Portage Industries’ Miller to Run Masco as Well

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The CEO of Portage Industries Inc., Philip Miller, has been named the chief executive of Masco – Mahoning County Adult Services Co. – to lead both entities under a cost-sharing agreement, the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities announced last week.

The contract for his services is expected to run two years, said Toni Scurpa, adult services director of the Board of Developmental Disabilities. Portage Industries and the Mahoning County board are working out the details.

Masco Inc. has offices at 825 Bev Road and 160 Marwood Circle in Boardman.

Miller’s salary will continue to be paid by Portage Industries but the Mahoning County board will pay Portage Industries for his services to Masco, he said Monday.

How Miler divides his time between Portage Industries and Masco will be based on “schedule as needed,” he said.

Miller, age 62, served as director of adult services of the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities 31 years before he was named appointed to lead Portage Industries, which has a staff of between 25 and 30, he said.

“The decision to share resources will strengthen both organizations and provide quality services, Miller said in a prepared statement.

The decision to share resources and costs is based on increased need for adult services and decreased funding, Miller said Monday. In 2004, the state of Ohio began funding adult services through Medicaid, the state paying 60 cents of each dollar spent on adult services such as sheltered workshops, Medicaid paying the balance.

The rules governing such funding were changed because of a perceived conflict of interests, Miller explained. “The same entity that writes the plan cannot deliver services,” he said. “They’re calling it a conflict of interest but it never occurred in Ohio. So the state had to rewrite [its] Medicaid plan and Ohio has done this.”

In announcing Miller’s appointment, The Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities noted his many accomplishments over his 40-year career:

“Throughout his 31 years as director [of Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities], Miller gained a wealth of knowledge while successfully leading the adult services program. In August 2009, Miller was named CEO of Portage Industries Inc., a nonprofit organization that supports individuals to develop and strengthen their ability to live, work and socialize within their communities. He has progressively led this organization through the continuously changing federal and state transitions of developmental disabilities services.”

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.