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APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR ‘SHARK TANK’: The deadline to apply to participate in the 3rd Annual Youngstown Business Incubator “Shark Aquarium” the pitch competition is September 1st.

The event, a version of the popular TV show where entrepreneurs present their business ideas to a panel of “the Sharks,” will ask regional startups to make elevating pitches to a panel of six local and regional entrepreneurs for the chance to win cash prizes to fund their ventures.

It is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. on October 6 at Mr. Anthony’s house in Boardman.

Applications can be found at ybi.org/sharktank/.

MARKETING COMPANY MAKES PRESTIGIOUS LIST: Canfield-based 898 Marketing is No. 1,031 on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list, a prestigious ranking of America’s fastest-growing private companies

898 Marketing’s ranking is #1 in the Youngstown market, 18th in Ohio, and 78th among all advertising/marketing companies nationwide.

Owner Jeff Ryznar cites the company’s culture, as well as its progress as award-winning experts in digital marketing and programmatic advertising, as sources of 898 Marketing’s most recent growth. Additionally, the agency has exponentially increased revenue from its loyal clients over the past three years.

898 Marketing has 23 employees, all but one from the Mahoning Valley.

Full results from the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region and other criteria, are available at www.inc.com/inc5000.

TWO EARNING FUNERAL CERTIFICATION: Reverend Lewis W. Macklin and Emma Linnen of JE Washington Funeral Services recently completed a three-day workshop to become Certified Funeral Officiants.

A celebrant, who may be a layperson, clergyman, or funeral director, provides personalized funeral services, tributes, memorial services, and funeral monuments. They meet with the family to help them design a service that reflects the life and attributes of their loved one.

The training took place at the Ohio Funeral Directors Association in Columbus.

Macklin is the senior pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church and chaplain to the Youngstown Police Department.

Linnen holds a bachelor’s degree in women’s and gender studies with a minor in philosophy from Youngstown State University. She is enrolled in the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

MERCY HEALTH LABS RECERTIFIED: Mercy Health-Youngstown’s Boardman and Howland Electromyography Laboratories have achieved laboratory recertification with exemplary status from the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

EMG labs specialize in tests that assess nerve and muscle function and assess potential neurological diseases.

To obtain exemplary certification, physicians performing laboratory studies must have completed a residency program in neurology or physical medicine and rehabilitation; have completed a minimum of three months of training in electrodiagnostic medicine through a residency or fellowship program; be certified by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, or by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in clinical neurophysiology, or by the ABPN/American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in neuromuscular disease.

BUSINESSMAN NAMED GRAND COMMODORE: Dave Johnson, CEO of Summitville Tiles Inc. and owner of the Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn in Hanoverton, was recently inducted as Grand Commodore of the Ohio Association of Commodores.

He succeeds Sam Covelli of Warren-based Covelli Enterprises, one of

the main restaurant chains in the country.

Established in 1966, the association is a group of men and women appointed by the Governor after being nominated and recognized for their business acumen, civic leadership and community involvement. It supports the state’s economic development efforts.

Johnson has served on the association’s board of directors, serving as regional director for northeast Ohio and most recently as the association’s second-in-command.

RECOGNIZED CHEVY DEALERSHIP: Greenwood Chevrolet of Austintown recently received the prestigious GM Financial President’s Club Award, which honors dealerships for their cooperation with GM Financial and for their excellent customer service.

Greenwood is one of three dealerships in Ohio, and the only one in the Mahoning Valley, to receive this recognition.

The award recognizes 80 GM dealers across the United States for working with GM Financial to achieve sales and customer service goals.

CHAMBER ANNOUNCES HONORED: The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has announced the business leaders who will be honored this year at the organization’s annual Salute to Business event.

They are:

• Traci Miller, President, Color3 Embroidery Inc. — Business Lawyer of the Year;

• Vern Richberg, Director of Supply Chain Diversity, Youngstown Business Incubator—Business Professional of the Year;

• Jeff Magada, Founder/Executive Director, Flying HIGH Inc. — Nonprofit Professional of the Year;

• Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki and Richard Bernacki, co-owners, Penguin City Brewing Company — Entrepreneurs of the Year;

• Ron and Cecilia Bolar, Owners/Operators, Nothing Bundt Cakes — Small Business Professional of the Year;

• Nancy Weibel, Business Manager, Roofers Local 71 — Labor Excellence Award Tribute.

The event will take place on Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Eastwood Event Centre, Niles. The cost is $40 per member and $50 per non-member.

The event also marks and is the official football kickoff of the Canfield Fair and Youngstown State University. The keynote speaker is General Michael Brogan, who retired from the Marine Corps in 2011 after serving honorably for 31 years. His main responsibility was to oversee and maintain the supply chain for US forces in the Middle East.

AVENGE HUNGER CAMPAIGN TO BEGIN: Armstrong will conduct its fifth annual Avenge Hunger Month campaign to fight hunger in its service territory through Oct. 2.

Local Armstrong stores will collect non-perishable food and monetary donations for local food programs. Resources raised help fuel more than 200 community food programs in Armstrong’s service area, which includes Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Local donation sites for 2022 include Armstrong in North Lima, local Sparkle Markets, Giant Eagle in Canfield, Nemenz IGA in Struthers, Davis Family YMCA, High Octane Coffee in Boardman, Glista Agency in Canfield, Gateways to Better Living in Austintown, Eastwood Mall and HMS Mfg. Co. in Youngstown.

Food drives are also scheduled for 7-8:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Austintown Park Summer Concert, noon-3 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Boardman 71 Fire Station on Market Street, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 5 p.m. Sept. 23 at Armstrong’s North Lima Office.

people in motion

DR. JOINS AKRON CHILDREN’S: Dr. Nicole Kendel has joined the Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Akron Children’s Hospital as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist.

Kendel completed his residency and fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She received her MD and Masters of Medical Science from The Ohio State University.

The center’s team treats a variety of childhood cancers and offers a wide range of expertise in the field of cancer and bleeding disorders. The team participates in national clinical trials for childhood cancer and blood disorders and explores the causes and treatment of these diseases through our basic science research program.

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