Honorees Named for '25 Under 35' Awards
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The Mahoning Valley Young Professionals, in partnership with the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, today announced the inaugural class of honorees for the 25 Under 35 Awards. Previously known as the 40 Under 40 Awards, the awards program is in its eighth year of honoring the Mahoning Valley’s best and brightest young professionals for excellence in their professional field and commitment to their community.
“This year’s nominations were exceptional. We had more than double the nominations as we had awards to give, which is a testament to the quality of young professionals in the Valley.” said Lori Shandor, planning committee chair and vice president of the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals.
As in years past, each honoree will be recognized at an awards ceremony, which is set for Friday, Feb. 1, at Stambaugh Auditorium. However, this year three honorees will be distinguished for special accolades as MVP Award winners instead of five as in previous years. Both the 25 honorees and top three are selected by a small committee, formed by the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, based upon professional and service categories.
“The Community Foundation is once again proud to be a part of this important event in our Valley. We feel that recognizing our area’s best and brightest young professionals plays an important role in maintaining a vibrant community,” said Patricia Brozik, president of the foundation.
The 2012 Honorees are:
- Ian J. Beniston, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation
- Brian Forward, Mahoning Valley Vacuum
- Melanie Gemmell, Cafaro Company
- Daniel C. Havalo, United States Steel Corporation
- Atty. Joshua Hiznay, The Law Offices of Joshua R. Hiznay, LLC
- Dr. Brandy Kelly Gilea, Turning Point Counseling Services
- Kelly J. Kiraly, Bury Financial Group
- Geoffrey Korff, Quaker City Castings
- Claudia Kovach, City Machine Technologies, Inc.
- Brian Laraway, Bury Financial Group
- Tara Mady, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley
- Karen McCallum, Boardman Township Park
- Laura J. McCaskey, Youngstown State University
- Ellie Platt, Platt Insurance Group, LLC
- Mathew Polinsky, Belleria Pizzeria
- Nicole Ramson, Packer Thomas
- Roxann Sebest, WKBN/WYTV
- Ryan Silvashy, Falcon Foundry
- John B. Slanina, Revere Data
- Anthony Spano, Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley
- Alexa Sweeney Blackann, Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC
- Beth Ann Tabak, Park Vista of Youngstown
- Jordan Taylor, Mahoning Valley Scrappers
- Kera A. Thompson, HMHP – St. Joseph Health Center
- Dr. Melissa Willamson Cherne, Youngstown City Schools
Event sponsorships are available by contacting CFMV at 330 743 5555. Tickets to the event are available through the Stambaugh Auditorium box office by calling 330 259 0555.
The event also coincides with MVYP’s primary fundraising effort, the Young Philanthropist Fund. The Young Philanthropist Fund was created through the partnership of the former MVP 20/30 Club and Community Foundation. The fund has been put in place to introduce our younger generation to philanthropy by fundraising, analysis of grant requests, site visits to non-profits, and recommendation of grants to be awarded from the YPF.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.