BOARDMAN, Ohio – The Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition on Wednesday marked the close of a successful year that saw the introduction of new programs, additional members and an expansion of its youth outreach initiatives.

“Some of the biggest accomplishments we’ve had this year is through youth outreach,” Alex Hertzer, executive director of the MVMC, said during the organization’s annual meeting at Double Bogey’s at Southern Park Mall. “I think specifically the way we’ve been able to engage students this year has been unique.”

In 2025, MVMC reached a total of 11,303 students throughout Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. Of that number, 19% represented elementary students, 27% were middle school students and 54% were enrolled in high school, according to year-end statistics compiled by MVMC.

The program’s participation enjoyed an 8% increase compared with 2024, according to data.

Hertzer said innovative methods such as virtual factory tours and work-based learning initiatives – for example, a high school pre-apprenticeship program that was launched this academic year at Warren G. Harding High School – has helped elevate interest among young people about future careers in manufacturing.

“We’ve recently invested in virtual reality tours of local manufacturers, which I think is a huge milestone for us,” Hertzer said. While conducting in-person tours of factories may have a direct impact, there are barriers that prohibit many students from participating, he added. These range from transportation issues, the size of the group or the age of the students.

Virtual tours can overcome some of these barriers, Hertzer said. “We’ve also been able to engage students through hands-on activities,” he said.

In 2025, for example, MVMC helped fund three summer manufacturing camps for middle school students at Trumbull Career & Technical Center with a $10,000 donation. Each camp concentrated on a specific discipline: entrepreneurship, product design and robotics. The organization’s manufacturing career ambassadors have also hosted tours, attended career fairs and engaged students through activities and various presentations throughout the year.

Another highlight of the year was MVMC’s Front Line Leadership Training program, Hertzer said. “It’s contextualized to manufacturing, specifically for those middle management, front line leaders,” he said. “It could be the guy who has worked on the production line for 20 years and is now in a leadership position,” he added. This program helps provide the skills and training needed to make them more efficient and productive managers, he said.  

MVMC completed its first cohort of approximately 20 participants a week ago, Hertzer said. “We’re rolling out a second cohort after the first of the year,” he said. 

Hertzer said these programs are important for job retention in the manufacturing sector, noting improved management and communication skills are likely to resonate among the workforce, which would help keep valuable employees.

Employee retention is also the impetus behind the introduction of the Employer Resource Network, a national model that is the first of its kind in the Mahoning Valley, Hertzer said. The idea is to hire a “success coach” that could canvass multiple companies and serve as a way to help employers navigate difficult issues facing their employees, such as child care, transportation, housing and mental health concerns.

The program – a collaboration between Youngstown Goodwill Industries and MVMC – is expected to roll out next year.

“Some of the heaviest feedback I’ve heard from our members over the course of this last year is, ‘Yes, we still need help finding people,’ especially in the more midskilled, higher-skilled positions,” Hertzer said. “But what I’m also hearing from a lot of our employers is that we need help keeping those people in those positions.”

Other training strategies driven by worker retention include “shop talk,” an informal employer-led forum hosted by MVMC every other month where manufacturers can discuss training needs, upskilling needs and possible ways in which employers can work together toward solutions.

Hertzer also pointed to other MVMC accomplishments throughout 2025. These include:

  • Increased interest in the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s WorkAdvance program – a four-week training initiative that is targeted for those with little or no manufacturing experience. 
  • Partnership with the recently formed Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition, which added 15 new members this year.
  • Grant funding that amounted to $488,498 for various programs in 2025. Since 2011, MVMC has secured more than $27 million in grant funding.
  • Expanded social media presence, including 1,600 LinkedIn connections this year, a 24% increase over 2024.
  • Attracted 18 new members in 2025, including 10 manufacturers, six associate members, one education partner and one community workforce partner.

Looking forward to 2026, Hertzer said MVMC plans to participate in developing a statewide strategy as part of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint.  

“One of the other exciting initiatives we’re looking to partner with in 2026 is Junior Achievement’s BizTown USA and Finance Park,” he said. The effort is a new career exploration center at Eastwood Mall, and MVMC is looking to sponsor a manufacturing presence as part of the project.

Hertzer, who joined MVMC four years ago, was appointed its executive director last year after Jessica Borza accepted the position of managing director of workforce services at the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. 

“It’s been an exciting ride these last four years to see this organization continue to grow, evolve and look for new ideas and new resources,” Hertzer said.

Pictured at top: Alex Hertzer, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition.