Zeal to Advance Their Careers, Our Community
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- As the Mahoning Valley rebounds economically, young people giving back to their communities reflect this sense of renewal. Twenty-five of them, all 35 or younger, will be recognized Feb. 1 for their zeal in serving and giving back to their communities during an awards ceremony at Stambaugh Auditorium.
The 25 Under 35 honorees recently gathered at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Metroparks for a photo shoot where, between sittings, we asked them about how they became so committed to serving others.
“Contributing to the Youngstown area and looking for a way to be productive, to give back, is what I think about all the time,” responded Ellie Platt, owner of the Platt Insurance Group. She open her own insurance agency both to unlock her potential and give of herself to Youngstown.
“From a young age, my parents taught me to look for ways to serve the community,” she continued. “That’s really what I’ve done, whether it’s part of my church or through my business,” and she plans to instill that attitude in her son.
Karen McCallum, recreation director for Boardman Park, echoes Platt’s sentiments. “Youngstown is a perfect place to raise a family,” she began. “I have a husband and two children, and I really try to design recreations with the family in mind, but also for seniors, kids, teens and adults.”
While McCallum’s focus is on the park, she also strives for Boardman to be an enjoyable and safe venue for everyone.
As recreation director of the park, she has created activities such as “Supper with Santa” and “An Evening with the Easter Bunny.” The park lends itself as a destination site for older residents with Senior Fun Days every month. Nearly 200 show up every month, she said. The enthusiasm McCallum has for the park can be heard in her voice, and her love of recreation and teaching has brought out the best in her, benefiting the park and those who go there.
“There’s a need for it, and it’s a great opportunity that I’m able to assist, manage, and establish those here in the Mahoning Valley,” McCallum said.
An attractive environment, including green space and parks, draws people who want to live nearby. Enter Ian Beniston.
Beniston is deputy director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., a nonprofit community development organization headquartered in downtown Youngstown.
YNDC’s mission is to improve the quality of life of city residents by rehabilitating houses, planting community gardens, and encouraging small business to locate and blend in these neighborhoods.
Asked what he wants to do with his life, Beniston answered, “Exactly what I’m doing right now.
“My passion is to get into the city neighborhoods and trying to make them better places to live and to increase their quality of life,” he elaborated. “I grew up in the city and watched it decline. So I’ve spent my whole professional career thus far to improve neighborhoods in the city itself and try to make it a better place.”
Now that Youngstown is much more attractive place to live, thanks to people such as McCallum and Beniston, residents need somewhere to go. Enter Melanie Gemmell.
Gemmell is the vice president of human resources for The Cafaro Co., based in Youngstown, which operates retail shopping centers across the United States.
Not only is she energetic in her job, but in her “free” time as well. Gemmell is vice president of the Warren Junior Women’s League where she works with disabled young adults and children.
Another of her passions is Goodwill Industries, where she has volunteered since age 12. She is active in one of its subsidiaries, Youngstown Reading Radio Service for the Blind.
“You read the local news over the radio,” Gemmell explains. “Things like obituaries, sports, you name it. Anything you would see going on in your local news that the blind community doesn’t have access to necessarily. We’d also do that on the weekends and read stories for children over the radio.”
Some of the honorees are business owners and they volunteer their companies in service to their communities. The owner of the Belleria pizzeria in Cortland, Matthew Polinsky, donates a share of his profits to the Cortland community and raises funds for nearby schools.
Another honoree is Geoffrey Korff, a self-employed lawyer who works at reduced rates or pro bono for low-income clients who need help contesting their landlords, employers or spouses as well as writing a will.
Brian Forward, one of the first to graduate from the Rich Center for Autism at Youngstown State University, owns Mahoning Valley Vacuum Cleaners in Boardman. There he selling and repairs vacuums and sweepers.
Younger people are rejuvenating Youngstown by residing in apartments above storefronts and working in the office buildings that line Federal Street. Proud of the new structures and new facades, they enjoy showing them off to people who haven’t been the downtown in years.
One who enjoys being a docent, if you will, of the downtown is John B. Slanina of Revere Data. Revere Data provides financial information services to investors about companies and the products and services they sell.
“I really like showing off Youngstown. Just today we had someone come from Washington, D.C., so we gave him a tour of the downtown, such as the architecture, and gave him a feel of the downtown,” Slanina said. “How we look and feel as a city is really important to how really attractive we are. Not only to economic development, but just the general vibe of the citizenry.”
The visitors Slanina escorts through the downtown quickly pick up on its ethnic heritage and optimism, calling it “Rust Belt Chic,” he related.
All 25 Under 35 honorees play active roles in restoring the Mahoning Valley. Collectively their impact is becoming visible.
That’s where Ryan Silvashy, research developer from Falcon Foundry, comes in. Silvashy works with the Business Resource Network to link individuals and companies that help entrepreneurs start or expand their business.
“I like to help people out, and the way to do that is to connect them,” Silvashy said. “I connect them professionally. I connect them personally. I try to help people whenever I can. I love connecting people to help benefit society.”
This story appeared in this week's "25 Under 35" Extra edition of The Business Journal. To order copies, call 330 744 5023.
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Copyright 2012 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.