YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The fifth annual WRTA Small Business Awards competition attracted entries from more than 70 Mahoning Valley businesses. 

Chosen by a panel of business leaders, the six winners will receive recognition by Western Reserve Transit Authority, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the state, as well as a shared marketing program designed to build awareness. 

“Small businesses aren’t just part of the economy – they are the Valley’s economy. They quietly employ the majority of our local workforce,” said Dean Harris, WRTA CEO. “Taking this night to honor small business is a way to acknowledge that when small business thrives, the entire Valley moves forward.”

The award winners are:

  • Brilliant Cleaning Service: A woman-owned business, the company is marking its 10th anniversary this year. Theresa Viviano is the owner of the business, which is based in Boardman.
  • Sky Roofing: Owned by Matt Estephan, the company is celebrating its 25th year in business. The Canfield-based company has grown from a single Valley office to providing services across Ohio. 
  • Legacy Tire and Auto Repair: The company, owned by Mary Rogenski, has been serving the Valley from its Mahoning Avenue location for 45 years.
  • Evo Eco: Owned by Andrew Grueber, the industrial environmental service company is based in Youngstown and serves businesses, landfills and municipalities.
  • 36 Chambers Jiu-Jitsu Academy: The martial arts school is located on Market Street in Boardman, and owner Tom Scala says jiu-jitsu nurtures qualities that make the area great: perseverance and resourcefulness.
  • Paladin Brewing: John and Abby Chandler, owners of the 11-year old Mahoning Avenue brewery, seek to create community impact with welcoming gatherings that help neighbors connect. 

The six award-winning companies can also complete a detailed questionnaire and enter the competition for the title of WRTA Small Business of the Year. That honor earns the business a custom TV advertising campaign from Spectrum Reach, a social media marketing campaign from Farris Marketing/StrategiX Social and a business booster check for $1,000 from Platt Insurance/Auto Owners Insurance. The winner of that competition will be honored at the awards dinner Thursday at B&O Station Banquet Hall.

“For WRTA, supporting small business means being reliable – whether it’s getting a mechanic to the shop or a baker to a kitchen, we see ourselves as a partner in their daily operations,” Harris said. “If we could make the commute easier for their employees and customers, we’ve done our job in keeping this region’s economic engine running.”

The 2026 winners join a list of almost 40 other businesses that have earned the honor since WRTA founded the awards in 2021.

Pictured at top: Image via WRTAOnline.