May 11, 2024
YOUNGSTOWN – Lake to River Economic Development, JobsOhio’s new economic progress region, has appointed seven more people to its staff.
Announced in April, the region, the seventh region in the network of JobsOhio, the state’s economic advancement corporation, includes Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties.
Their task is to drive project expansion and business creation in the four boroughs, which were previously part of Team NEO, another subsidiary of JobsOhio.
The members are:
• Alexa Sweeney Blackann, Interim Executive Director
Sweeney Blackann is the former president of Sweeney Chevrolet and Sweeney Buick GMC at Boardman, and recently representative of No. 1 Cochran, the Pennsylvania-based dealership that bought the dealerships in 2023.
He serves on the board of directors of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, BRITE Energy Innovators, the YSU Foundation, the Better Business Bureau, and the Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation, and chairs the Impact Committee for the United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley.
In addition, she is a trustee of the Youngstown and Mahoning County Public Library.
• Sarah Boyarko, Vice President of Economic Development
In this role, Boyarko leads all facets of the economic progress team. She spent approximately 18 years on the regional board, where she held leadership positions, adding Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Economic Development.
Under his leadership, the chamber’s economic progress team oversaw 214 projects that resulted in $6. 2 billion in personal investments and the creation of 10,178 new jobs in the Mahoning Valley.
He is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Mahoning Valley, a 2009 recipient of the Under Award for Young Professionals of Mahoning Valley, a member of the National and Western Reserve Chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management, and participates in various Mahoning forums and forums. Comités. del. Valle.
• Michael McGiffin, Vice President of Engagement and Investor Relations
McGiffin leads investment and stakeholder engagement activities.
He most recently served as president of the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber Foundation, where he also oversaw the operations of the Warren Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Foundation and the Warren Area Chamber of Commerce Educational, Civic, and Cultural Foundation.
Previously, McGiffin served as assignment manager for Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s OnRamp to Remote Learning initiative, director of Stambaugh Auditorium, and director of special occasions and assignments for the City of Youngstown.
• Matt Falter, Director of Talent Engagement
Falter leads the Regional Workforce Coalition and is guilty of coordinating regional strategy.
Previously, Falter worked as the director of responses for the Workforce Initiative Association in Guangzhou.
He has more than 24 years of experience in the public and private sectors in economics and development, collaborating with Thomas P. Miller and Associates and the Ohio Department of Development.
• David Wilaj, Director of Project Management
In this role, Wilaj will partner with JobsOhio and local communities to retain and expand local businesses and attract new investment across all 4 boroughs.
He recently held a position in the regional chamber, where he also oversaw the release of the Mahoning Valley Logistics Council.
• Jason Neal, Director of Site Strategy
Neal will work with JobsOhio and local stakeholders to identify and market available buildings and sites in the Lac à los angeles Rivière domain for business expansion and attract investment.
In the past he worked with the Kentucky Euphrates and Economic Development Cabinet.
International firm.
• Michelle Phillips, Director of Research
Phillips collects, analyzes, and reports insights similar to the region’s economy, demographics, and quality of life.
For the past 25 years he held a similar position at the regional chamber, where he also provided business advice to entrepreneurs.
Today’s newest and more in your inbox
YOUNGSTOWN – Lake to River Economic Development, JobsOhio’s new economic region, has named JobsOhio a new economic region for JobsOhio. . .
FINANCIAL ADVISOR/AUTHOR: J. Derek Penn, a Youngstown local who spent 34 years running on Wall Street,. . .
Officials from the Western Reserve Port Authority, which oversees the operations of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Project, have announced that the Youngstown-Warren Regional Project. . .
Ford Office Technologies, a provider of IT equipment and responses, has opened a new store at the company.
YOUNGSTOWN — A virtual data consultation will be held Thursday at noon to allow small business owners to be more informed about Youngstown. . .
Three Trumbull County Businesses Receive State Tax Credits to Support Commercial Drivers. . .
Today’s newest and more in your inbox