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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – For Joseph F. Caruso, CEO of Mercy Health Behavioral Hospital, Leadership Mahoning Valley provided something he was looking for early in his career: a deeper understanding of the community and relationships with other emerging leaders who wanted to help shape its future.
Caruso entered the program hoping to learn more about the Mahoning Valley, its services and the people working throughout the region. He also wanted to meet a diverse group of peers and build relationships that would last beyond the program.
Those connections became one of the most important parts of his Leadership Mahoning Valley experience.
“The biggest impact has been the incredible relationships that were developed through our meetings and learning about the Mahoning Valley,” Caruso said. “These relationships I have to this very day, both personally and professionally.”
The experience also changed the way he viewed the region itself.
At the time Caruso participated, he remembers a community that often seemed discouraged about its future. His classmates offered another perspective.
“It gave me hope,” he said. “Being with my incredible classmates showed me that there was hope, prosperity and a path that would impact the generations to come.”
That lesson has stayed with him. Caruso said bringing together people who are committed to personal and professional growth can help develop leaders who create opportunities for others and address challenges facing the community.
Leadership Mahoning Valley also gave Caruso knowledge he has been able to apply throughout his career. He learned more about community issues and resources while developing relationships with peers who remain trusted sounding boards.
Those connections, he said, are “invaluable,” and classmates continue to call on one another for expertise and opinions on both professional and personal matters.
The program also exposed Caruso to issues including housing needs, beautification and social and economic disparities, leading him to become involved with community action groups.
For Caruso, that exposure is one of Leadership Mahoning Valley’s greatest strengths. The program introduces participants to parts of the community they may never encounter through their everyday professional responsibilities.
“Leadership Mahoning Valley shines a light on areas that many people may never see or experience in their professional roles so that they may have a better understanding on how they can create positive community change and investment,” he said.
That broader understanding can strengthen both businesses and nonprofit organizations by giving emerging leaders a clearer picture of what is happening around them and showing them how their skills and influence can make a difference.
For anyone considering applying, Caruso offers a simple recommendation.
“Trust me, it is good for everyone that has an open mind and is eager to learn about the community in which they work and live,” he said. “Further, the opportunity to make lifelong personal and professional relationships is priceless.”
Looking ahead, Caruso hopes Leadership Mahoning Valley continues to grow while maintaining sustainable operations. He also believes alumni can help expand the program’s reach by encouraging emerging leaders to participate and by supporting employees who want to enroll.
He would also like to see local foundations consider partial scholarships that could help companies offset participation costs and make the program accessible to more future leaders.
For Caruso, the lasting value of Leadership Mahoning Valley comes down to knowledge, relationships and the opportunity to turn both into meaningful community impact.
