BUSINESS UPDATES | Automotive technology students complete program at MCCTC

CANFIELD — Automotive technology students in Mahoning County Career and Technical Center's Adult Career Center were honored during a special recognition ceremony earlier this month, marking the completion of their training program.

Five students completed career training and were able to work toward earning four Automotive Service Excellence credentials (ASE Brakes, Maintenance and Light Repair, Automobile Service Consultant and Engine Repair) throughout their 14-month training program.

Each student received Career Passports from their instructors and were given a gift from the Adult Career Center. The students are Deval'dae Patterson, Marcus Merchant, Jesse Bowlen, Jeremy Stanley and Arthur Williams.

PALO Creative welcomes

2 new team members

YOUNGSTOWN — PALO Creative, 970 Windham Court, Suite 3, has hired Christina Belcik as marketing manager and Scott Lendak as content writer.

Belcik, of Girard, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications while minoring in marketing and public relations at Youngstown State University. She joins PALO Creative after working as a marketing manager in Cleveland for more than four years.

"Christina's experience with large brands and executing marketing tactics will only strengthen our marketing solutions as we progress into 2021," Rob Palowitz, president and CEO of PALO Creative, said in a news release. "Her strong communication, attention to detail and determination to better the company will serve as a perfect complement to our existing team."

Lendak, of Boardman, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in multimedia journalism at Kent State University. He comes to PALO after spending a year as a full-time reporter for a newspaper company in Lisbon.

"We're very excited to add Scott, as he is a talented writer who will be able to work closely with our account managers to best serve our clients," Palowitz said. "He will help our clients connect with their customers through blogs, emails, digital ads, website pages, brochures and more. I really love the eagerness and drive he has that will be reflected in his commitment to writing the story."

Regional chamber board

names new members, officers

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber's Board of Directors has named seven new members, as well as officers, for 2021, and also reappointed several members to new terms.

The new members are:

• Jon Arnold, CEO and co-founder, The J. Arnold Wealth Management Company LLC;
• Scott Fleming, co-president, AIM Transportation Solutions;
• Tom Gallagher, plant director, Ultium Cells LLC;
• Mark Lamoncha, CEO, Humtown Products;
• Vern Richberg, regional director, Youngstown Minority Business Assistance Center;
• Jackie Stewart, director of external affairs, Encino Energy;
• John Wilczynski, executive director, America Makes.

2021 board officers are:

• Chairman: Michael Schrock, Mahoning Valley market president, TCF Bank;
• Immediate past chairman: Donald Kline, group president, Bon Secours Mercy Health;
• First vice chairman: James Gasior, president and CEO, Cortland Bank;
• Vice chairman: Matt Blair, attorney and partner, Blair & Latell Co., LPA;
• Vice chairman: Esther Buschau, director of corporate marketing, Cafaro Co.;
• Vice chairman: Dr. Ronald Dwinnells, CEO, ONE Health Ohio;
• Vice chairman: Ed Muransky, CEO, The Muransky Companies;
• Treasurer: Neil Kaback, partner, Cohen & Company.

The directors reappointed to new terms are:

• Tricia Ferry, EVP of operations, VEC Inc.;
• James Gasior, president and CEO, Cortland Bank;
• Claudia Kovach, vice president, City Machine Technologies Inc.;
• Michael Schrock, Mahoning Valley market president, TCF Bank;
• James Tressel, president, Youngstown State University;
• Gary Small, president, Premier Bank.

Sight for all United adds

location in Struthers

STRUTHERS — Sight for All United has added a new location in the Fifth Street Plaza.

Sight for All United provides financial assistance to eligible individuals who are faced with vision challenges.

The mission of Sight for All United is to HEAL:

• Help every person to reach his/her visual potential;
• Educate the community on the impact of poor eyesight; raise
• Awareness of eye health and vision issues; and
• Lift barriers for access to care.

Vision services include eye exams, eyeglasses, cataract surgeries, corneal crosslinking surgeries, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and glaucoma treatments, among others.

Since its inception, Sight for All United has provided $500,000 worth of services to individuals in need. Through the generosity of the Cafaro Foundation and the J. Ford Crandall Foundation, Sight for All United received grants for the space and equipment needed for its new location.

Other businesses that helped make this move possible include DJV Carpet, Home Depot, Office Depot, Ace Hardware-Struthers, Sarco Properties, Edward Rowland and Pro Business Systems.

In addition, countless volunteer hours were provided to make the move successful and to allow Sight for All United to continue to carry out its mission of helping others with their vision needs.

To contact Sight for All United, call 330-750-1867 or email sightforall2016@gmail.com or visit www.sightforallunited.com.

AAA expects fewer Americans

to travel this holiday season

AAA Travel expects that the vast majority of Americans will stay home this holiday season. Public health concerns and travel guidance are influencing their decisions not to travel over the year-end holidays, a period that typically sees high demand for vacations and road trips. While AAA expects at least 34 million fewer travelers compared with last year's holiday season, as many as 84.5 million Americans may still travel from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3, a decline in travel of at least 29 percent.

"During any other year, many Americans would be using up their vacation days by taking a year-end cruise or oversees trip, but this year we expect more people will be visiting with their families and friends virtually," said Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA East Central. "More Americans will spend time at home and in quarantine, which we believe will lead to further pent-up demand for travel when the pandemic comes to a close."

The CDC urges Americans not to travel for the holidays this year, warning that travel increases the chance of getting and spreading COVID-19.

This story was originally published December 19, 2020 at 9:54 AM with the headline "BUSINESS UPDATES | Automotive technology students complete program at MCCTC."