Business Beat: recent news, awards, grants, and more in the Mahoning Valley

Consumers National Bank names new executive vice president

Consumers National Bank announced today that Suzanne Mikes has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer according to Ralph J. Lober II, President & CEO.

“Since joining the bank as Chief Credit Officer in June 2017, Suzanne has built commercial credit loan operations and collections teams that rival those at much larger institutions. She and her teams have empowered the bank to compete for, win, and service much larger and more complex business relationships–helping to propel the bank past the $1.0 billion asset threshold.

“Most importantly, Suzanne embraces the bank’s culture, mission, vision, and values. She cares deeply about her staff and focuses on meeting customer needs. She also gives back to the community serving on the University of Mount Union Business Advisory Council and the board of the Green Community Investment Corporation,” said Lober.

Mikes holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Mount Union and an MBA from Kent State University. She is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, holds the Credit Risk Certification from the Risk Management Association, and the Certified Exit Planning Advisor certification. She resides in Green.

Purple Cat and Golden String founder Receives Pioneer Award

Purple Cat and Golden String founder, Jimmy Sutman, was honored with the Pioneer Award, Saturday, October 19, before a Memories of a Lifetime program, which is a public service provided by the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society, at Denny’s Restaurant Meeting Room, Belmont Avenue, Liberty Township.

The Pioneer Award recognizes outstanding leadership, scholarship, community service, and philanthropy. Previous winners include Honorable Harry Meshel, Gilbert “Gibby” James, Helen Stambaugh, David Tod Senior, Sister Jerome Corcoran, the Tony Lariccia family, Bruce and Nancy Beeghly, Jeanne Tyler, Professors Regina Rees and Al Bright, Janie Jenkins, Joe Lordi, David Tod II, and Reverend Lewis Macklin.

Sutman’s projects provide services for adults and youth with disabilities. Purple Cat was opened in 1998 in Youngstown, to provide day-care alternative programs, for adults in vocational training, life skills and creative arts. He is also president of Iron and String Life Enhancement Inc. (ISLE) and director of operations for its nonprofit, Golden String Inc., which opened in 2003.

Purple Cat also operates at Farmer Casey’s Ranch in Coitsville Township; Gallagher’s Lunch Bucket, Pearl Street Mission, and Phelps Street in Youngstown; St. Lucy’s in Campbell; and a Boardman location. Golden String Radio and the Feral Cats Band specialize in having clients get involved musically.

Gabba Camp, located on McCartney Road, Coitsville Township, is his newest enterprise, which provides traditional cabins, activities and experiences for a population usually excluded from common summer vacations.

Sutman previously worked at the Leonard Kirtz School and WKBN. He pursued coursework at Youngstown State University and acquired the necessary licensures and credentials, to provide services according to state guidelines and requirements.

According to WHMHS chairman of the board of trustees, Richard S. Scarsella, “Jimmy embodies the characteristics of a true pioneer, in his fearless, ground-breaking and original enterprises, all of which resulted in a cascade of much-needed services, for a population greatly underserved.”

AHN Announces Creation of $2.5 Million Banman-Lupke Patrick J. DeMeo Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery

Allegheny Health Network has announced the creation of a new $2.5 million endowed surgery chairmanship to honor the network’s long-time Orthopaedic Institute head, Patrick J. DeMeo, MD. The endowed chair was made possible by a generous gift from the founders of CTM Biomedical, Bryan Banman and Nicole Lupke.

The formal name of the endowed position is the Banman-Lupke Patrick J. DeMeo Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Dr. DeMeo is the first to occupy the position.

The appointment was made earlier this month at a special ceremony held at Allegheny General Hospital. CTM Biomedical, based in Florida, supplies biologic connective tissue products for surgical use to support tissue recovery and joint repair.

This landmark gift is intended to support Dr. DeMeo’s vision of advancing orthopaedic research at the AHN Orthopaedic Institute. With the endowment funding, the department will focus on breakthroughs in musculoskeletal research and foster innovation in patient care.

“Dr. DeMeo’s integrity and commitment to research-proven outcomes, along with his vision for vertically integrated orthopaedic care across all patient touchpoints, made him and his Orthopaedic Institute at AHN an obvious leader in our search for an institution to support,” said Bryan Banman, CEO of CTM Biomedical. “Our hope is that this endowment, in Dr. DeMeo’s name, reflects our shared vision and creates a legacy that lives on for generations.”

The $2.5 million endowment, spread over five years, will focus on four primary areas of research: biologics, biomechanics, cellular research, and artificial intelligence. Specifically, the AHN Orthopaedic Institute will explore the potential of biologics like connective tissue matrix in post-operative recovery, the mechanics of advanced orthopaedic procedures, infection prevention, and the use of AI to optimize patient care.

“While the chair bears my name, this honor truly reflects the excellence and hard work of the entire orthopaedic department at AHN,” Dr. DeMeo said. “With this endowment, we’ll be able to grow our research efforts, support graduate students and researchers, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in orthopaedic care.”

Dr. DeMeo has been a transformative figure at AHN for over 30 years, having served as Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery since 2006, as well as the chair of the larger AHN Orthopaedic Institute. Under his leadership, the department has grown to include nearly 85 attending physicians and a nationally ranked residency program, which Dr. DeMeo started in 1993. He has been the medical director of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball club since 2000.

“The legacy of the department is the single most important thing I care about as I approach the later stages of my career,” Dr. DeMeo said. “I want to see it continue to build on its successes and remain strong in the future.”

Youngstown City School District Receives Nine Ohio Arts Council TeachArts Ohio’s Fund Grants Amid Historic Funding Announcement

Youngstown City School District (YCSD) announced that it has been awarded nine Ohio Arts Council (OAC) TeacherArts Ohio Fund grants, marking the third consecutive year the district has achieved this significant recognition.

These grants are part of a historic funding round approved by the Ohio Arts Council, which allocated a record-breaking $22,704,702 in grants to support artists, nonprofits, educators, and public arts programming across the state during its July 24, 2024, board meeting.

The OAC’s unprecedented investment represents the agency’s most significant single round of grant awards distributed to funding applicants. This milestone demonstrates Ohio’s commitment to advancing the arts and ensuring broad access to cultural programming and creative opportunities for residents, including students in school districts like Youngstown.

Bridget Lambright-Tommelleo, YCSD’s STEAM and Fine Arts Curriculum Supervisor, expressed her pride in the district’s success. “It is an incredible honor to be among the recipients during this historic moment for arts funding in Ohio,” Tommelleo said. “These nine grants will allow us to continue providing our scholars with exceptional arts programming, nurturing their creativity, and offering them opportunities that build both their artistic and academic skills.”

Once again, Youngstown City School District’s elementary and middle school scholars will experience an exciting and transformative journey through the district’s ongoing Artist-in-Residence program, led by renowned artist Nova the Rebel. His dynamic energy, encouragement, and passion for hip-hop have inspired scholars to come out of their shells while creating and performing with confidence.

This year, Nova’s new workshops, Hip Hop to Being Safe, Respectful, and Responsible and Rockin’ Attendance With Hip Hop, have already been met with enthusiasm and excitement from scholars. By incorporating key messages of safety, respect, responsibility, and the importance of regular school attendance, Nova engages scholars in a way that resonates with their experiences and helps reinforce positive behaviors through creative expression.

The Artist-in-Residence program is a cornerstone of YCSD’s mission to provide creative, innovative learning opportunities that align with the district’s STEAM and arts education initiatives. The TeachArts Ohio’s Fund grants, a testament to the Ohio Arts Council’s commitment to advancing the arts, will be instrumental in supporting a wide range of initiatives in the district. These include the artist in residence, music and visual arts programs, and community events.

The practical benefits of these projects made possible through the generosity of the OAC, will be felt by scholars across the district, deepening their engagement with arts education and providing them with creative, engaging experiences.

Summit Academy Secondary School – Youngstown Earns PBIS Bronze Recognition Award from Ohio DEW

Students at Summit Academy Secondary School – Youngtown are rising to the occasion, projecting positive behavior that captured state-level attention. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) awarded the school a Bronze Recognition Award for its 2024 Ohio PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Showcase.

“This recognition reflects your commitment to creating a positive school climate and supporting the success of all students. We applaud your dedication and the hard work of your entire team,” wrote Michele Moore, director of Ohio DEW State Support Team Region 5, in a letter announcing the recognition.

Through PBIS, students receive points daily for honoring Summit Academy’s full-value contract, which entails safety, respect, full participation and honest feedback, according to Principal Ashley Martin. She says her school’s success with PBIS has been one of progress, commitment and steady development over the past seven years.

“It has been a series of steppingstones, always going back to restorative practices and building relationships and student buy-in,” she explains. “Restorative practice is really the foundation and root of everything for me. It is my passion and really what I think has caused us to be so successful.”

The Ohio DEW describes PBIS on its website as “a systems change process that requires ongoing commitment in order to create effective systems for teaching and addressing student needs.”

The DEW further defines PBIS as a framework that guides school teams in the selection, integration and implementation of evidence-based practices for improving academic, social and behavior outcomes for all students.

Behavior Specialist Clark Cretella describes the PBIS program as one focused on fostering positive behavior.

“The objective is not to punish students, but to reward them, so we’re giving them points for positive behavior, but never taking them away,” Cretella explains. “If students are eligible for 80 points and they get 50, it’s a reflection of the way they behave.”

Martin commends her staff for tirelessly delivering a solid PBIS program.

“The team here works very hard for the kids, closely and collaboratively. They put in a lot of time during the day and outside of work,” Martin says.

Teachers award students with points after each period. They can “cash in” their points once a week at the school store for snacks, hygiene products, beverages, school supplies and other items. School staff stock the store with items which students have expressed interest in earning. It all comes down to the caring, close-knit culture within the school.

“There’s a sense of belonging here, a community within a community,” Cretella describes.

“We definitely function as a family,” Martin says.

*Does your business/organization have big news? Email me at jpayne@mcclatchy.com