CHAMBER TO HOLD ANNUAL MEETING: The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber will hold its annual meeting 7:30 to 9 a.m. April 13 at the Eastwood Event Centre, 5555 Youngstown Warren Road, Niles.

The event will mark the 30th anniversary of the chamber, which will present its annual awards to three local individuals.

Receiving the Spirit of the Valley Award is Rick Rajaie, vice president of North American EV business, Foxconn EV System, LLC. The Spirit of the Chamber Award will be given to Jim Kinnick, executive director, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, and the Valley Champion Award will be given to Tom Mosure, board chairman, MS Consultants Inc.

Chamber President / CEO Guy Coviello also will give an update on the organization’s recent accomplishments and what’s coming next.

The cost to attend is $40 per member and $50 per nonmember.

WRTA ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN: The Western Reserve Transit Authority is rolling out its second annual “Give Small Business A Lift” campaign.

The campaign is designed to promote small businesses by spotlighting 12 local businesses that exemplify the Mahoning Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic.

Small businesses in Mahoning County can complete a short form at wrtaonline.com to nominate themselves. Nominations are accepted through March 31.

A group of three community leaders who serve as co-chairpersons select the winners from the nominations. The featured businesses will be announced publicly and presented their awards at the kickoff event April 20 at Concept Studio in downtown Youngstown.

The businesses picked will be promoted on WRTA buses, its digital sign downtown and elsewhere.

New businesses

RESTAURANT COMING TO AREA: A new Southern-style restaurant, Savannah Joe’s, plans to open in Youngstown at 2905 Glenwood Ave.

A soft opening is set for noon to 6 p.m. March 24 and 25. The grand opening is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 28 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It will be open to customers at 1 p.m. that day.

The restaurant is owned by Joseph Bowers, a native of Savannah, Ga.

People on the move

MILLWOOD HIRES CFO: Vienna-based Millwood, Inc. has filled the position of chief financial officer with Bruce Krarup of Howland, who has 22 years of experience in finance and accounting.

Prior to joining Millwood, he served as CFO of Nelson Labs, a division of Sotera Health, where he was responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the company and helping to drive growth and profitability. Prior to that, he spent six years at Cardinal Health and 13 years at General Electric.

As CFO of Millwood, Krarup is responsible for managing the company’s financial strategy, overseeing financial operations and ensuring that financial goals are met. That includes financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting and managing the company’s financial relationships with lenders.

He replaces interim CFO Tom Paskert, who will be resuming his role as senior financial adviser to Millwood.

TWO APPOINTED TO EGCC BOARD: Carlton K. Ingram and Lois E. Thornton, both of Youngstown, have been appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to the board of trustees of Eastern Gateway Community College.

Both terms started March 10. Ingram’s term ends in October 2024 and Thornton’s term ends October 2027.

Eastern Gateway has campuses in Youngstown and Steubenville.

AIM PROMOTES: Justin Battisti has been named Aim Transportation solution’s controller.

In the role, Battisti, who was hired assistant controller in 2021, will work closely with Paul Slater, who recently was promoted to vice president, corporate controller, on all accounting functions, including high-level accounting and managerial accounting.

Born and raised in Struthers, Battisti is a Youngstown State University graduate. He also has completed his certified public accountant designation.

CANFIELD NATIVE JOINS BURGAN: Morgan Hoover of Canfield recently joined Youngstown-based Burgan Real Estate as an agent.

SPEARS JOINS FARMERS: Canfield-based Farmers National Bank has hired Chelsea Spears to its Marketing Department as digital and communications strategist.

For nearly six years, Spears worked in local television news.

A Columbus native, Spears is an alumni of The Ohio State University. She has been living and working in the Mahoning Valley since 2017.

VALLEY NATIVE ELECTED OFFICER: Youngstown native Richard L. LaRocca, certified club manager and certified chief executive, recently was installed secretary-treasurer of the Club Management Association of America board of directors at its 2023 World Conference and Club Business Expo in Orlando, Fla.

He was elected to the board in 2018, but joined the association in 1986.

LaRocca, a graduate of Youngstown State University, has served as the general manager / chief operating officer of Beechmont Country Club near Cleveland since 2019.

Founded in 1927, the association is the largest professional association for managers of membership clubs with more than 7,000 members throughout the U.S. and internationally.

LEADERSHIP CHANGE: The Hanna Family of Companies recently announced Kris Burdick has been promoted to president of brokerage operations. Burdick has been with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services since 2004 and will be leaving her role as president of northern Ohio and Michigan.

Burdick also has served as the regional sales manager and vice president for the Ohio South and Ohio East regions.

Alicia Kosec will leave her post as vice president and regional manager of the East Ohio region to take over Burdick’s role as president of northern Ohio and Michigan.