BUSINESS UPDATES | Humtown Products named Manufacturer of the Year
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Loves Furniture and Mattresses' grand opening has been postponed, and a new date will be announced.]
COLUMBIANA — Humtown Products, 44708 Columbiana-Waterford Road, recently was selected by the National Association of Manufacturers as the 2020 Manufacturer of the Year in the small to medium enterprise category.
In making the selection, NAM’s panel of judges cited Humtown’s utilization and commercialization of 3D printing.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants. Our fabric of success is woven with long-standing relationships and partnerships,” Humtown CEO and President Mark Lamoncha said in a news release. “I am beyond grateful to Humtown’s team of industrial athletes, as well as to Youngstown State University, Youngstown Business Incubator, America Makes, University of Northern Iowa, Columbiana County Port Authority, TCI Financial, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and many others for their help on this journey to Manufacturer of the Year.”
Humtown Products is a family-owned business specializing in the manufacturing of sand cores and molds, which it supplies to foundries all around the world.
“At Humtown, we are the industry’s first conventional sand core and mold manufacturer to commercialize 3D printing,” Brandon Lamoncha, Humtown’s director of additive manufacturing, said. “Adopting this new toolingless technology has revolutionized our capabilities and expanded the markets and customers we can serve. It has been a long, arduous road to get where we are today, which makes this honor all the more welcome.”
Humtown also was awarded High Achiever in the category of Engineering and Production Technology Leadership.
Youngstown Business Incubator
announces virtual pitch competition
YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Business Incubator announced Tuesday that it will have a virtual pitch competition instead of its YBI Shark Tank event, which was canceled due to COVID-19.
The pitch competition is sponsored by Medical Mutual and Vince & Phyllis Bacon.
To enter, film a short video of yourself pitching your startup or small business and fill out an online application here.
The community’s vote will determine the winner. Voting begins at midnight Oct. 29 and ends at 11:59 p.m. Nov. 10. The entrepreneur who has the most votes will win a $5,000 prize.
“2020 has proven the need to be able to shift things on the fly, and that’s why we’ve decided to take our Shark Tank-style event, simplify it and still let an impact be made on an entrepreneur’s life,” Corey Patrick, director of marketing and communications at the YBI, said in a news release.
For more information about the competition, click here.
Panelmatic Building Solutions
receives manufacturing award
BROOKFIELD — The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and partner MAGNET on Tuesday announced that Panelmatic Building Solutions, 6882 Parkway Drive, is the recipient of the 2020 Excellence in Manufacturing Award, which will be presented at the Economic Forecast Breakfast on Nov. 5 at the Eastwood Event Centre.
Panelmatic Inc., a leading manufacturer of custom-built electrical and process instrument control panels, opened a new division, Panelmatic Building Solutions, in 2019. The company’s growth into a 73,000-square-foot manufacturing plant expanded the production capabilities of the 63-year-old company to better serve its customers in the industrial utility market, a news release states.
“We are honored to recognize Panelmatic Building Solutions and its parent company for their growth, as well as investment in, and ongoing commitment to, our community,” Sarah Boyarko, COO at the regional chamber, said in the release. “Panelmatic’s leadership has worked to diversify their products and services to ensure success in emerging markets.”
The Excellence in Manufacturing Award focuses on a company’s longevity in business, growth, product innovation and achievement. Nominated manufacturers had to be located in Mahoning, Trumbull or Columbiana counties, and also be a member of the regional chamber.
Past recipients of the Excellence in Manufacturing Award include Boardman Molded Products in 2017, Haltec Corporation in 2018 and Quality Switch in 2019.
Ashley Montalvo joins
Burgan Real Estate team
CANFIELD — Realtor Ashley Montalvo has joined the Burgan Real Estate team.
She was born and raised in Rhode Island and previously worked for a telecommunications company as a quality assurance specialist.
“I have always done well in dealing with people and the public. When I moved to Youngstown, I wanted to be with a company that had a culture that was excited to be where they were, that took pride in helping people find a better home and was dedicated to making their employees successful in their careers and personal lives,” Montalvo said in a news release. “After talking to Patrick [Burgan], I knew the opportunity with Burgan Real Estate was exactly what I was looking for in a career and a company. I have found a new home for my family and a career in Youngstown, and I can’t wait to share my story to help others find the same as a Realtor with Burgan Real Estate.”
Trumbull County Tourism Bureau
recognized for pandemic response
WARREN — The Trumbull County Tourism Bureau received recognition for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic during the Ohio Travel Association’s Spirit of Ohio Travel state tourism conference earlier this month.
Trumbull County Tourism received a Certificate of Achievement “for demonstrating the Spirit of Innovation in 2020 through the development of its #CantWaitToSeeYou #IfNotNowSoon campaign.”
“The hospitality, tourism, restaurants, cultural and entertainment industries were among the first to close its doors, among the last to open, and have subsequently been the hardest hit in the Ohio economy. And yet, our businesses stepped up despite the hardships and lent a hand to those living in our communities,” Melinda Huntley, executive director of the Ohio Travel Association, said in a news release. “Businesses in the travel industry responded to the crisis through not only shifting focus to supporting local businesses but also through serving others.”
Due to the pandemic and resulting shutdowns and limits on capacity, there has been a $10.5 billion loss in traveler spending thus far in Ohio, based on weekly spending reports by Tourism Economics.
“Early on during the pandemic, we knew we needed to pivot our marketing quickly,” Beth Kotwis Carmichael, executive director of Trumbull County Tourism, said. “After evaluating the research, we found that one of the top travel inspirations was to visit family and friends. In May, we kicked off our new campaign, #CantWaitToSeeYou #IfNotNowSoon, and started reminding our residents of all the unique activities they can do here in Trumbull County.”
Rulli and Tressel help
celebrate Personal Protected
NEW MIDDLETOWN — State Sen. Michael Rulli and Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel joined Jeff and Holly Swartz at Personal Protected, 10065 Rapp Road, on Monday to celebrate their new company and a product that is helping communities be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jeff Swartz, second-generation owner of Hitch-Hiker Mfg, and his wife, Holly, own a 52-year-old company that has been building mobile food concession trailers for the amusement and state fair industry.
As the COVID-19 pandemic was detrimental to the Swartzes’ industry of high-attendance events, Hitch-Hiker’s business halted. With knowledge of how to provide products for large venues, the husband and wife team invented the Quad-Sink as a solution for the challenges of getting people back together again.
The Quad-Sink is a four-station, high-volume, touchless, mobile handwashing station designed with social separation barriers for the added safety of users.
The Swartzes presented their new product to Tressel first. He purchased 10 units, deploying them across campus as part of the reopening plan for returning students.
Since then, Personal Protected has supplied other universities, as well as many local K-12 schools as hygiene and safety solutions for returning students. The company recently received a contract from Mahoning County commissioners to provide units for 21 schools in the county.
For more information, visit the company’s website or call 330-542-9752.
Huntington launches
$25M lending program
COLUMBUS — Huntington on Tuesday announced its initial investment in Huntington Lift Local Business, a new $25 million, small-business lending program focused on serving minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses.
Under the new program, businesses can secure SBA-guaranteed loans for as little as $1,000 and up to $150,000. In addition to the SBA guarantee, the program’s features include:
- Zero origination fees;
- SBA fees paid by Huntington;
- Lower credit score requirements;
- Free financial education courses;
- Checking accounts with 24-Hour Grace overdraft fee relief, and service fee waived for 36 months;
- Flexible, longer-term repayment options.
“America’s smallest businesses have been particularly hard hit during the pandemic. Huntington’s Welcome philosophy leads us to do more to serve the most challenged and underserved businesses that contribute so much to our economy and the lives of business owners and their employees,” Steve Rhodes, Huntington’s business banking director, said in a news release. “We know small businesses need help, and Huntington Lift Local Business delivers a new solution to our customers when they need it most, whether for a startup or for an established business looking to grow.”
Gasoline prices down 12 cents
this week in Northeast Ohio
YOUNGSTOWN — The average price for gasoline across Northeast Ohio is 12 cents lower this week at $2.04 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
The average price for unleaded self-service gasoline in the Youngstown area is $2.03 per gallon.
— Do you have a business announcement you'd like to share? Email news@mahoningmatters.com.
This story was originally published October 21, 2020 at 4:25 AM with the headline "BUSINESS UPDATES | Humtown Products named Manufacturer of the Year."