economy is recovering.” Sites, Gosser notes. Freight services are abundant
was launched by the incubator in May after securing Greenville-Reynolds has developed three throughout the area.
$65,000 from the Youngstown Foundation, Domin- industrial parks totaling over 1,200 acres – one Prospects for future development received a
ion Foundation, the Kennedy Family Foundation of of the largest planned and managed industrial boost last year when the state modified its Key-
the Community Foundation of Mahoning Valley and developments in the tri-state area, Gosser says. stone Opportunity Expansion Zones, set to expire
the Philip Thompson Charitable Trust. The three parks have more than 300,000 square in 2013, and extended them to 2020. “Any busi-
Last year also brought with it a series of new feet of buildings owned and managed by Green- ness operating in an expansion zone is exempt
partnerships, Smith says. The Ohio Department of ville-Reynolds that are available for purchase or from paying state and local taxes such as capital
Development awarded $1 million to the Innovation lease and priced competitively. stock tax and property taxes,” Gosser says.
Fund, a pool that makes pre-seed investments in
24 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Award Winning Health Care

HomeCare Elite Top 10 Health Systems®


in the Nation

National Research Corporation Thomson Reuters


HomeCare Elite 2009/10 Consumer Choice Award Top 10 Health Systems® in the Nation
HM Home Health Services identified as one of For the fifth consecutive year, healthcare consumers Catholic Healthcare Partners (CHP) named one of the
the Top 500 of home care agencies in the nation rated St. E’s quality and image above all others. top 10 health systems in the United States.
based on quality outcomes, quality improvement and
financial performance.

MIDAS+ Platinum 2009/2010 Heart Failure


2009 Stroke Silver
Quality Awards Gold Performance
Performance Achievement Award
Achievement Awards

American Stroke Association Get With The GuidelinesSM Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. American Heart Association Get With The GuidelinesSM
2009 Stroke Silver MIDAS+ Platinum Quality Awards 2009/2010 Heart Failure
Performance Achievement Award St. E’s and St. E’s Boardman are among 28 hospitals/ Gold Performance Achievement Awards
The Silver Performance Achievement Award recognizes medical facilities nationwide to be recognized for The Gold Award represents more than two years of at least
St. E’s commitment and success in implementing a excellence in clinical health care. 85 percent adherence to the program guidelines.
higher standard of stroke care.

Healthiest Companies Bariatric Surgery


in America Center of Excellence®

Interactive Health Solutions Thomson Reuters American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Healthiest Companies in America 100 Top Hospitals®Cardiovascular Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence®
HMHP named one of the Benchmarks for Success Award Recognizes the St. Elizabeth and St. Joseph
“Healthiest Companies in America” for 2008. Recognizes the excellence of St. E’s cardiovascular clini- Surgical Weight Loss Center for a demonstrated track
cal and management teams as one of the top in the na- record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.
tion.

27
2009 Outstanding Five-Star Awards
Employer of the Year in 2009

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Premier Healthcare Alliance


In 2009, St. E’s earned 27 five-star awards from
2009 Outstanding Employer of the Year Premier Award for Quality a national hospital rating company
Awarded based on HMHP’s support of, and Recognizes outstanding patient care and clinical and has been named a
participation in, Ohio’s One-Stop System. excellence. St. E’s is the only hospital in the region and “Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence”
one of just 23 winners selected nationwide. for the fourth consecutive year.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 25

Castlo Serves as Model


For Redevelopment
2009 marked by stimulus funds and a grant from the
retirement of founding Clean Ohio program, the rest of the

executive director,
industrial park will receive a clean bill
of health and open the way for new
development opportunities.
��� ����
William D. DeCicco. Two new companies entered the
Castlo Industrial Park in 2009, South-
By Sarah V. Lown
Vice President of Park Management
side Environmental Services and Aesir
Metals. Future plans call for con- ����������������������
C
astlo Community Improvement structing a 30,000-square-foot green
Corp. is looking forward to a energy complex in the park. �������������������������������������������
productive 2010 as it strives to Castlo’s mission is to promote �������������������������������������
expand its 120-acre industrial park, industrial, economic, commercial
refurbish buildings and promote and civic development in Campbell, ��� ��� ������� ���������� ������� ����� �������� ����� ����
development opportunities along the Struthers, Lowellville and Poland and �������������������������������������������������������
Mahoning River. Coitsville townships. This is done by ����������������������������������������������������
The Castlo industrial park serves creating jobs in the industrial park, as- �������������������������������������������������������
as a model for regional development sisting Castlo communities in market-
efforts undertaken throughout north- ing and developing new industry, and ���������������������������������
eastern Ohio. Currently, 17 companies promoting regional development.
are operating in the park and collec- Among these regional efforts, Cas-
tively employ 130 people. This effort tlo is involved with is the Mahoning �� ����������������������������������������������
couldn’t have been realized were it River Corridor Initiative, or MRCI. ��������������������������������������������������
not for the vision and capable leader- Administered by the Youngstown ������������������������������
ship of William D. DeCicco, Castlo’s State University Center for Urban
founding executive director. and Regional Studies, the initiative
Last year, Bill retired after nearly 30 expands on the idea of the Mahon- �� ��������������������������������������������
years of hard work and dedication, and ing River Corridor of Opportunity,
which focused on pooling the re-
���������������������������������������������������
was honored with the Youngstown/
Warren Regional Chamber’s Business sources of core urban communities ����������������������������������������
Advocate of the Year award. Attorney along the river to accelerate regional
Michael Hoza was retained as execu- growth.
tive director on a part-time basis. The initiative identified 18 sites in �� ����������������������������������������������
Castlo continues its efforts to re- the nine cities and townships along �������� ����� ���� ������� ����� ���������� ������������
furbish and revitalize every building the Mahoning River in two counties. ��������������� ���� ������ ���������� ��������
and every acre of the industrial park. This 31-mile stretch of land employs
In 2009, stimulus funds were awarded more than 17,000 and generates more ��������������
to Castlo to remove five abandoned than $700 million in annual payroll.
storage tanks from the property. Castlo and the MRCI came together �� ����������������������������������������������
And last year, Castlo was granted Nov. 11 to showcase the development
a covenant-not-to-sue on 43 acres on opportunities along the river and its ����� ����� ����������� �� �������� ��������� �����
the western end of the park. By the host communities with 100 commu- �������������������������������������������
end of this year, with the assistance of nity leaders attending the event.
������������������������������������������������
���������������������������
Inquiries Up at Trumbull Tourism Bureau
The Trumbull County Tourism Trails Animal Park in Vienna, re- �� ������������������������������������������������
Bureau, a destination marketing ported increases in attendance last �����������������������������������������������
organization based in Warren year, Sferra says. Also, the number
and funded by the hotel lodging of visitor requests for information ���� ���� ���������� ���� �������� ��� �������� ����
tax, took a severe hit last year as on Trumbull County increased last ��������������������������������������������������
revenues dropped by $35,000, year to 15,341 from 5,341 in 2008.
reports Stephanie L. Sferra, execu- Most of those inquiries came from
���������������������������
tive director. Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, In-
The purpose of the bureau is diana, Illinois, Kentucky and New �������������������������������������������������������
to promote the area’s attractions, York, Sferra says.
outdoor activities, shopping op- Much of this increase, Sferra �����������������������������������������������
portunities and dining and enter- adds, can be attributed to the
tainment venues. organization’s media advertising ������������
Two of Trumbull County’s major campaign. A total of $57,000 was
attractions, the National Packard spent, translating to a per-inquiry �����������������������
Museum in Warren and Wagon cost of $3.69.
26 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

New Partnerships Drive Trumbull Commission


Lien Forward in 2010 Aids Growth Strategies
I T
f one word describes Lien nizations and local governments. he Trumbull County Planning Among the major projects the
Forward Ohio Regional Council Lien Forward Ohio’s planning ca- Commission helped implement commission helped with in 2009 are
of Governments’ success in 2009, pabilities expanded in 2009 when it a variety of important projects a potential expansion of V&M Star,
it’s “results,” reports the director of the forged a partnership with V&M Star in 2009, ranging from economic- which entailed a cooperative effort
agency, Debora Flora. Steel to promote aesthetic improve- development initiatives to long-range between the cities of Youngstown and
In its third full year of operation, ments in the Brier Hill/U.S. Route plans for the county’s townships, says Girard and Mahoning and Trumbull
Lien Forward Ohio doubled its work- 422 corridor of Youngstown, Flora its executive director, Bill Miller. counties. The steel company is con-
load and saw a 472% increase in prop- says. The company is contemplating a “We also pressed forward with sidering a $970 million expansion at
erty acquisitions for clients compared $970 million expansion, possibly at its housing assistance, protecting Trum- its Youngstown site.
to 2008, she reports. Youngstown site just off Route 422. bull County’s water resources and The planning commission was also
“Lien Forward Ohio is already Thanks to legal policies and proce- continuing as a founding member of instrumental in securing incentives
addressing challenges in 2010, Flora dures in place, Lien Forward increased the ‘Save Our Homes Task Force,’ ” a for Reinforcement Systems LLC, War-
says. “With V&M Star as a financial its work portfolio from 287 parcels volunteer group of stakeholders whose ren, which broke ground in December.
partner, Lien Forward Ohio and its in January 2009 to 553 parcels today. objective is fostering awareness of the The company plans to open the $20
community foundation are working Equally important, the agency com- foreclosure crisis, he reports. million factory this year, hire 65 work-
with 3rd Ward Councilman Jamael pleted 189 property transfers in 2009, This year, the agency is preparing ers and begin producing custom-en-
Tito Brown to accelerate demolition of compared with 40 in 2008. to host a regional planning and zon- gineered welded wire reinforcements
blighted structures in Brier Hill.” Grant money from the Raymond ing conference, Miller adds, while that are used in concrete products.
Lien Forward Ohio is a partnership John Wean Foundation enables the continuing to help local communities The planning commission co-
between the city of Youngstown and organization to offer workshops to develop long-range strategies for their ordinates local, state, regional and
the Mahoning County treasurer’s of- anyone who is interested in acquiring comprehensive growth. Trumbull federal programs for businesses and
fice to return vacant, abandoned, tax- property with tax liens, Flora says. At- County Planning is also working with industries expanding or locating in
delinquent property to productive use. tendance at one of the free workshops the sanitary engineer and the county Trumbull County. Last year, the com-
The program uses negotiated tax lien is required. Financial aid to defray engineer on various projects, updating mission secured nearly $5 million
certificates on real estate as legal tools legal expenses, based on income and subdivision regulations and looking to in new grants and today administers
to seek transfer of forgotten, neglected household size, is available to quali- work with the public and private sec- more than $11 million worth of these
parcels to residents, businesses, orga- fied clients. tors to ensure a full census count. grants, Miller reports.

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 27

Columbiana Port Authority Moves Projects Forward


Construction on Wellsville crane such as the hiring of 135 workers during construc-
tion of the coal liquefaction plant, Drake says.
purchase the last mile of fiber optic cable to provide
wireless broadband connection to all of Columbiana
and conveyor system resumes. In April, the company reached a project labor
agreement with building trades unions to build the
County. DRS also manages the 22,000-square-foot
data center in the park.

A s key projects move forward, the Columbiana


County Port Authority, East Liverpool, has
high hopes for 2010, says CEO Tracy Drake.
In September, the port authority received a $5.7
million federal grant to help fund construction of
plant. Some 4,000 workers will be needed for more
than five years.
At the World Trade Park in Leetonia, the port au-
thority brought in DRS LLC of Youngstown to man-
age the 250-fiber optic network that runs through
At the start of last year, Astra Minerals moved into
the former Barretts Minerals building in Wellsville.
Other lease agreements in 2009 include those for
Quality Liquid Feeds, Heritage-WTI Inc., Tee Party
Inc. and DTC Marine Services Inc. The port author-
the overhead bridge crane and conveyor system at Columbiana and Mahoning counties. Drake hopes to ity’s property is at two-thirds capacity, Drake says.
its Intermodal Park in Wellsville.

Penn-Northwest Sees Modest Improvement


Higher steel prices halted the project last year,
but with a $650,300 contract awarded to Hohl In-
dustrial Construction Co. for the overhead crane,
and a $398,242 contract to the Precision Steel Co. Penn-Northwest Development Corp., Mercer, In fiscal 2008 and ’09, the Business Retention
for the adjoining stationary barge, the system should Pa., was involved in 15 projects last year, and con- and Expansion Program team of chamber of
be finished this summer, Drake says. tinues to work on some of them as its staff awaits commerce directors completed 263 calls, 34%
While Baard Energy continues to shore up its fi- decisions these companies make this year. of which resulted in the companies develop-
nances for the nearly $6 billion proposed Ohio River “Without a doubt, 2009 was a gut-wrenching ing specific action plans, Reichard says. Going
Clean Fuels project in Wellsville, the Vancouver, year economically throughout Mercer County,” forward, the calls will be carried out by Penn
Wash.-based company fronted $182,500 in fees so says its executive director, Larry Reichard. Northwest staff.
the port authority could extend the purchase options Penn-Northwest provides marketing, coordi- “This change is largely driven by a 52% cut
until June 30 on 13 of the 17 properties needed for nation and financial services to retain and expand in the Department of Community and Economic
the plant, Drake says. The port authority has options existing businesses in Mercer County, Pa., and to Development programs for the fiscal year,” he
for the four other properties. attract new business to the region it serves. explains.
In November, the state agreed to extend through “With the economy now showing some modest Still, there will be a minimum of 100 targeted
June the $4.5 million received through the Logistics improvement and inquiries increasing,” Reichard calls this year on manufacturers with the call-
and Distribution component of Gov. Ted Strickland’s says, “we look forward to project activity expand- ers focusing on identifying company needs and
plan to spend federal stimulus dollars. The monies ing and employee callbacks over the next six to then providing value-added support services,
were approved in the form of a forgivable loan, which nine months.” Reichard says.
will convert to a grant upon meeting certain criteria

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28 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

������������������
Youngstown State Grows
��������������������� With Enrollment Gains,
���������������������� Campus Development
YSU designates ‘Centers of Excellence,’ plans
for transition to urban research university.
By Ron Cole
the previous year.
Director of University Communications
Since 2000, grant fundsing, much

Y
oungstown State University of it for faculty research, has more
continued to grow and broaden than tripled. The university identified
its reach in 2009 and set the four centers of excellence: materi-
stage for more of the same in the als science and engineering, applied
decade to come. chemical biology, international busi-
����������������������������������������� Enrollment increased by more than ness and the Rich Center of Excellence
7% last fall, bringing the total number for the Study of Autism. And, the
���������������������������������������������������� of students on campus to 14,682. It’s campus began planning for the tran-
���������������������������������������������������� the first time in 16 sition to an urban
years that enroll- The success of YSU faculty and research univer-
������������������������������������� ment has exceeded
the 14,000 mark.
staff in receiving outside grants sity, as designated
by the Ohio Board
Since 2000, the also reached record levels. of Regents.
����������������������������������������������������� number of stu- Campus devel-
����������������������������������������� dents has increased by 2,895, or nearly opment plans also moved forward
������������� 25%. And the future looks bright as this past year, led by the start of
applications for fall 2010 are ahead construction on the new home for
of last fall’s level. the Williamson College of Business
The diversity of the student popu- Administration, a project that more
lation also continued to increase. closely connects YSU to downtown
Minority enrollment reached record Youngstown.
levels last fall with nearly 2,900 mi- The YSU Board of Trustees ap-
nority students enrolled. Since 2000, proved issuing $24.5 million in
minority enrollment has more than bonds for phase two of the Centennial
doubled. Campus Master Plan, including major
��������� The university continued to reach
out to extend educational opportuni-
renovations to Kilcawley Center and
Wick Pollock Inn, construction of
�������������� ties in the region. The YSU College in
High School Program, for instance,
the new WATTS Center and planning
for a new building for the College of
�������������������� expanded to Trumbull and Colum- Science, Technology, Engineering and
��������������������������� biana counties, allowing more high Mathematics.
�������������������������� school students to take classes for The university also took steps to
������������������������ college credit. make the campus safer, implementing
�������������������������� YSU opened a new office of veter- the YSU Alert and mass notification
����������������������� ans affairs to help the growing number systems aimed at improving commu-
�������������������������� of returning military veterans make nications in the event of an emergency
������������������������ the transition to university life. As a or crisis.
������������������������� result, G.I. Jobs magazine designated In the fall, YSU partnered with
YSU as a “military-friendly” campus, AT&T to flip the switch on the new,
���������������������������
and in the fall the university dedicated lighted “YSU” logo atop the 180-foot
������������������������ Armed Forces Boulevard on the west AT&T tower on campus, which now
��������������������������� side of campus. can be seen from all approaches to the
������������������ And, in an effort to attract more city.
������������ students from across the state line, The campus welcomed new deans
������������������������� the university unveiled the Western for the Bitonte College of Health and
Pennsylvania Advantage, a program Human Services and the College of
that drastically reduces tuition for Fine and Performing Arts and a new
students from counties in the western chief of human resources. Eric Wol-
part of the Keystone State. ford was hired as the Penguins head
The success of YSU faculty and football coach to help lead the pro-
������������������������������� staff in receiving outside grants also
reached record levels. The university
gram back to national prominence.
And, David C. Sweet announced
received $11.7 million in grants in that he would retire June 30, after 10
������������������� �� ����������������� �� ������������� �� ��������������������
fiscal 2009, up nearly $5 million from years as president of YSU.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 29

YSU’s Williamson College Builds Partnerships


Enrollment rises; more Among the highlights of 2009 at the Williamson completed an internship the past year. More than
College: 40 completed internships with nonprofit organiza-
partnerships with businesses, • Designation by the Youngstown State University tions.
nonprofits formed. Board of Trustees as one of the university’s “Centers
of Excellence.” The goals of our center of excellence
• Our students participated in the American
Marketing Association Collegiate Conference
By Betty Jo Licata in international business in Orlando, Beta Alpha
Dean, Williamson College of Business Administration are advancing our work in Our faculty shares its research with prac- Psi/AAA meeting in New
teaching, scholarship and
titioners and academics at national and York City, Students in

T he future is bright for the Williamson College


of Business Administration as we continue to
increase our enrollments, expand our global
initiatives, strengthen our partnerships with the
business and nonprofit communities and invest in
outreach services, and to
increase our influence by international forums and publications.
integrating global busi-
ness issues throughout our curriculum and into the
business community.
Free Enterprise Recycling
Competition in Tucson,
Ariz., IMA Student Con-
ference in Jacksonville, Fla., and the New York
Advertising Conference in New York City.
our students, faculty and staff. • The Ohio Small Business Development Center • WCBA Alumni Awards were presented to John
Our new $34 million building is scheduled for here received several statewide awards including Top A. DePizzo Jr., ’71, Outstanding Business Alumnus;
completion in July. Its site and design position us Performing Business Counselor, Advocacy Award John Finizio Jr., ’85, Outstanding MBA Alumnus; Ted
to serve as a valuable resource to the community and Outstanding Marketing Award. F. Uehlinger, ’99, Outstanding Recent Alumnus; and
through our programs, services and physical re- • Our honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma, was Richard J. Schiraldi, Outstanding Service Award.
sources. named a premier chapter a fifth consecutive year. Our faculty developed several new academic of-
Our faculty and staff prepare students to be lead- • Those in our college honored as distinguished: ferings to ensure our students are prepared when
ers in business, government, nonprofit organizations Birsen Karpak, teaching; John Russo, university they begin their careers. Examples include certifi-
and society, through a teaching-learning model that service; and Peter Woodlock, public service. cates in enterprise resource planning, entrepreneur-
emphasizes professional development, applied learn- • An accounting major, Krista Simone, was the ship and nonprofit leadership.
ing and engagement. first student designated the Service Learning Citizen New courses have been developed in entrepre-
Our faculty shares its research with practitioners Scholar. neurship, creation of new ventures, financing new
and academics at national and international forums • Our Beta Alpha Psi team placed second in ventures, global marketing communication, manag-
and publications. AACSB International – the As- the Best Practices in Chapter Sustainability at the ing in emerging economies, multinational enterprise
sociation to Advance College Schools of Business, Midwest Regional Meeting of the national honorary strategies, international entrepreneurship, business
recognizes our commitment to quality with inter- society in Indianapolis. valuation, preparing income taxes and business
national accreditation. • More than 130 students, or 35% of graduates, professionalism.
30 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Cope Builds Patriot Metals Plant in North Jackson


$75 million project spans engineer Tucker Cope Jr. The Cope family business These structures include eaves of up to 53 feet
supplied and erected the entire Patriot Special Metals in height and crane systems that range in size from
200,000 square feet. Inc. complex, which includes 200,000 square feet 10- to 50-metric tons and include a specialty rigid-

C
. Tucker Cope & Associates, a design/build of metal buildings. mast 20-metric-ton stacker crane.
general contractor based in Columbiana, This Patriot construction project, one of the larg- The manufacturing complex will produce spe-
says it felt the challenges of the economy’s est in the Mahoning Valley for many years, consists cialty steel-alloy forgings for a variety of industrial
downturn like most everyone else. of several structures, each containing a step in the sectors including aerospace, oil and gas, defense
But a $75 million project under way in North advanced manufacturing processes required for and energy production, reports Robert Dimitrieff,
Jackson represents substantial growth during a pe- the new specialty steel manufacturing operation, Patriot’s assistant project manager.
riod when most companies are downsizing, relates Cope says. “Key to the North Jackson facility is the first
installed hydraulic radial-forging machine in the
United Sates,” says Dimitrieff. “This technology
represents a significant development in the forging
industry in North America.”
Dimitrieff calls the new plant a “historic move”
for the industry and company, and praises the work
of C. Tucker Cope and the contractor’s reliability to
see the project through.
“In more than 30 years as a metal-building con-
tractor, Cope is honored to include this project on
its resume of metal building projects, which range
from large enclosed college recreation facilities to
complete ethanol plants,” Cope says.
C. Tucker Cope supplies, erects and has the
capability of taking the lead role as a design/build
contractor of metal buildings. The company has an
in-house engineering department complemented
with a skilled work force, which enables the com-
pany to perform most construction phases.

Keynote Media Group


Opens Seattle Office
W ith the recent establishment of an office
in Seattle, Wash., the president of the
Keynote Media Group, Youngstown,
believes 2010 will be a year of significant growth
for the company.
Robin Fairbanks, a Mahoning Valley native, will
manage projects in that market, says Richard Hahn,
Keynote’s president. The firm’s main office is down-
town in the 20 Federal Place Building.
In 2009, Keynote saw a significant increase in
special projects, with emphasis on Web site devel-
opment, marketing videos and social media, Hahn
says. New clients for the firm last year included
Exal Corp., Help Hotline, National Fire Repair, the
Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, Central
Heating & Cooling, Eastern Ohio P-16 Partnership
for Education, and Stonebridge Grille & Tavern.
This past fall, Keynote also assumed weekly design
and layout duties of Partners, a weekly newsletter
published by Humility of Mary Health Partners.
“Trimming marketing costs was at the top of most
clients’ wish lists in 2009,” Hahn observes, an ob-
jective that had to be achieved without diminishing
“their hard-earned brand equity.” Budgets originally
allocated for traditional media were trimmed and
redirected toward Web sites, social media and cre-
ative public relations strategies. With the increase in
design and Web work, Keynote added Jon Shearer
of Masury as an associate graphic designer.
Looking at 2010 projects for the company, Hahn
points to the development and implementation of
marketing and sales strategies for a new product in
the fashion/style industry called the Wrap-N-Fit.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 31

WHOOPS. HE AD INJURY IN
SK ATE ZONE HIGH SCHOOL GAME
11 MINUTES AWAY. AT YSU STADIUM.
5.32 MILES AWAY.

M I D L O T H I A N B LV D . ( R T. 6 2 5 )

9 MINUTES FROM
THE TR AMPOLINE IN THE
SMITH’S BACK YARD.

M A R K E T S T R E E T ( R T. 7 )

S O U T H E R N B LV D .

SOUTH AVE N UE
INDIANOLA ROAD

CHEMIC AL BURNS
IN SCIENCE L AB AT 680
GIR ARD HIGH SCHOOL.
22 MINUTES AWAY.
Pediatric Emergency Room.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
CLIPPER MISHAP
IN GR ANDMA’S
ROSE GARDEN.
6 MINUTES AWAY.

BA SEBALL VS. PITCHER IN LINE


DRIVE AT FIELD OF DRE AMS.
B O A R D M A N - C A N F I E L D R O A D ( R T. 2 2 4 )
4 MINUTES AWAY.
PA R K M A L L
SOUTHERN

OUCH. MY ANKLE.
NEWPORT L AKE FIRST TIME ON SK ATES
HIKING TR AIL S AT ICE ZONE.
6 MINUTES AWAY. 3.25 MILES AWAY.

B E E G H LY C A M P U S | 6 5 0 5 M A R K E T S T R E E T , B O A R D M A N | 3 3 0 . 7 4 6 . 8 1 0 0 | W W W . A K R O N C H I L D R E N S . O R G / M V

ach5498-01_MV_ER_BusJrnl_4C_AR_20100114.indd 1 1/14/10 10:37 AM


32 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Cafaro Company Seeks


Nontraditional Tenants
 Third generation of Under the inflated dome that had

  
been part of the Eastwood Expo
company leaders Center, OTN Performance caters to
named co-presidents. baseball and softball players of all
ages. Instructors use sophisticated
 By Joe Bell technology to analyze and correct
 The Cafaro Company players’ hitting and pitching.
Inside the Eastwood Business Cen-
Director of Corporate Communications
  ter, a publicly funded agency found a



R einvention and reinvigoration
were the key words for The
Cafaro Company in 2009.
It was a process
new home. The Area Agency on Aging
11 provides services to senior citizens
in Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning
and Columbiana
that played out at a Reinvention and reinvigoration c o u n t i e s . T h e
variety of the com- agency moved
pany properties were the key words for The from downtown
over the course Cafaro Company in 2009. Youngstown to its
   of many months, new offices inside
then was capped off in the waning the mall in April, attracted by a central
days of the year, with a dramatic location, ample free parking, and rent
change at the top. that will save the agency $300,000
On Dec. 31, Anthony Cafaro Sr. over the course of its lease.
retired as president, formally handing The result of this “re-tenanting”
the reins his sons, William A. Cafaro effort at Eastwood was an occupancy
and Anthony Cafaro Jr. They now rate well above the national norm. At
 share the title of co-president.
In actuality, these third-generation
three other Cafaro malls, it’s extensive
renovation that’s stimulating growth.
company leaders have been guiding Frenchtown Square Mall, near
day-to-day operations for some time. Monroe, Mich., was built in 1988,
Managing corporate growth in 2009 and was showing its age. Millions of
gave them a chance to demonstrate dollars were invested in new skylights,
their skills in a challenging environ- ceiling treatments, flooring, entrance
ment. features, landscaping, soft-seating
Despite the anemic (some might areas, exterior lighting and an all-new
say scary) condition of the retail real food court.
estate sector, Cafaro was able to push The transformation was so dra-
ahead with an agenda of capital in- matic that it warranted a new name
vestment that created new excitement for the property: The Mall of Monroe.
at shopping complexes in Virginia, One week after a the “Grand Reopen-
Michigan and Washington. ing” celebration in Michigan, Cafaro
Closer to home the emphasis was celebrated another in Washington
on maintaining a robust mix of mer- state. South Hill Mall, in Puyallup
chants, restaurants and services at the (just south of Seattle), had been un-
Eastwood Mall Complex. This is no dergoing a similar renovation on an
small task, considering the fact that even grander scale.
the complex encompasses roughly Across the country, in Fredericks-
three million square feet, making it burg, Va., an even more ambitious
the largest shopping complex in the expansion was being completed at
United States. Spotsylvania Towne Centre. As part
Keep in mind, the nation’s recession of a $100 million, multi-year project,
forced many retailers into bankruptcy The Village at Towne Centre was
and caused others to scale back the welcoming its first tenants. It is an
size of their operations. Even relative- outdoor shopping district adjacent
ly healthy companies were shelving to the enclosed mall, with the look
their expansion plans. Nevertheless, and feel of a Colonial-era town. The
Eastwood remained an attractive place Village has attracted the attention of
at which to do business. a variety of high-end retailers.
The real estate leasing staff at Ca- Substantial financial investment in
faro has been in the forefront of an a down economy certainly comes with
industry trend to seek out nontradi- a good dose of risk, but it also holds
tional mall tenants. They found one the potential for tremendous rewards.
in the unique concept of a sports in- It already appears to be creating new
structional school that quietly opened growth at a time when few would
its doors in January. expect it.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 33

Home Savings Begins Rebound from Setbacks


Plans to increase its lending to held fell (from $1.23 million in 2007, $113,000
above the required minimum, to a required mini-
population,” he continues. Home Savings employ-
ees volunteered their time at schools and throughout
local small businesses. mum of $756,000 in 2009), “it still made a difference the community to present hands-on education pro-
in the lives of a great number of people,” the CEO grams intended to raise both children’s and adults’

T
he Great Recession, aggravated by the near of UCFC says. awareness about the responsible use of credit and
meltdown of the U.S. financial system, caused Home Savings remains deeply involved in service the importance of saving money.
the Home Savings and Loan Co., a subsidiary organizations, charitable causes and public efforts. Home Savings was awarded the 2009 WWR Out-
of United Community Financial Corp., to formulate “Our employees are active members of many civic standing Community Partner Award, sponsored by
and adhere to its strategy of retrenchment, which has groups, economic development programs, educa- Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co. L.P.A., in partnership
been succeeded by a strategy for recovery. tional projects and urban revitalization efforts,” with the Community Bankers Association of Ohio
During retrenchment, “We simplified our bal- McKay says. for its efforts to improve financial literacy.
ance sheet, reorganized our lending and credit Home Savings is working to meet “the growing Home Savings, with assets of $2.6 billion at Dec.
administration functions and focused our resources need for financial literacy programs, so [we have] 31, operates 39 full-service banking offices and six
on efficiency, risk management and capital ratio committed resources to developing and implement- loan production offices throughout Ohio and west-
enhancement,” says Douglas M. McKay, chairman ing education programs for today’s youth and adult ern Pennsylvania. It has 600 employees.
and CEO of UCFC. “We are entering our recovery
phase, which we expect to be characterized by a
slightly stronger economy, a flattening in the level
of loan delinquencies, a more vibrant residential and
Butler Acquires Pollock, Rescues Mural
commercial real estate market and a return to health The Butler Institute of American Art benefited plete in downtown Pittsburgh. Architect William
and strength within the local economies in each of from more than 200 acquisitions in 2009 – paint- Lescaze commissioned the site-specific work.
the markets we serve.” ings, drawings, sculptures and photographs – but The Oliver building was sold last spring and
In addition, McKay continues, Home Savings two stand out, says its executive director and the new owners wanted it removed. Enter the
plans to increase its participation in small-business curator, Lou Zona. Butler, which was informed it could have the
lending to help local businesses, which he describes They are Jackson Pollock’s “Silver and Black,” mural consisting of 294 tiles for the expenses
as “the backbone of our communities.” painted in 1950 and today valued at $2 million, involved in restoring it. Other art museums in
Despite a moribund housing market in 2009, and the Butler’s recovery of the Pierre Soulages greater Pittsburgh had been invited to reclaim
Home Savings experienced its strongest year since mural measuring 14 by 20 feet that adorned the the mural but “none was willing to undertake
2006 in residential mortgage lending with a close One Oliver Place building in Pittsburgh. the daunting task,” Zona says.
to 40% increase in volume over 2008. As a result, The Pollock is a gift of William and Linda The reclaimed and restored Soulages is valued
12 loan originators were inducted into Home Sav- Roemer. William’s parents, James and Helen at $1.5 million.
ings’ Mortgage Elite Group, an honor recognizing Roemer, paid $3,000 to acquire the art in 1958. “Pivotal to the effort of saving the life of the
them “for their exceptional level of mortgage loan “Silver and Black” is the first Pollock to grace mural was Butler trustee Vincent Bacon, a retired
production” within Home Savings’ market areas, the Butler and the second to be acquired by a Youngstown engineer, who organized the removal
McKay says. museum in Ohio. with assistance from Larry Mobley, a Michigan
For over 120 years, Home Savings has taken its Pollock was known for his drip method of tile restoration expert,” Zona says.
role as a community bank very seriously, McKay applying paint from a variety of tools to create The life mural will be installed in a glass-
emphasizes. “Through good times and bad, we have an energetic pattern over the surface of a canvas, fronted room specifically built to house the mas-
always remained dedicated to both giving back to Zona notes. “Silver and Black” incorporates hi- sive piece in the Trumbull branch of the Butler in
and strengthening the communities we serve,” he eroglyphic-like characters, a structure based on Howland Township. Construction of the Soulages
says. the letters of the artist’s name. gallery is set to begin this spring and scheduled
In light of an economy only now beginning to Zona, a recognized authority on mid-20th cen- to open this summer.
recover, Home Savings believed it more important tury art, calls Pollock “a troubled genius whose Soulages expressed his delight over the Butler’s
than ever to maintain this commitment, McKay says, magnificent art has engaged generations.” initiative when he learned of it, Zona says, and
and “hold true to our mission of reinvesting in local Last July the Butler was called on to rescue and gratitude that his work was not destroyed. “The
neighborhoods by providing financial support from restore the mural the French painter Soulages creat- piece,” Soulages said, “is a significant part of my
the Home Savings Charitable Foundation.” ed in 1968 when One Oliver Place was nearly com- life’s work … very dear to me.”
While income from investments the foundation

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34 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 35

Huntington Bank Supports Business, Communities


Bank is seventh-largest small- which then provided them to needy families, Hierro tion of the backpacks is one aspect of Huntington’s
says. Recipients in the Mahoning Valley were Fam- annual Backpack Index, which tells consumers
business lender in the country ily Service Agency’s Day how much more it cost
as ranked by U.S. Small Break, Beatitude House According to the SBA, Huntington made to provide students with
and Mahoning County the supplies they need for
Business Administration. Children Services. The 992 loans that totaled $141 million for school
bank also distributed the fiscal 2009. Huntington developed

T
he focus at Huntington Bank in 2009 was backpacks in Trumbull 10 savings tips to help
lending to small businesses and philanthropy and Columbiana counties, and Lawrence, Mercer families reduce their back-to-school shopping bills
that improves the quality of life in the and Erie counties in Pennsylvania. The distribu- and teach children about managing money.
communities the bank serves.
Looking ahead, the president of the Mahoning
Valley Region, Frank Hierro, says, “The prospects for
2010 are much improved and all of us at Huntington
look forward to a positive year.”
Expressing pride in the performance of the 600-
plus Huntington Bankers who serve the Mahoning
and Shenango valleys, Hierro says, “During unprec-
edented economic challenges, our colleagues con-
tinued to provide outstanding service and assisted
customers in meeting their unique financial needs.
Our bankers are prepared to be essential partners
for our current and new customers.”
The Columbus-based Huntington Bank’s com-
mitment to small business is reflected in it ending
the federal fiscal year as the seventh-largest small-
business lender in the country, as reported by the
U.S. Small Business Administration, Hierro says.
According to the SBA, Huntington made 992 loans
that totaled $141 million for fiscal 2009. The U.S.
fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.
Small businesses are the backbone of the econ-
omy, Hierro says, noting they employ more than
half of the U.S. work force and account for nearly
65% of all jobs created. By focusing on small busi-
ness, Huntington understands its role in sustaining
their communities, including those in the Valley,
he says.
Huntington was the top SBA lender in four of the
five states where it has a physical presence, Hierro
points out. It was the No. 1 SBA7(a) lender in the
number of SBA loans and dollar amount of such
loans in Ohio and West Virginia. It was also the No. 1
lender as measured by the number of SBA7(a) loans
in Indiana and Michigan.
To better understand the needs of small busi-
nesses, Huntington surveyed small-business own-
ers in the Mahoning Valley and throughout the five
states it serves to find out how they are staying afloat
during the recession and nascent recovery.
Respondents were divided on when they saw
themselves rehiring.
While 24% said they would rehire in the second
quarter of 2010, 22% said they would not hire until
2011. Another 16% said they would never again
reach their previous levels.
Regarding how they have survived the downturn,
42% said they had enough cash to cover the decrease
in revenues and 55% of business owners said their
customers continue to do business with them. As
for maintaining their levels of employment, 29%
said they laid off staff, 34% said they froze salaries
and 33% said they reduced staff hours, the survey
found.
Huntington’s other major focus, giving back to its
communities, saw it donate more than 1,100 back-
packs containing school supplies to area agencies,
36 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Kent Trumbull Forecasts More Enrollment Gains


‘Fresh Start’ program for laid- “The mind naturally assumes that most laid-off The program generated interest from news
workers in an economic downturn are unskilled organizations across the country including
off workers draws inquiries laborers, but that was not the case with our “Fresh The Wall Street Journal and Crain’s Business,
from schools across Ohio. Start” students,” Thomas says. Thomas notes.
“We were seeing professionals – from fields like As a result, colleges and universities from Ohio

F
all 2009 enrollment at the Kent State accounting – who had 20-some years in with an and beyond contacted the Trumbull campus for
University Trumbull Campus was up 27% over employer and now found themselves in a situation further information on the program including
fall 2008, creating the highest enrollment the they never expected but knew the value of educa- associated costs and the parameters used to help
Champion Township campus has ever experienced, tion and what returning to a university could do maximize the funds available so they could emulate
reports Dean Wanda Thomas. for their future.” the program, she says.
“While the recession is a factor in the enrollment
increase, clearly the fact that students selected Kent
State Trumbull over other local and regional options
is no accident of the economy,” she emphasizes.
The dean says she expects that the spring 2010
semester will maintain the enrollment increase seen
during the fall.
“As of the first week in January, spring semester
enrollment was tracking at a 28% increase over the
same time frame last year, Thomas says, adding that
to date, 2,464 students have enrolled and more are
expected.
“The carryover of such an increase is not typical,
but certainly welcome,” she points out. “Generally, THE CBOSS CENTRAL PAYMENT PORTAL
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Many classes are offered online, thus providing
maximum flexibility for individuals from all walks
of life whether they are new or returning students or
active members of the work force, Thomas notes.
“Students no longer have to select between
school or work,” she says, adding that the online
environment is a big part of the campus’s future.
“Being able to take classes on your own time al-
lows people not to have to choose between school
and work – they can have both employment and
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Adding to the Trumbull campus’ mixture of tra-
ditional and nontraditional students are those who
took part in the innovative “Fresh Start” initiative,
which also contributed to Kent Trumbull’s recent Contact Us for a Free
enrollment increases. Demo in Person or Online.
The program began in the spring semester 2009
as a tuition assistance program for recently laid-off
w w w. C B O S S . c o m
workers who had not attended college in the previ- P. 8 6 6 . 72 6 . 0 4 2 9
ous three years. Using income generated from four cppsales@cboss.com
gas wells on campus property, Kent Trumbull was
able to provide tuition awards for 197 credit and
noncredit new students. ©2009 CBOSS INC., BOARDMAN, OH 44512
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 37

Commercial Banking

Private Financial Group Business Banking


Frank Hierro, Mahoning Valley regional president and his Commercial, Business Banking and Private Financial Group teams.

Huntington wants to be your bank.


P.W. Huntington founded our bank on a single principle, “In prosperity be
prudent, in adversity be patient.” It’s what’s kept us grounded for 143 years.
We’ve received numerous national service recognitions from Greenwich
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Stop by your local Huntington banking office to talk with a member of our team today.

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38 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

MCTA Sees Demand Double for Agency’s Services


Stimulus funds expand training, lumbiana Training Association (MCTA), operator of the staffs of the libraries have been trained to help
the One-Stop system, also doubled the amount of customers use the OneStopOhio.org Web site.
job-placement programs. training that could be funded for dislocated work- During the year, the Oh-Penn Interstate Region,
ers and allowed for the expansion of the processing encompassing Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana
By Gloria Mathews system to access those funds so that individuals counties in Ohio and Lawrence and Mercer coun-
MCTA Communications Assistant could obtain training quickly. Approximately 600 ties in Pennsylvania, held a summit to establish its

T
he global economic downturn hit Columbiana individuals received tuition funding in 2009. strategic plan. More than 150 stakeholders attended
and Mahoning counties hard in January 2009. MCTA received a total the summit. The competi-
Unemployment rates soared, leaping to 12.8% of $3.5 million in federal The number of visits of individuals seeking tiveness council that sets
and 13.48%, respectively, from 8.9% and 8.4% in stimulus funds of which
December 2008. $1.5 million funded the
services rose more than 50% over the num- direction for the inter-
state region, has begun
In addition, many of those still employed suffered Summer Youth Work Ex- ber of visits recorded two years earlier. work on implementing
a reduction in pay or hours or both. Some companies perience Program that put the plan.
shut down permanently. The area was plunged into to work more than 500 Mahoning and Columbiana The first Oh-Penn Interstate Region Job Expo was
the throes of the toughest economic climate since County youth ages 16 through 24. held Sept. 9 at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown.
the steel mill closings of the 1970s. While responding to the challenges of high un- Nearly 5,000 job seekers participated along with 65
The One-Stop Workforce System of Columbiana employment, the One-Stop system never lost sight employers and 29 training providers. The event was
and Mahoning Counties met the challenge of job of the need for services by employers. The Business hosted by the Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana
seekers flooding into its facilities. The number of Resource Network, a business retention and expan- One-Stops with PA CareerLink of Lawrence and
visits of individuals seeking services rose more sion program, completed its first year of operation. Mercer counties. Once again, the host organizations
than 50% over the number of visits recorded two During 2009, the Business Resource Network inter- partnered with The Business Journal for a Job Expo
years earlier. viewed 39 companies and presented 20 proposals. A Extra that contained helpful tips for job seekers
With the help of American Recovery and Rein- customer satisfaction survey found companies were and the event’s program. It was distributed to all
vestment Act (federal stimulus) funds, the One-Stop satisfied and pleased with the network’s services and Job Expo participants as well as to The Business
system expanded services, office hours and staff 87% planned to implement proposals offered by the Journal subscribers.
to assist job seekers whose visits to the One-Stops Business Resource Network. The year was capped with the Area 17 Workforce
exceeded 40,500 in 2009. The Mahoning County In Columbiana County, all public libraries were Investment Board, which governs the Mahoning and
One-Stop expanded into an adjacent space to create brought on board as One-Stop Express Sites and Columbiana County One-Stop System, being named
a new business services area. several libraries in adjacent counties were added to the Outstanding Workforce Investment Board in
Stimulus funding that came to Mahoning & Co- the One-Stop network. As One-Stop Express Sites, Ohio for the third consecutive year.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 39

Marsh & Co. Puts Emphasis Best Year at Price Heating


On Records Management GIRARD – While 2009 was a tough year
for many businesses, Wm. Price Heating
HUBBARD -- Effective management of & Cooling enjoyed one of its best years
cash flow, inventory and costs are cru- ever, reports Chris McKernan, gaining
cial to surviving and prospering in any market share. He attributes that to an
economic environment, and J.P. Marsh aggressive advertising campaign begun
& Co., CPAs and Business Consultants, in early 2008 as the effects of the reces-
provides clients with the tools to track sion were beginning to be felt.
and control these areas of concern, says Price Heating supplies heating and
founder Jim Marsh. cooling equipment and ser vices to
For the construction industry, the firm homeowners and small businesses
stresses the need for comprehensive throughout the Mahoning Valley.
job-costing records and works with con- Founded in 1937 by William Price and
tractors to establish methods to track E.J. “Jim” McKernan, it remains a family-
expenses so they can obtain required owned enterprise with third-generation
bonding and needed financing. Marsh & McKernans serving the grandchildren of
Co. provides detailed analysis of over- its first customers.
head burdens, enabling the contractor to The McKernans – Bill, Linda and their
prepare competitive, profitable bids. son, Chris – attribute the success of
Consulting and tax ser vices for the company in part to offering quality
the manufacturing industry is another service and products at a fair price.
specialty. Price Heating employs 13.
For all businesses, Marsh & Co.
emphasizes the necessity of maintain- America’s Insurance Agency
ing current, accurate accounting and
payroll records.
Reports Business Up 15%
“Up-to-date financial information al- BOARDMAN – 2009 was a record year
lows management to make decisions for America’s Insurance Agency, reports
that will be most beneficial to the long- Ron Nanosky, principal/owner of the
term health of their business and to company, which will celebrate 10 years
make informed tax decisions,” says in business in February.
Marsh, whose firm has been in business Overall, business grew more than
for more than 30 years. 15% last year, and the staff doubled to
six from three.
With Slow Housing Market, A marketing consultant was hired to
oversee client relations and growth, and
Remodeling Up at Duncan’s the company’s Web site was upgraded.
POLAND -- The soft housing market has In addition, a newsletter was launched
meant significant growth over the past and all training and operations manu-
year for Duncan’s Bath & Kitchen Center als were updated. Two outside sales
in its core business of home remodeling, producers also joined the agency.
reports owner Tom Duncan.
In addition to bath and kitchen work, Belleria Boardman Expands
Duncan says homeowners were upgrad- BOARDMAN – The expansion of the Bel-
ing their homes with basement and leria Pizza and Italian Restaurant, 8485
family room projects as well as room Market St., four years ago turned out to
additions. The 53-year-old company also be a smart move for owner James DeVic-
saw increased interest in an eco-friendly chio and his wife, Sandra. The additional
approach to remodeling projects, he space allows the DeVicchios to serve 40
says. Special emphasis was placed on more customers who want to dine in a
indoor air quality, energy conservation, room with a Tuscan style theme.
resource conservation, reduced mate- Their biggest challenge “in these
rial waste, and the use of products that tough economic times is [continuing]
are better for the environment. serving generous portions at affordable
For 2010, Duncan says he sees prices,” James DeVicchio says. Still,
significant growth potential in the “business continues to grow.”
company‘s “Barrier Free” home-remod- It’s helped by the DeVicchios adding
eling division. A certified aging-in-place to the entrees the Belleria chain offers.
specialist, Duncan’s modifies homes to They introduce new menu items as spe-
meet the special needs of seniors, veter- cials. Those that prove popular are kept;
ans and individuals with disabilities. those that don’t are dropped.
40 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Innis Maggiore Strengthens Focus on Positioning


Economic climate is opportunity lenges of the current economic climate, it’s actually Maggiore notes. He credits the agency’s 2009 ac-
to attack competitors’ weaknesses. a good time to be in business,” he says. “Times like
these are opportunities for companies to reposition
complishments, which include expanding and
refining services to gaining new clients, to its focus

D
espite the challenges associated with the themselves, to make changes, to attack competitors’ on positioning.
recession, Innis Maggiore was able to hold its inherent weaknesses, and to promote their position The year’s highlights included the well-attended
own as marketing activities paid off with the while their competitors are quiet.” “Breakfast With Jack Trout” in Akron, launching the
unusually high number of requests for proposals, Last year, Innis Maggiore hosted a regional busi- monthly “PositionistView” collection of essays about
reports Dick Maggiore, CEO of the Canton-based ness marketing event, launched an e-newsletter marketing and positioning, and a fourth quarter that
advertising and public relations agency. that has thousands of subscribers, and responded featured more inquiries than any previous three-
“While many are overwhelmed by the chal- to a record number of requests for proposals, month period in the agency’s 35-year history.
“The Jack Trout event was an informational and
networking service to the business community in
northeast Ohio and ultimately served as a spring-
board for our own 2009 marketing efforts,” Maggiore

����������������������
explains. ‘PositionistView’ was conceived as a way to
share knowledge with marketing decision-makers,
and our subscription list has grown since Day One.

������������������ The payoff is that even Google has rewarded us with


top-ranking for those who search for a ‘positioning
agency.’ ”
Innis Maggiore had 2009 capitalized billings of
����������������������������� more than $21 million, he notes.
Key clients include Alside, Aultman Health
������������������������������� Foundation, Bank of America, Gerber’s Poultry
Inc., Goodyear, GuideStone Financial Resources,
Neoucom Technologies, RTI International Metals,
�� ���� �� ����� Republic Engineered Products, and Shearer’s Foods
�� ����� �� ���������� Inc. Innis Maggiore is a member of the American
�� ��������� �� ������ Association of Advertising Agencies, the National
Investor Relations Institute and the Public Relations
�� ���������������������� �� �������������� Society of America.

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Gordon Bros. Water
��������������
Celebrates 65 Years
Gordon Bros. Water, Salem, is slated to celebrate
65 years in business this year.
“Gordon Bros. continues to be a family-owned
business and is now being operated by the third
generation of the Gordon family,” says its president,
Ned Jones.
® Lloyd M. Gordon established the company in
1945 to help consumers in the region address con-
cerns over their water quality. Today, the company
����������������������������������������������� provides water purification and treatment products
to consumers throughout 10 counties in Ohio,
northern West Virginia and western Pennsylvania,
Jones says.
���������������������� “Many businesses faced challenges in 2009 due to
uncertain economic conditions,” he relates. “Water
�������������� was among them.”
The company responded to these challenges with
value-added services, technologically advanced
������������������������� products and new, affordable programs, he says.
�������������� Still, Jones says even in the most difficult eco-
nomic times, customers want water that’s free of
additives and chemicals. “We saw improvements
�������������� to the company’s bottom line during the third and
fourth quarters,” he says.
������������������������� The company is a distributor of Kinetico water
filtration systems and retained its position as a Top
�������������������������������������������������
10 Kinetico dealer in 2009, Jones reports.
These systems, Jones says, “lower home energy
� �����������������������
������������������ �

costs, cut cleaning costs and are better for the envi-
ronment than bottled water.”
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 41
NeilKennedy:Layout 1 12/4/09 9:38 AM Page 1
42 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Window World to Open Moving Experiences


Showroom in Findlay For Carney-McNicholas
‘We are looking at the they are especially energized by the
addition of Pat’s son, Patrick, to the
Company grows with Carney-McNicholas secured the Ohio
State project against stiff out-of-state
new year with great family business. new specialities. competition. The company’s commit-
Patrick is the third generation to ment to establishing new business
optimism, yet realism.’ join Window World, his father ob-
serves. “Patrick brings young blood
Moving 1.5 million books and
items into Ohio State University’s
lines, while maintaining its core, paid
dividends in 2009, as the Ohio State
Window World, Boardman, expe- and fresh ideas, which are sure to Thompson Memorial Library last Library relocation project and other
rienced steady growth last year and help our growth,” he says. “He got his year proved to be one of the biggest ancillary business units offset “near-
the owners expect even stronger sales feet wet as an installer and has since projects in the 100-plus-year history cataclysmic financial conditions that
this year. moved into sales.” of Carney-McNicholas Inc. left many competitors bankrupt and
Fred Moran and his son, Patrick, This year also promises to be a The Austintown company, founded shuttered,” Carney says.
who own five Window World loca- year of giving back, with the Window in 1906 by J.V. McNicholas, has Completed in 2½ months, the com-
tions in three states, project sales this World Cares campaign, Fred Moran adapted and weathered the eco- plex project included the relocation of
year will be up 10% companywide. notes. nomic storms of the last century from one of the country’s largest on-display
“We are looking at the new year with Window World Cares is a national the Great Depression of the 1930s library collections that features books,
great optimism, yet realism,” Fred fund-raising initiative that benefits St. through the Great Recession of the journals, archives, and audio-visual
Moran says. Jude Children’s Hospital. past two years, says T.J. Carney, owner materials.
The Morans opened a new Window “We include St. Jude’s into our and president. Starting out hauling This project, along with a five-
World showroom in Steubenville ear- presentation and will match any dona- personal belongings on horse-drawn phase book transfer for the University
lier this month. They will open a sixth tion made up to $150,” he explains. carriages and then steel on trucks, of Wyoming and other projects, has
location in Findlay in March. The goal is to raise $1.4 million na- Carney-McNicholas today specializes supplemented Carney-McNicholas’
“With so many others selling win- tionwide. in high-valued electronic and medical burgeoning fine-art handling and
dows out of the back of a truck, people The Morans’ Window World em- equipment transfer, art handling and transportation business. The develop-
appreciate knowing they have a place ploys 76 workers and operates li- conveyance, and high-volume library ment of its new subsidiary. MidWest
to go for service and product issues,” censed showrooms in Youngstown, moves. Fine Art Service Transportation LLC
Fred Moran says. Pittsburgh, Toledo, Steubenville and Recognizing future economic chal- will be a central focus in 2010 and
The owners of Window World say Detroit. lenges within the trucking industry, beyond, Carney says.

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 43

Kutlick Realty Closes 10 Sales, 30 Leasing Deals


T
he sale of the former Carter Lumber on Route center across from the Southern Park Mall. The Outside of the area, Kutlick found a new location
224 was among last year’s highlights for Kutlick company also leased the former Pizza Hut on Route for Saga Japanese Steakhouse at the Great Lakes
Realty LLC, Boardman, one of 10 commercial 224 at West Boulevard to Gia’s Pizzeria. Mall in Mentor
real estate sales the company completed in 2009. YDEK, a computer company, opened at Parkside Kutlick says he is optimistic that growth will con-
The purchaser of the 32,800-square-foot build- Plaza in Boardman, and Guardian Home Health tinue in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana coun-
ing will occupy all but 6,000 square feet, with the Care opened on Manor Drive in Canfield, where ties because of the extremely attractive sale prices
remainder to be leased, reports Bill Kutlick, owner in December Kutlick leased an 18,000-square-foot and lease rates. Several projects are in the works
of the real estate company. In addition, Kutlick warehouse. Maxim Healthcare Services also signed for the year, he reports, including the expansion of
Realty sold a 10,000-square-foot office building on a lease for 4,935 square feet in the Woodmar Square Applewood Commons, which houses Bed Bath and
California Avenue to a local business that decided Office Park on Western Reserve Road. Beyond, Shoe Carnival and Pier One Imports.
to own rather than continue to lease space.
Other sales during 2009 included a 10,000-
square-foot office building across from the Akron
Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley Campus,
two former restaurants, one on Stadium Drive in
Boardman and one in Coitsville, a 9,600-square-foot
industrial building in Austintown, a grocery store in
Struthers, and a motel/storage investment property
in Alliance.
On the leasing side, Kutlick Realty was involved
Succeed. Lead. exceed.
in 30 deals, leasing 172,000 square feet of office,
retail and industrial space in Columbiana, Mahon-
ing and Trumbull counties, Kutlick says. Transac-
tions during 2009 included leasing the former DIY
building in Warren, more than 79,000 square feet of
space to Kraftmaid for an outlet store. Just north of
Kraftmaid on Elm Road, McDonald’s opened a new
restaurant in front of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in
Cortland in the Shops at Millennium
In Mahoning County, Kutlick brought Moors &
Cabot and Ship On Site to Shops at Southwestern,
and Beach Club Tanning and Little Caesar’s to a

Kravitz Delicatessen
Begins Its 71st Year The success of your business is just as important to us as it is to you. We are dedicated
As Kavitiz Delicatessen begins its 71st to providing you with the personalized financial expertise you need and the exceptional
year, its owner, Solomon J. “Jack” Kravitz, is service you deserve. Our goal is to exceed your expectations . . . every time!
working with the Rust Belt Brewing Co. to
make the deli part of a “bar crawl” through
downtown Youngstown and having the deli’s Contact one of our local business development team members today!
signature corned beef a feature of the crawl at
the B&O Station.
Sales at the delicatessen grew by 30% dur- Business Checking & Deposit Services Business & Commercial Loans
ing the year, Kravitz reports, adding that sales
have grown 300% since he took over the family Matt Connelly l 330.507.8589 Nick Berardino l 330.742.0224
business in 2006. Bob Swauger l 330.856.1940 Stan Magielski l 330.742.0641
Since both the deli and the new Wal-Mart
that opened in Aug. 19 are located on state
Route 193 in Liberty Township – the deli first
opened in 1939 – Kravitz initiated a special
promotion that day, offering the corned beef
sandwiches for $1.93 each. “More than 2,000
sandwiches were sold that day,” he says. “We
had to close at 3 p.m. because we ran out of
corned beef.”
Other successful promotions during the
year included naming sandwiches “after people
and places that make the Valley great,” Kravitz homesavings.com
notes. Namesake sandwiches included judges Subsidiary of United Community Financial Corp. Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC
Economus and Belinki, Phil Kidd, National
College and the Cafaro Co. On St. Patrick’s Day,
the deli expanded its offerings to include beer
and entertainment in an outdoor tent.
44 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

McDonald Steel Takes Steps to Weather Recession


By Timothy Egnot hinges for Volkswagen. The premier sections are pro- maintain low inventory levels and delay placing
totypes for the midsize VW sedan to be introduced orders until the last possible minute.
McDonald Steel President and CEO
in 2011 and assembled in the latest VW plant under The fog is thickest in automotive (hinges and

B
y mid-2008, the management of McDonald construction near Chattanooga, Tenn. McDonald wheel rims). The truck rim and off-road rim markets
Steel, recognized that national and global Steel also will supply hinge shapes to VW’s Mexican were down a combined 33% in 2009. Our over-road
economies were crashing and so we shifted plant and its operations in Germany. rim tonnage consists mainly of exports to Colombia
our focus to reducing costs, decreasing capacities With two of our markets – truck rims and auto and Mexico. The global economic slide had a serious
and strengthening our balance sheet. hinges – severely depressed, others held up very impact on those customers. Off-road rims depend
These tactics resulted in the company maintain- well. For example, our railroad market outper- primarily on construction, mining and agriculture.
ing profitability and generating a positive cash flow, formed 2008 by 25% as we recaptured business Manufacturing of heavy wheeled equipment serving
keeping us in good stead with lenders and suppliers. lost to China. those economic sectors came nearly to a halt.
Measured by percentages, McDonald Steel fared Energy conservation played a big role in surviv- There is no indication of an uptick soon in either
much better than many larger steel companies rela- ing the recession. In January, electricity rate stabili- the over- or off-road rim business. Truck and auto
tive to net sales, net income and price per ton. Key to zation ended in Ohio. In anticipation, management door hinges should show a modest rebound.
that success was holding a strong pricing discipline: effected an aggressive program that drove down The bridge and reinforced concrete pipe spigot
We kept prices nearly unchanged across the board electric power consumption 29%. markets held up well with bridge sales down 6%
and our directors declared a cash dividend of 35 We also invested substantially in plant and from the year before and spigot sales up slightly.
cents per share to shareholders of record July 1. equipment. Repairs and improvements were made These markets were not sustained by new govern-
When sales declined 16% and operations slowed to roofs, cranes, motor generators, pump-house ment stimulus money, but were the result of projects
to half capacity, the company applied stringent pumps, hot beds and the water tower. funded before passage of the American Recovery and
controls: reining in receivables, effecting aggressive The financial conditions in all of our markets and Reinvestment Act last February. We anticipate some
energy conservation measures, reducing inventories, our customers’ ability pay their bills were closely business improvement this year in these markets
ramping-up product development, and maintaining monitored. Outstanding receivables, which we as an outcome of that act, but based on discussions
day-to-day market diversification. began to rein in during 2008, showed significant with our customers, the $154 billion allocated to
The lifeblood of the company – new section de- reduction in our exposure by 2009. infrastructure rehabilitation is woefully inadequate
velopment – was fully sustained. (McDonald Steel A major saving grace is our work force. We to address these aging systems – and the release of
is a global leader in producing engineered hot-rolled commend these loyal men and women for their stimulus funds is not occurring quickly enough.
steel shapes.) During the year, a record nine new perseverance and productivity. Bottom line for 2010: visibility poor. Long pull:
sections (or “shapes”) were designed, rolled and Looking ahead, we are feeling our way when it our markets will rebound, albeit slowly.
shipped to the automotive, railroad and construc- comes to increased orders and when recovery takes McDonald Steel Corp., founded in 1980, is lo-
tion industries. Among these developments are door a better hold. Lead times are shorter: customers cally owned. We employ some 100 people.

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 45

Aebischer’s Jewelry Updates Best Western ‘Best of Best’


Marketing Plan, Web Site HUBBARD -- The Best Western Penn-Ohio
POLAND – Aebischer’s Jewelry will focus Inn & Suites has been named Best of
on its marketing strategy this year by up- the Best in Customer Care, one of 106
dating its “Aebischer’s Absolutely” cam- of Best Western’s 2,400 properties to
paign, report Doug and Karen Aebischer, receive the designation, says Brenda
owners. Also planned is an upgraded Stefanski, sales director. The award was
Web site to meet changing customer presented at Best Western Internation-
shopping patterns. al’s annual convention in Phoenix.
Despite challenging conditions in the The award is given to member proper-
retail jewelry industry last year, Aebisch- ties that best exemplify exceptional lev-
er’s added two positions last year. Adam els of service and care, Stefanski notes.
Aebischer, the couple’s son, became the The hotels also must meet design stan-
fourth generation to enter the business dards and other requirements.
and sales representative Wendy Kitchen The hotel, on Commerce Drive, offers
joined the firm in the fall. 63 rooms, two meeting rooms and a
In addition to a consistent bridal busi- complimentary breakfast.
ness, remounting, jewelry repair – even
replacing watch batteries – were key to Chappell’s Earns Awards
keeping the company on solid footing, SALEM – Chappell’s House of Pictures &
Doug Aebischer says. Customer service, Frames received a first-place and popu-
he notes, remains the primary focus. lar-choice at the regional Professional
“This is what got the company through Picture Framers Association contest,
a Depression and numerous economic reports Donna Chappell, owner.
downturns over the years.” The company is celebrating 48 years
in business.
Westminster Most Affordable “We have added new materials for
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – Westminster framing, including anti-reflective muse-
College again has been named one of um glass and print-on-demand artwork,”
the most affordable liberal ar ts col- Chappell notes.
leges in Pennsylvania, repor ts Mark The company features collectible art
Meighen, senior director, marketing & by American artists in limited-edition
communication services. Westminster prints, originals and posters and installs
also is ranked one of “The Best 371 art in homes and offices.
Colleges” and “Best in the Northeast”
by The Princeton Review. Resume Work Up at JaneCo
The college, which has 1,600 under- WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. -- JaneCo’s Sen-
graduate and graduate students, is a sible Solutions experienced another year
top-tier liberal arts college and national of growth in 2009, reports owner Jane
leader in graduation rate performance, Roqueplot. The company, which opened
according to U.S. News Guide to Ameri- in 1995, offers business seminars, ca-
ca’s Best Colleges, Meighen says. reer coaching and related services.
Business Barks at Come The number of job-seekers interested
in finding the “best job” significantly
Stay and Play Pet Resort dropped last year, with most now looking
CANFIELD -- Braced for a rough year in simply for “a job,” Roqueplot says. “Our
2009, the owner of Come Stay and Play resume development service has been
Pet Resort instead reports that overall the main focus for job seekers, with an
sales are up from the year before. increased demand for customized cover
Bill Lowery, who owns the business letters,” she notes.
with his wife, Darlene, says sales for A newer service that grew steadily
the first 11 months of 2009 were up last year is job-searching through on-
29.1% over 2008. Dog boardings rose line social networking and personal
and grooming on average was booked branding. The firm posts each client’s
out a week to 10 days, he says. resume to 20 online job boards that are
Opening in November 2007, the busi- searched most frequently by employers.
ness has 50 dog runs, 10 “cat condos,” The firm also participates in a network of
a “doggy day care” room with an outdoor 25,000 recruiters, headhunters, venture
play area, a certified dog trainer who of- capitalists and high-growth companies
fers individual and group classes, and for purposes of Internet job searching,
self-serve pet washes. Roqueplot says.
46 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Fallsway Equipment Celebrates 50th Anniversary


Food, pharmaceutical primarily in the food and pharmaceutical distribu- working on their forklifts and now it’s a natural for
tion businesses, reports Don Fisher, branch manager us to provide service to their radios as well.”
distributors maintained for Fallsway’s Youngstown location. Another area Fallsway is targeting for growth this
volumes despite downturn. Fallsway Equipment is a distributor for Crown year is its dock equipment business, Carson says.
Equipment Corp., an Ohio manufacturer of electric This product line focuses on installing and servicing
Fallsway Equipment Co. closed the first decade forklift equipment, Fisher says. “While the number equipment connected to customers’ shipping/receiv-
of the 21st century celebrating its 50th anniversary. of lift trucks sold in our area decreased by close to ing docks, such as dock levelers, vehicle restraints
Founded in 1959, the Akron-based business, which 60% in 2009 versus 2008, our market share has al- and dock seals.
operates a branch in Youngstown, specializes in the most doubled,” he points Focusing on custom-
sales and service of forklifts and truck equipment. out. “We owe a good deal Fallsway Equipment is consistently among ers’ needs is Fallsway’s
“We’re very fortunate to have such a loyal cus- of this success to our the top dealers in the nation for Caterpillar primary facus for 2010,
tomer base built up over our half-century of service Crown forklift line.” adds Jeff Zimmer, vice
to the northeast Ohio area to carry us through a dif- Fallsway’s truck equip- Forklift dealer performance. president and general
ficult 2009,” observes Greg Fairhurst, president. ment division installs manager. Fleet Manage-
Early in 2009, Mitsubishi Caterpillar America medium and large truck chassis with bodies and ment, a process to measure and manage a customer’s
honored Fallsway Equipment with dealer-of-the- accessories for almost any application. Product forklift fleet, is the company’s vehicle for reducing
year awards for both Caterpillar and Mitsubishi fork- lines include Reading work truck bodies, Meyer’s customers’ operating costs and maximizing their
lift brands. The top 15% of dealers in North America snowplows, Fassi & Cormach knuckle cranes and fleets’ use, he elaborates. “Every one of our cus-
receive recognition based on customer service and Jerr-Dan wreckers/rollbacks for automobile recovery. tomers is intensely focused on reducing expenses.
satisfaction, strength of the dealer and market The truck equipment division also outfits police and Through our fleet management process we can read-
performance. Fallsway Equipment is consistently other emergency response vehicles with emergency ily identify tremendous cost savings through reduced
among the top dealers in the nation for Caterpillar light packages, radios and gun racks. maintenance expenditures and better deployment
Forklift dealer performance, Fairhurst notes. A new business line introduced this year, reports of fleet assets.”
Facing many of the same challenges in 2009 Doug Carson, vice president of marketing and sales, “Fallsway Equipment Co. is well-positioned for its
as other businesses in the Mahoning Valley, Falls- is mobile radio repair and programming. “We found next 50 years,” states CEO Harry Fairhurst. “We feel
way Equipment’s sales were off. Many of Fallsway we were already doing the installation of radio good about our company’s prospects coming out of
Equipment’s manufacturing customers downsized or equipment in emergency vehicles,” Carson says. this unprecedented downturn. We have an extremely
idled their forklift fleets, Fairhurst explains. “We have many 50-plus forklift fleet customers that diversified product portfolio with a strong customer
Customers who continued to use Fallsway’s have a radio on every forklift in addition to personal base and clear prospects targeted for growth.”
products in volumes similar to pre-2008 levels were handset units,” Carson continues. “We’re already The company employs 120.

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 47

Packer Thomas Seeks


Best Employer ‘3-peat’ ������� ����������
�������������������������������
Company sees growth Brian Commons, who received his
certified fraud examiner designation
in IT support and in 2008, works with attorneys in sup-
port of their forensic accounting and
forensic accounting. consulting needs.
As a result, Packer Thomas achieved

P
acker Thomas was named one growth in the firm’s IT support and
of the Best Employers in Ohio forensic accounting and consulting
�������� ������������� ��������� ������������
last year and in 2008, and this niches in 2009. ������������������������������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������������������������
��������� ������������ ������������� ����� ������ ���� ���
year, the hope is to repeat the honor Nicole Ferraro and Cindy Wollet ��������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������� ���������
for the third time by continuing recently accepted the role of Account- �������������������� ������������

to enhance benefits and work/life ing and Auditing Practice leaders, Gett
policies, says Greg Gett, president of says. Their responsibilities include
the public accounting firm. assuring that the firm is up-to-date
Packer Thomas, established in pertaining to recent accounting and
1923, has more than 50 employees auditing requirements and to ensure
in offices in Youngstown and New that Packer Thomas produces a quality
Castle, Pa. product that complies with applicable ��������� ����������� ��������� ��������������
“Best Employers in Ohio is a cel- accounting and auditing standards. ������������������������������������������������������ ��������������������������������������������������������
������������ ��� ���� ����� ���������� �������� ��� ��������� ��� ������������������������������������������������
ebration of the state’s elite employers The firm’s success, Gett says, comes ����������� �������������������� ������������
who have proven that they know in no small part because of the com- �������������������� ������������

what it takes to create an environment mitment to the community. Packer


where people love to come to work,” Thomas supports numerous organiza-
Gett notes. tions including the American Cancer
In 2009, growth was experienced Society, the American Red Cross,
in the New Castle, Pa., office largely Children’s Rehabilitation Center,
through the efforts of John Cournan, Youngstown/Warren Regional Cham-
Nick Paolini and Joe Gabriel, Gett ber, United Way and Youngstown �������� ������ ���������������� ����������������������
������������������������������������������������������������ �����������������������������������������������������������
says. State University. ���������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������
In addition to the traditional serv- “Clients and potential clients can �������������������� ������������ ������������������������� ������������������������������������

ice areas of tax, accounting, personal experience firsthand the dedication of


financial planning and internal audit, Packer Thomas’ people as they work
the firm anticipates further growth in to improve the communities sur-
information technology and forensic rounding our Youngstown and New
consulting areas. Castle offices,” Gett emphasizes. “We
For instance, Jeff Sheets works with are building lasting relationships.”
clients on IT systems controls and Packer Thomas is a past recipient ���������������� ���������������������������������� ������� ������������������
�������������������������������������������������������� �����������������������������������������������������������
security as well as data center security. of the Better Business Bureau’s Na- ��������������������������������� ������������������������������
He also consults on accounting soft- tional Torch Award for Marketplace �������������������� ������������ �������������������� ������������
ware selection and installation. Ethics.

Digital Trend Boosts WSI


W SI of Canfield ranked
among the top 1% of WSI
franchisees worldwide in
2009, having made the company’s top
25 list for revenue attainment for 12
“Companies are looking to do more
with less, and shifting their media
budgets from traditional mediums
such as TV, radio and direct mail to
digital mediums including e-mail,
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months running. social media and search engines,”


Overall, the company reports its he says.
revenues increased 30% last year. Early last year, WSI focused on
Owner and operator Gene Bonan- vertical markets that would be least
no, a certified digital marketing impacted by the economic recession,
��������� ������� �������� �����������
consultant, attributes WSI’s success choosing two core areas – sports and �������������������������������������������������������� ���� ������ �� ����� ����� �������� ����� ���� ����������� ����
this past year to a number of factors, health care – Bonanno says. ��������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������
����������� �������������������� ������������
being in the right place at the right As a result, WSI’s portfolio has ex- �������������������� ������������
time chief among them. panded to include sites such as Buck-

��������
“The monumental shift from tra- nuts.com, SpartanTailgate.com, Nit-
���

ditional media to digital marketing tanyNetwork.com, InsideTheGrove.


has put us in a great position and the com, PennCare.net and OhioPremier- ������������������������
economic downturn has only fueled Health.com. The company’s own Web
the movement,” Bonanno explains. site is at www.WSIDM.com.
48 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

���������������������������������� Sharon Regional Health


���������� �������������
������������� Expands Cancer Center,
��������
� � � � �
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Plans Hubbard Satellite
Growth in net patient revenue ranked third-largest
�������������������������������������� among acute care hospitals in western Pa.
���������������� �����������

By Ed Newmeyer receive the American College of Car-

��������������� �������� Sharon Regional Health System diology Foundation’s Silver Achieve-
� Marketing & Community Relations ment Award (in conjunction with
�����������������������������������
����������� the American Heart Association) in

S
������������������������������������������ haron Regional Health recognition of efforts to implement
System’s Cancer Care Center a higher standard of care for patients
in Hermitage, Pa., experienced suffering heart attacks.
������������������������ significant volume increases in fiscal The Commission on Cancer of
�� �������������������� ����������� year 2009. the American College of Surgeons
�� ������������� � �������������������� This resulted in awarded Sharon
�� ������������������ ���������������� the approval of a Cancer Care Center’s $4.6 Regional’s Can-
�� ������������� ����������������� $4.7 million, two- million expansion includes $2.2 cer Care Center
phase expansion a three-year ap-
program that in- million linear accelerator for proval with com-
������������������������� cludes a new $2.2 radiation therapy. mendation.
�� ��������������������� ���������������������� million linear ac- Unison Health
� ����������������� ������������������ celerator for radiation therapy along Plan presented Sharon Regional with
�� ������� ���������������� with additional building expansion for two quality awards in recognition
support services. of its low hospital-acquired infec-
The Heart and Vascular Institute tion rates and the performance of

Co mmitted to You
welcomed four new cardiologists: J. its Level II nursery. Sharon Regional
Ronald Mikolich (a cardiac CT/MRI also earned an award for eliminating
specialist), Nicola Nicoloff, Michael symptomatic catheter-associated uri-
Burley and Brandon Mikolich. nary tract infections and made a major
A $376,000 upgrade was added to improvement in scores that measure
the MRI unit at the Diagnostic and Im- inpatient satisfaction.
aging Center in Hermitage to provide To advance the clinical capabili-
advanced cardiac MRI studies. ties of its Advanced Wound Recovery
Sharon Regional announced plans Center, the health system installed
for the new Hubbard Diagnostic the first hyperbaric oxygen chamber
and Specialty Center, a $1.7 million in Mercer and Lawrence counties and,
satellite medical center that will oc- based on use, then installed a second
cupy 11,500 square feet in the former unit at the center.
Nemenz/IGA food store at 880 West To accommodate a new cancer
Liberty St. Longtime Hubbard family genetics program and other physi-
practice physician Howard G. Slemons cian specialists, 2,000 square feet of
also joined Sharon Regional’s staff additional space was completed at
during the year. the diagnostic and imaging center.
An education is a solid investment in your future providing a lifetime of return. That’s why Sharon Regional experienced a The expansion comprised five patient
the Thiel Commitment includes: 10% increase in outpatient revenues, exam rooms, two physician offices, a
�� An affordable, high-quality education �� A ninth-semester tuition waiver for a 1% increase in routine admissions, breast nurse office, and an additional
and a 12.4% growth in net patient patient waiting room.
�� Programs that can be completed in qualifying students who study abroad revenue. The school of nursing enhanced
four years or intern—valuable experiences that The growth in net patient revenue its technology through a new simula-
was the third-largest percentage tion laboratory along with a learning
�� Guidance for “undecided” majors set you apart when looking for your
growth of any acute-care hospital in center for online learning.
�� Career services for life first job! western Pennsylvania, according to Sharon Regional also developed a
a survey published by the Pittsburgh new sports injury clinic in Hermitage
Discover the Thiel Commitment today! Business Times. The revenue growth with Keith Lustig, orthopedic sur-
For more information: www.thiel.edu/commitment moved Sharon Regional to the eighth geon/sports medicine specialist, and
position of the 25 Largest Pittsburgh- welcomed back orthopedic surgeon

Apply Today!
Area Hospital Organizations and fifth Brian Shannon following the comple-
THIEL COLLEGE among all hospitals based on fiscal tion of a spine surgery fellowship at
75 College Ave. � Greenville, Pa. 2009 net income. Harvard Medical Center, and received
800-24-THIEL � www.thiel.edu Sharon Regional was one of only full accreditation for its breast care
93 hospitals nationwide in 2009 to center.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 49

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50 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

In Tough Year, Eddy’s Chrysler Dealership Grows


First Motor Trend ‘Certified November, we were the third-largest volume dealer Last year, Chrysler announced it would terminate
in the tri-county area,” he notes. 789 dealer franchises in the United States as a result
Advantage Dealer’ in Ohio. The closing of nearly 800 Chrysler dealerships of its government-backed bankruptcy. During the

D
uring a year in which the domestic auto across the country and two in the Mahoning Valley course of the year, dealership owner Chuck Eddy
industry experienced serious challenges and enabled the Eddy showroom to purchase more in- shuttled between Detroit and Washington, D.C., as
setbacks, Bob & Chuck Eddy Chrysler Dodge ventory, hire seven service employees, and add three a regional representative of the National Automobile
Jeep, Austintown, expanded its operations. sales representatives from closed dealerships. Dealers Association, or NADA.
The dealership at 4850 Mahoning Ave. boosted To accommodate its expanded service depart- While in Washington, Eddy met with members
inventory by 100% in 2009, reports Paul Shuger, ment, the dealership purchased a building next to of the Auto Task Force in an effort to convince them
sales and leasing consultant. “Through the end of its Mahoning Avenue showroom. that closing dealers would in the long run be detri-
mental to the industry, communities and Chrysler.
Eddy continues to sit on NADA’s board and is also
on the Chrysler Dealer Council Board.
Dealers across the country were helped by the
federal government’s “Cash for Clunkers” program,
and the Eddy showroom was no exception, Shuger
says. The program awarded consumers vouchers of
up to $4,500 to turn in their older models for new,
more fuel-efficient vehicles. “We had tremendous
success during the Cash for Clunkers,” he says.
In November, the dealership became the first Mo-
tor Trend Certified Advantage Dealer in Ohio. “Less
than 7% of all the auto dealers in the nation will have
the opportunity to obtain this,” Shuger says.
Four sales executives – Shuger, Rita Fercana,
Mickey Katchmer and Travis Dale – all sold more
than 100 vehicles in 2009, which qualifies them as
Chrysler Sales Master Certified professionals.

IDMI Plans to Relocate,


Customize New Products
A s part of its strategy for growth this year,
IDMI.Net plans to expand its custom Web
site application offerings and e-commerce
platform, says Holly Fritz, sales manager.
The Poland company is planning a move to a
new location in the village that will accommodate
growth and combine facilities with “sister” company
Pharmacy Data Management of Boardman.
Last year brought a steady increase in business,
primarily as a result of new product offerings, Fritz
says. “We saw a significant increase in the demand
for customized Web applications,” she notes. “Appli-
cations we developed included online employment,
training, appointment and donation modules,” plus
sales team, student grade and physician portals.
Social media and interactive elements were a
major focus for Web site development last year.
Additions of blogs, forums, photo galleries, audio
and video, and links to social media pages continue
to be significant, Fritz points out. So, too, is search
engine optimization.
IDMI.net also began offering content-managed
Web site systems last year, allowing customers to
update and maintain their own sites without adding
IT staff or buying software. “Many organizations
need to do more with less and this option allows
them to maintain their site in-house with existing
staff,” Fritz notes.
In addition to adding design, programming
and sales staff, 2009 brought a collaboration with
Prodigal Media, also of Poland, through which a
team from the two companies developed complete
Web-based products and services that incorporate
both marketing and technology, Fritz says.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 51

Precision Manufacturing Good ’09 at Valley Office


Institute Adds Programs technology to stream-
Helps clients use their operations through more tech-
nology-based applications. “It actually
became less challenging to convince
line their operations. businesses to take a serious look at
Workers learn skills to and hydraulic trainers this year,” Hol- their IT and copy/print processes to

V
liday reports. alley Office Solutions Inc., see where they might be bleeding and
support area industry. PMI’s mission is to help make lo-
cal industry more competitive and
Boardman, is expecting 2010
to “be equally as good or even
not realize it.”
Among the milestones the com-

N ew equipment and programs at


the Precision Manufacturing
Institute Shenango Valley,
Sharon Pa., bode well for growth
at the training center in 2010, says
potential employees more qualified
in what has become a global market.
“Machine manufacturers can’t haul
huge milling machines and lathes
around to demonstrate them. But they
better” than last year – a year that
witnessed its share of challenges but
ultimately one in which the business
met or exceeded its goals.
Key to growth this year is a stable
pany hit in 2009 was the launch in
September of the second version of
its FileMax ScanWare product during
a national convention in Washington.
The software, released nationally, al-
its director. “We look to 2010 with can place them at PMI where potential credit and financing environment lows clients to use a familiar and user-
the planned expansion of industry- customers can see them in operation, for Valley Office’s customers, says friendly interface to scan, store, file
driven programs and the potential Holliday says. the president of the company, Steve and e-mail documents directly from
expansion of our training facility and PMI’s flexible programs accommo- Blakeman. “Although financing op- the office copier. “Out of 120 vendors,
classrooms,” says John Holliday. date full-time students and workers tions are improving, the market is very the FileMax application was named
PMI Shenango opened in May 2008 employed full-time who have limited difficult right now for clients that have best of show,” Blakeman reports.
to offer skilled training in support of hours to devote to training. less-than-stellar credit,” he says. “We Another highlight was the com-
the region’s industrial base. In 2009, Financial aid is available through could have added another 15% to our pany receiving an award from Sharp
PMI added programs to train workers PA CareerLink, Ohio One-Stop and sales volume last year with the deals Electronics that is exclusive to the
in tooling and as machine technicians, other local agencies. “More than 40% we could not get financing for.” top-performing dealers in the country,
CNC machine programmers and CNC of participants training in our facility Valley Office supplies tech-based Blakeman says.
technicians. Training in accelerated in 2009 were residents of adjacent solutions for companies looking to “It’s quite an honor to be recog-
CNC machining and electromechani- Ohio counties,” Holliday notes. improve their efficiencies in print- nized with this award,” he says. “To
cal technology also was added. PMI-Shenango Valley works closely ing, copying, data storage and data be in an area that is perceived to be
“We installed several new pieces with area colleges and universities, he management. economically depressed and find out
of CNC equipment in 2009 and look adds, which allows students to earn Blakeman says the weakened that your performance is on par or
to add two new CNC machines, a credits that can be applied toward a economy convinced many of the exceeds dealers in much larger cities
program logic control, and pneumatic college degree. company’s customers to streamline is a real blessing.”
52 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

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724-656-4220.
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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 53

Yurchyk & Davis ‘Cautiously 90 Years at Salem VNA


Optimistic’ About 2010 SALEM – This year marks the Salem
CANFIELD – Steady growth in 2009 Area Visiting Nurse Association’s 90th
bodes well for 2010 at Yurchyk & Davis anniversary of providing home health
CPA’s Inc. “We are cautiously optimis- services to Salem and the surrounding
tic in terms of economic growth as we communities. “During 2010, we plan to
assist our clients in navigating through grow by expanding the Salem Area Adult
difficult times,” says Dave Eyster, CPA. Day Care program and our telehealth
Over the past year, he notes, the firm monitor program,” says Susan K. Yoder,
added one professional staff member, executive director.
bringing the work force to 17. The telemedicine program was imple-
“Our clients, like most organiza- mented last Januar y. “This program
tions, continue to face challenges in all allows us to remotely monitor a client’s
aspects of their businesses. They are heart rate, blood pressure, weight, and
relying on us now more than ever,” says pulse oximetry readings,” Yoder says. “It
Bill Yurchyk, CPA. enables clinicians to detect the onset of
In conjunction with its Quickbooks changes in a patient’s condition sooner,
consulting practice, the firm has regis- and hopefully prevent unnecessar y
tered Quickbooks Pro Advisors on staff rehospitalizations and other negative
and held six Quickbooks training classes outcomes.”
last year for clients and others. Patient volumes remained stable
The firm has a strong history of staff during 2009, and growth continues in
retention, which Yurchyk attributes to demand for therapy and the medical
a relaxed work atmosphere coupled nutrition program, she notes.
with various events such as an annual
staff retreat to Las Vegas, a Relay for
JFS Wealth Advisors Opens
Life team and subsidized health-care Office in Pittsburgh
memberships. HERMITAGE, Pa. -- A difficult 2009 pro-
Fastsigns Puts Marketing vided an opportunity for JFS Wealth Advi-
sors to evaluate processes, resources
Emphasis on Social Media and efficiencies, says Robert Jazwinski,
BOARDMAN -- In 2009, Jay Summer, president.
owner of Fastsigns, began marketing via A new office was opened in Pitts-
social media networking platforms such burgh, and is headed by managing
as Facebook. This year, his company principal Ron Wyatt.
plans to continue those efforts as a way Wyatt joined JFS in September, mov-
to open new lines of communication with ing his practice from Wells Fargo Advi-
customers, he says. sors. Debra Malvin, who has 27 years
2009 marked 10 years since the of experience in the financial industry,
company’s opening as a sign and joined Wyatt at the Pittsburgh office.
graphics center. Over the year, the
company posted growth of 28.8% over Mayflower Wollam Insurance
2008.
A portion of this growth came from Opens Office in Newton Falls
the acquisition of A & B Sign Pro Inc., CORTLAND – Following a successful
a sign company also in Boardman, last 2009, Mayflower Wollam Insurance Alex & Jorgine Shaffo, Owners

330-743-0920
January. To ensure a seamless transi- Group is expecting a strong 2010, says
tion for customers, former A & B employ- Nancy K. Hart, operations coordinator.
ee Mike Thomas joined the Boardman Last year, the company increased
Fastsigns team to assist with database marketing effor ts through billboards,
and graphic file consolidation. mall intercepts, community events and Hours:
As a result of rapid growth and to radio ads with beneficial results, she Monday-Friday 10:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.
better accommodate customers, the adds.
company relocated in August to a larger, Phone traffic also increased as a Located in the YMCA Building
3,600-square-foot building on Southern result of people “tightening their belts”
Boulevard that tripled the size of its and looking for ways to save money on 17 N. Champion St. • Downtown Youngstown
previous operation. “The new location insurance, Hart says, which brought the
features a larger showroom, customer agency more business.
Also last year, the firm opened an
NEW MENU EVERY DAY
ser vice and production area and an
indoor vehicle bay for vehicle graphic office in Newton Falls, joining existing
projects,” Summer reports. offices here and in North Jackson.
54 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Amid Challenges, Banner Year at Middlefield Bank


‘We reached new all-time highs In some cases a simple restructuring – lower
monthly payments over a longer term – resolved the
in some cases, change how we offer some products
and services.
in assets, deposits and loans.’ problem. In others, it required extending the term of Despite the challenges we dealt with, 2009 was a
the loan or interest-only payments for a period. record year for The Middlefield Banking Co. in terms
By Thomas G. Caldwell Although we couldn’t always come up with a of growth. We reached new, all-time highs in assets,
Middlefield Bank CEO solution, we completed 2009 both pleased and satis- deposits and loans. Because of this growth we in-
fied that we foreclosed on creased our staff by nine.

S
aying 2009 was a challenging year for businesses only one mortgage.
and consumers is an understatement. This was
We completed 2009 both pleased and All eight of our banking
Regulators closing offices saw good growth
especially true for the banking industry. banks put pressure on satisfied that we foreclosed on only one but we were especially
Hardly a day went by that we did not hear sto- the Federal Deposit Insur- mortgage. pleased with the growth
ries about the struggles of our industry. Whether it ance Corp. to both raise experienced by our two
was banks receiving Troubled Asset Relief Program premiums and impose a special assessment last year. newest offices, Newbury in Geauga County and
money, or regulators closing more than 140 banks The industry bore the cost of these failed banks, not Cortland in Trumbull County. Both offices continue
across the country that failed, our industry came the taxpayer. The special assessment and increased to surpass our expectations.
under intense scrutiny. premiums were an added expense that reduced our As I look back on 2009, I know why we were suc-
The Middlefield Banking Co. was not one of those net income. Understanding that it was our responsi- cessful. We are a true community bank with a dedi-
problem banks. Quite the contrary, we enjoyed a bility to support our industry, we chose not to charge cated and professional staff committed to the values
successful year relative to many other banks. Al- our customers a special fee to offset this unexpected of the bank, a commitment that extends well into
though we were never involved in activities that expense. Rather, we worked to improve our margins the communities we serve. We are actively involved
caused the larger banks problems, we had our share and our staff worked diligently to identify areas of within these communities through participation in
of challenges. cost savings through expense reductions. service clubs, service to schools, churches and com-
Most resulted from the worst recession since It was inevitable that the actions of some within munity organizations. Our employees are involved
World War II and its impact on businesses and the industry led to calls for tighter regulation. because they live and work in the community and
consumers. One of our first areas of concern was Although we were never part of the problem, you understand the value of a successful community.
the increased level of loan delinquency that resulted can be assured we will be dealing with the new Being a community bank allows us the flexibility
from customers losing their jobs or having their regulations that Congress is weighing as it works to and agility to react to the economy and address our
hours cut back. prevent a recurrence of the housing bubble and how customers’ needs. As long as we continue to focus on
We took steps to get in touch with these custom- consumers use their credit cards. This will no doubt our commitment to our core values, we should con-
ers to ascertain what we could do to help. add additional costs to our operating expenses, and tinue to grow profitably as we have for 109 years.

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010
117557.DirectDepBJ.AD.1.10 1/19/10 4:02 PM Page 1 55

Farris Grows Are paper paychecks giving you a headache?


New Markets, Tired of paying high bank fees?
New Media We can help.
Takes clients back to ‘blocking
and tackling’ of marketing. Direct Deposit
Farris Marketing used the challenging economic
conditions of 2009 to help several businesses and Payroll Services at
nonprofit organizations get back to basics and begin Seven Seventeen Credit Union
growing again.
“We actually served more clients in 2009 than we � Payroll is electronically transferred to your
have in many years,” says George Farris, CEO. “The employee’s financial institution(s) of choice.
budgets were smaller in many cases, but in many � Submit your payroll only one day in advance of
cases not much budget was needed.” the pay date.
What was needed were improvement in two areas,
he explains. The first was getting back to basics, “the � Low, business-friendly fees.*
blocking and tackling of marketing,” he says. That � Secure, easy and fast.
meant “going back to current customers, regular
planning sessions, focused messages – things that � No special software needed. Just email an
many firms overlooked when times were good.” Excel spreadsheet or a file from your existing
The second area was employing new media tactics payroll software system (if applicable). We’ll
along with the traditional. Farris helped dozens of take care of the rest!
local and regional organizations determine how
to use social media and Web innovations in 2009.
“New media formats are very cost-effective, flexible
and perhaps most importantly, where consumers are
located,” says Ed Farris, vice president and chief
Introducing Payroll Cards
financial officer at Farris Marketing. � Transfer your employees’ pay to a reloadable
Social media is one of the areas in which Far- Visa® Debit Card that can be used at the
ris Marketing saw the most growth last year. The checkout, online and at the ATM.
firm built social networks for clients using the 350
million-member Facebook, the video site YouTube, � “Unbanked” employees do not need a banking
the messaging site Twitter, and, depending on the relationship to use the card.
program and client, other sites like Flickr. These not � Use with Seven Seventeen’s Direct Deposit
only put clients in front of the right target market, Service or with your existing payroll process.
but also expand the footprint of the client’s Web site
for search engines. �

Farris also built dozens of new Web sites and
revamped many older ones to accept new technol-
ogy that is more interactive, with enhanced video The Direct Deposit program is awesome and so is everyone at Seven Seventeen Credit Union!
– Margie Malone, Payroll Manager,Wollam Chevrolet, Cortland, OH
content and password-protected sections in high
demand, George Farris says. An in-house production
unit was also developed to write, shoot, edit and We make business banking easier with great service,
create low-cost but high-quality videos for client
competitive rates, local decision making, and innovative
Web sites and YouTube.
“The demand for 3-D animated mini-movies financial products. Please give us a call or visit us at
went through the roof this year,” adds John Farris, www.sscu.net to learn more about all of Seven Seventeen’s
vice president and creative director. 3-D animations convenient products and services designed for your business.
were used by all types of organizations, including *Ask for details.
Baird Brothers Sawmill (to demonstrate how a door
is made), Rescue Mission TV commercials and even 330/372-8156 • 800/775-7741, ext. 8156 This credit union is federally insured by the
scoreboard animations for Dunkin’ Donuts. cu@work-sscu.net National Credit Union Administration.
Farris Marketing began serving the growing
renewable energy market in 2009, a phenomenon
that “will make the dot-com explosion seem like a
blip on the financial radar screen in comparison,” Business Product Sales in
George Farris predicts. Mahoning,Trumbull & Business Partners in Mahoning
Columbiana Counties: and Columbiana Counties:
The agency began extensive development of Web
sites, materials and marketing for clients in this mar- Jeannette Bartko Chris Graham
ket in 2009, and that is expected to grow more in
330/372-8025 330/372-8191
2010. “I have to say I am cautiously more optimistic
about this year than last,” Farris says. jbartko@sscu.net cgraham@sscu.net
In addition to its Boardman office, Farris Market-
ing also has offices in Tampa and Cleveland.
56 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

PRM Expands Services 1st National Bank Makes


As Meritain Affiliate Loans to Small Business
Awaits outcome of health At the same time, PRM continued East Liverpool bank $349,177 for the year,” he says.
to offer consumer-directed health posts welcome sign. 1st Bank undertook “a major initia-
insurance reform. plans, which include flexible spending tive to strengthen the balance sheet

I
accounts, health savings accounts and n a time when small-business and capital positions,” Sant says.
PRM, a third-party administrator health reimbursement arrangements, owners have been resentful, and By year-end, 1st Bank’s Tier 1
based in Youngstown, rose above dif- as well as worker compensation pro- the government critical, of banks leverage ratio had improved to 9.11%,
ficult conditions in 2009, retaining grams. These allow for the flexible for not extending commercial loans, well above the 5% regulators consider
clients and controlling the rising costs plan design and control PRM clients 1st National Community Bank is “well-capitalized.”
for health-care coverage. had come to expect, Blasko says. an exception, says Stephen R. Sant, Helping to improve the ratio was
Meritain Health, Buffalo, N.Y., the Clients welcomed the expanded president and CEO of the bank. the $3 million preferred stock the
nation’s largest independent health program offerings, he says, especially “We grew our business loan bal- parent of the bank, Tri State 1st Banc,
benefits administrator, acquired PRM the wellness and disease management ances by 17% for the year,” Sant re- issued the Treasury Department in the
in 2008, bringing both hope and programs. “In fact, one PRM client, ports. “Our lending staff worked very first quarter. The $3 million allowed
uncertainty to PRM employees and Farmer’s National Bank, was honored hard with the business community to the bank to increase its allowance for
clients, says Ron Blasko, PRM vice with an award for its corporate well- meet their credit needs.” possible loan losses to 1.36% of total
president. ness program,” Blasko notes. Moreover, 1st National Community loans.
Despite the uncertainty, Blasko says This year, two major hurdles PRM is one of the few community banks in 2009 was also a year when 1st Bank
PRM sustained employee satisfaction faces are the implications of national Ohio to offer full trust services to its completely upgraded its information
and experienced both growth and a health-care reform and a still uncer- customers. With more customers tak- technology systems, Sant notes.
high client retention rate throughout tain economy. ing advantage of its trust products, 1st The recession placed stress on the
the transition. The outcome of the ongoing de- National’s trust department increased bank’s loan portfolio as evidenced by
After the acquisition, PRM gained bate and its affect on the insurance its assets to $46 million, a 400% in- increased costs of collecting debt and
access to insurance management pro- industry, and how employers respond crease over 2008, Sant says. greater losses. Moreover FDIC insur-
grams and worksite screenings to help to economic conditions mandate that 2009 was a year of significant ance premiums and special assess-
employers lower health-care costs, PRM continue to educate its clients progress, he reports, but also one ments resulted in 1st Bank paying the
reduce abenteeism, impove employee about how to adjust their plans to best fraught with challenges for his bank. FDIC $308,645 in premiums last year,
health and increase productivity. manage costs, Blasko says. It showed “a very respectable profit of a 431% increase over 2008.

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All of these things have helped Stifel Financial Corp. grow to become the
7th-largest investment firm in the country, with approximately
1,900 Financial Advisors. ������
In fact, Stifel Financial was recently named to Fortune magazine’s annual
100 Fastest-Growing Companies list, ranking #2 in the financial services ����������� ����������������
�������� ����������������������
industry, #16 among U.S. firms, and #25 overall.
See www.stifel.com for full details.

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Experienced advisors interested ������������������
in a career at Stifel Nicolaus can ��������������������
call Mike Paterchak/Ohio Valley
Administration at (330) 599-4735. ������������

member sipc and nyse | www.stifel.com


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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 57

New CEO Launched 2009 for Jameson Health


Wound Healing Center opens, images into a digital image that can be displayed
immediately on the system’s computer monitor.
or belly button, ultimately resulting in the poten-
tial for no visible scar. The procedure also lets the
new technique used to remove Last year Jameson also accomplished its first
surgery using the next generation SILS procedure.
surgeon make a single 20-mm incision, minimizing
the pain that may be associated with additional sites
gall bladders. The cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal, was of entry.
the first of its kind to be to be completed at Jameson The health system also received recognition from
A year that saw the addition of new treatments, Hospital. various outside entities last year for transitioning to
procedures and technology at Jameson Health Sys- One of the chief advantages of the procedure, electronic medical records, various quality improve-
tem, New Castle, Pa., kicked off with the installation says William N. Gilleland, M.D., is that it uses only ments, patient care excellence and risk management
of new leadership. one access point, through the patient’s umbilicus, best practices.
Douglas Danko, who has been with Jameson
since 1975, became president and CEO of the health
system Jan. 1, 2009.
With 1,400 employees, Jameson is Lawrence
County’s largest employer and operates two hospital
campuses, a rehabilitation facility, a nursing home,
a personal-care facility, community health centers,
and the UPMC/Jameson Cancer Center.
In February, Danko reports, the health system
opened the Jameson Hospital Center for Wound
Healing at the South campus, one of a few hospi-
tals in Pennsylvania that offers this noninvasive
treatment that enhances the body’s natural ability
to heal itself.
In addition, Jameson installed a new digital mam-
mography system that could help shorten exams for
women and provide physicians with vital diagnostic
information, he says.
The Mammomat Novation captures breast
images with a special X-ray detector that converts

Cailor Fleming Sees


10% Growth in 2010
New insurance products in an expanded
market is expected to power Cailor Fleming Insur-
ance, Boardman, to a 10% increase in business
volume this year, the company reports.
Key to this growth is Cailor Fleming’s ex-
panded coverage in the orthotic and prosthetic
market, reports Don Foley, principal and manager
of the firm’s orthotic and prosthetic program.
“Growth will be the direct result of reaching new
clients in new markets with these new products,”
he says.
The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Associa-
tion entered into a partnership with Cailor Flem-
ing effective Jan. 1 to serve the field with a range
of custom-designed insurance products.
Cailor Fleming began providing insurance
coverage for local individuals and companies in
1917. The company opted to expand coverage
in 1992 to neighboring states and eventually
nationwide, which led the company to venture
into the growing business segment of orthotic
and prosthetics.
“For Cailor Fleming to remain strong in the
local market, we must continue to serve our
core clients while we develop new applications
of insurance coverage,” says Jeff Michalenok,
company president. “The opportunity to serve
a national market and retain a Youngstown
base ensures that Cailor Fleming will remain
here as a local company well into the future.”
58 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Park Vista Adds ‘Spaced Retrieval’ Speech Therapy


Senior living center breaks est therapies such as Vital-Stim and Kineseo taping. $54,573 that benefited the greater community.
ground for warm-water pool. And, Park Vista provided training to 78 students in Last February, Park Vista began offering a Low
the skills and information needed to become state Vision Support group. Park Vista housing manager

P
ark Vista experienced a successful 2009 tested nursing assistants. Denise Creator, who initiated the support group, was
with positive operating results and census During fiscal 2009, Park Vista provided $170,690 the first winner of the Helen Stambaugh Innovators
remaining steady at 95%, reports Brian in charitable care through its Life Care Commitment Award, established to recognize employees who
Kolenich, executive director. program, made possible through the Ohio Presbyte- create programs or services that improve residents’
With a 9.7% increase in staffing over the previous rian Retirement Services Foundation. Park Vista also experiences and produce cost savings or generate
year, Park Vista employed 269 residents from the provided charitable programs and services valued at new revenue.
Mahoning Valley area, he notes.
New this year will be a 1,400-square-foot warm-
water aquatic therapy pool, for which ground
was broken last October. Murphy Construction is
Merger Highlights 2009 at HD Davis Associates
expected to begin the project in early March, and HD Davis Associates, Liberty, began 2009 by The Davis firm’s plan going forward is to of-
completion is anticipated in 150 days. merging with J. Newman Levy CPA’s. fer small business consulting, accounting and
The Youngstown-based Park Vista, founded in “We installed a new computer system, phone tax services.
1947, provides independent-living, assisted-living, system with new office furnishings,” says “We are emphasizing QuickBooks accounting
memory care, skilled-nursing and rehabilitation Harold Davis, certified public accountant and systems, which is now 87% of the accounting
services to some 300 residents and is a member of president. “The staff, which now totals eight, has software market, but will continue to service
Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services. adjusted well as we have become a cohesive team Peachtree clients,” notes Donna Mark, the firm’s
The Rehab Center at Park Vista experienced an ready for the 2010 tax season.” QuickBooks Pro adviser.
8% increase in clients in 2009, and a quarterly survey This year, Davis says, should be one of major “QuickBooks’ newest feature, ‘Accountant’s
of residents found that 100% would recommend the growth for most of the firm’s clients. Copy,’ is changing the entire client-accountant
Park Vista program to their friends, Kolenich says. “I’ve been meeting with several area banks re- relationship. This new feature allows us to fix
This year, the speech department will implement cently,” he reports. “They seem to be opening up our client’s QuickBooks data while the client
a new therapy technique for those with Alzheimer’s for new commercial loans, which are going to be at continues to work on his or her live data. It
and other dementia. The technique is called Spaced record low interest rates for now. The recession has eliminates sending in backups or laboring with
Retrieval; it is a method of transferring short-term created a lot of opportunities for businesses that journal entries and saves a load of time and ag-
memory into long-term memory, Kolenich says. keep their eyes open and balance sheets clean.” gravation.”
The therapy department continued use of the lat-
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 59
60 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Business Up at Facial Plastic & Aesthetic Laser Center


Quest for beauty drives revenue The Facial Plastic & Aesthetic Laser Center expe- patients from across Ohio who travel to Gentile’s
primary office in Youngstown for facial surgery.
increases despite downturn. rienced a 10% increase in revenue in 2008, Gentile
reports, followed by 3% growth last year. The Youngstown office, Gentile explains, “is

I
n some parts of the country, revenues in the Some of that growth can be attributed to the unique in northeastern Ohio as it is a fully integrated
cosmetic surgery industry have shrunk by as opening of Gentile’s third office last March. The of- aesthetic practice with its own state-of-the art state-
much as 40% since the onset of “the current fice, known as the Aesthetic Technology Institute, licensed and nationally accredited surgical center.”
economic meltdown,” says Richard D. Gentile, a serves the Cleveland area and specializes in mini- Gentile, a past officer of the American Academy of
board certified facial plastic surgeon with offices in mally invasive procedures such as dermal fillers and Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, founded his
Boardman, Fairlawn and Cleveland. At his offices, laser treatments for skin disorders. It also provides practice 22 years ago and is recognized internation-
however, business is on an upswing. consultations and pre- and post-operative care for ally for his contributions in minimally invasive and
laser-assisted facial cosmetic procedures and laser-
assisted lipolysis. In recent years, he reports, half of
his patients have come from outside Ohio – from 13
The professionals at other states and three foreign countries.
He introduced skin rejuvenation techniques to
Hill, Barth & King the area in 1994. Some of those early lasers, he notes,

The only are here to help you


had harsh side effects that rendered them relatively
unpopular within five years. A modification of that
laser technology, however, resulted in the introduc-
take control of your
certainty is
tion of fractional laser therapy in 2006.
Initial fractionated lasers required patients to
economic future with receive more than one treatment to achieve mild

uncertainty.
results, Gentile recalls. Introduction of more power-
our Business Advisory ful ablative fractionated lasers, he says, allows for
significant improvements in sun-damaged, wrinkled
Services. or acne-scarred skin after just one treatment.
The popularity of and patient satisfaction with
these treatments is high, and Gentile says he has

Contact us today to
performed hundreds of these procedures since he
began offering them. His patients, he notes, have
experienced minimal adverse side effects.
learn more! The Facial Plastic & Aesthetic Laser Center serves
as an international training center for advanced laser
lipolysis techniques. Gentile, who is included in the
Consumer’s Research Council of America’s Guide
to America’s Top Plastic Surgeons for the third year
in a row, has trained nearly 50 surgeons in lipolysis
techniques. Some of the surgeons, he notes, have
come from as far as Korea and France.

Bury Financial Group


Certified Public Accountants � Business Consultants Grows in Tough Year
Advisors � Planners Growth and new opportunities are expected
this year at Bury Financial Group, Poland, as
the economic difficulties of last year allowed
7680 Market Street the firm to strengthen relationships with exist-
ing clients and create new ones, says Todd M.
Boardman, OH 44512 Bury, president and owner.
(330) 758-8613 “We feel it’s even more important for us to
be there for our clients in volatile years,” he
observes. “Being proactive versus reactive has
reaped rewards.”
City Centre One, Suite 514 Last year the firm again topped the list of
all advisers in Ohio with its broker/dealer,
100 Federal Plaza East SagePoint Financial, says Brian M. Laraway,
Youngstown, OH 44503 vice president and financial adviser.
The firm also employs two administrative
(330) 747-1903 staff members, and a major focus is on educa-
tion. In August, the firm held an “Economic
hbkcpa.com Summit” at the Holiday Inn Boardman for cli-
ents and guests during which economist Fritz
Meyer, a frequent guest on major TV networks,
Offices in Ohio, Florida & Pennsylvania provided an economic update.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 61

Surgery Center at Beeghly New Flights at Akron-Canton


Park Draws More Patients GREEN TOWNSHIP -- Work is continuing
on an extension of the Akron-Canton
BOARDMAN – The Orthopaedic Surgery Airport’s main runway that will provide
Center at Beeghly Park continues to important safety enhancements and al-
draw new patients, control costs and low airlines to fly nonstop to anywhere
maintain high standards of service. in the country, says Ryan Hollingsworth,
Since it opened in 2003, the physi- communications coordinator. The $60
cian-owned Surger y Center has per- million runway project will be complete
formed 56,000 procedures in outpatient in November.
or thopedics and pain management, More nonstop flights were added last
reports Marie Morell, administrator. year when SkyWest Airlines, in partner-
“The center has evolved from a joint ship with AirTran Air ways, kicked off
venture to a completely physician owned nonstop service to Milwaukee. The new
and operated ambulatory surgery cen- flights connect into AirTran’s growing
ter,” she notes. hub at the Milwaukee airport, allowing
Dr. James Boniface has served as for connections to Minneapolis/St. Paul,
CEO and par t owner of the surger y Denver and Las Vegas. “Also, AirTran
center since the project was in its brought back its seasonal nonstop ser-
developmental stages. His brothers, vice to Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale,
Drs. Raymond and Thomas Boniface, Fla., and US Airways kicked off flights
are also co-owners as are Drs. Michael to Washington via Reagan National Air-
Engle, Thomas Joseph, James Jameson, port,” Hollingsworth reports.
James Kerrigan, James Solmen, Leslie
Schwendeman and Joseph Stefko. Sharon Nursing School
The center’s physicians hold spe-
cialties in sports medicine, hand and
Taking Applications
upper extremity, foot and ankle, physi- SHARON, Pa. -- The Sharon Regional
cal medicine and rehabilitation/pain Health System’s School of Nursing is
management. The associate staff has accepting applications for classes that
expanded to include additional general will start in August.
or thopedists, a pediatric or thopedic The school recently added a new Sim-
specialist, additional pain management ulation Laboratory, reports spokesman
specialists and podiatric surgeons. Dick Davis, and a computer learning
center for online educational opportuni-
Premier HR’s Marcucci ties. Students gain experience at acute
and long-term clinical locations within
Named One of Pa.’s Best the Sharon Regional system as well as
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. – Lisa Marcucci, at Trumbull Memorial Hospital in War-
founder and president of Premier HR, ren, Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in
last year was selected one of Pennsylva- Howland, The Rich Center for Autism at
nia’s Best 50 Women in Business. Youngstown State University and Akron
The 14th annual awards program Children’s Hospital in Boardman.
honors women who share a commitment
to business growth, professional excel- Belleria Hubbard Moves
lence and to their communities. HUBBARD -- The owners of the Belleria
Premier HR employs six. Pizza & Italian Restaurant here experi-
Marcucci founded Premier HR in enced growing pains in 2009 and moved
2005 to serve smaller companies that their pizzeria from its original address
need guidance in human resources but on Main Street to 882 W. Liberty St.,
could not afford a full-time HR profes- across from Hubbard High School.
sional on their staffs. Owners Michael and Jim Frasco are
In the past two years, she says, her grandsons of Lena Bell, who founded
firm has helped place more than 100 Belleria in 1953. They tout their grand-
people in new jobs, and helped laid-off mother’s specialties, along with some of
employees with outplacement counsel- their own. “Here you will find authentic
ing services. Italian cuisine and a warm and casual
She is the leader of the nationally atmosphere,” Michael Frasco says.
affiliated Divorce Care support group. The new site offers a larger dining �������������������
As such, she counsels women who are room, more items on the menu and a �������
seeking to re-enter the work force in their sports bar with several large flat-screen
job searches and skills assessments. televisions, Frasco says.
62 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

����������������������� McCarthy Systems Seizes


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‘Green’ Opportunity
The recession hit construction region has as much harvestable sun-
�� ���������������������������������������������������������������
companies hard, but McCarthy Sys- light as Germany – the world leader in
�� ��������������������������������������� tems Co., Poland, turned the down- using this technology,” he explains.
� ������������������������������������� time into a green opportunity that In addition to installing the solar
�� ������������������������� could pave the way to future growth arrays and corresponding electrical
and prosperity. components, McCarthy says he plans
�� ���������������� Terry McCarthy, owner and presi- to take advantage of grants available
dent of the general to help businesses
�� ������������� contracting com- McCarthy says he plans to take seeking to enter
pany, which serves advantage of grants available to the green energy
the wireless tele- field so that his
communications help businesses seeking to enter company can also
industry, used the the green energy field. manufacture the

���������������
�������� downtime to ex- solar panels.
��������
plore green energy initiatives, install- “There’s nothing more gratifying
ing one of the area’s first solar panel to a business owner than when one
arrays at the company’s new office and small idea, such as going green, turns
������������ warehouse at 121 E. Calla Road. into an opportunity to keep people
����������� The 10.75 kW solar system will employed and possibly hire on new
provide 60% of the building’s energy staff,” McCarthy says. “Keeping
������������������������
needs and gives McCarthy Systems people working has always been one
���������������������� Co. an opportunity “to lead by ex- of my top priorities.”
������������������� ample,” the company president says. McCarthy plans to host a grand
����������������� Phase II of the green energy project, opening and open house this spring
�� slated for next year, will provide for to show area residents and business
�����������
�������� the remainder of McCarthy Sytems’ owners the solar array in operation.
��������� energy needs, resulting in a net-zero “Unlike most people in northeast
utility bill, McCarthy reports. Ohio this winter, we will be soaking
By taking advantage of federal and up the sun,” he chuckles.
state grants and other energy incen- McCarthy Systems was founded in
tives, McCarthy says he expects this 1972 with a handful of employees who
investment in green energy to pay for specialized in construction mainte-
itself within four years. It may also nance and renovations. It began serv-
prompt the company to expand. ing as general contractor for wireless
There are many opportunities for telecommunications projects in the
growth in green energy, McCarthy mid-1990s. The company continues
says, and this year his company will to provide construction and telecom-
begin offering “sun studies” to cus- munications services in Ohio and
tomers to determine if they could neighboring states for companies such
benefit from solar energy systems. as AT&T, Verizon, General Electric
“What people don’t realize is our and Giant Eagle.

Reminger Law Adds Attorney, Renews Lease


The Youngstown office of Rem- nificant portion of his practice to the
inger Co. LPA enjoyed an especially defense of nursing homes, extended-
good year in 2009. care facilities and physicians.
Reminger Co. renewed its lease Other attorneys at the Youngstown
at Federal Plaza, repor ts Thomas office are Kenneth P. Abbarno, who
Prislipsky, an attorney and partner at handles civil defense litigation; Kelly
the firm. “We wanted to be part of the Johns, who focuses on professional
continued revitalization,” he says. negligence of physicians, hospitals
In addition, the firm hired Dave and attorneys as well as general
Krueger, bringing the number of at- liability claims, Workers’ Compen-
torneys to five, up from two when the sation and criminal matters; and
office opened in 2004. Robert S. Yallech, who specializes
“To add a lawyer in this type in product liability and commercial
of economy is unique,” Prislipsky litigation. Yallech also represents
observes. “It is a testament to the professionals in high-exposure mal-
growth of our firm as a whole.” practice actions.
Prislipsky is the co-chairman of The Youngstown office is one of
the firm’s long-term and extended 10 Reminger offices throughout Ohio
care defense unit and devotes a sig- and Kentucky.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 63

Shepherd of the Valley WYSU Celebrates 40 Years


Introduces New Services Public radio station
enhances programs,
Bowen-Houck says.
WYSU offers two high-definition
channels. The station’s HD1 carries
Sluggish housing market before returning to their homes. member benefits. the same programming as 88.5 FM
Our Boardman nursing/rehab cen- while HD2 broadcasts classical mu-
creates opportunity.
By Don Kacmar
Executive Director, Shepherd of the
ter opened a remodeled rehab wing
with private suites and doubled the
existing therapy space.
At Howland, we rethought how
T hroughout 2010, WYSU 88.5
FM, the public radio service of
Youngstown State University,
will celebrate 40 years of broadcasting
to the region, says Melinda Bowen-
sic 24 hours a day, including some
programs that are not heard on the
“main” station.
Community outreach and part-
Valley Lutheran Retirement Services our independent homes could be used nerships remain a focus, such as the
in this challenging real estate market Houck, development officer. collaborative effort between Second

T he economic challenges that


face our industry – disappearing
retirement plans, employee
prospect out-migration, capital
availability – were evident throughout
and Neighborhood Services was born.
Focusing on those who wanted as-
sistance but were not ready to move,
the program allows them to receive
WYSU hosted NPR reporter Don
Gonyea last month as part of the
anniversary festivities; previously,
long-time station contributors Charles
Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning
Valley, the Community Foundation
of the Mahoning Valley and WYSU
through which more than $36,000
various levels of help in the privacy Darling, Martin Berger and Rick Popo- worth of food was distributed to those
the year. While one would not think of our two-bedroom homes. vich were honored. in need.
the lackluster housing market would Finally, partnering with two other “Upcoming planned activities in- “Throughout WYSU’s fall pledge
be a cause of concern, it affected many Lutheran Agencies, we opened The clude a commentary contest, which drive, every pledge made to WYSU
prospective residents, hindering their Manor at Howland Glen, a 49-unit in- will give listeners a chance to have resulted in the food bank distributing
ability to sell their homes and move come-assisted senior apartment build- their say,” Bowen-Houck says. $30 worth of food, thanks to a grant
into our communities. ing on North River Road adjacent to WYSU has made substantial from the Community Foundation,”
We looked inward, taking advan- Shepherd of the Valley – Howland. strides in audience service, enhanc- Bowen-Houck notes.
tage of efficiencies where possible and Other highlights included sponsor- ing programs and member benefits, WYSU’s successful “tree planting
looking for opportunities. Creative ing the Fifth Annual Valley Legacy and has experienced audience growth premium” partnership with Mill Creek
planning enabled us to develop a Awards, which recognized outstand- as a result. MetroParks allowed WYSU members
new facility-to-home rehabilitation ing seniors and senior advocates, and “Keeping pace with technological to choose having a tree planted in the
program, Almost Home, in our Po- presenting The Lutheran Women’s advancements, maintaining steady MetroParks as their “thank you” gift
land independent community. Almost League with the second Helen Stam- support and improving and expanding for a pledge of $120 or more, and the
Home supports people in need of baugh Award for its extraordinary services as needed will continue to be hope is to expand this partnership this
short-term respite and rehabilitation support of Shepherd of the Valley. challenges for the station in 2010,” year, she says.
64 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic Reaches Milestone


Capital improvements, youth legislation, which would hold adults accountable To help raise awareness of addiction, Neil Ken-
in underage drinking cases, Carter says. nedy held events and educational training sessions,
prevention programs on the 2009 marked the 20th year of the clinic’s Dick including a brunch for those in recovery, volunteer-
agenda for 2010. Riley Fellowship Hall, which provides a meeting
place for those recovering from addiction. Some 24
driven spaghetti and fish fry dinners, and its annual
golf outing to benefit the Riley Fellowship Hall.

T he Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic, Youngstown,


has provided addiction treatment to more
than 60,000 people since opening in 1946
– a milestone reached in 2009.
In 2010, the clinic plans to make capital improve-
meetings are held weekly at the hall, including Alco-
holics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine
Anonymous, Nicotine Anonymous and the Ebony
Lifeline Support Group, Carter says.
The outing featured keynote speaker William Cope
Moyers, executive director of the Minnesota-based
Hazelden Foundation’s Center for Public Advocacy
and son of journalist Bill Moyers.

ments to its main campus here, enhance treatment


services to transitional age patients involved with
Mahoning County’s drug court, and will expand
Team Focus at Schroedel, Scullin & Bestic
prevention services for elementary school children, Heading into the new decade, the goal at our team has earned with area law firms,” Bestic
says its executive director, Jerry Carter. Schroedel, Scullin & Bestic LLC, Canfield, is points out.
With the help of the Trumbull County Family to “continue our focus on the education and “Similarly, the litigation support team has es-
Court and the Trumbull County Children Services development of our team members so that tablished a good reputation with law enforcement
Board, last year the clinic formed the Trumbull we can proactively look at the opportunities agencies, and these agencies called on SSB to as-
County Family Dependency Treatment Court to as- available for our clients to increase their efficien- sist on additional fraud cases during 2009.”
sist families in finding permanent placement while cies and profits,” says Gregory C. Bestic, certi- Among the services SSB assisted clients with
providing substance abuse treatment, he says. fied public accountant and managing principal in last year’s uncertain economic climate were
For the past 10 years, Neil Kennedy has been af- of the firm. reassessing break-even points and helping clients
filiated with the Pittsburgh-based Gateway Rehabili- “We look forward to the anticipated growth review budgets and long-term plans, evaluating
tation Center system, which helped the organization SSB will experience in return,” he adds. various expenditures and improving accounts
add clinics in Austintown, Howland and Dublin, As a result of the economic downturn, SSB is receivable collections to address cash-flow needs,
while more than doubling its operating budget, seeing growth in the areas of business valuations Bestic says. The firm works as a key member of
Carter notes. and litigation support, he reports. clients’ advisory teams, which typically includes
As a member of the Coalition to Amend Ohio’s “Growth in our business valuation services is bankers, attorneys, insurance agents and bro-
Social Host law, Neil Kennedy lobbied last year in directly related to the accomplished reputation kers.
support of amendments to statewide social host

��������������������������������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������
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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 65

Salem Hospital Finishes ����


Surgery Center Project ����� ����������������
� � �� ������������������������
By Michele Hoffmeister
surgical equipment and supplies.
Director of Public Relations The pathology laboratory, near ��������������������
S
alem Community Hospital the operating suites, allows hospital
better prepared itself to meet pathologists to quickly examine speci- � � ���������
the health care needs of the mens taken during surgery.
community in 2009 by providing Salem Community Hospital in- ������������������������������������
quality surgical care, state-of-the-art troduced digital mammography last
diagnostics, advanced technology and year and remains one of only a few �����������������������������������������
compassionate care to its patients. hospitals or surgery centers in the
Completion area to offer this �����������������������������������
of The Surgery Carefully designed central sup- advanced service.
Center at Salem ply room on the lower level Digital mammog-
���������������������������
Community Hos- ensures the sterility of surgical raphy enhances �������������������������
pital last summer image quality, re-
provides residents equipment and supplies. duces exposure �����������������������
with access to to radiation and
quality surgical services. Renovating improves cancer detection. ����������������
existing hospital space and building an To accommodate patients weighing ������������������
addition on the east end of the hospital as much as 550 pounds and allow pa-
created the 19,000-square-foot unit. tients who suffer from claustrophobia ��������������������
The Surgery Center offers out- or anxiety to undergo MRI screenings,
patient and complex procedures in a mobile open-bore MRI unit is avail- ������������������
general surgery, gynecology, gastro- able at the main campus.
enterology, laparoscopy, orthopedics, Technological improvements in ��������������������
ophthalmology, urology and vascular the emergency department moved the �������������������
procedures. hospital one step closer to a system
Seven suites, with the latest in- of totally electronic medical records. ��������������
novations and safety features, are The Horizon Emergency Care Sys-
housed on the first level of the surgery tem allows caregivers to document �������������������
addition. One suite was designed for each patient’s visit to the department
orthopedic procedures, another for through the use of mobile comput-
���������������������
urological work. Additional features ers and a secure, electronic tracking ������������������
include a 10-bed post-anesthesia care board. The system improves safety and
unit and a 16-bed outpatient post-op- accuracy by allowing viewing in real ����������������������
erative and recovery area. A carefully time and updating of each patient’s
designed central supply room on the progress, diagnosis, treatment and ���������������
lower level ensures the sterility of physicians’ orders.

Score Expands Outreach �������

I n the fiscal year ending Sept. 30,


the Youngstown chapter of Score,
the Service Corps of Retired
Executives, provided services to
1,355 clients, a 12% increase from
Small businesses average 2.3 employ-
ees, so achievement of this goal would
create 2.3 million new jobs.
“In Youngstown, we offer face-
to-face counseling five days a week
���������������������������������������
������������������������������������
2008, reports Robert McClain, chapter at our offices in the Williamson
chairman. School of Business Administration
“Our assigned territory is Trum- at Youngstown State University,”
bull, Mahoning and Columbiana McClain says. “We also conduct
counties in Ohio, and Mercer County workshops in collaboration with lo-
in Pennsylvania,” he continues. “We cal libraries. We are partners with
currently have 36 active counselors most of the nonprofit and government
who were successful business owners, economic development organizations
executives and educators. Their com- in the Mahoning Valley.”
bined expertise represents roughly Score has some 10,500 volunteers
1,600 years of business experience.” nationwide and is a resource partner
In August, Score, which has 370 with the U.S. Small Business Admin-
chapters, announced a new business istration.
plan intended to transform the nation- Last year, Score volunteers donated
wide organization, McClain notes. 1.3 million hours to helping entrepre-
The goal is to create one million neurs succeed. Every year, Score offers
successful small businesses in the nearly 7,000 local business training
next five years, one business at a time. workshops.
66 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 67

Hill, Barth & King Marks 60 Years with Growth


Trade journal ranks accounting continued focus on our people and training,” Fire planning awards.
says. “We offer extensive training to all employees In 2009, HBK introduced a new service, “Business
firm as 68th largest in U.S. from interns to principals.” Advisory Services.” John Lombardi, a principal in
An affiliate, HBK Sorce Financial LLC also was the Erie office, developed it to help clients better run

H ill, Barth & King LLC celebrated its 60th


anniversary last year, growing from a two-
partner office in downtown Youngstown in
1949 to a public accounting firm with 11 offices in
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida.
recognized for its accomplishments. For the third
consecutive year, CPA Wealth Provider Magazine
recognized HBK Sorce, along with HBK, as one of
the nation’s top CPA financial planning firms.
CPA Wealth Provider also saluted HBK Sorce by
their businesses in a challenging economy.
HBK has replaced most of its paper newsletters
and other communications with electronic news-
letters. These publications reach their intended
recipients quicker and are less destructive of the
Today, with 280 certified public accountants and including it in the magazine’s sixth annual financial environment, Fire notes.
support staff, HBK is ranked by Accounting Today as
the 68th largest firm in the United States. Last year
saw the firm continue to grow with the acquisition

SKILLED PROFESSIONALS.
of two small firms in Florida.
In the Mahoning Valley, the HBK office in Board-
man, which also serves as its headquarters, has led

PRODUCTIVE RESULTS.
the firm in revenue growth the last three years, says
HBK spokeswoman Amanda Fire. The building
also houses several departments including quality
control, tax, report, information technology, human
resources and marketing.

I
In the Boardman office, Craig Steinhoff was ad- f you care about quality – commit The Builders: Teamwork. Safety. Manpower.
mitted last year as a principal in the quality control to using the best contractors in
department, Frank Balog Jr. joined as a supervisor this region’s construction industry: Choose Smart. Choose the Builders.
and Bill Baxter was hired to add depth to the IT Members of The Builders Association of

THE UILDERS
department.
Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.
The Youngstown office grew last year when the
health-care business solutions department relocated We are skilled professionals who offer
from Boardman and hired Laurie Garman. The productive results.
A S S O C I A T I O N
S K I L L E D P R O F E S S I O N A L S . P R O D U C T I V E R E S U LT S .
department supplies health-care providers with “a
vast amount of specialized services from revenue We are veteran craftsmen who complete To obtain a list of association
cycle review to accounts receivable aging analysis jobs on time, on budget and in a members please call 330-539-6050
in addition to core accounting and tax services,” customer-friendly manner. or visit our website at:
Fire says. www.TheBuildersOnline.com
HBK was named as one of the Top Employers We support the local construction
in Ohio by The Ohio Society for Human Resource industry with training and
Management State Council and Inside Public Ac- resources so that our project
As
counting recognized the firm as an IPA All-Star Firm. owners get skilled, expert our n k about
in
“These recognitions were achieved because of our workmanship. Every day. Cu e-poin
Bill o stomer t
f Rig
hts!
New Life for MetroPlex
The new owners of the MetroPlex in Liberty
Township say 2010 will be a banner year for the
hotel as it secures a new franchise and embarks
on millions of dollars in renovations.
AGHA LLC purchased the MetroPlex Hotel and
Conference Center in November, inheriting an
operation with just 10% occupancy.
“We’ve signed a contract with Clarion brand
franchise to be a Clarion hotel and conference
center, and we expect to increase our hotel oc-
cupancy to 30% to 40% by the end of 2010,”
says Indira Sammy, a principal in the new owner-
ship group.
The MetroPlex’s banquet hall, one of the
largest in the area, is undergoing extensive reno-
vations and there are plans for a grand reopening
in spring. The newly renovated hall is expected
to boost banquet sales by 50%.
The hotel is negotiating with tour groups from
Canada, Europe and Asia to include a stop on
their way back from Detroit to New York.
“Our goal is to increase international tourist
business to 50% of our total business,” Sammy
says.
68 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

NewBold Technologies Akron Children’s Beats


Seeks Greater Awareness First-Year Expectations
Company operates IT
‘factory’ in Liverpool
“In the near future, we’ll be able to
replicate our ‘rural sourcing’ model
in other economically disadvantaged
A kron Children’s Hospital
Mahoning Valley completed
its first year at its Beeghly
Campus in Boardman by exceeding its
cal helicopter, which serves hospitals
around Ohio that need emergency
transport of a child to the hospital’s
main campus in Akron, Considine

G
rowth plans at NewBold communities,” Newbold says. “Our inpatient expectations and increasing says. Other services added to the
Technologies, East Liverpool, region is a perfect fit for rural sourcing staff to meet demand. Beeghly Campus include preventive
include an expansion of because many of our small towns are The pediatric hospital served cardiology and endocrinology.
marketing and outreach efforts on located within a 50- to 100-mile ra- nearly 20,000 inpatients in 2009, Akron Children’s opened the Mc-
regional and national levels, reports dius of major metropolitan areas, thus more than the 15,000 that administra- Family Respite Center in March, with
Craig Newbold, founder. providing the best of both worlds.” tors estimated, says its CEO, William the help of Ronald McDonald Chari-
“The goal is to educate U.S. compa- Communities such as East Liv- Considine.The emergency department ties. In December, the hospital opened
nies who are considering outsourcing erpool have infrastructure that sup- averaged about 60 visits a day, he adds, a special care nursery to handle over-
information technology services to ported populations of up to 30,000 augmenting the strong demand that flow of less critical newborns.
countries like India or China that we but have fallen to less than 10,000 enabled the hospital to increase staff. The hospital’s development depart-
can do a better job, at competitive today, Newbold notes. “This surplus “Expectations for our first year ment launched Kids Crew, a commit-
prices, right here in the heart of the capacity enables an IT factory of sev- have been surpassed both from the tee of community volunteers, says its
Rust Belt,” Newbold says. eral hundred people to exist in remod- perspective of the community as well director of development, JoAnn Stock.
The company has served the IT eled buildings costing much less than as from the standpoint of patient The department also held its first
needs of organizations of all sizes in metropolitan areas.” volume,” Considine says. “When we Miracles and Promises radiothon.
since 2004. Still, Newbold says, its Other benefits of rural sourcing opened the Beeghly Campus in 2008, “The radiothon event was a won-
mission is not well known, hence include costs comparable with off- we had just over 300 employees in the derful success and raised over $90,000
the greater emphasis on marketing. shore vendors, simplifying project Valley. We now have 420 employees at to benefit needy children, specifically
By using an IT “factory” in a rural management and communication, our five locations in the Valley, includ- in our Mahoning Valley service area,”
community with a low cost of doing reducing overhead and travel ex- ing 377 at the Beeghly Campus.” Stock says. “We greatly appreciate
business, the savings is passed along penses and helping to revitalize local The hospital added Air Bear service the support of Clear Channel for this
to customers, he explains. communities. last year, its dedicated pediatric medi- heartwarming weekend event.”
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 69

HMHP Navigates Seas


That Disabled Other J.P. MARSH & CO., CPAs
BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Health-Care Systems
as the “Consumer’s Choice” in health
Adds services in care for five years running. From acute Accounting – Auditing
Warren, Boardman care to outpatient, emergency and
diagnostic services, and from skilled
and Austintown nursing to home health, residential Business Consultation
By Bob Shroder and assisted living care, our HMHP
associates live our values every day as
Chief Executive Officer,
Humility of Mary Health Partners
they heal, help and care for each pa- Construction Specialist
tient and resident we serve. This spirit

F
r o m Wa s h i n g t o n t o t h e has pushed HMHP to the forefront and
Mahoning Valley, how health the hard work of our physicians, staff
care is delivered and paid for is and employees has earned the system For
changing and Humility of Mary Health numerous notable awards: Corporations,
Partners is at the forefront in providing • The Ohio Department of Job and Partnerships, Proprietorships
the care our community needs. Guided Family Services named HMHP the
by the mission of caring set forth by 2009 Outstanding Employer of the
the Sisters of the Year. Serving
Humility of Mary, We are strong financially, thanks • The Premier 444 N. Main Street Eastern Ohio
HMHP continues Healthcare Alli- Hubbard, Ohio 44425 &
to grow in strength to the leadership of our board, ance recognized
and service. our management team, our staff St. Elizabeth as (330) 534-0001 Western
Pennsylvania
In 2009, the in- and donors. a winner of the
creased demand Premier Award for www.jpmarsh.com since 1978.
for services at St. Elizabeth Boardman Quality, one of just 23 in the nation
prompted the addition of 20 beds at so recognized.
our hospital in Boardman. • Thomson Reuters recognized
In addition, the demand for emer- St. Elizabeth as one of the Top 100
gency care prompted the expansion of hospitals in the country for cardio-
both the Boardman campus emergen- vascular care.
cy department and the St. Elizabeth • St. Elizabeth and St. Elizabeth
Emergency and Diagnostic Center in Boardman were among 28 hospitals
Austintown. nationwide to receive the Midas Plati-
In Trumbull County, St. Joseph num Quality Award for excellence in
Health Center opened a new long- clinical health care.
term acute-care hospital on its main • HM Home Health Services, winner
campus in partnership with Select of the HomeCare Elite award, was once
Medical. The new Select Specialty hos- again identified as one of the Top 500
pital, on the fifth floor of St. Joseph, home care agencies in the nation.
offers another level of service to pa- The awards our hospitals, clinics
tients and physicians. St. Joseph also and services garner are testament to ��������
expanded operations with the opening the exceptional health care. �����������
of new office space for physicians and As we look to the future, HMHP
an expanded urgent care center with will continue to focus our energies �������������������
digital imaging in Howland. on delivering today’s state-of-the-art �������������������
Last year ground was broken in health care and building the future of
����������
Austintown for Partners for Urology health care for the Mahoning Valley.
Health – a joint venture by HMHP, We are strong financially, thanks to the ������������������
NEO Urology Associates and Ad- leadership of our board, our manage- ��������������
vanced Urology. When it opens later ment team, our staff and donors.
this year, this center will provide urol- Our success will continue to be ����������������
ogy services previously unavailable in grounded in the quest for excellence �����
our area. and our ability to navigate through the �����������������
St. Elizabeth Boardman was the first challenges that have crippled other
hospital in the Mahoning Valley to of- providers of health care. �������������������
fer custom fit total knee replacement With the guidance of our local �����������������
and St. Elizabeth’s Robotic Surgery board of directors, we will continue
Center, the area’s only robotic surgery to make the best decisions for HMHP ����������������
center, continued to expand. and for the nine-county market we �������������
The Mahoning Valley knows serve, decisions that will enable us ������������������������������
HMHP as a member of a “Top-10 to fulfill our mission as we have the ������������
Health System” in the country and last 99 years.
70 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Stambaugh Auditorium
������� ���������� Applauds ‘Great’ 2009
������������������������������� State grant helps fund and other private affairs. We plan on
capital improvements. advertising more heavily this year to
make residents of the Mahoning and
Shenango valleys more aware of our
By Phil Cannatti
venue for such events.
Stambaugh Auditorium Exec. Director It is also the site of the Good-

B
oth financially and artistically, will Industries auction, Sundays at
������� ���������������� ���������� ����������� The Stambaugh Auditorium Stambaugh, Theaterworks school
�������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������ enjoyed a great 2009. performances, concerts offered by
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�������������������� ������������
A grant of $925,000 from the Ohio Youngstown State University’s Dana
Cultural Facilities Commission al- School of Music Concert Band as well
lowed us to add 210 spaces to a new as the YSU band. The U.S. Army Field
parking lot, make repairs to our cop- Band & Chorus Concert was at Stam-
per roof and gutters, add to our $1.3 baugh last year. And the fraternity and
million Skinner Organ restoration sorority system at YSU continues to
project and initiate a state-of-the-art hold its Greek Sing competition here
��������� ����������� ������ ����������������������
rigging system to the main stage. each spring.
����������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������� This year we are increasing our Still to come this year are per-
�������� �� ��������� ������� �� ������ ���������� ����� ������ ���������������������������������������������������������������
��������������������� ������������������������������������������������������� relationship with Senior Employment, formances by the Stambaugh Youth
�������������������� ������������ �������������������� ������������
which allows us to add part-time Concert Band and Theatre Freedom
workers. Train school.
Artistically, the Stambaugh family Dr. Jane Goodall, internationally
– Monday Musical Club, Opera West- known anthropologist, will deliver
ern Reserve, the Stambaugh Youth this year’s YSU Skeggs Lecture in April
Concert Band, the Stambaugh Chorus and the university’s Dana School will
and Ballet Western Reserve – added to perform Orff’s “Carmina Burana.”
����������� ������������� ���������������� ��������������������������� our performance mix. May will prove a busy month as the
������������������������������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������������������
���� ��������� ���� ����� ������������ ���� ��� ������� ����� ���� �������� �������� ������ ������� ���� ������ ��� ������ ���� Stambaugh Auditorium remains auditorium is the site of many high
�����������������������
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busy throughout the year as the host school proms.
of dance competitions, wedding New signs along Interstate 680
ceremonies and receptions, religious and the Madison Avenue Expressway
services, birthday parties and balls direct visitors to the auditorium.

UPMC Horizon Finishes


Revitalization Project
���������������� ��������������������������� ��������� ����������
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2010 brings the completion of the the hospital unveiled two new surgery
surgical services revitalization proj- suites to accommodate advanced lapa-
ect that began three years ago at the roscopic surgery techniques.
UPMC Horizon’s campus in Green- “We have been able to do cases
ville, Pa., says Don Owrey, president. at UPMC Horizon that we had been
����������������������������������������������������������� ������ ����������
������������������������������������������������������ ���� ������������ ������� ��� ��� ����������� ��������� ��� ���� The $6 million undertaking has doing at tertiary care hospitals in
����������� ������ �������� �������� �� ������ ����� ������ ����������������������������������������������������������
���������� ��������������������������������� brought the latest advancements Pittsburgh because UPMC Horizon’s
�������������������� ������������ �������������������� ������������ in operating room technology, and equipment and facilities are of com-
recruitment of nine surgeons with parable quality,” notes Lance Weaver,
new surgical specialties ranging from a general surgeon with Northern Area
minimally invasive general surgery to Surgical Associates-UPMC.
breast, bariatric, orthopedic, thoracic The next major phase of the proj-
and vascular surgery. ect was completed in July when the
The final phase of the project, a new ambulatory services department
��������� ��������� ����������� ����������������
patient holding area, is scheduled to opened. The new post-anesthesia
���� ������������ ������� ��� ��� ���������������� ���������� ���� ������ ������� ��� ��� ����������� ��������� ��� ����� ������� be completed in the next few weeks. care unit – nearly twice the size of
�� ����������� �� ������� ���� �������� �������� ����� ���������� ��� ���������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������ �������������������� ������������ In the midst of the department’s the previous recovery area – opened
�������������������� ������������ transformation, surgical cases at in November.
UPMC Horizon rose by 17% during The revitalization project also

��������
the last fiscal year, Owrey says. included new ambulatory services
���

The revitalization project began in family, staff and physician lounges as


������������������������ phases in May 2007, allowing the de- well as improvements to the center for
partment to remain open without in- wound-treatment, registration areas
terruption. In November of that year, and a blood bank.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 71

Pro Athletes Score with Alcyon Wealth Partners


Investment firm increases throughout 2010,” he says.
Future hiring will include a team member to ex-
tive, plays an integral role in coordinating all admin-
istrative functions, Sherwood notes, and handles all
assets under management. pand the firm’s 401(k) business, Sherwood adds, as client needs when he and Presley, both of whom are
well as an insurance specialist. Alcyon will also focus licensed in 19 states, are out of town.
Economic recovery in the second half of 2009, a on working with high-net-worth households and Following the strength of the stock market the
high number of referrals and vastly expanding work business owners to ensure they receive a high level last three quarters of 2009, Sherwood and Presley
with professional athletes resulted in a 39% increase of service for their financial and insurance needs. say they are “cautiously optimistic” about continued
in assets under management at Alcyon Wealth Brandon Polish, a licensed investment representa- market strength this year.
Partners, Austintown, according to co-owners and
founders Marc Presley and Don Sherwood.
“Through professional football, Alcyon now has Repairs, Big Inventory Boost Great Garage Door
11 NFL-related clients,” Sherwood reports. “We also A quarter century and 30,000 customers later, operators, springs and other parts in its 11,000-
have several clients within Major League Baseball, Great Garage Doors, Youngstown, employs 15 square-foot warehouse on Andrews Avenue.
which is a welcome and challenging addition within and has a fleet of seven trucks. It is not unusual “We never have qualms about inventory
the client base of Alcyon Wealth Partners.” for the company to receive 500 sales or service- because it’s like money in the bank. People want
Alcyon Wealth Partners is an independently related phone calls each month, say the founders everything quickly. Our inventory is a big help
owned investment advisory firm affiliated with and owners, Sam and Sandy Ciminero. for us,” Ciminero observes.
Raymond James Financial Services. Great Garage Doors sells electric door openers Great Garage has one of the largest inventories
When the most difficult investment environ- and is a factory-direct distributor for Haas garage between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. “You lose the
ment in nearly 80 years took hold in September doors, selling to residential and commercial cus- edge if you make customers wait two or three
2008, “Alcyon took a very hands-on approach” to tomers. “A major part of our business is garage- days,” he says.
make sure it remained in constant contact with its door repairs, says Sam Ciminero. “Of course, you can have the best garage doors
clients, Presley says. Remaining in constant contact When they opened Great Garage Doors in in the world, but if you don’t have good installers,
with clients routinely required the partners to put in 1984, the couple started with little more than the door is worthless. We have been blessed with
12-hour workdays, he says, and as a result, adviser- ambition and experience. “We started pretty an excellent staff and very little turnover.”
client relationships grew stronger, leading to more much from scratch,” Sam Ciminero recalls. “We And the Cimineros pride themselves on fol-
referrals from existing clients. had just one truck.” lowing up with their customers. “Being in busi-
Another source of growth, Presley says, was The company has worked to build a reputation ness is a two-way street,” Ciminero observes. “We
working with business owners to assist with manag- of fast, same-day service. Great Garage Doors try to treat people right; we try to keep everybody
ing personal assets or company sponsored 401(k) does this by keeping a sizeable inventory of doors, smiling.”
plans. “This area will continue to be a large focus
72 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 73

�����������������������
Remodeling Projects Keep Sparkling Year at Komara
Business Steady at Pitzulo
CANFIELD – Sam Pitzulo Homes found
CANFIELD – Komara Jewelers started
2009 by opening a second store at
5200 E. Market St. in Howland, thereby
����
2009 “a very challenging year,” and with
demand to build new houses feeble, he
stepped up his efforts in home remod-
adding four employees and increasing
its staff to 20, says Colleen Conroy,
�����
eling and saw “business substantially
increase,” Sam Pitzulo Jr. reports.
marketing director.
Sales also increased 95% over 2008,
led by Komara’s Pandora jewelry line,
�����
People’s wariness about borrowing to
along with a 22% increase in bridal
build new houses – or their inability to
sales, 15% increase in custom work �������������������������������������
secure mortgages – remains unchanged
and a 30% increase in jewelry and watch
from last year, the homebuilder says.
repairs, Conroy says. � ������������ � � � � ������������
A tight mor tgage market only now
beginning to loosen, compounded by
Komara also enjoyed a 5% increase � � �������� � � � �� � �� �������������
in sales of the Hearts on Fire jewelry
“appraisers underappraising property,”
and the availability of distressed prop-
line, of which it is the exclusive retailer � ����������������� ����������������
in the tri-county area, Conroy says.
erties, confronts his business and that �������������������������������������������
Record high gold prices resulted in
of all homebuilders across the United
an increase in the purchase of estate
States, he says.
jewelry, gold, platinum and silver, she
���� � �������������������������
“Since we added commercial work
adds.
to our por tfolio,” adds Pitzulo, vice ����������������������������������
president of the company, “we were able American Business Center
to maintain our business over the last
couple of years, even in the midst of the
Expands Its Territory ��������������
current economic downturn.” BOARDMAN – American Business Center
Pitzulo takes pride in receiving both Inc., Boardman, plans to hire more em-
the 2009 Home Builder and Home ployees and expand its service territory
Remodeler of the year awards from the and business in 2010, says the owner Our air curtains
Home Builders Association, and the of the company, Robert Wagner.
Save energy when
Red Cross Hero of the Mahoning Valley “We are now an authorized Canon
doors are opened
award for his role in building a new home dealer for the Akron/Canton territory,
which opens up a whole new market for by preventing
for Joe Kaluza, who was left severely
us in 2010,” Wagner says. temperature drops
handicapped after he was shot during
a robbery. The addition of the Canon brand will and rises that

I-Conn Video Opens Office


allow American Business Center to hire
new employees across the board to sup-
increase energy bills.
and creating
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio -- I-Conn Video
Productions expanded from its home
here and opened an office in Champion
port this expansion, he says.
“We’ll be hiring in all fields, including
information technology, service, sales
Our energy recovery
systems
Bring up to 100%
Healthy,
Township. and office staff,” Wagner says. fresh, outside air
Corporate video, commercials and The new line of color products from
into a building while
documentaries make up the bulk of Canon offers a wide range of functional-
I-Conn’s work. While some customers
had to cancel projects because of the
ity with competitive pricing.
minimizing energy
consumption and ENVIRONMENTS
recession, I-Conn weathered the storm Sales Up at Infinity Design reducing cooling
with documentar y projects funded by WARREN -- Infinity Design Advertising and heating loads.
grants as well as projects for out-of-state LLC, which will celebrate its fifth anniver-
production companies, says its presi- sary this year, saw its revenues increase
dent and co-owner, Nancy Lorey. 25% in 2009, reports Lena Willoughby,
Such companies prefer to use I- owner and president.
Conn’s team rather than pay for their “By all accounts, 25% growth is
own crew to travel to Ohio, including a amazing, especially in an economy such
Boston-based producer that tapes doc- as this,” she says.
tors in Ohio and West Virginia explaining Infinity employs four in addition to
medications for patients, Lorey says. Willoughby. The firm engages in printing,
The company’s commercials and graphic design, Web site design, vinyl
documentaries have earned national graphics and screen-printing. Air Curtains / Air Doors Energy Recovery Systems
Telly Awards, she notes. Infinity Design has joined Business 800-245-4455 800-479-0988
In 2010, I-Conn looks to expand its Networking International’s BIZ Society, a www.berner.com
presence in the Mahoning Valley and community of online and social network-
hopes to add employees, Lorey says. ing opportunities.
74 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

First Place Bank Offers


Programs to Stimulate
Economic Growth
By Steven R. Lewis
get a home with the latest features and
First Place Chief Executive Officer
amenities at a fixed, affordable rate.

D
espite the toll the recession took, Another effort intended to help
First Place Bank accomplished buyers is Community First, a loan pro-
many of its strategic goals gram for homebuyers who might also
and laid the groundwork of an need additional funds to improve the
Award-winning services* for today’s environment. even stronger and more responsive properties they are purchasing. First
organization. Place has designated $10 million for
��������������� ��������� In early 2009, First Place was targeted low- and moderate-income
chosen to take n e i g h b o rh o o d s
����������������� �������������������������� part in the U.S. Our mission is to bring national in Trumbull, Ma-
���������������������� � �������������� D e p a rt m e n t o f honing, Portage,
� ������������������� Treasury Capital initiatives to the local level, Cuyahoga, Lo-
����������������� Purchase Program where they can make a direct rain, Delaware and
����������������������������������������������� � ���������������� for healthy institu- impact on our local economy. Franklin Counties

����������������������������������������������� ������������������� tions. First Place in Ohio; and Gen-
� � �
met Treasury’s strict standards for esee, Oakland, Macomb and Wayne
participation; since receiving the $73 Counties in Michigan. The program
� ������������� million in funds, the bank has been offers a reduced 30-year fixed loan rate
� ��������������������� investing in the communities it serves as well as discounted closing costs.
to help strengthen local economies. In addition, the program offers ad-
� ��������������������� Along with the confidence placed ditional funding to be used for home
in the company by the Capital Pur- improvements.
chase Program, the Office of Thrift Other efforts to bolster the econ-
Supervision deemed First Place Bank omy of the markets we serve makes
“well-capitalized,” underscoring its greater use of Small Business Admin-

������������������
strength and stability. istration guarantees. To help small
A significant strength at First Place businesses escape from the doldrums,
has been mortgage lending. Because the SBA raised the percentage of lent
the mortgage industry has been one funds it guarantees.
���������������������������������������������������������������������������� of the hardest hit by the economic In the Mahoning Valley, First Place
downturn, we’re especially proud of Bank has taken several steps to ensure
� � � � the mortgage group for setting record that local businesses benefit. First, the
volumes in 2009. Their performance bank dedicated $10 million to help lo-
� � � � � ������������� continues to place First Place Bank cal qualified small businesses through
as the No. 1 lender in many of the the SBA Recovery Act. The funds are
� � � � � �������� markets we serve. intended to help established small
The bank was among those chosen businesses maintain their solid perfor-
to pilot Fannie Mae’s HomePath pro- mances and increase their capital so
gram. HomePath was designed to help that they can take advantage of expan-
buyers purchase foreclosed homes sion opportunities and other items on
� � � ������������������ Fannie Mae owns, helping to stabilize
neighborhoods.
their long-term business plans.
As a community bank, our mission
� � � � � ������������������������������������
�������������������������������� Similar to HomePath is Buyers is to bring national initiatives to the
First, the program First Place Bank local level, where they can make a
� � � � � ������������������������������������������������� introduced in 2009 to reduce our own direct impact on our local economy.
�� ����������������� inventory of foreclosed properties. First Place supports the other
� ����������������� Buyers First provides a discount on industries and institutions that have
� ��������� current interest rates; eligible proper- formed the bedrock of local econo-
ties are listed at FirstPlaceBank.com. mies. To demonstrate its support
To help local builders who found of the automotive industry, we an-
themselves with a higher inventory nounced the Race to First Place Bank
of unsold spec or model homes, the sweepstakes promotion, the prize be-
bank created Builders First, a program ing a brand-new Chevy Cruze.
that offers discounted loan rates and In these tough times, we wanted to
closing costs on participating builders’ do something special to show our sup-
unsold homes. The program benefits port to our local communities. We ap-
both sellers and buyers: builders can preciate how crucial the auto industry,
��������������������������� ������������������������� gain an edge in the market and sell and we’re proud that the Cruze will be
their homes more quickly; buyers can built here in northeast Ohio.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 75

Recession Gives Cohen Cerni Motors Anticipates


Growth Opportunities More Leasing of Trucks
By Frank Dixon
Partner, Cohen & Co.

T
he worst recession since World
War II caused Cohen & Co., a
public accounting firm based
in communications to its clients.
Cohen’s tax group helped to re-
lieve some of the pressure our clients
were under from local governments
strapped for revenues because of
C erni Motor Sales Inc.,
Austintown, expects its
truck leasing and rental
business to increase this year as new
products introduced by the dealers’
also changed in 2010. As such, In-
ternational recently introduced more
advanced engine and vehicle systems,
featuring exhaust gas recirculation,
or EGR, technology, which leaves the
in Cleveland with a Youngstown lower tax collections. Many states International brand address federal burden of compliance with the truck
office, to focus on improving internal are aggressively collecting taxes from regulations effective Jan. 1. manufacturer, not the customer.
procedures and efficiencies and thereby companies based in Ohio that have a “Renting and leasing provide vi- Another product intended to re-
help its clients achieve their financial physical presence or operations else- able solutions for business owners duce costs for operators is a bunk
goals in a challenging market. where. We worked with clients to help concerned with capital expenditures,” heater from Webasto that provides im-
As a result, Cohen & Co. has them understand where nexus exists says Charlie Cerni, sales manager. mediate heat to the vehicle’s interior
enhanced several of its services and and make more informed decisions Moreover, new commerical trucks and burns as little as one gallon of fuel
is working with its clients to take ad- on where to file and take advantage of introduced by International come per 20 hours, Cerni says. The system
vantage of opportunities opening up amnesty programs if offered. equipped with features that comply ensures a quiet operation with the en-
as the economy enters recovery. Our clients showed greater interest with new federal regulations and re- gine in the off position and complies
Our firm’s turnaround management in doing business abroad and export- duce operating costs for owners. with anti-idling laws .
services provide analysis for clients in ing overseas. Our International Tax The International ProStar, for ex- “We ship these units to customers
moments of crisis and identify the Group worked with clients engaged in ample, has made great strides in fuel all over the country throughout the
feasible options and expertise to work exporting, or considering exporting, economy, durability, uptime, service- year,” Cerni says.
toward a solution. With the challenges to establish domestic international ability, comfort and handling, Cerni Cerni Motor Sales Inc., in its
that resulted from the recession, the sales corporations to help them export says. “International designed the Pro- 50th year of business was founded
Turnaround Management Group has products made here. Star to be the most aerodynamic Class in 1961 by two brothers, John and
had exponential growth. Such planning provides a federal 8 truck on the road today, resulting in Charlie Cerni. A second generation
The deleterious effects of the income tax incentive to those en- an average 6% better fuel efficiency of the Cerni family, led by company
recession caused a big increase in gaged in exporting. The benefits vary than its closest competitor,” he says. President John P. Cerni II, now op-
organizational fraud. In response, but those with at least $1 million in Federal emission standards for die- erates the company. The dealership
Cohen zeroes in on fraud awareness exports should benefit. sel-powered commercial trucks have employs 75.

Williamson College
of Business Administration
Preparing Business Leaders
� Curriculum Innovation: ���������������������������������������������������������������
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76 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 77

InfoCision Calls Valley


Vital to Its Success
Maintains work force expand its fulfillment and direct-mail
service offerings and increase hiring,
of 1,200 in region. he reports. In addition, the new print-
ers will let InfoCision expand to new

I
nfoCision Management Corp., markets by increasing its ability to �����������������������
Akron, is projecting double-digit “touch” consumers or donors on more
growth this year following sales of than one level. The firm continues �� ������������������
$173 million in 2009. to invest in the technology to help
The company, founded in 1982, clients conduct one-to-one market- �� ������������������
provides customer care services, ing campaigns including personalized � � �������������������������
commercial sales and marketing for URLs, Web-based chat and mobile text ��������������������������
companies that range from Fortune messaging, he adds.
100 firms to smaller businesses. In- Amenities that InfoCision offers its � � ��������������
foCision also provides inbound and employees to help maintain a stable �� ���������������������
outbound marketing for nonprofit, work force include flexible sched- � ����������
religious and political organizations. ules, health benefits, on-site fitness
InfoCision maintains a work force and wellness clinics and subsidized �� ����������������������������
of more than 1,200 people in the child care.
Mahoning and Shenango valleys, its In 2009, the company opened a �� ������������������������
largest concentration of employees, second InfoKids early learning center �� ���������������������
reports Steve Brubaker, senior vice in Akron, offering on-site child care
president. The company has a work for employees, and it plans to open an �� ���������������������������
force of more than 4,000 employees, InfoKids center at each of its locations,
�� �����������������������
and operates 30 call centers at 12 including the three Youngstown area
locations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and sites, Brubaker says.
� ������� ������������������������
West Virginia. InfoCision received accredita-
The bulk of those employees – 75% tion last year through the American ��������������������������������������������
– work in Ohio, including employees Teleservices Association Self Regula- �������������������������������������������
in its 11 call centers in Austintown, tory Organization for excellence in

Because every employee matters


Boardman and New Castle, Pa. De- regulatory compliance, Brubaker says.
spite the industry trend to locate call The company also received an award
centers offshore, all of InfoCision’s call based on the rigorous International
centers are and will always be in the Customer Service Standard, which
United States, Brubaker says. provides a comprehensive framework
Last year, InfoCision purchased to assist organizations in delivering
three on-demand, variable-data digi- consistently high levels of service,
tal printers, allowing the company to he says. ����������������� offers
a wide-range of affordable
Warren-Trumbull Public Library occupational health
services, designed to
Serves More with Fewer Dollars improve and maintain the
productivity and well-being

A new strategic plan developed


last year will guide the Warren-
Trumbull County Public
Library through 2012; it is intended
to focus on developing ways to make
As a result, staffing was cut 17%
during the year, Wilkins says.
Ninety-five employees work at
the Warren-Trumbull County library
system.
of your workforce.

��������������������
� �������

the library system more accessible and Library use continues to increase, ����������������������� �
inviting to users. he says. Last year, use of the library � ��������
2009 presented significant chal- increased 3% to more than 650,000, ������������������������
lenges, namely cuts in state funding driven by the library’s free services. � ��������
to libraries across Ohio, says James Circulation was up 5%, while use ��������������������� �
Wilkins, library director. The latest of computers rose 14%. All of the � ����������������
state budget slashed library funding by system’s libraries have wireless con- ����������������������
11% for 2010-2011 on top of previous nections to accommodate personal ��������������������� �
reductions, he notes. computers as well as computers avail- � ��������
Wilkins says he expects library rev- able for public use. ���������������������
enue to decrease by $1.2 million from Customers now have the option ���������������������
what it received in 2008-2009. of asking librarians questions via an
The cutbacks have led to the main instant messaging feature through
library reducing its service hours from the library’s Web site, wtclp.org. Also,
61 hours a week to 52 hours, and the access to several new on-line informa- ����������������������������������������
five branch libraries from 60.5 hours tion sources has been added to the �����������������������������������������
a week to 40 hours a week. library Web site.
78 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Year of Growth, Expansion for Stifel Nicolaus


Year begins with addition of ville Drive; 100 S. Broadway in Salem; in Howland with more than $2.3 billion of client assets.
17 former Butler Wick offices. at 1695 Niles-Cortland Road NE; and in Sharon at Stifel Nicolaus has 26 offices in Ohio, more than
1 E. State St. any other state in the country.
By Michael Paterchak Stifel Nicolaus serves more than 23,000 accounts
Senior Vice President, Stifel, Nicholaus & Co.

100 Years of Service for Mahoning Red Cross


Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. Inc., based in St. Louis,
Mo., began its rapid expansion in the Mahoning
Valley with the acquisition of Butler, Wick & Co.
Inc. Dec. 31, 2008, raising its employees in the The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red each year in first aid and CPR, and more than
Mahoning Valley to 36 from five and branch offices Cross this year is celebrating 100 years of service 1,000 each year in water safety. “Hundreds of
to six from one. to the the Mahoning Valley, reports W. Russell others are trained each year as babysitters and
On March 10, Butler Wick employees and clients Preston, executive director of the Boardman- in a number of other important health and safety
converted to Stifel Nicolaus systems. based organization. programs,” Preston notes.
Joining the established Stifel Nicolaus office “Because over 90% of the staff are volunteers, The Mahoning Chapter, Preston points out,
in Boardman were seventeen Butler Wick offices the Mahoning Chapter is able to use over 80 cents is driven by its more than 200 Red Cross volun-
throughout Ohio, western Pennsylvania and western of every donated dollar we receive to help families teers who handle hundreds of emergency calls
New York. Five of those offices are within 20 miles here in the Valley,” he says. The chapter relies each year, respond to military family emergen-
of Youngstown. solely on local donations; the Red Cross receives cies and teach or provide other services such as
In October, Stifel Nicolaus completed the ac- no support from any government agency – local, blood-pressure screenings and first-aid stations
quisition of 56 branch offices from UBS Financial state or federal, he emphasizes. at the Canfield Fair and elsewhere throughout
Services Inc., with four in Ohio and one in the Events such as the “Heroes of the Mahoning the Valley.
Mahoning Valley. Valley,” the “Red and White Ball” and the “Pas- In addition, families of military personnel
In November, we consolidated the offices in sion for Red” all help to raise funds that make it know that in times of crisis, the Red Cross will
Boardman and moved our administrative offices possible for the local chapter to provide services be their connection to loved ones who may be
from downtown Youngstown to Canfield. when disaster strikes. This year, Preston says the deployed, whether overseas or in other parts of
Stifel Nicolaus ended the year with 47 financial Mahoning Chapter will host a number of other the United States. And, victims of local disasters
advisers in the Mahoning Valley and six branch of- fund-raisers as well. such as house or apartment fires and tornadoes
fices: 8286 South Ave., Boardman; two in Canfield, Since being chartered in 1910, the chapter has are supported by the Red Cross while they try to
one the former Butler Wick office at 3685 Stutz trained and certified an average of 5,000 people recover from losses, Preston says.
Drive, the other the former UBS office at 6575 Se-

YOUNGSTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA


Randall Craig Fleischer, conductor

MASTERWORKS
DRAMATIC AND EXCITING
From Russia with Love
Mussorgsky Night on Bald Mountain
Stravinsky Firebird Suite (1919)
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, C minor

February 6, 2010 • 8 PM
Edward W. Powers Auditorium
Concert underwritten in part by bhsm architects, inc.
Valentina Lisitsa,
pianist

POPS
Symphonic Valentine
Music to touch the heart strings.
From Gershwin’s Embraceable You
to the Sinatra Songbook,
Phantom of the Opera’s Think of Me
and cinema favorites
My Heart Will Go On and
Ann Runolfsson,
star of Lara’s Theme from Dr. Zhivago. Cool jazz sound with
Phantom of the the
Opera Joe Augustine Trio
February 13, 2010 • 8 PM
Edward W. Powers Auditorium
Concert underwritten in part by Stifel Nicolaus and Youngstown Thermal

CALL FOR TICKETS:330-744-0264


Online at youngstownsymphony.com
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 79
80 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Covelli Centre Turns SenSource Forecasts


Corner on Performance 30% Growth in Sales
Popular shows, cost- his new Youngstown Phantoms, a Company counts on its make the types of decisions needed
in a downturn,” Gallow explains.

cutting measures
United States Hockey League team,
to the Covelli Centre.
counting machines. “Providing companies with real facts
on traffic to their stores allows them
mean more dollars.

R
ecord-breaking attendance at
several shows and cost-cutting
measures last year contributed
To ensure financial stability, JAC
Management undertook several cost-
cutting measures, including energy
conservation and employee furloughs
during the off-season, says Bridget
S enSource, a technology company
based in Youngstown, exceeded
its sales goals in 2009, leading to
a 20% increase in staffing and a more
extensive line of products.
to evaluate which properties are most
valuable.”
Among the new clients SenSource
acquired last year are The Ohio State
University, Louisiana State University,
to the Covelli Centre achieving its Wolsonovich, director of marketing. The company specializes in equip- Gander Mountain, Disney, Vitamin
first operational profit in its four-year The Covelli Centre had a dozen ment that counts the number of World, Deb Shops, Advance Auto
history, JAC Management Group LLC sold-out events among the 100 sched- people visiting stores, gaming and Parts, Sportsman’s Warehouse and
reports. uled last year, she notes. Those events entertainment centers, libraries, mu- the Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit
The Struthers company, which with included record-setting attendance seums, schools, hospitals and clinics, Authority. SenSource also continues
SMG of Philadelphia operates the city- for the Harlem Globetrotters and the the number of vehicles entering or to expand its portfolio of international
owned arena, began 2009 looking for championship bout between Kelly passing a designated area, and envi- clients, Gallo reports, with sensors
a naming rights partner and a hockey Pavlik and challenger Marco Rubio ronmental and industrial sensors. operating in more than 40 countries.
team. General Motors chose not to before a crowd of 7,000. Serving such a wide range of indus- As a result, 2009 sales topped $3.1
renew its naming rights agreement One casualty of the year was the tries provides SenSource with a cush- million, a 25% increase over 2008. A
and the SteelHounds hockey team, the Mahoning Valley Thunder, the AF2 ion that shields it from fluctuations in product-support specialist and a mar-
arena’s anchor tenant since its open- arena football team that ceased opera- the economy, observes Lauren Gallo, keting coordinator were also hired,
ing, had dissolved. tions after three seasons. director of marketing and sales. Some Gallo reports.
By midyear, two local business The arena has retained many of its sectors, such as retail, which may This year, sales are expected to
operators stepped in to fill both roles. sponsors and added new ones, Wol- suffer greatly during a recession, may grow 30% as new clients are added and
Covelli Enterprises in Warren signed sonovich says. These include Dental also stand to benefit the most from the existing clients expand their use of
a three-year commitment to serve as Express, Apostolakis Auto Group, Ak- services SenSource provides. SenSource products, she says. She also
the naming rights sponsor, and Bruce ron Children’s Hospital, Holiday Inn- “SenSource products offer tech- expects at least two more employees
Zoldan, owner of BJ Alan Co., brought Boardman and Naffah Hospitality. nology that helps [these companies] to be hired.

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 81

Seven Seventeen Credit Union Enhances Products


Assets grow nearly 6% to at drive-up ATMs behind The Hot Dog Shoppe in
Warren, on Robbins Avenue in Niles and on Belmont
credit union provided special programs to help its
members, where possible, with loan modifications
more than $766 million; Avenue in Liberty. and debt consolidation and refinancing.
Also last year, Seven Seventeen introduced com- In addition, members were offered Seven Seven-
deposits up by $30 million. prehensive identity theft protection and restoration teen’s Balance Financial Fitness program that pro-

S
even Seventeen Credit Union grew in 2009 by services at no cost for members who have its Gen- vides free access to professional financial counselors
adding new products, enhancing others and Gold checking account. The program helps members who advise on establishing a budget, developing a
improving the channels of delivery for all its monitor and secure their personal information and debt management plan – even working with credi-
products and services, says CEO Gary Soukenik. recover their losses should fraud occur. tors on the members’ behalf should the need arise,
Preliminary year-end accounting shows that as- With so many still hurting from the recession, the Soukenik says.
sets grew nearly 6% to more than $766 million. Net
worth, a key measure of capital and strength, stood
at 9.64%, well above the 7% deemed “adequately
���
��
capitalized” under federal law. Deposits grew by
nearly $30 million, Soukenik says.
Seven Seventeen added 28 business partners to
the more than 900 companies and organizations af- ����������
filiated with the financial institution, he adds.
������

Affiliation entails companies offering their em-
ployees the benefits of membership in Seven Seven-
teen, such as direct access to the credit union in their
workplaces and complimentary lunch-and-learn
�����
programs. These special services were enhanced last
year and reintroduced as the CU@Work program.
New members continued joining the financial
�� �������������������������������������
cooperative through community group charters
that allow anyone who resides, works or worships �������������� �����������������������
��������������������
����������������������
in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Portage and ������������������������������������������������
central Stark counties to belong. More than 6,000 �������������������������
new members opened accounts last year with Seven ��������������������
Seventeen, Soukenik says ��������������������� ������������������������
Among the product enhancements was the debit- ���������������������� ��������������������
card rewards program where members earn points ����������������������
on transactions when they sign a receipt rather than ����������������������������������
entering a personal identification number. ����������������������
����������������������������������������
Transactions authorized by the member’s sig- ���� ������������ �������� ������ �����������������������
nature can be redeemed for merchandise or travel ��������������������
rewards, Soukenik says. With the new program, ��� �������� ������� ��� �� �������� ���������������������������
Seven Seventeen allows members to combine their ������������ ������������ ���� ����� ���� ����������������������������
Visa credit- and debit-card points, thus reaching ���������������������
reward thresholds faster.
�������� ���������� �������� ���� �������� ��������������������
Another aspect of how services were enhanced ������� ������� ��������� ���� ������ ����� ����������������������
is online delivery. Several Seven Seventeen accounts ������������� ���� ������������� ������ ������������������������������������������������
can be opened and funded online – members need
not visit an office.
������� ���������� �������������� ���� ����� ������������������������
����������� ������������ ��� ������� ����� �����������������������
“When it comes to transacting business with �����������������������������������
Seven Seventeen, there is relatively little that mem- ��������������������������������������� ������������������
bers can’t do from the convenience and comfort of ����������������������������������������
their homes,” Soukenik says. “Members can log ������������������������
onto their home computers day or night and open ���������������
deposit accounts, apply for loans, pay bills, transfer ���������������������������������������� ���������������������
funds, access electronic account statements, receive ������������������������������ ����������������������������������
account alerts and more.” �����������������������
As 2009 drew to a close, Seven Seventeen installed ����������������������
the first of four new automated teller machines ���������������������
with advanced deposit technology, called “Smart ��������������������
Deposit,” that makes depositing funds faster and �������������������
easier. The member inserts checks and cash directly ������������������ �����������������
into the ATM, eliminating the need for deposit slips ��������������������
and envelopes. Verification of deposits is provided
��������������������� �����������������
on-screen. On the transaction receipt is the image �������������������� �������������������������
�����������������
of each check deposited and a breakdown of num-
ber and total of each denomination of currency �������������� ���������������������������������������
deposited.
The first ATM with Smart Deposit is near the in-
����������� ����������������������������
���������������������������������������
tersection of Central Parkway and Youngstown Road
in Warren. The other three will soon be available
82 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

���������������������� Empyra Plans to Launch


������������ New Online Platforms
N
�������������������������������������������� ew products and partnerships management, tracking cases, e-com-
���������������������������������������� with would-be entrepreneurs merce, social networking and cus-
�������������������������������������������������� tops the agenda at Empyra, a tomer management, Gupta notes.
����������������������������������������������������� software development company based And the company launched a
��������������������������������������������� in downtown Youngstown. practice to build new Web-based
������������������������������ “Empyra has an aggressive road- businesses using its “OneFlow” plat-
map for the next two years to launch form by joining local entrepreneurs
����������������� multiple new Web businesses based as managing partners to help them
���������������������������������������� on a pay-to-use model,” says Vinpin launch their ideas with no upfront
�������������������������������� Gupta, president and CEO. costs.
Empyra launched a new business in At the end of 2009, Empyra hired
����������������� November called AdmitInsights.com a new chief technology officer and
��������������������������������������������� to deliver low-cost, immediate advice doubled the staff by adding a sales
�������������������������������� to high school students and their manager, customer delivery managers,
������������� parents about college admissions. analysts and engineers. In November,
Using proprietary profile assessment Empyra moved into a larger office
�������������
algorithms, the Web site combines the space in 20 Federal Plaza to accom-
���������������������������������������
databases of 11,000 colleges. modate its growing team.
��������������������������������
The company is known for its soft- In addition, Empyra has expanded
�������������������������������� ware-as-a-service platform for local its core business of providing work-
government and nonprofit agencies, force development products and

����������� Gupta says. “This approach allows


organizations to use technology-en-
services by reaching out to agencies
in other states. The company has
abled business functions by paying provided its OneFlow solution to the
a monthly fee with no additional One-Stop agencies in Trumbull, Ma-
EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY investment in information technology honing and Columbiana counties for
������������������������� infrastructure,” he explains. many years, Gupta says. Last year the
Empyra expanded its “OneFlow” Area 17 Workforce Investment Board
platform last year to support every of Mahoning and Columbiana County
aspect of a Web-based business, in- won a “best in state” award for the
����������������������������� ���������� cluding content and communication third consecutive year.
�����������������������������
������������������������� ��������� Beatitude House Targets Ashtabula
������������������������������� ���������������������������������
Expanding into Ashtabula duced Beatitude House Green
����������������������������������
����������������������������� ����������������������������������� County with a transitional housing Clean in 2009, an environmentally
program that will initially serve 10 friendly cooperative cleaning ser-
���������������������������� ����������������������������
homeless women and their children vice that provides employment
��������������������������� is among the goals Beatitude House and vocational training for clients
plans to achieve this year. interested in becoming business
���������������������������� Beatitude House, sponsored by owners. Startup funds for the so-
��������������������������� ���������������������������������
the Ursuline Sisters, serves disad- cial entrepreneurship project were
vantaged women and children in provided by the Wean Foundation
������������������ �� ��������������������������������� �� �������������� Mahoning and Trumbull counties and the Community Foundation of
by providing housing, educational the Mahoning Valley.
opportunities and support services To date, the Green Clean co-op
to foster healthy familes and help has 12 employees who will eventu-
them break the cycle of poverty. ally become owners of the business
The organization is currently and share in its profits. The co-
seeking funds to transform an op, which provides standardized
old school building in Ashtabula cleaning services to residential
County into 10 apartments, reports and business customers, uses only
Sister Patricia McNicholas, execu- environmentally friendly cleaning
tive director. products and practices.
This follows an expansion in Founded by Sister Margaret
Warren last year that increased the Scheetz, Beatitude House opened
number of apartments to 13 from in Youngstown in 1991 and served
seven and added a classroom, a four families. Last year, through its
children’s playroom and offices for education, vocational training and
the case manager, counselor and housing programs, Beatitude House
child advocate. served 512 disadvantaged women
Beatitude House also intro- and children.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 83

Diversification Sparks Business at Valley Electrical


Girard company adds green innovation and develops imaginative thinking,”
Ferry adds.
support team for each new project, whose charge is
to lower installation costs for customers.
energy, maintenance units. “Our company’s success is accomplished through Valley Electric also stays involved in the needs of
strong leadership, with a vision and passion to be the community, Ferry says.

O n the heels of a profitable 2009, Valley


Electrical Consolidated Inc., Girard, is
expected to add even more business – and
employees – this year, executives say.
Valley Electrical diversified its services last year, a
the best in our industry and always remembering
to focus on our employee’s well-being versus the
bottom line,” he says.
One example Ferry cites is the project engineer-
The Valley Ladies Round Table, a group formed
by women affiliated with the company, oversees and
organizes the company’s contributions to nonprofit
work and other causes. The company has made Cor-
ing support team, which was the brainchild of the porate Chaplains of America available as a personal
move the company believes is essential to compete at company’s internal project managers, he says. This service for employees, with a visit twice a week from
the highest level in the electrical-solutions industry, idea turned into a strategic approach to organize a CCA chaplin Jeff Seger.
says Chris Jaskiewicz, senior vice president.
This not only resulted in the company securing
more than 450 projects nationwide, but also allowed
for a “remarkable 20% growth in employees,” he
reports.
Thiel Adds Sports, Marching Band
Among the new ventures established in 2009 were
the company’s Green Energy Solutions – a division
College’s new president launches to the new athletics offerings, Carr says the college
also plans to add an additional full-time football
devoted to environmentally conscious construction ‘The Thiel Commitment.’ coach this year as well as a seasonal air-supported
and rehabilitation projects – a new business devel- athletics building that will cover the playing surface

T
opment and marketing division, a 3-D model draft- hiel College, Greenville, Pa., launched several at Alumni Stadium during the winter months. This
ing program, and a new sister company to handle new programs and initiatives in 2009 under will greatly increase space available to varsity and
general maintenance for local companies. That unit the leadership of its new president, Dr. Troy intramural sports teams and athletics classes.
plans to expand this year with the acquisition of VanAken, who assumed his position in July. The marching band takes the field for the first
another company, Jaskiewicz reports. The most notable additions under VanAken are time this fall and there are plans to establish pep or
The company purchased $250,000 in utility The Thiel Commitment, five varsity sports – women concert bands, Carr says. “This program will provide
equipment in 2009 for its utility, power and light di- and men’s tennis, women and men’s lacrosse, and an opportunity for high school musicians to continue
vision, while a Trimble unit was acquired to advance men’s volleyball – a marching band, a youth ministry performing as they move into their college years.”
efforts in building information modeling, he says. major and a shooting club, reports Joyce DeFran- The youth ministry major combines study in the-
“We have an employee-based philosophy: faith, cesco Carr, director of public relations. ology, the Bible, ministry theory and social science
family, then business,” Jaskiewicz, says. The Thiel Commitment, VanAken’s first priority, with supervised field and mentoring experiences
An employee-of-the-month program started by is aimed at showcasing the advantages of a Thiel to prepare students for work as youth and family
Jaskiewicz two years ago has been a huge success education before, during and after a student’s un- ministers in Christian congregations and camps.
among the team at Valley Electric. Employees help dergraduate experience, Carr explains. The initiative The Thiel shooting club, Carr continues, is a
offer assistance to fellow team members and the includes a ninth-semester tuition waiver for qualified team-oriented sport that will provide instruction in
“camaraderie has led to strong interoffice relation- students who want to take advantage of extra op- safe use, management and maintenance of firearms
ships that grow every day,” he continues. portunities such as studying abroad or participating as well as competition opportunities. Shooting gal-
Valley Electric also holds “Lunch and Learns” in internships, expanded career services, and a 60% leries will be provided through an agreement with
each month, where employees spend their lunch tuition discount for graduates seeking new skills. a local shooting club.
breaks listening to nationally recognized speakers, The Thiel Commitment also includes a co-cur- “This is such an exciting time to be at Thiel
says Rex Ferry, company president. Last year, Ted ricular transcript and an e-Portfolio system that College,” VanAken says. “The enhancement and
Garrison delivered a presentation based on the book allows students to demonstrate to potential employ- expansion of our athletics and educational programs
The Toyota Way, which members of Valley Electrical’s ers and graduate schools what they’ve learned and will position Thiel to attract engaged students and
book club read and used to improve efficiencies and accomplished. “The Thiel Commitment embodies an scholar athletes. This is just the start of many innova-
to embrace “lean” concepts. aspect of Theil that so many of our alumni already tive programs that will benefit our students.”
The book club team selects a book designed to know – that Thiel is for life,” VanAken says. Thiel has an enrollment of 1,000 and offers more
enrich the employee growth and that could be ap- Thiel’s five new varsity sports will compete at than 60 academic majors and areas of study. The
plied to Valley Electric’s strategic planning process. the NCAA Division III level and bring the Tomcats’ next campus preview day for prospective students
“This type of educational reinforcement encourages total number of athletics teams to 24. In addition is March 13.


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84 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Tri-County Tower Creates Green Energy Division


New entity installs wind turbines installation of three wind turbines at Western Re-
serve High School in Berlin Center and the ensuing
In the past, we worked in 13 states and two
foreign countries, but our activities last year were
at Western Reserve High School. dedication ceremony where Gov. Ted Strickland
presented the keynote address. This year, we are
much more focused on Ohio. While this narrowed
our market, it also enabled us to limit overhead. It
By Greg Budd going to expand our renewable energy offerings to seems a bit ironic that even as the national media
give our customers more green options. reports how economically depressed our area is, it is
General Manager, Tri-County Tower Service Inc.
Last year also saw changes in the way our orga- this region that allowed us to maintain stability.

T
ri-County Tower Service Inc., North Jackson, nization marketed its services. We overhauled our Last year we hired 14 new employees and we ex-
has always prided itself on is adaptability and Web site, created a new site for TCT Renewable pect to hire more this year. We expanded our service
2009 was no different. Energy, produced multimedia portfolios of our to the state of Ohio’s emergency communications
Our company provides a variety of solutions to projects, participated in blogs and trade shows and network in 2009 and hope to extend that same level
the communications industry, from maintenance to even made use of Twitter. of service and commitment to other states.
turnkey tower construction. We entered the cellular
and paging industry early in its evolution and last
year we again adjusted our business model to keep Meridian Services to Add Programs, Relocate
up with the region’s ever-fluctuating market. We Meridian Services Inc. last year expanded its increase in clients served,” he notes, with 3,711
created a new division, TCT Renewable Energy, a WorkLife division to begin offering corporate people receiving services through Meridian’s
state-eligible installer of wind turbines for residen- wellness services as a complement to its occu- treatment and recovery programs.
tial, commercial, industrial and institutional use. pational health and drug testing services. “This Significant physical improvements were made
Tri-County installed its first turbine in 2003 division will be further expanded in 2010 with last year to three of the 11 facilities Meridian
but never pursued renewable energy as a full-time the relocation to new facilities and the addition operates. The organization spent more than
business model. At that time, we brought on Scot of staff,” reports CEO Larry Moliterno. $100,000 providing upgrades to the Ron Mar-
Loveland as division manager and allowed him to This year, Meridian plans to purchase a larger ian facility on Chalmers Avenue, The Donofrio
develop the brand as the market dictated. facility for the Northeast Ohio Regional Center for Women’s Center on Ridge Avenue and the cor-
One of the first things Loveland implemented was Adolescent Treatment, which provides residential porate offices on Meridian Road in Youngstown.
the expansion of our community involvement. Such treatment for up to 24 young men. Other 2009 highlights include the fifth annual
involvement included sponsorship of Youngstown’s Revenue grew to 2009 to $7.02 million, an Valley Impact Awards in October, attended by
Grey to Green Festival, consulting with zoning com- increase of 20.8% over 2008, Moliterno says. 200 people, and the addition of the “Our Valley
missions on wind turbine regulations, and delivering In addition, 20 jobs were added, bringing total Cooks Food Expo” event, Moliterno says, which
renewable energy presentations to local schools. employment to 158. “Overall, there was a 30% 1,500 people attended in March.
The highlight of our new division’s year was the
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 85

New Ownership, Same


Chocolates at Gorant’s
With new ownership late in 2009, store, Gorant’s sells its candies at
Gorant Candies became Gorant three shops still owned by the Gorant
Chocolatier LLC. But while the name brothers’ nephews and through the
has been altered, the way Gorant’s Internet.
makes its 400 varieties of candies Included in the new owners’ plans
remains unchanged since Charles and for growth are reviving the Yum Yum
Sam Gorant founded the business in Tree label, they say, and expanding the
1949. number of stores throughout North
The new owners – Marty Seidler, America where Gorant’s is sold.
Joe Miller and Gorant’s is one
John Cayten – say Included in the new owners’ of the few choco-
they are commit-
ted to building on
plans for growth are reviving late factories today
where automation
the tradition of the the Yum Yum Tree label. has not replaced
Gorant brothers. the homemade
Their “secret chocolate recipes will product, Peluse notes. The employ-
remain unchanged and complimented ees still make candy by hand everyday.
with several new chocolate products They still blend melted chocolate with
this year,” promises operations direc- nuts, fruits, pretzels and other ingre-
tor Jack Peluse. dients in large copper kettles before
Behind the 2,300-square-foot store the cooling mixtures are poured onto
at 8301 Market St. in Boardman is a tables where the candy is then cut
55,000-square-foot chocolate factory by hand.
where more than 40 full-time employ- “When you make candy by hand,”
ees make the various confections. Peluse says, “you will see any imper-
Besides its own chocolates, Gorant fections and ensure the quality of the
makes private-label chocolates based chocolates before they are finished
on other company’s recipes. Gorant and shipped to our customers.”
Chocolatier offers products to whole- The chocolates in Gorant candies
salers, as corporate gifts and as part of are purchased from cocoa refiners who
fund-raising efforts. acquire the majority of their cocoa
In addition to its Market Street beans from the Ivory Coast of Africa.

New Products Engineer


More Revenue at Berner
The development of new products while allowing employees to attend
while launching innovative methods to drive-through customers.
to improve building sustainability Berner’s energy-recovery equip-
helped engineer Berner International ment incorporates passive energy
Corp.’s growth last year. wheel technology to increase the
Berner International, based in New amount of fresh air ventilated while
Castle, Pa., manufactures air curtains minimizing energy consumption and
and energy recovery systems, says reducing cooling and heating loads.
the company’s Leah Kordecki. Berner, The company employs 61.
she relates, is poised to capture new Berner, founded in 1956, is em-
business opportunities in 2010 as the bracing Leadership in Energy and
“green revolution” takes hold in the Environmental Design, or LEED. In
United States. March, development manager Mi-
“Berner hit the ground running in randa Berner earned LEED accredi-
February last year with a new product tation from the U.S. Green Building
released at the National Association of Council. “This credential signifies
Food Equipment Manufacturers Show an advanced, in-depth knowledge of
in Orlando,” Kordecki says. green building practices,” Kordecki Established 1937
There, the company launched its says. The company’s commitment to
new air curtain – the first of its kind
engineered specifically for drive-thru
green building led to the creation of
a “green team” at Berner, Kordecki 330-545-3722
Priceheating.com
windows at quick-serve restaurants. reports. One major task the team has
This unit uses controlled streams of taken on is to achieve LEED certifica-
air that keeps car fumes, cold air and tion for the company’s 60,000-square- License #33376
flying insects out of the workspace foot plant.
86 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Flex-Strut Prepares Its


Fourth Plant Expansion
After three expansions over the manufacturers, or OEMs, heavy duty
past dozen years, Flex-Strut Inc., concrete embeds for curtain wall
Howland, is prepared to grow again retention in high-rise construction,
in 2010, reports its president, Dale and fabricated components for the
Gebhardt. laboratory furniture industry.
“Our facility is 70,000 square-feet,” “This diversification has enabled us
and the company has another 30,000- to maintain a high volume of business,
������������������� square-foot expansion on the drawing
board, he says.
even during unfavorable economic
times,” Gebhardt says.
��������������� The proposed expansion should
be completed by the end of this year,
The company started in a 12,000-
square-foot building in the industrial
����������������������� Gebhardt notes, taking the Com-
monwealth Avenue plant to 100,000
section of Howland and today boasts
annual revenues of $15 million and
square feet. employs 60.
���������������������������������������������������������� The company manufactures a com- Flex Strut was formed after the
�������������������������������������������������������������� plete line of continuous-slot metal Power Strut division of Van Huffel
������������������������������������������������������������ framing, referred to in the industry Tube Corp. was sold and moved to
���������������������������������������������������� as Strut. The product consists of nu- Chicago in 1985, Gebhardt says. “In
merous roll-formed channels – akin the aftermath of that sale, a group of
to an industrial Erector Set – with Power Strut employees refused to al-
adjustable nut-and-bolt connections low another manufacturing entity dis-
that can be made with numerous parts appear from the Valley,” he relates.
and fittings. It is sold through elec- Today, Flex-Strut has surpassed
trical, mechanical and refrigeration what Power Strut accomplished in the
������������������������������������������������������� wholesalers and is used for lighting, mid-1980s, Gebhardt says.
��������������������������� conduit and piping supports. “First, we were able to keep to-
����������������� Flex-Strut is a master-stocking gether a group of key Power Strut
distributor for Hydra-Zorb cushion employees who were the nucleus
clamps, which are used to support from which we built the company,” he
copper tubing in refrigeration instal- recalls. When another Strut company,
lations. The company also distributes Michigan Hanger, left the area, Flex
the FlexAngle product, a slotted-angle Strut was able to attract additional
framing system manufactured locally key production and customer service
by Hynes Industries. employees.
Besides the commodity side of the “The bulk of our work force came
business, Flex-Strut provides numer- to us with experience gained from
ous engineered applications for the companies that have downsized,
product. Some of these include special closed or left the area,” Gebhardt says.
fabrications for original equipment “Their loss has been our gain.”

Polish Youngstown Revives Culture


Polish Youngstown, created in 2008 alive and educating younger genera-
to inspire, promote and educate the tions about why they, too, should be
Mahoning Valley on all things Polish, excited about it.
is reaching out to form cooperative The group’s first effort was initiat-
events with other groups, says Aun- ing the monthly Polish Happy Hour.
drea Cika Heschmeyer, chairwoman. At each event, the host bar features
The group’s formation, she says, specials of a different Polish beer and
was inspired by response to the folk vodka. Heschmeyer says hospitality
dancers’ fund-raising celebration, includes authentic foods and desserts,
a group of five individuals who got as well as Polish culturally themed
together in an attempt to revive what games and information.
was once a vital part of the Mahoning In honor of Ostatki, a Polish car-
Valley culture. “We felt like the Pol- nival celebration, the group took its
ish community had lost its center,” efforts to a bigger scale. A semi-formal
Heschmeyer says. “What we were bet- event was held in February at the
ting on is that it hadn’t lost its heart.” Youngstown Club and ended with the
This year, the group is adding a pre- traditional paczki doughnut parade,
Lenten trip to Hamtramck, Mich., for during which the guy or gal who broke
the paczki celebration and a summer with tradition and found the hidden
trip to Poland, she says. coin in a donut was crowned “royalty”
The common bond for the group and received a one-year membership
is keeping the spirit of their heritage to The Youngstown Club.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 87

CBoss Enters New Markets, Forms Partnerships


Wins contract to develop, host providers to help them capture revenue more quickly
and improve operational efficiencies,” Lego says.
The woman-owned business provides outsourced
billing services to companies with high-volume
‘next generation’ of Oplates. Along with the federal stimulus dollars invested billing.
in the conversion to electronic health records by The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of

W ith new products and improvements on


its menu of services, Boardman-based
Cboss Inc. expanded its local and national
presence in 2009.
Tens of new customers launched Web sites based
2014, the Cboss CPP attracted the New Mexico-
based Gila Regional Medical Center, which selected
Cboss for its own online payment needs.
Cboss also forged a partnership with Nashville-
based LetterLogic, which offers CPP to its customers.
Motor Vehicles last spring awarded Cboss a multi-
year contract to develop and host the “next genera-
tion” solution for Ohio’s online vehicle registration
and renewal system, Oplates. Cboss won the first
Oplates contract in 2000.
on the company’s ArchITech Content Management
System, which allows customers to build and main-
tain an online presence by managing documents,
providing online event registration and payments.
Ohio Edison Credit Union Reports Asset Growth
Such customers include Mill Creek Metroparks, Ohio Edison Penn Power Credit Union merged products and services it offers its members.
the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments and last year with the Warren Niles Republic Employ- Among them: access to their accounts through
Mahoning County. ees Federal Credit Union, taking the combined automated teller machines, debit cards, Visa
Cboss also renewed its Level I Service Provider entity’s membership to 8,000 and its assets to credit cards, individual retirement accounts,
certification for the Payment Card Industry Data more than $43 million. mortgages and home equity loans, and online
Security Standard (PCI-DSS), the industry standard Another major change was the retirement of banking, which includes the ability to pay bills
for credit card data security. With its flagship Cen- Barbara DeLauter, who managed the Youngstown- online.
tral Payment Portal, Cboss tapped into the national based credit union more than 40 years. DeLauter Additional benefits include tickets for Regal
health care market, says its director of business saw the credit union grow organically and through and Tinseltown theaters and to amusement parks
development, Aaron Lego. mergers from the late 1960s when the Ohio Edi- at a discount, and free notary service.
The Web-based, PCI-compliant online payment son Credit Union had assets of $800,000. The Ohio Edison Penn Power Credit Union,
solution lets a customer accept all forms of pay- Succeeding her as CEO is David Beckhorn, founded in 1940, added Penn Power employees
ment, and provides reporting features that help to CEO of three other credit unions during his 20 in 1978. With new community charter laws that
manage and shorten the revenue cycle. Cboss will years in management. allowed broader membership, anyone who lives,
continue to reach out to health-care organizations Despite the recession, the Ohio Edison Penn works, worships or attends school in Trumbull,
in the Mahoning Valley with this and other online Power Credit Union has remained financially Mahoning or Columbiana counties may join the
services, Lego says. sound, a spokesman says, pointing to the many credit union.
“We’re excited to work with local health care
88 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Aim NationaLease ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ for 2010


A
im NationaLease, a full-service transportation fleet was flat compared to that of 2008, he reports. pairs including real-time “road rescue” data should
company based in Girard, experienced a Last year, Aim also moved its Allentown, Pa., their vehicle break down while on the road.
2009 marked by challenges and opportunity. branch to a larger location. And, the transportation Aim Dedicated Logistics customers’ vehicles are
And, company executives say they’re “cautiously company relocated its Aurora, Ill., hub, split the routed electronically and then are tracked via real
optimistic” about 2010. Elmhurst, Ill., branch into two separate operations, time GPA technology, Fleming says. This type of
“Aim is well-positioned to take advantage of an and started new operations in South Holland, Ill. technology, combined with multiple redundancies
improving economy and remain a significant fixture Aim invested in technology last year, evidenced – including real time temperature monitoring – is
in the Youngstown and national marketplaces for by improvements to the company’s Web site at what Aim used in one of its dedicated operations
many years,” says its president, Tom Fleming. AimNtls.com, Fleming says. Customers now have that transported the majority of the H1N1 flu vac-
Aim NationaLease and Aim Dedicated Logistics the ability to see complete details of all vehicle re- cine this fall and winter.
have nearly 6,000 vehicles in 80 operations and

Windsor House Meets Demand for Rehab


employ nearly 800 people.
This year, new regulations enacted by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency related to clean
diesel engines stand to add $9,000 to the price of With nursing homes becoming more of a des- in Mahoning County, and Windsor House at
Class 8 tractors, dampening lease opportunities for tination for short-term rehabilitation, Windsor Champion and the O’Brien Memorial Health Care
new trucks, Fleming notes. Yet, this should also House Inc., Girard, is working to meet demand, Center in Trumbull County, Rowland says.
drive more business to the company’s rental division says its director of marketing, Dan Rowland. Windsor House also launched its home health
and boost the value of used tractors and trucks. Windsor House established short-term therapy care agency, Home Health by Windsor, which is
During 2009, Fleming says the company saw units in many of its 11 nursing homes, includ- accredited by the Accreditation Commission for
business decline during the first quarter, and then ing its newest one, Masternick Memorial in Health Care Inc. The agency’s staff focuses on the
stabilize during the second “at a level significantly Springfield Township. The new nursing home, specific needs of each patient and, in most cases,
below the prior year.” Freight activity, rental business named in honor of Windsor House founder John patients will see the same therapists at home as
and used-truck values all declined, while new truck Masternick, opened in September and features they did in the nursing home, Rowland says.
purchases and leases were also at record lows. 75 skilled-nursing beds, a secured Alzheimer’s An expansion project at Liberty Arms Assisted
Fleming credits employees and a diverse custom- unit and assisted-living apartments. The rooms Living in Trumbull County will add 13 apart-
er base as major factors in managing the downturn. are large and include phone, private showers and ments, bringing the total to 54. To accommodate
Despite a slow start, Aim’s sales team was able to self-contained heating and air conditioning. the new residents, the dining and activity rooms
lease nearly 1,000 new and used vehicles in 2009. Other nursing homes with short-term rehabili- have been enlarged, Rowland says. An open house
However, because of customer downsizing and tation include Omni Manor Health Care Center will be held in March.
vehicle repossessions, the total Aim NationaLease

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 89

Contributing
to the Valley’s
economy for
Jolley Joins with Kennametal Cure-All Professionals
SHARON, Pa. -- A new partnership brings Looks to Repeat Growth
stronger global presence and a few more

over 50 years.
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Cure-All Profes-
employees to Jolley Industrial Supply.
sionals Inc. increased revenues and net
Jolley became a distributor in April for
income in 2009, and the company, which
Kennametal Inc. of Latrobe, Pa., says
specializes in fire and water damage,
Jolley’s owner and founder, Richard Jol-
looks to repeat that growth in 2010, says
ley. Kennametal, a dealer of tooling and
Paul Finney, general manager.
metalworking products, brought Jolley
One of company’s accomplishments
Our employees—more than 100 of your friends
on to distribute its product in western and neighbors—have made Altronic a world
last year, he reports, was the comple-
Pennsylvania and parts of West Virginia, leader in the design and production of ignition
tion of a new shop and additional office
he says.
space, he says. The expansion allows systems, instrumentation, controls, and fuel
In addition to its corporate head-
quarters in Latrobe, Kennametal has
the company to segment the work as- delivery systems for natural gas-fueled engines.
sociated with cleaning and restoring Employing cutting-edge electronic circuit board
offices in Switzerland and Singapore. It
salvageable contents. assembly technology, Altronic manufactures
distributes worldwide. This partnership
The new shop also provides the op-
allowed Jolley to hire four workers and and distributes more than 50 different products
portunity to organize the storage and
gain new customers.
maintenance of the many commercial from our 72,000 sq. ft. Girard headquarters.
Jolley employs 40 at its Sharon and
dehumidifiers, axial fans, air scrubbers,
Franklin, Pa., sites. “We’re looking to
board-up materials and tools required to
add clientele through Kennametal,” Jol-
serve customers.
ley says, “and more employees.”
The company maintains certifications
In 2009, the company developed
in fire, water and mold restoration serv- 712 Trumbull Avenue, Girard, Ohio www.altronicinc.com
cost-saving ideas for its own operations
ices from the Institute of Inspection,
and continues to develop ways to pass
Cleaning and Restoration Certification,
on savings to its customers, he says.
and its employees attend certification
Three CPAs Establish classes annually.
The company was incorporated in
Augenstein, Gabriele & Mapes 1999 by Dave Finney, who learned the
CANFIELD -- The public accounting firm industry while employed with a national
of Augenstein, Gabriele & Mapes CPAs franchise. Before that, he started Ceil-
LLC originated in 1987 when one of the ing Pro, which offered cleaning and
principals, Donald J. Augenstein, started restoration of acoustic and vinyl-clad tile
his own practice. along with recoat services for acoustic
More recently, Augenstein took on ceilings resistant to cleaning. Cure-All
the accounting practices of Lori A. Ga- continues to offer these services.
briele and Peter Mapes to form Augen- Paul Finney joined the business in
stein, Gabriele & Mapes with offices at 2004 after graduating from Ohio Uni-
3870 Starr Centre Drive. versity with a degree in business com-
The three cer tified public accoun- munications. Maintaining certifications
tants offer tax planning, tax preparation, in fire, water, odor, mold and applied
financial statements preparation and microbial, he runs the business.
business consulting.
The new firm serves individuals and
Drywall Barn Relocates
businesses in Trumbull, Mahoning and YOUNGSTOWN – The Drywall Barn took
Columbiana counties. steps last year to prepare for a success-
ful 2010, says Mark Markota, president
Method 8 Plans Web Design and owner.
YOUNGSTOWN – Method 8 is looking In addition to seeking new business
to rebound this year after a challenging
2009, says Brian K. West, president.
The company, a provider of online busi-
and better positioning the company in
relation to its competitors, those steps
included purchasing two additional
����������������
ness advertising and marketing, plans boom trucks for the company’s fleet ���������������������������� ��������������������������
to introduce a new Web design aimed as well as other equipment at advanta- ��������������������������� ��������������������������
at the arts while promoting businesses. geous market prices. ������������������������������
West says he plans to release a new The company also moved to a new �����������������������������
book this year as well. building on Meridian Road and made
�����������������������������
Also, West plans to bring his sisters, substantial renovations. The new loca-
�����������������������������
Alicia and Shanise, on board to use their
business experience to help provide
tion is close to major highways and will
give the company a huge distribution ������ ����
better service. advantage, Markota notes.
90 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 91

Community Foundation’s
Focus Is Human Needs
Agency Partners the training in, and implementation
of, awareness-raising tactics with the
Collaboration joins goal of expanding charitable giving
across the Mahoning Valley.
nearly 35 nonprofits. The foundation continues to de-
velop other market-specific strategies
By Patricia Brozik
to increase the growth of philanthropy.
President, Community Foundation The Young Philanthropist Fund, an

T
he Community Foundation initiative to introduce young adults
of the Mahoning Valley was to charitable giving and involvement,
awarded the prestigious National grew 10% over 2008, with distribu-
Standards Seal last year by the tions remaining consistent.
Council on Foundations, a national The number of funds under the
professional association based in aegis of the Community Foundation
Washington, D.C., for meeting the has risen to nearly 70, up from 56 the
highest standards of quality and previous year. The number of grant-
accountability. ees has also risen, reaching nearly 250
The foundation, which celebrated charities served.
its eighth anniversary in October, The grant-making activities of the
serves Mahoning and Trumbull coun- foundation reach across a spectrum
ties; it is the first in our area to be of services for the community. As
awarded the seal. measured in the numbers of dol-
The foundation continues to re- lars, 19% of the grants made during
spond to the ever-changing needs the year were in the sector of public
of our nonprofit agencies and com- and society benefit, the largest single
munities. In 2009, the foundation category.
launched an initiative designed to Responding to the recession, the
provide nonprofits with valuable foundation became more strategically
resources beyond providing grants. focused on ways of strengthening com-
This initiative, Agency Partners Col- munities in the areas of employment,
laboration, is composed of nearly 35 economic development, housing,
organizations committed to building education and health care. The foun-
networks across the nonprofit com- dation continues to enjoy increasing
munity including outreach to profes- community support as more residents
sional advisers who work in the field make their charitable contributions
of philanthropy. directly to the foundation or to one
Among the first steps are targeting of its component funds.

Demand Up at Briarfield Centers


With a 15% increase in business tasks with the focus on the special
spurring demand for more services, needs of dementia patients.
Briarfield Health Care Centers, Reese credits his company’s
Austintown, met those needs with success to its customer-centered
a new rehabilitation gym at its focus. With 685 licensed nursing
Briarfield Manor. and assisted-living beds and 650
The Austintown nursing home employees in Mahoning, Trum-
completed construction of the bull and Columbiana counties,
3,200-square-foot gym to help pa- “continuous attention to quality
tients gain as much independence improvement are the best tools
as possible before returning home, to remaining competitive in any
says Ed Reese, president of EDM economy,” he says.
Management, which operates the “Long-term care companies
Briarfield centers. Briarfield Manor have been hit with reductions in
also added 18 beds, increasing ca- revenue while at the same time
pacity to 116, he notes. facing higher costs for everything
To serve men and women with needed to provide services,” Reese
dementia, Briarfield at the Ridge says. “We have been proactive in
in Mineral Ridge opened a secure working with vendors to remain
unit that features large semi-private fiscally strong so that we can
rooms, a private dining room, sit- continue to deliver the same high
ting room and outdoor garden. The quality care and services that our
staff uses Montessori-based learning customers have come to expect.”
92 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Mental Health Board Investments Paying Off


Copes with Cutbacks For MultiMedia Farms
Poor economy means
M
coaches in an effort to raise awareness ultiMedia Farms, Canfield, is introduced the next generation of
of the potential for suicide among responding to the challenges mobile LED displays, with a larger,
more people need help. teenagers. Help Hotline Crisis Center
organized the event, which was at-
of 2009 with calculated risk-
taking and reinvesting in resources
lighter screen that provides a 16:9
HD format. The unit, called the B15,

C ollaboration is essential as
the Mahoning County Mental
Health Board balances decreased
funding against increased needs.
The board sustained a $3.1 million
tended by more than 110 coaches.
Youngstown State University also
collaborated with the board to pro-
vide a training program for faculty
and staff developed in response to
that include technology, staff and
office space for this year, reports Clare
Neff, president and co-owner.
“Innovation in video production
and sales of the new LED displays
was first deployed at the University
of Michigan, then traveled to South-
eastern Conference football games, to
Florida for the Lighting Design Inter-
national annual trade show and then
funding cut for fiscal 2010, leading to the Virginia Tech tragedy. More than are key to our future profitability,” to the Walt Disney Sports Complex.
reductions in mental health services at 250 Youngstown State University she says. At the trade show, MultiMedia Farms
a time when job losses, foreclosures employees were trained to recognize Among the local projects is docu- took orders for four units, he says.
and mounting bills contributed to a individuals who may be struggling mentation of the 70-day building of The company expects sales and
spike in the number of those seeking with a mental health issue and how a home for the Kaluza family. The rentals of the units to bring substantial
assistance, reports Toni M. Notaro, to seek treatment. Employees were project included coordinating a per- growth, Neff says.
administrative director. Still, the board also educated on university protocols sonal tribute from Kenny Rogers and MultiMedia Farms also is partner-
supported more than 200,000 hours should an emergency occur. production of a thank-you video for ing with the Canfield-based Trailex
of mental health services through The need for collaboration will the more than 400 volunteers. “This to manufacture and market the LED
the agencies and programs it funds, increase this year for the board and its project was a wonderful commentary displays. With the migration toward
providing help to more than 13,000 agencies, which it refers to as the Net- on our Valley’s resilience and ability to the 16:9 HD formatting, which better
individuals during fiscal 2009. work of Care. Those agencies include move forward,” Neff observes. fits newer televisions, computers and
To address greater demand for Burdman Group, Catholic Charities Other projects were sales videos for plasma displays, gained sales momen-
services, the mental health system en- Regional Agency, D&E Counsel- Baird Brothers Hardwood Floors Co., a tum last year.
gaged in ways to maximize resources ing Center, Family Service Agency, golf marketing video for Save the Mo- Last October, MultiMedia Farms
through collaboration, Notaro says. Help Hotline Crisis Center, Meridian ment and national TV holiday spots was awarded the Canfield Business
One example includes partnering with Services, Community Support Net- for The Cafaro Co., she reports. Price Award from the Canfield Area
mental health boards in Trumbull and work, Turning Point Counseling Last November, Neff’s husband Council of the Youngstown/Warren
Columbiana counties to train sports Services and NAMI Mahoning Valley. and company co-owner, Bruce Neff, Regional Chamber.

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 93

Sales Boom at B.J. Alan Co.’s Phantom Fireworks


Phantoms hockey team takes to vides for some outstanding hockey,” he adds. The history of the players going from the U.S.
the ice at Covelli Centre. The advertising for the team talks about “the road
to the [National Hockey League] going through
Hockey League to the NHL is full of examples of
players retaining their loyalties to the cities that gave

U
nlike the vast majority of retailers in 2009, Youngstown,” Zoldan notes. With Youngstown only them their start and fostered their talents, he says.
The B.J. Alan Co. and its Phantom Fireworks one of 14 cities in this country to host the most elite The benefit of having a U.S. Hockey League fran-
retail stores registered a record volume of of the U.S.A. hockey programs for young men, the chise in Youngstown is not only immediate – quality
sales, Bruce J. Zoldan, president and CEO reports. U.S. Hockey League is the only venue other than a hockey to watch and enjoy – but a long-term as-
He credits that performance to Phantom “fine- collegiate Division 1 program where the NHL can sociation with those players from Youngstown who
tuning its advertising and marketing program, see the potential of aspiring players. move up in the hockey world, Zoldan says.
modifying its bonus merchandise program and con-
tinuing to bring in the latest, most colorful, and best
performing consumer fireworks on the market.”
Phantom opened four showrooms for the 2009
season in Castleton, Ind., near Indianapolis; Shrews-
bury and Upland, Pa.; and Caledonia, Wis., just
outside of Racine. In addition, Phantom replaced old
locations with new showrooms in Fort Myers, Fla.,
and Canton. These six joined 49 other showrooms
in 13 states plus Puerto Rico.
Phantom’s chain-store division increased its
market share, Zoldan continues. Among the new
accounts added are Pitusa and SuperMax, both
Puerto Rican grocery chains, Redners Convenience
Stores, Country Fair, Ralph’s Supermarkets, 7-Eleven
convenience stores, and Buckton Grocery Stores.
In addition to the major outlets such as Kmart, the
increasing customer base for Phantom’s chain-store
division demonstrates how deeply Phantom has
managed to entrench itself in this segment of the
marketplace.
Alan L. Zoldan, executive vice president of B.J.
Alan, was re-elected president of the board of the
American Fireworks Standards Laboratory, the or-
ganization that tests the fireworks products at the
factory level in China before they are shipped to the �����������������������������������������������������������
United States. In addition, William A. Weimer, vice
president and general counsel, was elected president ����������������������������������������������������������������
of the board of the American Pyrotechnics Associa- ���������������������������������������������������������������
tion, the industry’s top trade association.
Phantom’s offices in China – in Liuyang City,
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Hunan Province, and in Guangzhou, Guangdong
�������������������� � �� ��������������������
Province – were busy in 2009 as they responded to
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Chinese factories to ensure quality control. ����������������������
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At a time when many businesses find themselves � �� ����������������������
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unable to obtain bank financing, the company added
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three banks to its re-formed bank group: F.N.B. Capi-
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tal Corp., First Niagara and Tri-State Bank. These
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banks join PNC, Fifth Third and First Place to make
���������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������
up Phantom’s bank group.
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Where the recession forced most retailers to put
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expansion plans on hold or curtail their operations, � �� ��������������������������������������������
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three to five new showrooms each year and expand- ����������
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ing its sales to chain stores.
�������������������������������������������������������
The Youngstown Phantoms, the hockey divi-
������������������������������������������������ ���������
sion of B.J. Alan, last year signed an exclusive
������������������������������������������������� �����������
five-year hockey lease with the Covelli Centre
��������������������������������������������������� �����������
downtown. Initial fan reaction to the Phantoms
�������������������������������������������������� ��������������������
players “has been very strong,” says Alex Zoldan.
���������������������������������������������� ���������������
Bob Mainhardt continues as head coach, Curtis
�������������������������������������������������� �����������������������
Carr as assistant coach, in Alex Zoldan’s first year
��������������������������������������������� ������������������
as president of the hockey club.
����������
The Phantoms racked up an impressive record
during the first half of its expansion year in the U.S. ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Hockey League, Alex Zoldan says with pride. “The
talent of the Phantoms has reached a level that pro-
94 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Prodigal Places Focus


On Strategic Planning
W
hen a visitor to the Poland large manufacturing company did
offices of Prodigal arrived well in 2009 despite upheavals in
wearing a button that their market segments. The firm
stated, “I Refuse to Participate in the helped Farmers National Bank with
Recession,” Jeff Hedrich laughed. public relations services related to the
“Then I realized the reality behind acquisition of the former Butler Wick
the words was crucial if Prodigal, Trust Co., now Farmers Trust Co., and
and our clients were to successfully developed a branded Web site for Si-
navigate the economic times,” says mon Roofing, which saw sales growth
Prodigal’s founder and president. in a challenging facilities management
“Clients who focus on strategic environment.
marketing planning and believe they Forum Health, a client that de-
can find opportunities in every econ- clared bankruptcy in 2009, “ben-
omy generally maintain or advance efited significantly from holding to a
their brand and business position.” strategic marketing plan that assisted
The marketing agency, founded in in maintaining and growing crucial
1994, provides branding, interactive patient admission levels,” says Joe
and marketing communications serv- Foos, account executive. Health-care
ices to a diverse roster of consumer marketing has emerged as a core com-
and business-to-business companies. petency for Prodigal, he adds.
Prodigal and many of its clients Former newscaster Vince Bevacqua
performed well in 2009, holding or joined the firm as vice president of
increasing market share over faltering public and media relations and now
competitors. “The discipline of brand heads a team of PR professionals.
positioning helped our clients develop More growth came in the realm of
marketing blueprints that factored in digital and interactive media with
economic conditions without resort- Prodigal’s digital initiatives headed by
ing to panic and unproductive short- Stephanie Ciardi.
term strategies,” says Will Perez, vice The hiring of Kelly Lipka as chief
president of account services. financial officer also offered clients
�� ����� For example, Prodigal clients as deeper insight into the financial impli-
� ���������� diverse as a community bank and a cations of their marketing initiatives.
�� ������
� �������� Associated School Credit Union
�� ��������
� ���������� Grows through Mergers
� ������ By Michael J. Kurish The three new branches are on Ma-
honing Avenue in Champion, Wood-
�� ����� President and CEO, Associated School land Street in Warren and Mahoning
� ������ Employees Credit Union Avenue in Jackson Township.
� ������� 2009 was one of the most success- With this growth came the op-
ful years in the history of Associated portunity to offer new products and
�� �������������� School Employees Credit Union, Aus- services including money market
� ��������� tintown. savings accounts, youth share certifi-
We began the year by celebrat- cates, extended-term mortgages and
� �������� ing our 50th anniversary. By April, business accounts.
�� ��������� ASECU was into merger discussions Our goal in 2010 is to offer a pa-
with the Cavalier Federal Credit perless online-only checking account
� �������� Union that has offices in Lordstown that offers members the benefit of the
� ������� and Newton Falls. Following the immediacy of the Internet, including
merger creating a financial institution electronic statements, ATM access,
�� ������������� with $90 million in assets, Cavalier’s online banking and bill payment.
� �������������� employees stayed on and its two of- In 2009, ASECU employees do-
� ������� fices stayed open. nated more than $4,500 from our
� ����������� ��������������������������� Then, on Aug. 1, ASECU consoli-
dated with Greater Warren Commu-
dress-down fund to various charities.
We also offer an annual scholarship to
�� ��������� ��������������������������������������� nity Federal of Warren. This merger area high school seniors and support
� ����������� ������������������������� brought three more offices to our area school activities including band,
credit union and added 30 employees sports and the arts.
� �������������� ��������������������������� to serve our membership of 21,000 Founded in 1959, ASECU today
� ���������������� ������������������� who live in Trumbull, Mahoning and has 57 employees and 13 volunteers
Columbiana counties. who serve on our board of directors.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 95

Growth at Farmers Makes It a $1 Billion Bank


Expands wealth management gives us another means to serve our customers’
financial needs. It complements all of our other
system.
With the latest technology in place, Farmers
division with the acquisition services in retail banking, commercial banking, operates more efficiently while simultaneously giv-
investments and insurance. The trust company ing its customers real-time access to their financial
of Butler Wick Trust Co. makes Farmers a truly comprehensive financial information, Gulas says.
institution.” “With a year highlighted by improvements,

F or 122 years, Farmers National Bank has been


a safe place for people to save their money,
a source of home mortgages and business
loans, an integral part of the Mahoning Valley with
its 16 banking offices in Trumbull, Mahoning and
With a larger size and new service lines come
the challenge of managing information in ways that
allow for speed and accuracy while still protecting
the customers’ privacy.
Farmers stepped into modern, digital banking
acquisitions and expansion, Farmers National
Bank will continue to focus on the growth of its
customer base,” he continues. The company has
a strong foundation to build on and its branding
efforts will continue to emphasize its “rock solid”
Columbiana counties. Last year it became something with its recent conversion to a core data processing reputation.
more, a bank with $1 billion in assets.
Reaching this milestone is all the more impressive,
says its president and CEO, Frank Paden, in light of
the challenges facing the financial industry.
Farmers Trust Co. Manages $827M in Assets
“I’m proud of this milestone,” Paden says, “but Farmers Trust Co. closed out 2009 with record personal service is key,” Sisek says. “The trust
I’m even more proud of the reason behind it. Farm- numbers. company is built on relationships and superior
ers is a billion-dollar bank because of the value our At year-end, it had experienced growth in as- performance.”
community places on our personal service and its sets under management of a record $827 million, To that professional staff, Farmers Trust hired
trust in our stability.” an achievement the company’s president and an additional four employees last year bringing its
Farmers’ emphasized its financial soundness CEO, James H. Sisek, credits to his professional staff to 31. Its growth last year led to the company
through a successful advertising campaign that fo- and highly skilled staff. occupying all of the eighth floor of City Centre
cused on Farmers National Bank as a “rock solid” Farmers Trust, the only locally owned and op- One in downtown Youngstown.
financial institution. erated trust company in the Valley, places a strong The trust company sustained its strong com-
During 2009, Farmers expanded its wealth man- emphasis on the quality of service and relation- mitment to charitable foundations in the Valley,
agement division by acquiring the former Butler ships with its clients, according to Sisek. Sisek says.
Wick Trust Co., since renamed Farmers Trust Co. “Trust, investment and estate planning is During 2009, Framers Trust distributed more
“The addition of Farmers Trust Co. has been an highly personal and needs to be delivered at the than $5 million to local charitable organizations
excellent strategic move for us,” says Farmers’ chief local level – strong investment performance and from the accounts it manages.
operating officer, John Gulas. “The trust company

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96 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

MS Consultants Engineers Redevelopment Projects


Infrastructure projects pave way park will require substantial improvements to site
infrastructure and access from adjacent transporta-
expand the training facilities for its sports teams.
Construction is projected to begin early this year
for industrial expansion. tion facilities. and be complete in August.
Railroad tracks and roadways must be built so Student housing is also being expanded. The

W
hile 2009 was slightly stronger economically employees and suppliers of materials can reach Flats at Wick is a privately developed, 216-unit,
than 2008, the outlook within Ohio their destinations. This encompasses construction of 450-bed complex adjacent to the campus and its
and the nation remains flat across many three new roads from U.S. dormitories on the north-
markets, says Thomas Mosure, president of MS Route 422; a new 9,700- Among the local economic development proj- ern perimeter.
Consultants Inc., Youngstown. Still, he reports, foot road from Division Elsewhere in north-
“Despite the struggles of many firms in the design Street along the southern
ects is redeveloping the Brier Hill Industrial eastern Ohio, the Ohio
and construction industries, our company held its boundary; on-site roads Park to allow the potential $970 million Department of Transpor-
own in our primary markets.” to each proposed parcel; expansion of V&M Star Steel. tation chose the design-
MS Consultants, founded in 1963, is a multi- an on-site truck staging build team of MS and
discipline engineering, architecture and planning area; and the grade separation of the Norfolk South- Marucci & Gaffney Excavating Co. to provide design
firm with offices in six states. The firm offers services ern main line at the east end of the site. and construction services for completion of the state
in the transportation, commercial, environmental, The project will also improve connections with Route 11 highway improvement project.
education, architecture and construction markets. existing rail corridors and upgrade railyards by add- “The project involves milling and resurfacing
Among the local economic development projects ing a track to provide access to Norfolk Southern, approximately five miles of four-lane state Route
in which MS is involved is redeveloping the Brier Hill CSXT, and Ohio Central System rail lines. A new 11, including the state routes 11 and 82 interchange
Industrial Park to allow the potential $970 million 7,800-foot storage track spur will be added along ramps, and the reconstruction of eight bridges in
expansion of V&M Star Steel. the southern perimeter as well as a new marshaling Liberty and Vienna townships,” says David Mosure,
Youngstown secured funding through the Ameri- yard northeast of the site to compensate for loss of MS vice president of construction.
can Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to de- track space with the relocation of the site entrance. MS is also doing work on the city of Struthers’
velop an industrial park on what are parking areas, Existing tracks serving Liberty Metals to the west, wastewater treatment plant. Struthers received a
materials storage yards, active railroads and former Trinity Industries, and V&M Star will be realigned; $3.8 million grant from the Ohio Environmental
railroad yards, vacant deposits of slag and other in- on-site tracks and railyards will be reconfigured to Protection Agency as part of the “Green Projects”
dustrial fill and an active slag mining operation. reduce the number of tracks crossed by the three stimulus program. The grant funds an effort to use
With the help of MS, the city has developed a vehicle grade crossings from U.S. 422. methane gas produced as a byproduct of the primary
preliminary site plan for some 170 acres to serve as At Youngstown State University, MS was awarded digester to produce the electricity needed to operate
an industrial park and intermodal rail transporta- final design services and construction administra- the plant. The system is projected to save hundreds
tion center. Redevelopment for use as an industrial tion for a new indoor sports practice center that will of thousands of dollars in future utility costs.

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800-544-4257 www.HicksOfficePlus.com
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 97

Phoenix Rises from Dolan CommonCents Energy Adds


SHARON, Pa. – Effective Jan. 1, the Commercial Accounts
Dolan Group LLC, founded 12 years YOUNGSTOWN – CommonCents Energy
ago, became Phoenix CPAs & Consul- LLC, a provider of natural gas, estab-
tants LLC. The name has changed, says lished more than 100 new commercial
principal Nicholas J. Pici, but the staff accounts last year, reports C. Joseph
of 15, including four certified public ac- Marino, managing partner. The company
countants, remains intact. was able to purchase natural gas from its
The firm chose the name “Phoenix” suppliers at a savings of approximately
after the bird of myth that, every 500 40% compared with 2008, he says.
years, builds a funeral pyre, sets itself CommonCents examines the rates
on fire and is reborn, emerging from and terms of suppliers and recommends
the ashes younger and stronger. “We to customers those that meet criteria for
believe we are just at the beginning of a price, terms and service, says managing
great many years to come,” Pici says. partner E. Gregory Tierno. The suppli-
The firm has developed “a strong ers offer both fixed- and variable-rate
and seasoned staff of professionals plans, with rates for the latter changing
who have embraced our commitment as often as every month, depending on
for excellence and professionalism,” Pici the market. “The objective is to level
says, including principal Sarah R. Baker, the playing field between customer and
also a certified fraud examiner. supplier,” Tierno says.
The accounting practice serves its
clients only from 68 Buhl Blvd., here; it Wallace and Pancher Opens
no longer has an office in Boardman.
Office in Canonsburg, Pa.
‘BCF’ at Phoenix Systems HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Wallace and Pancher
BOARDMAN – This year Phoenix Sys- Inc. recently opened an office in Canons-
tems Group will continue to market its
primary offerings under the brand name
burg, Pa., the third for the engineering,
environmental and construction firm,
��������������������������
“BCF Commerce, which stands for “Be reports Brian Pancher, who started the
Certain First,” says Jeff White, presi- company with Daniel Wallace in 2001.
dent. The company, which specializes Notable in 2009 was earning service
in software for merchants, expects to contracts to monitor the condition and
increase its BCF Commerce Net store flow of hundreds of miles of streams
base by implementing five to 10 new that course above long-wall underground
e-commerce systems this year. mining operations, Pancher says.
PSG also plans to implement up “Our mission is to bridge the gap
to 12 installations of its most recent between engineering and ecology,” he
product, adds Bill Heaven, vice presi- explains. “We want to help developers
dent of operations. “Implementation of and stakeholders create projects that
this product at the initial customer site result in the least amount of impact to
is nearing completion,” he says. The the environment while achieving their
as-yet-unnamed product is designed to goals.”
assist merchants, faced with increasing Since 2001, WPI has grown from two
security mandates, protect customer employees to more than 60 in 2009
credit card data. – 30 of whom were hired since last
Installations of the company’s BCF January, Pancher reports.
Commerce Gift Card Engine, a special-
ized application for storing and manag- Enrollment Up at NewLife
ing gift cards, doubled last year, and EAST LIVERPOOL -- NewLife Technical
���������������������������
������ ��
additional installations are expected this Institute increased enrollment in 2009 ����������������� ���������������
year, Heaven says. by over 500%, which NewLife’s develop- ������������������
“Our BCF Commerce products will ment manager, Steve Ullom, attributes
bring a new level of real-time integration to the slow economy and more job
between these systems that will create seekers.
a nearly seamless experience for the NewLife’s “fast-track, career-focused
customers, for product marketing, and programs” can be completed in 12
for customer service and fulfillment,” months or less, he notes. In addition
he explains. “Our typical customer is to advanced software development and
a small, entrepreneurial company that computer-support technician courses, ������������������������������������������������������
tends to do things differently, which is NewLife has begun offering a medical �����������������
what makes them successful.” transcription program.
98 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Serving Mercer County, PA Since 1985


A 501-C-3 Private Non-Profit Economic Development Corporation
First National Bank Adds
Asset-Based Lending
Professional Industrial Plant Expansion,
To Its Loan Portfolio
A
s with all banks affected by the fourth district of the Federal Re-
Relocation, and Start-up Services Include: the near meltdown of the serve System, which includes western
• Industrial Site/Facility Database/Specifications U.S. financial system, First Pennsylvania and all of Ohio, to offer
National Bank of Pennsylvania, based the product. First Desktop is a secure,
• Business Assistance & Financing Programs
in Hermitage,Pa., entered 2009 with remote-capture check-deposit product
• Industrial Outreach Services a strong focus on credit quality, core that allows business customers to
• Keystone Opportunity Zone earnings and strengthening its capital deposit checks electronically in their
• Training and Technology position, says its manager of corporate offices, Delie says.
communications, Barbara Swartz. First National Bank operates 11 of-
• Business Planning Services The bank, with assets exceeding fices in Mahoning, Trumbull, Geauga
• Development Coordination $8 billion, also continued its role as and Lake counties and more than
a civic leader in the communities it 220 branch offices throughout Penn-
Mercer County – A Great Place to serves throughout Pennsylvania and sylvania. Delie thinks the strength of
Live, Work, and Do Business! northeastern Ohio, she says. the bank he leads, combined with its
In 2009, First National Bank rec- financial performance in 2009, posi-
ognized that many manufacturers and tions First National to capitalize on
Penn-Northwest Development Corp.
749 Greenville Road, Suite 100 cyclical businesses found it tough to the opportunities arising from the
Mercer, PA 16137 borrow. To help them meet their needs recovering economy.
(724) 662-3705 and satisfy the bank’s credit standards, First National Bank, the largest
Visit our web site: www.penn-northwest.com the bank launched its new asset-based subsidiary of F.N.B. Corp., and its af-
lending group. “We are committed to filiates will work together to provide
being a leader in business banking and “Total Money Management solutions
assisting companies move through for consumers and businesses alike,”
the economic cycle,” states Vincent J. he says. The Total Money Manage-
Delie Jr., president. ment approach enlists the expertise
First National Bank’s introduction of the staff in all F.N.B. subsidiaries.
of services such as First Desktop Through them, F.N.B. offers retail,
Banker helped its business custom- merchant and commercial banking
ers be more efficient, he continues. trust, wealth management, leasing and
First National was the first bank in insurance services.

��������������� Eastern Gateway College Opens


��������������������������� The newly established Eastern
Gateway Community College,
County Career and Technical Cen-
ter, Mahoning County Career and
launched last fall, enrolled nearly Technical Center, and Trumbull
2,100 students during its first Career and Technical Center. Stu-
semester. dents also have the option of tak-
Authorized by the Ohio Gen- ing college classes via the Internet
eral Assembly in July, the former and can interact with one another
Jefferson Community College in through video conferencing.
������������������� Steubenville expanded its sphere
of influence to serve Columbiana
Career options for students
include positions in areas such as
���������������������� Mahoning and Trumbull counties
as well, reports Ann Koon, director
information technology, welding,
entrepreneurship, nursing and
of public information. wind turbine technology.

��������������
In addition to the Jefferson General education courses at
County campus, the school began the college will transfer to four-
by offering courses at four area year colleges and universities
career and technical centers, and throughout the state, so students
������������������ at the Valley Center at Forum
Health Northside Medical Center
can satisfy the requirements of the
first two years of a baccalaureate at
in Youngstown. The several sites a somewhat lower cost.
allows students to take classes in In addition to partnerships with
���������������� their own communities and help
keep costs down.
other community colleges and
area universities, Eastern Gateway
Local career centers offering is sharing teaching and learning
courses are Choffin Career and resources with Youngstown State
Technical Center, Columbiana University.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 99

Youngstown Foundation Gains Individual Donors


Donors gave more than $4 than 40 funds, many of them established through tablish program priorities and identify opportunities
gifts and estate bequests. Last year, the Youngstown for collaboration. “We have been impressed by the
million in 2009; $3.3 million Foundation received one of its largest bequests ever, commitment and perseverance of local nonprofit
in grants awarded. $4 million from the Michael Kusalaba Fund.
“This remarkable gift reflects Michael’s lifelong
organizations as they address the increased needs
of their clients,” Strasfeld remarks.

T
he Youngstown Foundation and its partners volunteer involvement and passion for Youngstown’s As a community foundation, The Youngstown
see opportunities in the challenges that community development and improvement,” Stras- Foundation embraces its responsibility as a leader
confront them. And the recession presented feld says. “The Youngstown Foundation is honored in identifying social needs and issues, convening
the foundation with an abundance of challenges. to be entrusted with this generous bequest.” stakeholders and coordinating resources to make
In 2009, donors gave more than $4 million to the Last year, local nonprofit organizations were lives better, she says. One example Strasfeld cites:
Youngstown Foundation, which in turn awarded awarded more than 170 grants that ranged from the Hines Memorial Fund allowed the foundation
more than $3.3 million in grants, reports its execu- $1,000 to $300,000; all were earmarked to allevi- to conduct a comprehensive survey of parents and
tive director, Jan Strasfeld. Contributions to the sup- ate the broad range of needs within the sectors of caregivers throughout Mahoning County to identify
port fund of the foundation, which provides donors social services, community development, health, the their needs and priorities in serving children with
the opportunity to recommend additional funding environment, education, arts and culture. diagnosed disabilities.
from the Youngstown Based on the founda- Lark Dickstein, foundation program coordinator
Foundation to more than In response to the increased demands that tion’s spending and in- who directed the initiative, says the survey results
70 approved local chari- suddenly spiked because of the recession, vestment policies, Stras- created a working agenda this year for the Hine Fund
ties, were $875,132. That’s feld anticipates last year’s that includes funding the development of a central
a 14% increase over 2008, The Youngstown Foundation established a level of distributions will information/referral source. The source maintains
Strasfeld notes. Crisis Assistance Program in 2009. be maintained in 2010. accurate, up-to-date contact information on systems
2009 had the highest In response to the in- and services and provides personal contact, includ-
number of individual donors in the foundation’s 92- creased demands that suddenly spiked because of the ing rollover coverage during nonworking hours.
year history – 1,145, which reflects a record increase recession, The Youngstown Foundation established The Youngstown Foundation, the nation’s fourth-
of 47% from 2008, she adds. “With national research a Crisis Assistance Program in 2009, she reports. oldest community foundation and ranked among the
suggesting that charitable giving will have dropped Grants of up to $5,000 were awarded within 48 top eight in Ohio, had $ 74.7 million in assets at Dec.
13% in 2009, the generosity and compassion within hours to nonprofit organizations that faced emer- 31. Since its establishment, more than $80 million
our local community to ensure the quality of life gencies – emergencies defined as an interruption of has been given back to the community.
for its citizens is overwhelming and humbling,” essential, direct services to their clients. Those wishing to learn more about grant request
Strasfeld states. In addition, the foundation works directly with guidelines will find them posted at Youngstown-
Within the Youngstown Foundation are more executives and boards of nonprofit agencies to es- Foundation.org.
100 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Mahoning Valley Electrical Contractors Go Green


M
ahoning and Trumbull counties sharing in Contractors Association (NECA), recently dedicated these new techniques. Among the courses offered
the $100 million in stimulus funds slated itself to becoming even more proficient in handling are wind and solar power installations, and energy
for Ohio to prepare workers for green green energy installation, service and maintenance efficiency processes, such as energy audits, specialty
energy jobs will also help Mahoning Valley Electrical projects, Travers reports. lighting and building automation.
Contractors’ efforts in this regard, says executive Members of the association’s work force of electri- The Electrical Trades Institute installed 36 new
director Tom Travers. cal journeymen and apprentices train at the Electri- solar panels and a wind turbine and tower 40 feet
The trade association, a coalition of electrical cal Trades Institute of Northeast Ohio in Champion, tall at a site in Champion. The panels generate more
contractors based throughout northeastern Ohio where alternative energy training is part of the ap- than 6 kilowatts of power while the single turbine
and western Pennsylvania and affiliated with the prenticeship curriculum. Journeymen electricians produces almost two.
Mahoning Valley chapter of the National Electrical with years of experience are also being retrained in With these new “energy-efficiency and renew-
able-energy industries” instructional tools, Travers
says, nearly 40 apprentices and journeymen who
work for Mahoning Valley contractors were educated
through the green energy program.
Electrical contractors, with their goal of increas-
ing energy efficiency and reliability through green
technology, are working on numerous projects.
University Electric of Youngstown completed
the installation of three 15-kilowatt wind turbines
at Western Reserve High School in Berlin Center,
the first wind turbine project for a school district in
Ohio. The firm also is installing two standby power
generators that convert methane gas at the Struthers
wastewater treatment plant, Travers says.
Geller Electric Inc. of Canfield is working on the
new Williamson College building at Youngstown
State University, which is certified through the rat-
ing system developed and administered by the U.S.
Green Building Council. Geller is fitting the building
with the automated Simply5 Lighting System, which
controls lights throughout the building based on
room occupancy and sunlight measures.
Joe Dickey Electric of North Lima recently con-
verted entrance signage at St. Elizabeth Hospital
in Youngstown from T-12 Fluorescent to LED, and
Dickey is upgrading the exterior lighting to the more
energy-efficient Pulse Start Metal Halide.

Canfield Computers Eyes


20% Jump in Revenues
Projections for 2010 at Canfield Computers LLC
show an expected 20% increase in revenues and a
200% growth in contracted managed services, re-
ports George McDonnell, president.
The company last year posted a 14% increase in
revenue and a 100%-plus growth in contracted man-
aged services. As a result, the staff was doubled.
McDonnell started the company four years ago
after discovering a need to service the IT needs of
small- to medium-size companies in the Youngstown
area. Canfield Computers delivers services through
a flat-rate service plan that’s based on each client’s
needs and is designed to reduce client costs, increase
profits and mitigate business risks.
“This cost has proven to be far less than what a
company typically would pay yearly for outsourced
IT services or the overhead costs it takes to employ
staff to deal with IT issues,” McDonnell says.
Among the many services offered are 24/7 net-
work monitoring/management, daily health checks,
virus detection, elimination and protection, off-site
data backup and disaster recovery, remote restora-
tion of lost-corrupt files within minutes, one-hour
recovery time after a server failure or crash and 24-
hour recovery time if a server is destroyed.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 101

Revenues Top $10M Woodlands Puts Focus


In 2009 at DRS LLC On Short-Term Rehab
Company now manages
A
tor of our business.” Meloy says. “We s the health care industry independent living and residential
saw the benefits and opportunities changes, so has the focus at care, Antalocy says.
Leetonia Tech Complex. available in this untapped market and
focused on strategically developing
Woodlands LLC to more 30-
day short-term care services, says the
Construction of the 52-unit com-
plex began in November 2008 and

D RS LLC, Youngstown, sets


high standards for itself.
While the odds were
stacked against many businesses
achieving their goals last year, the
our offerings to our clients.”
Last year the company built an ad-
ditional 60 miles of fiber throughout
northeast Ohio, bringing its route
management to over 400 miles, Meloy
Austintown company’s chief financial
officer, Frank Antalocy.
“The market’s really changed,”
Antalocy says. “Long-term care used
cost about $6.7 million to build, he
says. The company is looking to hire
up to 40 employees to staff Hampton
Woods.
to be all it was, but not anymore. The residential units connect to the
technology company bucked the trend says. DRS also signed a contract with We’ve really pushed our short-term nursing center and are designed simi-
and not only met, but exceeded, its the Columbiana County Port Author- rehabilitation.” lar to New Orleans’ French Quarter
objectives, says its president, Mike ity that gave the company exclusive Short-term rehabilitation makes up exteriors, with vibrant colors and an
Meloy. user rights to the Access fiber optic about 40% of the business at Wood- upbeat theme with dining, retail and
“We’re a perfect example of a com- network that runs through Mahoning lands’ 160-bed AustinWoods Nursing service areas, says Woodlands founder
pany that has managed to outperform and Columbiana counties. Center, which is up from 10% when and CEO, Kathy Prasad.
even its own expectations in 2009,” The contract also included DRS it first opened 10 years ago, Antalocy Support services, including laundry
says Meloy. managing a 22,000-square-foot tech- says. and beauty salons, are also included,
The company ended the year by nology complex in Leetonia. The Lee- About half of the business at the Prasad continues, but continuing to
surpassing the $10 million mark in tonia Technology Complex is located HamptonWoods Nursing Center in provide such services will be difficult
revenue, more than half of which is along the Access fiber-optic network, Poland is also short-term rehabilia- with cuts to Medicare reimburse-
because of its Managed Service Provid- and will allow DRS to supply its clients tion, and its 70 skilled-nursing beds ments.
er Programs division, he reports. The with less costly and faster broadband have been at 100% capacity since “Our challenge is to continue offer-
data center and cloud computing ser- Internet access, Meloy says. the nursing home opened in 2006, ing top-level services and try to keep it
vices also recorded an overall increase PALO Creative, DRS’ marketing and he says. as affordable as we can,” Prasad says.
of 45% from the previous year. public relations division, became the In February, the company will open “It’s extremely challenging to provide
“We’ve seen tremendous growth first tenant in the complex. The two Woodlands Assisted Living at Hamp- the same level of care without these
and interest in the service-related sec- companies merged in February 2009. ton Woods, which will offer residents Medicare reimbursements.”
102 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

The FitNesst Adds Community Outreach Classes


Grows from an office setting to Bokes, Cybex Arc Trainers and the NuStep Recum-
bent Cross Trailer that is featured on the TV show
class series for groups of five or more.
Meantime, DeMaiolo introduced “FitNesstEggs,”
‘concierge’ health club. “Biggest Loser.” Lana Jo Eddy-Campfield, who holds
a master’s degree in exercise physiology joined The
22-calorie dark-chocolate “eggs” she created by
working with a local candy manufacturer.

L
ast year, Matthew Good, registered licensed FitNesst to oversee exercise testing and personal The 72% cacao product is sold at The FitNesst
dietitian at The FitNesst in Boardman, expanded training regimes for clients. Last year the FitNesst and The Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Store, DeMaiolo
the club’s weight-loss program. This year, he exercise studio also added a personalized six-week says.
will add classes including “Nutrition in the Cancer

Modern Office Products Expands Footprint


Community” and “Meet the Dietitian,” says Mary
DeMaiolo, founder and CEO.
The FitNesst opened last year as a “concierge”
health club offering cardio, free-weight and exercise Modern Office Products, Boardman, expanded Adding in-house printing services will be an-
equipment, a juice bar, locker rooms and a floating its market footprint last year with the purchase of other benefit to the customer, because “it helps
floor exercise class studio, DeMaiolo reports. another office products company in the Cleveland our customers who don’t have to shop around,”
She started the FitNesst Institute in 2006 in market, reports its marketing and sales manager, McElroy says.
an office-style setting with a focus on developing Katie McElroy. The furniture showroom is doing well for
personalized eating and exercise plans and a small Modern Office bought Lake Office Suppliers, the company, “especially in a down economy,
area where staff could demonstrate exercise pro- now called Lake Office Products, to help expand because people are looking to save where they
grams that clients could do in their own homes or its delivery area, McElroy says. can,” McElroy says.
studios. In addition to the serving more customers The company is planning to hold its first Eco-
The many clients who expressed a desire to con- in a wider area, the company can better serve Expo open house in April, which will feature local
tinue workouts at The FitNesst prompted DeMaiolo Youngstown-based customers that have Cleve- furniture manufacturers displaying their “green”
to open a club, and that became a reality last year land branches, she says. office products, she says.
with the opening on Southern Boulevard in Board- “It’s a goal of ours to service all of northeast Despite a decrease in sales, Modern Office
man near Southwoods Surgery Center. The focus is Ohio and western Pennsylvania,” McElroy says. Products maintained its no layoff policy and kept
on teaching clients practical skills related to food “It’s just part of our plan to expand.” all of its employees, McElroy says. Further, the
and nutrition, exercise and activity, stress reduction, Modern Office Products also expanded within company didn’t have to reduce work hours.
balance and motivation, and support for long-term its building on South Avenue here by opening At the same time, the company’s international
success. a used furniture store there and purchasing a office products buying group continued to grow
The health club features equipment not found in quick-print company. despite the economy, she says.
most local gyms, DeMaiolo says, such as Expresso

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 103

Focal Point Starts Up TDDS Adds Health Training


Ahead of Expectations MINERAL RIDGE – Growing demand �������������������������������
YOUNGSTOWN -- In just a few months of
for qualified workers in the health-care
industry is bringing lots of growth to the
���������������������������������
operation, Focal Point Coaching LLC is new TDDS School of Allied Health. ��������������������������������������
off and running with nearly double the “The Sunday classifieds are littered
number of clients it expected. with ads from nursing homes, home ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
In business since November, Focal health-care providers and hospitals
Point has nine clients, which is better looking for cer tified caregivers for
than the five clients its managing part-
ner, Michael Creatore, expected to have
their residents and patients,” says
Christine Rathburn, director of the new IT FEELS GOOD TO BELONG!
in the company’s first year, he says. With school.
15 years experience as a financial plan- Rathburn helped establish a training
ner and economics analyst, Creatore is program to certify students as state- THE YMCA Of YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
sharing his knowledge in sales, market- tested nurse aides, or STNAs. She and
ing and business management with busi- her husband, Rick Rathburn Jr., who FAMILIES • INDIVIDUALS • STUDENTS • SENIORS
ness owners that wouldn’t normally have owns and operates TDDS Technical
access to the latest ideas, he says. Your YMCA Membership Gives You Access
Institute in Lake Milton, say the new
In 2010, he anticipates his customer program is a successful addition to the to Two Great Facilities!
base to increase to 30 clients and plans curriculum.
to hire more staff to accommodate the The first courses started April 13.
increase, he says. TDDS School of Allied Health has thus 330-747-YMCA
BC3 Expanding Campus far graduated 137 men.
The program boasts a graduation
www.youngstownymca.org
BUTLER, Pa. – Butler County Community
rate of 100% with first-time state exam
College this year will surpass a total of
pass rates of nearly 90%, the Rathburns
4,400 students at two campuses in
say.
Butler County as well as campuses in
Mercer and Lawrence counties, accord- Micro Doctor Launches
ing to spokeswoman Susan Changon.
Flat-Fee Hardware Program BUSINESS JOURNAL
On the horizon is the expansion of
BC3@LindenPointe, on Route 18 in WARREN – Micro Doctor Inc. is offering INSTITUTIONAL AD
Hermitage, Pa. The BC3 Education Foun- a new program – Hardware as a Service 1/8TH PAGE AD
dation acquired an 8,000-square-foot – that provides hardware such as serv-
building last December and an 11,100- ers, workstations and firewalls for a flat
square-foot-expansion is planned, Chan- rate monthly fee.
gnon says. Renovations are under way. “It is not a lease and there is no inter-
New construction begins in April, and the est paid,” says Mark Richmond, owner
facility will open next January. and Microsoft-certified small-business
Enrollment is expected to grow from specialist.
300 to 500 students once the expan- Last year, the company entered a
sion is complete, Changnon notes. new market by becoming certified as an
Allworx VOIP phone system dealer. With
Montessori Marks 33 Years several successful installations, Micro
YOUNGSTOWN – The Montessori School Doctor is poised to make VOIP another
of the Mahoning Valley is “getting calls successful segment of the company’s
from families planning to relocate from offerings, Richmond says.
larger metropolitan areas,” says Amy- Faced with a difficult economy, the
Anne Kibler, executive director. company looked for ways to cut costs,
“We’ve also seen an uptick in ap- such as converting phone lines from a
plications from local parents of 2- to local telephone provider to VOIP phones,
4-year-old children,” she adds, “which saving more than $400 each month.
suggests research on brain develop- “We also increased efficiency by utiliz-
ment is making an impact.” ing new technology to do much more
Scientists determined that the most remote-control work to solve informa-
critical period for learning is early child- tion-technology problems without rolling
hood, she says. They found that learn- a truck,” Richmond notes.
ing through use of concrete materials, As a result, Richmond says Micro
such as those designed for Montessori Doctor, which opened in 1989, posted
schools, to understand abstract con- such a good second half that 2008 sales
cepts significantly improves academic were exceeded by 2.6% enabling the
abilities. company to add to the service team.
104 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

�����������������������������������������
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 105

BuildingBetterBusiness
Make Good Use of Social Media
Small businesses are behind the Social media really is about creating good con- and/or improving your Internet presence and activity
times in recognizing value of an sumer experiences with your product. And as a
rockin’ small-business owner, you’ve been doing
your No. 1 resolution for 2010.
If you don’t, your bottom line during 2010 cer-
Internet presence. that better than anyone for years. The only differ-
ence is that now there’s a tool to help you connect
tainly will suffer.

on a much larger scale. Lisa Barone, the author of this article, is the co-founder of
By Lisa Barone Small businesses are notoriously behind the

D
Outspoken Media Inc., an Internet marketing company based
o your customers use the Web? Because if times in recognizing the value and importance of in Spring Hill, Fla., that specializes in managing the online
they do, then they’re using social media. an Internet presence. reputation of its clients, social media services and other
Every time one of your customers does If you fall into this category, make developing Internet services.
a search and finds your Yelp listing – that’s social

BBB Standards and Politics


media.
When they use Twitter or Facebook to pass on
information or simply chat with friends and family
– that’s social media.

A Advertise Honestly
When they open up Flickr to scout out possible fter Michael
wedding or hiking locations – that’s social media. Douglas had
When they turn to LinkedIn Answers or Busi- Evaluate campaign promises. Compare promises
appeared in five
ness Answers to seek help on a problem – that’s to actual achievements. Ask yourself if a candidate
blockbuster films, his
social media. has ever used dirty tactics against another candi-
father, the actor Kirk
And if your customers are using these sources, date.
Douglas, sent him a
then you need to be aware of that. Truthfully, it’s note. Tell the Truth
becoming harder to say that your customers aren’t The note read, “Mi- Does a candidate’s speeches and press releases
on social media because social media is, quite simply, chael, I’m more proud contain substance or nonsense that makes the
everywhere. Its integration has become so seamless of how you handle suc- electors feel good? During face-to-face debate or
that sometimes customers don’t even realize they’re cess than I am of your conversations, can he or she look you in the eye?
on it. But they are. And you have to account for that success.” Is his word his promise? Do her actions match up
in your marketing efforts. His son has trea- to her promises?
The excuse that “our customers aren’t there” isn’t sured both that note
viable anymore.
By Pat Rose
and its author’s wisdom Be Transparent and Honor Promises
throughout his long and
Don’t Have Time for Social Media? BBB President
successful career.
A candidate or elected official should clearly
identify the nature and names of all contributors.
Nearly 30% of people responding to a recent This story got me thinking about my recent Private business partnerships that could be a conflict
survey said the reason they’re not participating in article about the A+ to F grades that we give busi- of interest also should be identified. Appointed board
social media is because they don’t have the time or nesses based on our BBB Principles for Trust. That positions at companies, nonprofit organizations or
staff to do it properly. article has led to so many phone calls here at the others must be made public. He or she should
Here’s the thing: When you break it down, so- office. These grades show how a business reacts abide by and honor all written and verbal
cial media is really nothing more than exemplary to success. promises.
customer service. With all the recent news coverage, interviews
It’s about answering questions, making things and blogs about our current or “wanna be” Be Responsive
right and going out of your way in all the little areas. elected officials, I started wondering why some Does the officeholder address constituents’
Sure, the tools are different and there’s an investment organization doesn’t develop well-defined crite- requests promptly, respectfully and reason-
in time you must make to learn them, but once you ria for elected officials and other public ser- ably?
do have them – there really isn’t an increased time vants so that votes could more easily decide
investment. where to put those X’s on their ballots. Embody Integrity
In fact, you may find you’re making up time by Let’s look at the BBB Standards and see if He or she should approach all dealings
answering questions via a quick tweet rather than they might be tweaked to evaluate someone and commitments with integrity. Evaluate
a 10-minute phone call. running for public office. a public official’s decisions by asking this question:
Social media can actually make customer service “Are all his decisions being made based on what is
a lot more manageable by automating it to some Start With Trust best for his constituents or what is best for him and
degree with such things as social media tools and Did the officeholder (or office-seeker) establish his friends, other politicians, his party or without
quick buzz stations. and maintain a positive track record in his or her thoughtful consideration at all?”
If you’ve been holding back on marketing personal and public life? Does he or she maintain I hope this article will stimulate you to evaluate
through social media because you’re worried that a reputation for contributing both time and money not only businesses against the BBB’s set of standards
your customers aren’t there, they are. And if it’s a to local worthy causes? Is his or her private life but also the people we vote for to represent us every
resource issue, then combat the overload by learning unblemished by actions considered unacceptable day on issues of great importance to us, our com-
how to make social media useful. by society? munities and our nation.
106 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

INVITATIONS New Forms of Marketing


BUSINESS CARDS
BROCHURES For Basinger Auction
PROMOTIONAL ITEMS Real estate company, American Real Estate Specialists aver-
aged 92.78%.
auction service both
GRAPH I C D ESI G N experience growth.
With 25 years of experience, and
whether we take a traditional real
estate listing or use the auction to

330-965-2380 By Julie Cernica


Broker and Auctioneer,
market a property, we know our mar-
ket, know our target buyers and set
8570 FOXWOOD COURT • PO BOX 5159 • YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
the price right to begin with.
Basinger Auction Service For our auction company, Bas-

T
www.boardmanprinting.com
o increase the scope of our inger Auction Service, our business
market and generate the greatest increased 68% last year from 2008.
proceeds for our clients, we at We’ve also added online-only auc-
American Real Estate Specialists and tions to not only broaden the base
Basinger Auction Service, North Lima, of potential buyers, but to maximize
have added new forms of marketing proceeds so the seller profits for those
in our listings for real estate, personal needing to quickly liquidate their
property and business liquidations. assets, www.BasingerAssetBridge.
For our real estate company, Amer- com is sent as e-mail blasts to buy-
ican Real Estate Specialists, we added ers worldwide who have an interest
a Web site that allows online bidding. in specific types of goods, whether it
On that site, ARESInternetAuctions. be restaurant equipment, boutiques,
com, is all the information a potential weight training equipment, con-
buyer would need to be apprised of struction equipment, medical offices,
the property up for bid. Also there construction companies or auctions
is a packet of information he can for local townships, this outlet allows
download and take to his lender for buyers nationwide to buy items that
pre-approval, and the site provides the pique their interest.
ability to bid on a property from the This new Web site is a bridge that
comfort of one’s home or office. allows the quick and orderly transfer of
With 75% to 80% of buyers start- assets between the sellers and all of the
ing their home search online, we felt target buyers. Basinger Auction Service
this was the next step in marketing conducts auctions to settle estates, re-
real estate for auction. While some solve divorce settlements, help people
auctioneers who sold real estate last relocating, accommodate business
year averaged 69.8% of the list price, liquidations and benefit charities.

Palo Creative Sees Gains


In Interactive Division
Palo Creative, Leetonia, has ex- oping Web apps and interfaces that
perienced steady growth in the ad- specifically address our clients’ wants
vertising industry for the past five and needs,” he says. “Our focus is
years and 2009 was no exception, developing mobile apps, integrating
reports its president and founder, Rob streaming video into client’s Web sites,
Palowitz. designing interactive applications, and
2009 was a strong year for Palo’s working with middleware applications
marketing and interactive depart- to make multiple, complex, back-end
ments, he says. These divisions systems converge into one simplified
developed campaigns that focused user interface.”

���������������� on incorporating new media with


complex programming projects. Both
the interactive and marketing/media
Palo Creative’s merger with long-
time client DRS LLC in April im-
proved its ability to integrate high-end
���������������������������� �������������������������� departments delivered double-digit technology into its services, Palowitz
��������������������������� �������������������������� growth during the worst economy the notes. “It gives the agency access to
������������������������������ agency has ever experienced. multiple back-end programmers, and
����������������������������� The company invested a substan- boosted our focus on new technolo-
����������������������������� tial amount of time developing new gies into high gear,” he says.
technological elements to incorporate The company has landed new busi-
�����������������������������
������ ���� into their marketing strategies, says
Nick Miller, interactive director.
ness from a diverse range of clients
including Parker Hannifin, Palowitz
“We’ve been moving toward devel- says.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 107

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108 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 109

RealEstateMarket Compiled by
Mark Heschmeyer

Trumbull County’s Largest Transactions


Address Buyer Sale Amount Seller Sale Date
3708 International Blvd., Vienna Pillar Partners One LLC $1,365,000 Trumbull Investments Inc. 11/13/2009
1620 Motor Inn Drive, Girard Aswin Ganapathy Hospitality Associates $900,000 HI Youngstown LLC 11/9/2009
1451 Buena Vista, Warren LB Steel Acquisitions V LLC $900,000 Concord Steel Inc. 12/23/2009
501 Churchill Road, Girard 513 Girard OH LLC $653,138 Slane Commercial 40-3 Ltd. 11/25/2009
712 S. Tod Ave., Warren 712 Warren OH LLC $511,151 Slane Commercial 40-7 Ltd. 11/23/2009
6100 state Route 45, Lordstown Your Mortgage Centre LLC $350,000 Byrne Management Inc. 12/1/2009
8091 Raglan Ext. Katsaros Land Co. Ltd. $275,000 George & Angel Ploumbis 11/30/2009

Featured Property
Slane Co. in Columbus, Ohio, sold a portfolio of 10 single-tenant retail • The 8,178-square-foot Warren West Community Health Center, 712
proper ties to Empire Holding LP, a Brooklyn, N.Y., investment firm S. Tod Ave., Warren, which sold for $511,151 ($62.50 per square
managed by Dovie Sperlin. The portfolio includes four properties in the foot).
Youngstown/Warren area. The total sales price for the portfolio was not • An 8,178-square-foot Family Dollar store at 2708 Glenwood Ave. in
available; however, the four area properties sold for a combined $2.96 Youngstown, which sold for $437,288 ($53.47 per square foot).
million. The original asking price for all 10 properties was $11.4 million.
The portfolio had a combined 90,174 rentable square feet and included The other properties in the portfolio are in Columbus (two), Canton, South
three Rite Aid stores, two CVS stores, two Dollar Generals and one Family Point and West Milton, and in Harrisburg, Pa.
Dollar and two miscellaneous tenants. In acquiring the properties, the buyer assumed a 10-year fixed-rate loan
carrying a 7.08% interest rate. Morgan Stanley was the original lender
The four area properties sold are: and then rolled the loan up in a commercial mortgage-backed security.
• A 10,363-square-foot Rite Aid store at 540 E. Midlothian Blvd. in The loan matures in 2014. The ending loan balance is scheduled to be
Youngstown, which sold for $1,363,070 ($131.53 per square foot). $8.85 million; monthly principal and interest payments total $64,294.
• An 8,178-square-foot Dollar General store at 501 Churchill Road in Simon Jonna, senior associate director of the National Retail Group of
Girard, which sold for $653,138 ($79.87 per square foot). Marcus & Millichap in Southfield, Mich., was the listing agent.

This drugstore at 540 E. Midlothian Blvd. in Youngstown sold for $1,363,070. This discount store at 2708 Glenwood Ave. in Youngstown sold for $437,288.
110 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

Coming in January 22,


2010 Auto Loan Rates
February CONSUMERS NATIONAL BANK – Salem
Up to 60 Mos. 5.75 - 16.50
FIRST PLACE BANK – Boardman
Up to 60 Mos.
10% Down
8.00
Rate varies based on applicant’s credit rating

CORTLAND BANKS – Cortland HOME SAVINGS – Youngstown


Up to 60 Mos. 7.74
Up to 60 Mos. 6.75
Up to 66 Mos. 8.24
Up to 72 Mos. 6.75 10% Down
E.S.B. BANK – Ellwood City
Up to 60 Mos. 7.40 HUNTINGTON BANK – Youngstown
Up to 72 Mos. 8.40 Up to 60 Mos. 5.99

FARMERS NATIONAL BANK – Canfield KEYBANK – Youngstown


Up to 60 Mos. 6.40 Up to 66 Mos. 6.69
Up to 72 Mos. 6.94 Down: Varies
Rate varies based on applicant’s credit rating

Special
FIRST MERIT BANK – New Castle PNC BANK – Sharon
Up to 66 Mos. 7.24
Up to 48 Mos. 5.50-12.50
10% Down

Double Issue
PNC BANK – Youngstown
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PA. – Hermitage Up to 66 Mos. 7.00 - 13.00
Up to 60 Mos. 7.85 Rate varies based on applicant’s credit rating
Up to 66 Mos. 7.85


���������������������������� US BANK (formerly Firstar Bank) – Boardman
1ST NATIONAL COMMUNITY – East Liverpool
�������������������������� Up to 48 Mos. 4.75
Up to 60 Mos. 6.00 - 11.75
�����������������������������
����������������������������������
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of The Business Journal compilations. The rates are subject to change without notice. All rate
��������������������������������� information should be confirmed with the individual financial institution before entering into transactions. © 2010 Youngstown Publishing Co.

����������������������������������

Lyle Printing Offers New Services


�����������������������������������
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L yle Printing and Publishing Co. Inc., Salem,
begins its 120th year in business with new
products that allow faster delivery and better
quality, says Scot Darling.
Darling is publisher of Farm and Dairy, the largest
company also offers hosting services.
“Our goal is to grow audience in both our print
and online products, which will enhance the value,
quality and quantity of the information we distrib-
ute,” says Darling, the third generation of his family
�� �������������������
�� ������������������������� publication under the Lyle banner. to run Lyle.
Lyle offers services from sheet-fed printing to
�� ������������������ Web printing – the printing of newspapers and Youngstown Ortho Recruits Surgeons
�� ������������������ tabloids for customers. During 2009, Lyle upgraded BOARDMAN – Youngstown Or thopaedic Associates
�� ��������������� hardware and software to improve productivity and will recruit more sub-specialty orthopedic surgeons
quality. Specifically, it acquired a new color scan- to the Mahoning Valley in 2010, says Jim DeCenso,
����������������������������������� ner/image press, which enables the company to offer administrator. Last year, in response to local needs,
�������������������������������� lower prices for color printing and better quality the practice completed the transition into the practice
������������ with a faster turnaround time. of its ninth orthopedic surgeon, David Weimer.
With the advent of its new computer-to-plate Weimer joins surgeons Jim Jamison, David Musser
���������������������������������������������� technology, Lyle is completely digital, Darling says, and Paul Pagano at the practice’s newest office at the
������������������������������ ����������� which allows crisper and cleaner print quality. corner of Tippecanoe Road and U.S. Route 224. The
The printing company also serves its custom- new location, chosen for its proximity to the existing
ers with direct mailing. Lyle’s software, updated office across the street, was completely remodeled last
��������������������������� bimonthly, sorts mailing lists so they qualify for the year and opened to serve patients in October.
����������������������������� best postal rates. Last year, the practice acquired the latest MRI unit,
Farm and Dairy is a weekly agricultural publica- housed at the new office, and X-ray services also were
tion in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia and has expanded to serve patients at both offices. “2010 will
a readership of 30,000, Darling says. “It is the lead- see additional capabilities in the specialty imaging
ing resource of regional auctions, having advertised departments that will allow YOA to accommodate pa-
nearly 7,000 auctions last year,” he adds. tients who now must travel out of town for diagnostic
The newspaper’s writers have received numerous services,” DeCenso says.
journalism awards and national trade associations Also in 2009, YOA began the process of converting
have recognized the publication. to a totally electronic medical records system. The prac-
Lyle Digital Services, the newest addition to the tice also increased staffing of certified occupational
company, was launched in 2007; it redesigns Web therapists, expanded physical therapy services and
sites or builds new ones from the ground up. The hired certified athletic trainers.
The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 111

January 22,
2010 Mortgage Rates �������������
��������
�����������������
�������������������������

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TYPE TERM RATE, 2-Wk Trend FEES �������������


�����������
AMERISTATE BANCORP INC. FHA/VA 3.5% Down 30 Yr. 5.00 — 0+costs ��������������
Boardman Fixed 3% Down 30 Yr. 5.00  0+costs ���������
�����������
CHARTER ONE BANK Fixed 5% Down 15 Yr. 4.50  0+costs ��������������
Boardman Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 5.125  0+costs ���������
����������������������������������������
CONSUMERS NATIONAL BANK Fixed 5% Down 15 Yr. 4.50  0+costs ���������������������������������������
Salem Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 5.125  0+costs �������������������������

CORTLAND BANKS Fixed 5% Down 15 Yr. 4.375  0+costs ������������ �����������������������


Cortland Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 5.125  0+costs

DOLLAR BANK MORTGAGE CENTER ARM 5% Down 5 Yr. 4.00  0+costs ������������
Cleveland Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 4.94  0+costs

E.S.B. BANK Fixed 5% Down 15 Yr. 4.50  0+costs


Ellwood City, Pa. Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 5.25  0+costs
������������������������
FARMERS NATIONAL BANK Fixed 20% Down 15 Yr. 4.75 — 0+costs
Canfield Fixed 20% Down 20 Yr. 5.125 — 0+costs
����������������������������������
�����������������������������������

FIRST MERIT BANK Fixed 5% Down 15 Yr. 4.50  0+costs ���������������������������������������


New Castle/Boardman Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 5.125  0+costs
�����������������������
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PA Fixed 5% Down 15 Yr. 4.375  0+costs ���������� ����������
Youngstown, Ohio Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 5.125  0+costs ��������������� �������������
������������������������ ������������������
������������� �������������
Arrows tell whether rates rose or fell since last issue. Dashes indicate “unchanged.” ����������������������������������������������������������������������������

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112 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

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January 22,
2010 Mortgage Rates
���������
����������������������������������������
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
1ST NATIONAL COMMUNITY
East Liverpool
TYPE

FHA
Fixed
5% Down
5% Down
TERM

30 Yr.
30 Yr.
RATE, 2-Wk Trend

5.25 —
5.50 —
FEES

0+costs
0+costs
FIRST PLACE BANK Fixed 5% Down 15 Yr. 4.375  0+costs
5.00 
�������� ����������
������������
Boardman Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 0+costs
FLAGSTAR BANK Fixed 0% Down 15 Yr. 4.75 — 0+costs
����������� ���������
��������� Beechwood Fixed 0% Down 30 Yr. 5.00  0+costs
�������� HOME FEDERAL Fixed 20% Down 15 Yr. 5.50 — 0+costs
Niles
����������� ����������������� ����� HOME SAVINGS Fixed 5% Down 15 Yr. 4.50  0+costs
4.99 
������������
Youngstown Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 0+costs
����������� ����������������� �����
HOWARD HANNA FINANCIAL Fixed 5% Down 15 Yr. 4.375  0+costs
Pittsburgh Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 5.00  0+costs
���������� �������������������� �����
HUNTINGTON BANK Fixed 3% Down 15 Yr. 4.375  0+costs
������� ��������������������������� ����� Youngstown Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 5.00  0+costs

KEYBANK Fixed 20% Down 15 Yr. 4.50  0+costs


��������������������������������� ����� Youngstown Fixed 20% Down 30 Yr. 5.00  0+costs
�������������������������������� PNC BANK FHA 3% Down 30 Yr. 5.00  1+costs
Youngstown Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 5.125  0+costs
5.25 
������������
�����������������������
WELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGE
Boardman (Formerly Norwest Mortgage)
FHA
Fixed
3% Down
5% Down
30 Yr.
30 Yr. 5.125 
0+costs
0+costs

US BANK Fixed 5% Down 15 Yr. 4.75 — 0+costs


�������
Boardman (Formerly Firstar Bank) Fixed 5% Down 30 Yr. 5.45  1+costs
��������������������������������������������������������������
© 2010 Youngstown Publishing Co. All rights reserved. *Private Mortgage Insurance because less than 20% down.

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The Business Journal MidJANUARY 2010 113

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W3 Wealth Management 100 Years at Paisley House ���������������������� �������������������
Earns Goldline Honor YOUNGSTOWN – Paisley House, a non- ����������������� ������������������
HOWLAND -- W3 Wealth Management,
profit, private-pay assisted-living home ����������������
for the elderly in Youngstown, celebrated
formerly Dumas and Moyer, thrived in
2009 as it saw growth in assets under
its centennial anniversary in 2009.
The home’s capacity is just 21 resi-
�������������������������������������


management, says Ted Dumas, a certi-
dents. The monthly fee is $1,550 per ���������������������������� ����������������
fied financial planner.
resident. “Because of grants and private ��� ����� �������� ������� ������������������������
This growth, he says, resulted in
donations, our endowment fund enables ������� �������� ��� ���
investment values increasing along ��� ����� ������� ���� ��� ������� ����
us to subsidize the monthly expenses of ���� ���������� ���� ����� ������� ��������� �������������������������������������
with the demand for professional advice
our home,” says Ruthie Loar, president ����� ���� ����� ���� �� �������� ����
driven by market volatility. ������������������������������������
of the board. ���������������������������������������
W3’s Warren/Howland office was ���������������������������������������
New furniture was added last year ����� ��������� ������ � � � ������ ����
Dumas and Moyer until 2008. Principals ����� ��� ���� ���� ���
and exterior improvements were made. ������������������������
there are Dumas, Andrew Moyer, Shelby
Plans this year include renovating the ���������������� ������ � �
� �� ���� �������
Morgan and Frank Bevilacqua. Moyer ���� ��������� ���������
nurses’ station. ������������������� ������ ����� ���������
and Bevilacqua are also CFPs, the later ������� ��������� ����
�����������������������
a certified public accountant. Second-Best Sales Year ������� ���������� ���� ����������������������
��������� ����� �����
W3 drew the attention of Goldline ���������� ���� ���� ��� �������������������
Research, which named it one of the
At Kiraly Tool and Die ������������������������� ����������������������
leading wealth management firms in YOUNGSTOWN – Although the recession ������������������������������������� �����������������������
the Midwest. Goldline noted W3’s team caused orders for tooling and machined �������� ������ ���������� ��������� ������ ���� ���� ������������ ���� �����
approach in working with clients, which parts to drop significantly in the first ���� ������� ������� ����� ��� ������ ���� �����������������������������������
involves more than one adviser in those quar ter of last year, Kiraly Tool and �������������� ����������������������������������������
relationships to gain a broader under- Die Inc. saw “spikes” in the second ������������������
standing of clients’ goals. and third quarters, says Steve Kiraly, ���������������
Besides its office in Howland, W3 has president. “The fourth quarter was sur- ����������������
��������������������
� ������ ���� ���� ��� �� �������� ����������������
another in Fairlawn, a suburb of Akron. prisingly busy, and we worked overtime

hours the rest of the year.” ��������������������������������������
��������� �������� ������ ������� ���
‘Friends’ Promote Sharon One benefit of the recession, he
�������� ��� ������������ ����� ����� �������������������������������������
SHARON, Pa. -- The next generation says, is that the cost of new CNC ma- ������� ��������� �� �������� ��� ����� ���
chines came down. “In the fourth quar-
������� ���� ��������� ������� �������
of the “Four Friends” who established ��� ����� ��� ����� ����������� ����� ���� �������� ���� ������� ���������
the tourism industry in Mercer County ter, we purchased a CNC vertical mill,
������� ������� ��������� ��� ������� �� ��� ������ ������ �� ������ �������
is “paying tribute to Sharon’s founding office computers, upgraded CAD design
�������� ����� ���������� ��� ����� ��� ����������������������������������
fathers of tourism, who have inspired software and hired a machinist.”
���������������������������������������� ������������������������������������
us,” reflects Laura Ackley, general man- The company completed its 10th
year of business in 2009 with sales of ���������� �������� ������� ����������� ��������������������������������������
ager of the Buhl Mansion and director of �����������������������������������
$1,005,000, down 7% from 2008 sales ������� ������ ��������� ���� �������
marketing for Tara -- A Country Inn. ���� ���� ����� ������������� ���� ��� ��
but still the second-best sales year for ������������������������������������
Those “founding fathers” were Pete
the company, Kiraly says. ������������������������������������� �����������������������������������
Daffin of Daffin Candy, Harry Jubelirer
����������������������������������� ������������������������������������
of Reyers Shoes, Gary “Moe” Meszaros
and George “Jig” Warren of Quaker Steak
Pittsburgh Airport Offers ����������������������������������� ���������������������������������������
and Lube, and Jim Winner, owner of the Low-Cost Flights, Sites �������������������������������������� �������� ������� ������ ���� ��������
Winner as well as the Buhl Mansion and PITTSBURGH – The majority of flights to ��������������������������
and from Pittsburgh International Airport
�������������������� ��������
Tara. In the mid-1980s they formed a
��� ���� ���� ��� ���� ����� ���� ����
cooperative marketing group known as are priced below the national average,
������� ���������� ���� ��� ������� ���
����������������
the “Four Friends” to jointly promote fares having fallen 24% since 2001, and ��� ���� ������ ����� ���� ���������
the airport complex continues to draw ����������������������������������
their attractions and the area. �������������������������������������
Representing the new partners are more jobs and commerce, says Glenn ����� ������ ��� ����� ������������ �����
���� ��������� ���� �� ������������� ����� ����� ���������� ������� ����
Buhl’s Ackley, Diane Daffin and Con- Mahone, chairman of the Allegheny
���� ���� �������� ����������� ������� �������������������������������������
nie Leon for Daf fin’s, Bob Mentrek County Airport Authority.
“The airport’s role as an economic ������������������������������������ ����� ������������ ������� ���������
for Quaker Steak and Lube, Mark and
Steve Jubelirer for Reyers, and Peggy generator is to provide high quality, com- ����������� ���� ���� ������ ��������� ����������������������������������
Emmett for The Winner. petitive air service in and out of south- ������������������������������������� ������
According to VisitMercerCountyPA’s western Pennsylvania and to develop ������������������������
executive director, Peggy Mazyck, tour- key properties to attract new industry
ism now generates more than $274 and jobs,” says Mahone. “Through our
million dollars for Mercer County’s focus on creating shovel-ready land, the �������������������
economy. A combination of print and airport corridor has flourished. ������������������
online advertising with matching funds Much new construction is under way,
from VisitMercerCountyPA promotes the he reports, crediting a regional effort to ����������������������������������������
Web site, SharonPA.com. provide sites ready for development.
114 MidJANUARY 2010 The Business Journal

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THE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO 44501 PAID
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PERMIT NO. 69

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