Leadership Mahoning Valley Celebrates Members of Class of 2024

WARREN, Ohio – Forty-two individuals who recently completed the Leadership Mahoning Valley program were celebrated during an event Thursday at The Grand Resort. 

This was the first class since the relaunch of the program in 2020. 

The program year began Sept. 28, 2023, and members of the class met monthly to develop their personal leadership skills and to learn more about the community. Through the immersive, interactive program that included a series of speakers, tours, hands-on activities and site visits, participants gained knowledge of programs, services, businesses and institutions in the community. 

Program days were centered around specific topics such as history and heritage of the Valley; government and public service; health and human services; education; business and economic development; housing and community development; justice and public safety; and quality of life. 

Participants also participated in a DiSC Assessment, designed to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others. They enhanced their personal leadership development by increasing the skills necessary to raise self-awareness and improve teamwork, productivity and communication.

“Although this is the end of the program year, this is just the beginning of the leadership journey upon which these 42 outstanding individuals will continue,” said JoAnn Stock, executive director of Leadership Mahoning Valley.

Members of the Class of 2024 are:

• Melissa Bateman, director of community engagement, Youngstown Area Jewish Federation.
• Reilly Berk, CEO, Berk Enterprises.
• Roxanne Bohach, alumni liaison/central region, Western Governors University.
• Ramesh Dangol, associate professor, Youngstown State University.
• Michael Engram, executive coach, Game Changers.
• Kyra Fleming, magistrate, Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center.
• Lynnette Forde, president, The Youngstown Foundation.
• Jessica Foster, senior manager, assurance, Cohen & Co.
• Jenita Gillespie, director, legal operations, Bon Secours Mercy Health.
• Jodi Glass, recruiting and marketing coordinator, Mahoning County Career & Technical Center.
• Andrew Hampton, principal, Mahoning County Career & Technical Center.
• Ryan Hutchison, senior manager, human resources, Vallourec Star.
• Christine Jenkins, chief growth officer, Potential Development.
• Gerri Jenkins, executive director, MyPath MV.
• Steven Jones, CEO/agent, Steven C. Jones Insurance Agency Inc.
• John Kettler, general manager of mass production, Vallourec Star.
• Dionne Lacey, executive director, United Returning Citizens.
• Dr. Harriet Lemberger-Schor, physician, Bon Secours Mercy Health.
• Melissa Libert, senior tax manager, HD Davis CPAs.
• Matthew Longmire, business resource manager, Valley Economic Development Partners.
• Michael McGiffin, vice president, engagement and investor relations, Lake to River.
• Trisha Mossor, business development manager, Aim Transportation Solutions.
• Blair Mulholland, private equity real estate associate, Sapienta Ventures.
• Chelsea Munroe, senior project specialist, Enbridge Gas Ohio.
• Linda Nuosci, vice president, commercial relationship manager, First National Bank of PA.
• Katie Phillips, urban planner, MS Consultants.
• Ellie Platt, owner/president, Platt Insurance.
• Troy Rhoades, regional external affairs, First Energy/Ohio Edison.
• Leah Sakacs, director of foster grandparent and senior companion programs, Family and Community Services Inc.
• Juan Santiago, vice president/CRA engagement leader, Farmers National Bank.
• Roxann Sebest, vice president, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.
• Jody Sexton, human resource business partner, Ultium Cells.
• Victor Shaw, youth facilitator/quality assurance specialist, Mahoning County Juvenile Court.
• Maria Spencer, director of early care and education services, Early Childhood Resource Center.
• Alexa Sweeney-Blackann, interim CEO, Lake to River.
• Ryan Tekac, health commissioner, Mahoning County Public Health.
• Anthony Trevena, executive director, Western Reserve Port Authority.
• Candace Turpack, relationship manager, Key Private Bank.
• Martin Tursky, market chief operating officer, Mercy Health.
• H. Terrell Washington, owner, HLW Fast Track Inc./Leaf Relief.
• David Wilaj, director, project management, Lake to River.
• Megan Wine, marketing representative, Servpro.

“At the beginning of the program year, these individuals made a commitment to continue to serve our community upon graduation,” Stock said. “The relationships which they have formed and the knowledge that they have gained will lead to future collaborations and community service, including future leadership roles within their organizations, as well as within our community.”

Stock also announced that plans for the coming year are to expand the leadership development programming to include youth and young professional programming, a women’s leadership institute, lessons in leadership speaker series and more.

Stock announced that applications for the next program year, which will begin in September, are now available. Applications can be found HERE.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.