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BUSINESS UPDATES | BRITE Energy partners with Tesla to raise funds

By Mahoning Matters staff and Jeremy Harper
Dave Martin, founder and president of Intwine Connect, a BRITE portfolio company, presents to a group of community members and business stakeholders in the BRITE Energy Labs. BRITE staff assisted Martin with preparing his pitch deck, practicing his delivery and brought the group of potential investors together to hear about the company. (Contributed photo)
Dave Martin, founder and president of Intwine Connect, a BRITE portfolio company, presents to a group of community members and business stakeholders in the BRITE Energy Labs. BRITE staff assisted Martin with preparing his pitch deck, practicing his delivery and brought the group of potential investors together to hear about the company. (Contributed photo)

WARREN — BRITE Energy Innovators is launching its annual appeal, the BRITE People campaign, in an effort to raise funds to expand its capabilities to help technology start-up and energy portfolio companies innovate and grow.

BRITE has partnered with Tesla and will celebrate its donors at BRITE’s downtown headquarters, 125 W. Market St., on Nov. 19.

Donors who give $250 or more by Nov. 13 will receive:

  • Test drive of a Tesla (Test drives are self-driven by the donor and can include guests of their choice. Vehicles will be sanitized between each use.);
  • Coupon to enjoy a Tesla on their own for 24 hours;
  • Entry into a drawing to keep a Tesla for a week.

Founded in 2012 as the state’s only energy incubator, BRITE supports entrepreneurs and start-up companies in the energy sector. Since its creation, BRITE has assisted more than 300 energy start-ups and facilitated more than $235 million in private investment, a news release states.

For more information about BRITE People, call Daniel Sylak at 330-766-4438.

Meridian HealthCare receives

$50K from Youngstown Foundation

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Foundation has awarded $50,000 in funding to Meridian HealthCare to help cover the cost of updating Meridian’s video recording system at multiple locations.

Meridian’s largest housing facility, Meridian’s South Campus, 550 Chalmers Ave., is one site that will benefit from the funding, along with Meridian’s Treatment Accountability for Safer

Communities program and three other housing sites: Meridian’s Women’s Center South, Meridian Manor and Meridian Court. Over the past few years, Meridian has been installing new cameras at these sites but needed a video recording system that was more compatible and allowed for future growth, a news release states.

“We are so grateful to the Youngstown Foundation for their continued support of Meridian and the work that we are doing in the community,” Larry Moliterno, Meridian’s president and CEO, said in a news release. “All of the improvements we are making increase the safety, comfort level and well-being of our patients and residents, allowing them to focus on their recovery and long-term needs instead of other unnecessary burdens.”

Boardman Medical Supply to host

open houses at Pink Promises Boutiques

BOARDMAN/GIRARD — Boardman Medical Supply is celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month by hosting free open houses at both of its Pink Promises Boutiques from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Pink Promises Boutiques are located at 404 Boardman-Canfield Road, Boardman, and 300 N. State St., Girard.

Due to COVID-19, the open houses are by appointment only and virtual. For information or to book an appointment, call 855-PINK-BMS.

Pink Promises Boutiques, a division of Boardman Medical Supply, were founded to help post-mastectomy women who have had any type of breast surgery or reconstruction. This includes mastectomies, lumpectomies, reconstruction, unilateral or bilaterial surgeries, and lymphedema compression management and therapy.

Pink Promises has a large selection of post-mastectomy products available, either in stock or for special order.

For more information, click here or call 855-PINK-BMS.

Niles nurse selected as

Akron Children’s Research Scholar

AKRON — Shelley Sidora of Niles, coordinator of clinical education at Akron Children’s Hospital’s St. Joseph’s Special Care Nursery in Warren, is one of four Akron Children’s Hospital nurses selected as the hospital’s 2020 Nurse Research Scholars.

The Nurse Research Scholar program prepares nurses to participate in the hospital’s research mission by increasing their knowledge and application of research through planning, conduct, dissemination and translation of study results into practice. This experience provides an opportunity for professional growth and development in the area of research, a news release states.

Sidora will be part of a study team led by Dr. Boebel Toly, associate professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, and Dr. Aris Eliades, director of Nursing Research and Evidence-based Practice at Akron Children’s Hospital.

The study will examine the effectiveness of Resourcefulness Training Intervention, designed for parent caregivers of children dependent on medical technology (mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes) on the parents’ psychological and physical outcomes and self-management behaviors (sleep, positive health practices) over a nine-month period.

898 Marketing in Canfield

promotes Ryan Peplowski

CANFIELD — Ryan Peplowski, a digital integration specialist at 898 Marketing, has been promoted to digital marketing manager.

Peplowski has begun to shift his daily responsibilities in web development projects to managerial duties overseeing optimization and strategic digital development.

He will develop digital display and search campaigns, implement tracking on Google campaigns, optimize digital campaigns through data tracking and analytics and develop digital media strategies. He is Google Analytics and Ad certified and has completed his certification with the Trade Desk Edge.

Peplowski joined 898 Marketing as an intern in June 2019 and was hired full time after graduating from Youngstown State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in general studies with a minor in marketing. He was part of the web design team working for YSU’s student newspaper, The Jambar.

“When team members start with 898 Marketing, we outline a journey of growth, not only for our clients but for their own personal and professional paths as well,” Jeff Ryznar, president of 898 Marketing, said in a news release. “Since joining our team, Ryan has expeditiously demonstrated his acumen and passion for developing accountable digital strategies that have grown some of the largest brands in the area during this pandemic. He has earned the accolades and trust of our clients, as well as his team members, and we are excited to see him quickly achieve this promotion.”

Regional chamber to host

hybrid Lattes & Legislators

WARREN — Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda, who serves on Gov. Mike DeWine's cabinet, and Cathann A. Kress, The Ohio State University vice president for Agriculture Administration and dean of the College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, will be the featured speakers at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s Lattes & Legislators hybrid event from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Oct. 30 at Believers Christian Fellowship Church.

Attendees will meet in person along with state Rep. Gil Blair, D-Weathersfield, while Pelanda and Kress will join virtually. Also joining virtually will be Adam Ward, OSU College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences director of Government Affairs.

The topics to be discussed include food processing when supply chains are disrupted by events such as COVID-19, agricultural workforce development, insect issues with the Mahoning Valley's fruit and grape producers and water quality issues at Mosquito and Pymatuning lakes.

To register, click here.

EZfare ticketing app

receives METRO honor

YOUNGSTOWN — EZfare, a multi-state mobile ticketing app featuring 14 transit agencies including Western Reserve Transit Authority, has been named the Innovative Solutions Award Winner for Mobility by METRO Magazine for 2020.

Now in its sixth year, the Innovative Solutions Award honors bus operations and their supply partners who have implemented initiatives that have helped them save money, run more efficiently, streamline operations, increase safety, improve customer service and increase ridership.

EZfare is partner with Masabi, the company bringing Fare Payment-as-a-Service to public transit. Through the EZfare app, which is powered by Masabi’s Justride fare payments platform, users can purchase fares on any of the participating agency’s networks, anytime, from anywhere.

The initial uptake of EZfare has been strong, with the service processing more than $1.2 million in fare revenue after launching in late 2019 and helping to facilitate more than 640,000 more convenient journeys by the beginning of March.

To view the full article published by METRO Magazine click here.

This story was originally published October 24, 2020 at 8:57 AM with the headline "BUSINESS UPDATES | BRITE Energy partners with Tesla to raise funds."