CONTENTS

Welcome from the Chamber 8

From the President’s Desk 12

Economic Development 16

Events 22

Goodwill Industries of Youngstown 30

Encino Energy 36

New Members 40

Ribbon Cuttings 46

MEMBER Listings 57

The Youngstown/Warren

Regional Chamber

Valley Business Magazine

City Centre One, Suite 500

100 E. Federal Street

Youngstown, Ohio 44503

www.regionalchamber.com

This is a Town Square Publications,

formerly MetroMedia (since 1997),

publication created and produced for the

Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber

Copyright © 2024 Town Square Publications

P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006

847-427-4905 | [email protected]

www.TownSquarePublications.com

Every effort has been made to ensure the

accuracy of the information in this publication.

The Chamber and Town Square assume no

responsibility for misinformation. Please contact

the Chamber with any additions or corrections.

Reproduction in whole or in part

without permission of the Chamber and

Town Square is prohibited.

Chairman, CEO and Publisher | Douglas K. Ray

President and Chief Operating Officer | Scott Stone

Vice President / Director | Scott Ray

Managing Director | David Small

Director of Production | Ryan Moore

Director of Operations | Joseph Nugara

Graphic Designer | Angie Davis

Sales Rep | Dede Harmell

Editor | MaryRose O’Donnell

Contributing Writer | Dave Hoffman

ON THE COVER:

Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber President & CEO Guy Coviello explains the organization’s priorities for the remainder of 2024 and beyond.

WELCOME

from the chamber

The Regional Chamber has been fortunate to produce its own magazine, Valley Business, for the past near-30 years, and more than anything, we’ve loved to share our member businesses’ stories, their inspiration and how they are impacting our Valley and affecting change!

Valley Business started as a small, four-page newsletter in 1997 and has evolved to become what it is today. Every few years, we worked to redesign the publication to ensure that it always looked and felt fresh, and we knew 2024 would be the year to retool once again, in partnership with Town Square Publications.

Why? Two reasons: 1. As much as I love holding and reading actual print/hard copy—I am from that generation, yes, but there is also something to be said for feeling and appreciating paper stock, turning those crisp pages, and taking print with you anywhere and everywhere—having access to a digital, interactive version of Valley Business was also appealing and something we’ve never done all these years. Opportunity and possibility will expand greatly because of the new digital version.

2. Additional advertising options and price points give our smaller member businesses that might not have been able to afford advertising previously a chance to promote themselves to 5,000 of their peers. There are nearly 90 advertisers in this issue—an all-time high for this magazine—that include businesses that never advertised before and/or may not have been able to utilize other benefits and services the Chamber offers.

It’s only fitting, then, that the cover story for this first refreshed/”new” edition of Valley Business Magazine features a “new” Regional Chamber, one that is now heavily focused on talent attraction, housing, a workforce needs assessment to remove barriers to employment and changing the narrative for our Valley so that we can grow our population and be prepared to fill thousands of jobs that are projected to be available in our region in coming years.

There’s never been a more exciting time to be part of this organization and live and/or work in our Valley, or for our team to serve you! We appreciate your ongoing support that enables us to do what we do and, ultimately, love what we do.

Happy Reading!

Kim Calvert

SVP, Marketing & Member Services

from the

PRESIDENT’S DESK

I have had the privilege of listening to Ned Hill, a nationally renowned professor of Economic Development at The Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs. He breaks down economic development into a simplified, visual diagram.

At the front of the diagram is “Transactional Excellence.” These are the near-term business deals assembled by the expertise we created with Lake to River Economic Development, the seventh and final JobsOhio regional partner.

Behind that transactional excellence are four other pillars without which there is no transactional excellence. He identifies these four other pillars as community development; workforce development; housing; and commercial & industrial real estate.

These four other pillars require communities to make strategic investments over the intermediate term so that they can enjoy strategic advantages in the long term. These other four pillars are where the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber is focused.

Through the generosity of our public, private and philanthropic investors, we are about to enter a new phase in these areas of focus.

This fall we will partner with Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries to implement a workforce development strategy based on a comprehensive needs assessment. We are driven by Goodwill’s “belief in the value of all people and the power of work.” We will identify those who are willing and able to work but are jobless. We will find where they reside. We will determine why they are not working. And we will foster partnerships between key stakeholders, including employers, to overcome those barriers.

In doing so, we will become more economically competitive by successfully addressing one of Professor Hill’s critical pillars.

This fall we will partner with the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments to implement a housing strategy. We will take a data-driven approach with research from the Greater Ohio Policy Center and The Reinvestment Fund to increase our housing stock across all levels—executive homes, senior living, workforce housing, affordable housing and much more.

In doing so, we will become more economically competitive by successfully addressing another one of Professor Hill’s critical pillars.

Along with many of our partners, we have already embarked on leadership development; nonprofit excellence; diversity, equity & inclusion; population growth through talent retention and attraction; and other stimulating community development programs.

In doing so, we will become more economically competitive by successfully addressing yet another of Professor Hill’s critical pillars.

We have already seen slight upticks in population and the labor force and slight drops in median age and poverty. Maybe, just maybe, we are no longer getting older, smaller and poorer.

This is truly an ideal time to be in the Mahoning Valley, riding an economic development wave.

And now, a little bit of this and a little bit of that . . .

. . . In the category of game-changing discoveries, researchers found that frack fluid—the injected waste from fracking in the Pennsylvania shale play—contains enormous quantities of lithium, a resource necessary for electric vehicle batteries that we are currently dependent on receiving from other countries, mostly unfriendly ones.

More research is needed, and a pilot facility is recommended to gather data efficiently, but lately it seems like shale news just gets better and better for the regional economy.

. . . Speaking of better shale news, an oil boom in the Utica Shale, right here in the Valley, is shaping a new future for our economy. Long known as a vast reservoir of natural gas, oil production in the Utica has been increasing by about 10 percent a year for many years, with no slowdown expected any time soon.

The Regional Chamber has ramped up its public policy efforts around this oil and gas play to ensure that as the world becomes more needy for energy, the world will become more needy for the Valley.

. . . Kudos to former State Senator Capri Cafaro, who is leading the charge for the Regional Chamber and businesses in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys to engage with our counterparts in Iceland. We are exploring ways to help our economy, and Iceland’s, now that IcelandAir has direct Pittsburgh flights, opening possibilities for business travel and cargo.

. . . And kudos to approximately 95 business, government and community leaders from the Valley who attended our annual D.C. Fly-in in June. This overwhelming support for our public policy priorities, and hundreds of millions of dollars in funding requests, leads to economic development success.

Guy Coviello

President & CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber

Region agencies

work together for

economic development

T here are a lot of new initiatives going on for economic development in the Youngstown/Warren region, including a newly dedicated JobsOhio region that promises to pave the way for businesses looking to thrive in the area.

For the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, this means providing more services to encourage economic opportunity, including working strategically with other agencies to grow the workforce and increase the housing stock.

The Regional Chamber co-founded Lake to River, seeding the start-up economic development company with $500,000 from its foundation and six of its now former employees. The new “Lake to River” region of JobsOhio is the seventh and final regional network partner in the state’s economic development system.

“The business community felt the Lake to River region would be better served if the JobsOhio economic development system had a regional partner focused on those four counties (Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana),” said Guy Coviello, president & CEO of the Regional Chamber.

JobsOhio is the nation’s only private economic development corporation, supported by a steady stream of income from liquor sales. Being private gives them the ability to respect the confidentiality of site selectors looking to move into the region, and reliable revenue ensures lasting and meaningful assistance in economic development projects.

Formerly part of the Team NEO region of JobsOhio, the Lake to River region has unique assets to showcase and unique challenges to overcome. For example, it has two deep sea ports on Lake Erie and one on the Ohio River connected by a limited-access, under-used, four-lane highway and Class One rail, with a lot of potential sites for economic development projects in between. It’s the only place in the country where the Great Lakes and Ohio River are separated by less than 100 miles.

“You have lots of former industrial sites that are ripe for redevelopment and then a lot of greenfield sites that can be developed, as well,” Coviello said.

With the Lake to River economic development agency concentrating on economic development projects, the largest focus for the Regional Chamber will be growing the workforce, with a guideline on what it calls the Three R’s of retain, return and receive.

This means working closely with one of its partners—the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments—to provide resources and incentives to retain people already living in the area, encourage people who have left to return and to receive an increased number of newcomers, including legal immigration.

To complement these efforts, there is a focus on increasing the housing stock in the region.

“We recognize that the growth is coming,” said Jim Kinnick, executive director at Eastgate. “We’re taking a global picture of what we can improve on and where we will be successful.”

Eastgate hired a consultant to conduct a housing assessment of Trumbull and Mahoning counties and suggest strategies on how to approach all levels of housing. The main component is a market value assessment that identifies strengths in how the various regional submarkets function today. The assessment takes into account quantitative data and insights from stakeholders such as real estate agents, builders, social service agencies and other organizations to provide a broad overview of how people perceive the housing market in the region.

“We take the quantitative and qualitative data and pull out recommendations for builders, lenders and other stakeholders to give them some direction on how to tackle some of the problems we’re seeing,” said Justin Mondok, also with Eastgate.

Initiatives will likely focus on fixing old housing that is in need of repair, building new housing in the cities and development in the suburbs, including multifamily and single-family units. In addition to housing, the focus is on promoting the region.

“Our focus has shifted to retaining the young people,” said Kinnick. “Telling them about amenities, low cost of living and proximity to cities and entertainment. We’re looking to roll out a major marketing campaign that will show them what’s going on in the Mahoning Valley.”

As the local economy grows and new people come to the region to participate in new opportunities, local leadership is proactive about making sure the area can sustain an influx, Coviello said.

“We are in the process of completing the housing study, and the end result is going to be a strategy laying out a plan on how to increase the housing stock so that as we grow the workforce, there are enough places for people to live,” Coviello said.

Coviello said another component to growing the workforce is helping marginalized individuals—those who can work and want to work but have a barrier—enter the labor market. The Regional Chamber is partnering with Youngtown Area Goodwill Industries to conduct a workforce needs assessment, which he says will identify who and where these individuals are, what the barriers are and how to overcome those barriers.

He said the Regional Chamber and Goodwill will then convene stakeholders to create strategies that help the marginalized overcome those barriers.

The Chamber also spearheads Diversity, Equity & Inclusion outreach so that all area minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses can benefit from membership.

“The Chamber is part of the entrepreneurial and business ecosystems,” said Vern Richberg, director of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Initiatives at the Regional Chamber.

“It’s important that we operate in this space and reach all businesses, so no businesses get left behind. We’re sending outreach to businesses that may not look to the Chamber as a resource.”

Richberg explained that DEI&A (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility) is a tool that allows businesses and customers to have access to a larger group of vendors, suppliers and other partners. The work is based on three strategy pillars.

Richberg said the first pillar is to bridge the gap between the types of businesses that are inclusive and create opportunities to help underutilized businesses join the Chamber.

“Smaller businesses may not know about the value of the Chamber,” said Richberg. “The Chamber is telling those businesses, ‘let’s find ways to bring you on board.’”

The second pillar is supplier diversity, a tool to help DEI&A businesses to enter supply chains previously seen as unattainable. The third pillar is learning and communication.

“We want to work with stakeholders who are interested in becoming DEI&A informed,” said Richberg. “We have training for stakeholders and professionals in the workplace. The learning we provide is elective—it’s for companies that come to us saying they want it.”

EVENTS

Stambaugh Auditorium/Powers Auditorium/DeYor Performing Arts Center/Youngstown Playhouse

SRO Promotions Presents: Anthony Rodia: The Totally Relatable Tour

Sept. 21, 8 p.m.

Ford Family Recital Hall at the

DeYor Performing Arts Center

Cost: $39 – $69; add the Anthony Rodia VIP Experience for an additional $30.

Contact: 330.259.9651 or visit

experienceyourarts.org to purchase tickets

Something Rotten!

Sept. 20-29

Main Stage at the Youngstown Playhouse

Contact: 330.259.9651 or visit

experienceyourarts.org to purchase tickets

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Sept. 30, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tyler Grand Ballroom at Stambaugh Auditorium

Visit: redcrossblood.org for more information

Rhapsody Royale: Music of Gershwin, Rachmaninoff and Queen with Your Youngstown Symphony

Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m.

Powers Auditorium at the

DeYor Performing Arts Center

Contact: 330.259.9651 or visit

experienceyourarts.org to purchase tickets

AMANDA (She Didn’t Mean to Die)

Oct. 11, 7 p.m.

Powers Auditorium at the

DeYor Performing Arts Center

Cost: $20 – $80

Contact: 330.259.9651 or visit

experienceyourarts.org to purchase tickets

The Tamburitzans

Oct. 20, 3 p.m.

Ford Family Recital Hall at

DeYor Performing Arts Center

Cost: $12 – $37

Contact: 330.259.9651 or visit

experienceyourarts.org to purchase tickets

PUFFS or 7 Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic

Oct. 25 & 26, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 27, 2:30 p.m.

Main Stage at the Youngstown Playhouse

Contact: 330.259.9651 or visit

experienceyourarts.org to purchase tickets

OMEA District 5 Honors Choir Concert

Oct. 26, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Concert Hall at Stambaugh Auditorium

Contact: 330.259.9651 or visit

experienceyourarts.org to purchase tickets

Easy Street Productions presents

Gotta Dance

Oct. 26 & 27

Powers Auditorium at the

DeYor Performing Arts Center

Visit: deyorpac.org for more information

Back to the Future with Your Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.

Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. & Nov. 3, 2:30 p.m.

Powers Auditorium at the

DeYor Performing Arts Center

Contact: 330.259.9651 or visit

experienceyourarts.org to purchase tickets

Stambaugh Chorus: A Night at the

Races Fundraiser

Nov. 10, 4 p.m.

Tyler Grand Ballroom at Stambaugh Auditorium

Visit: stambaughchorus.org for more information

Classical Arts Entertainment &

The State Ballet

Theatre of Ukraine Present Swan Lake

Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.

Powers Auditorium at the

DeYor Performing Arts Center

Cost: $35 – $75

Contact: 330.259.9651 or visit

experienceyourarts.org to purchase tickets

Stambaugh Youth Concert Band

Fall Concert

Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m.

Concert Hall at Stambaugh Auditorium

Contact: 330.259.9651 or visit

experienceyourarts.org to purchase tickets

The Thanksgiving Play

Nov. 15-24, 7:30 p.m.

Moyer Room at the Youngstown Playhouse

Contact: 330.259.9651 or visit

experienceyourarts.org to purchase tickets

Mill Creek MetroParks

Call 330.740.7107 for more information about these events.

Pumpkin Carving

Oct. 19, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Fellows Riverside Gardens

Cost: Free

Have fun helping to carve pumpkins for display at our annual Pumpkin Walk at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Carving tools available or bring your own. Meet in the grass area behind the parking lot. No registration required.

Pumpkin Walk at Twilight

Oct. 20, 4 – 8 p.m.

Fellows Riverside Gardens

Cost: Free

Experience the magic of the fall season during Pumpkin Walk! Take a stroll along the Gardens’ pumpkin-lined paths as day turns to night. Be sure and visit the education staff at the Cushwa Outdoor Education Pavilion for “Creatures of the Night” educational activities, along with Scarecrow Lane.

Gateways to Better Living

Contact Kristie Murphy, Community Engagement Director, 330.792.2854, ext. 238, or [email protected] for more information or sponsorship opportunities.

Gateways to Better Living Bingo & Bling Designer Purse Bingo

Sept. 12, Doors open 5 p.m.

Waypoint 4180, Canfield

Cost: $50 per person; $400 per table of 8 (2 bottles of wine included with table purchase). Tickets include dinner, 10 games of bingo (3 cards per game), bingo dauber & door prize raffle ticket. Sponsor opportunities available.

Gateways to Better Living Not So Haunted House

Oct. 25. Preview Day for Schools/Day Programs, 12 – 3 p.m.; Oct. 26, open to the public, 12 – 3 p.m.

Old Aveda Institute in the Austintown Plaza

Cost: Free

Sensory friendly, non-scary Halloween activity for kids of all ages. Wear costumes if you’d like (nothing too scary)! Enjoy tricks, treats and activities!

Sponsored by Gateways to Better Living, The Austintown Plaza and Institution Prescription Services.

For a Good Cause

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Northeast Ohio District/Trumbull County   

3rd Annual Friends of the Poor Walk

Sept. 21, Registration: 10 a.m.; Step-Off: 11 a.m. Perkins Park, Warren

Cost: $15 Adults, $10 Children/Students. Registration fee includes a t-shirt, lunch, live music, swag bag, children’s activities, raffles and more! Sponsor and volunteer opportunities available.

Contact: Laura Bennett, Development Director, 234.223.2933, ext. 103, or [email protected]

Eye Ball of the Mahoning Valley

Nov. 9, 5:30 – 10 p.m.

Eastwood Event Center, Niles

Cost: $250 per person. Sponsor opportunities available.

Contact: Leah Sakacs, Executive Director, 330.750.1867, or [email protected]

Mahoning-Shenango Exit Planning Institute

The Exit Planning Institute provides financial advisors, accountants, consultants and other advisors of business owners with the critical education to differentiate themselves and add value to their existing client relationships through a credential, conference, courses and content. Visit exit-planning-institute.org/chapter/epi-mahoning-shenango-valley-chapter for more information and to register for these events:

Sept. 25: The Value Acceleration Methodology, Part 2 Discover Gate

Oct. 24: The Value Acceleration Methodology, Part 3 Prepare Gate

Nov. 20: The Value Acceleration Methodology,

Part 4 Decide Gate

All three events will be held from 4 – 6 p.m. at Waypoint 4180, Canfield.

Cost for each event: $40 per person

EPI Hours per event: 2

WILD ONES YOUNGSTOWN

Very Belated Spring Symposium hosted by Wild Ones Youngstown Area, The Spore Sisterhood and The Spore Sorority

Sept. 14, 2 – 5 p.m.

Morrow Residence, 2101 Hubbard Rd. Youngstown

Cost: Free. Registration is required due to the limited parking and limited garden space.

Contact: Ashley Morrow at [email protected] or 330.719.4754 by Sept. 7 to rsvp.

Ashley’s Garden Tour hosted by Wild Ones Youngstown Area, The Spore Sisterhood and The Spore Sorority

Oct. 12, 1 – 4 p.m.

Morrow Residence, 2101 Hubbard Rd. Youngstown

Cost: Free. Registration is required due to the limited parking and limited garden space.

Contact: Ashley Morrow at [email protected] or 330.719.4754 by Oct. 5 to rsvp.

Regional Chamber Events

For more information about Chamber events and sponsorship opportunities, contact Connie Knight, events coordinator, at ext.1215 or email [email protected]. To register for events, visit regionalchamber.com.

Good Morning, Trumbull

Sept. 12, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.

The Grand Resort, Howland

Cost: $35 per member; $45 per non-member

Mahoning Valley Safety Council: Compliance Resource Assistance for Small Business

Oct. 2, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Holiday Inn Boardman

Cost: $35 per member; $45 per non-member.

Good Evening, Canfield

Oct. 3, 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Waypoint 4180, Canfield

Cost: $40 per member; $50 per non-member

Policy Conference

Oct. 11

Location TBD

Cost: $60 per member; $70 per non-member

Mahoning Valley Safety Council – OSHA “Top 10”

Nov. 6, 11:30 – 1 p.m.

Waypoint 4180, Canfield

Cost: $35 per member; $45 per non-member.

Economic Forecast

Nov. 7, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Eastwood Event Center, Niles

Cost: $50 per member; $60 per non-member

Good Evening, Boardman

Nov. 12, 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Location TBD

Cost: $40 per member; $50 per non-member

Salute to Elected Officials

Nov. 25, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The Grand Resort, Howland

Cost: $30 per member; $40 per non-member

Mahoning Valley Safety Council – Safety Trivia

Dec. 4, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Eastwood Events Center, Niles

Cost: $35 per member; $45 per non-member

Taste of the Holidays Mixer

Dec. 11, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The Lake Club, Poland

Cost: $50 per member; $60 per non-member

Goodwill Industries of Youngstown:

130 Years of Empowering Lives through the Power of Work

For 130 years, Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries has been a beacon of hope and opportunity for individuals facing barriers to employment in our community. With an unwavering commitment to their mission, “We believe in all people and the power of work,” Goodwill has consistently demonstrated the transformative impact of providing support, training and job opportunities to those who need it most.

At the heart of Goodwill’s operations are its dedicated career service managers. These individuals actively engage with the community, attending job and resource fairs to connect with underserved populations. They understand that barriers to employment come in many forms, both visible and invisible, including physical limitations, mental health challenges, emotional obstacles, housing instability, transportation issues and childcare constraints. By meeting people where they are and assessing their unique needs, Goodwill’s career service managers are able to provide targeted support and guidance.

“When you come in for help, we do an assessment,” said Interim Chief Executive Officer Shelley Murray. “We will help them identify strengths and what field they may be interested and successful in. We also help them develop soft skills, write a resume, learn interview skills and help them with their search.”

Beyond these direct services, Goodwill maintains an extensive network of community partners, allowing them to refer individuals to specialized organizations that can address specific barriers and provide additional support.

Goodwill’s commitment to empowering lives extends beyond career services. The organization offers a range of employment opportunities within their own organization, catering to individuals with diverse skill sets and abilities. From laundry services and packaging contracts to e-commerce and material sorting, Goodwill provides a supportive and inclusive work environment where individuals can gain valuable experience and grow professionally. The organization also offers lawn care and janitorial services, further expanding the scope of their employment initiatives.

As Goodwill celebrates its 130th anniversary, the organization is embarking on a crucial community needs assessment and workforce study. Recognizing the challenges faced by employers in finding qualified candidates and the persistent barriers that prevent individuals from securing meaningful employment, Goodwill has taken a proactive approach to understanding and addressing these issues.

“It came from the need,” said Murray. “We saw that many employers were struggling to find a qualified workforce, and we believe there is an untapped workforce that needs to be engaged. Our needs assessment aims to identify this workforce and understand the barriers they face in gaining employment.”

In collaboration with their parent organization, Goodwill International Industries, and in partnership with the Regional Chamber, Goodwill is conducting surveys, focus groups and one-on-one stakeholder meetings to gather insights into the workforce needs of the community. This comprehensive study aims to identify the gaps between employer requirements and the available workforce, shedding light on the barriers that hinder individuals from finding and retaining employment.

The community needs assessment will delve into various factors contributing to workforce challenges, such as the impact of the opioid epidemic and the stigma faced by justice-involved individuals seeking to reintegrate into the workforce. By gathering data and personal narratives, Goodwill aims to paint a clear picture of the current landscape and develop targeted strategies to overcome these obstacles.

The culmination of this study will be a community report, expected to be released in October. This report will not only identify the highest needs but also issue a call to action engaging community stakeholders to come together and outline concrete steps that can be taken to address the identified gaps and barriers. Goodwill’s partnership with the Chamber in this endeavor underscores the importance of collaboration and collective action in driving positive change.

As Goodwill Industries of Youngstown marks its 130th year and approaches its 50th anniversary as an affiliate of Goodwill Industries International, the organization remains committed to spreading awareness about the depth and breadth of its impact. While many people associate Goodwill with its retail stores, the organization’s true power lies in the transformative work it does behind the scenes, empowering individuals, strengthening families and building a more inclusive and resilient community.

Encino Energy: Fueling Ohio’s Economic Growth and Energy Independence

Nestled in the heart of the Buckeye State, Encino Energy has emerged as a driving force behind Ohio’s thriving oil and natural gas industry. Since its entry into the Utica Shale in 2018, Encino has become the largest acreage and well owner in the state, with over a million acres under leasehold. The company’s unwavering commitment to responsible exploration, production and community engagement has not only positioned it as a leader in the energy sector but also as a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity in the region.

“We’re one of the largest private oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States,” said Jackie Stewart, Encino’s VP of External Affairs. “We’ve proven that there is both prolific oil and gas production in Ohio. Since we’ve entered the state, we’ve led the state to historic levels of oil production.”

Encino’s journey in Ohio began with the acquisition of Chesapeake Energy’s Utica Shale assets, which included approximately 900,000 acres. This strategic move laid the foundation for Encino’s rapid expansion and subsequent success in the state. Today, Encino is Ohio’s largest oil producer, pioneering new energy opportunities across the state.

The Utica Shale has proven to be a prolific source of both oil and natural gas, and Encino’s investments have propelled Ohio to historic levels of oil production. The company’s activities have not only contributed to the state’s energy independence but have also caught the attention of investors nationwide. As one of the only growth oil discoveries in the lower 48 states, the Utica Shale play has positioned Ohio as a focal point for the energy industry, with Encino leading the charge.

Encino’s commitment to the region is evident in its ongoing hiring efforts and support for local businesses. The company’s contractors, particularly in the manufacturing and transportation sectors, are consistently in need of skilled workers to keep pace with Encino’s growth. This demand has created a ripple effect throughout the local economy, providing opportunities for job seekers and stimulating economic activity across various industries.

“60% of our workforce is in Ohio, and we have about 150 employees in Ohio,” said Stewart. “ The majority of our economic impact is in the form of our contractors, many of which are in the Mahoning Valley.”

Beyond its economic impact, Encino Energy is dedicated to being a responsible corporate citizen and giving back to the communities it serves. Through the Encino Energy Community Partnership Program, launched in 2019, the company has donated over $2 million to various charitable causes, with a focus on public safety, environmental health and youth development. With the belief that collaboration makes communities better, Encino’s annual Vendor Charity Classic event brings together the company’s partners to support local organizations that drive civic engagement and social development, such as 4H, which provides kids with community involvement, mentors and learning opportunities to develop the skills they need to create positive change in their lives, and various fire departments, which play a vital role in promoting community safety and well-being.

Encino’s involvement with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber further demonstrates its commitment to the local business community. Stewart serves on the Chamber’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee, dedicating her time and expertise to promote economic development and advocate for businesses in the region. Encino’s active participation in the Chamber, both through leadership roles and event sponsorships, underscores the company’s belief in the power of collaboration and shared success.

As Ohio continues to emerge as a leader in the energy industry, Encino Energy remains at the forefront, driving innovation, creating jobs and contributing to the state’s economic vitality. The company’s success story is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the local workforce, the abundance of natural resources in the region and the power of partnerships between businesses and the communities they serve.

NEW MEMBERS

Regional Chamber New Members • April 12 to June 30, 2024

Associations

LAKE TO RIVER OHIO

laketoriverohio.org

Youngstown

Business Services

APPLERIDGE PRODUCTIONS

appleridgeproductions.com

Boardman

CHAMPION INCOME TAX SERVICE

Warren

EMPOWERMENT HOLDINGS

empowermentholdings.com

Santa Barbara

JOE MINEO CREATIVE

joemineocreative.com

Youngstown

STEEL VALLEY LIQUIDATORS

steelvalleyliquidators.com

Boardman

TABLETOP PRODUCTIONS

tabletopproductions.com

Burghill

XCD MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC

Boardman

Catering

BLUE LOTUS BANQUET HALL

bluelotusbanquetniles.com

Niles

FIRE FLY OHIO

fireflyohio.com

Youngstown

VINTAGE SALOON

vintagesaloonllc.com

New Springfield

Construction

1-TOM-PLUMBER

Columbiana

KAUFFMAN'S HOME IMPROVEMENTS

North Bloomfield

LIBERTY ROOFING CENTER

libertyroofingcenter.com

Youngstown

PROVERBS EXCAVATING & CONSTRUCTION

proverbsexcavating.com

Warren

Distribution

HYDRAULIC SUPPLY CO.

hydraulic-supply.com

Youngstown

SLIP DEFENSE, LLC

slipdefense.net

Poland

Education

BARREL OF MONKEY'S

facebook.com/BarrelofMonkeysDC/

Austintown

THE CHILDREN'S CENTER @ SOUTHWOODS, LLC

childrenscentersouthwoods.com

Boardman

Entertainment

ANNIK'S EVENTS

anniksevents.com

Warren

MUSIC & ARTS

musicarts.com

Canfield

OAKLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS, INC.

oakland.center

Boardman

QUAKER CITY MOTORSPORTS PARK

raceqcmp.com

Salem

SPOTLIGHT PERFORMING ARTS STUDIO

actingstarpower.com

Warren

TOUCH OF CLASS PRODUCTIONS

touchofclassva.com

Bristow

Healthcare

ANGEL CARE MEDICAL

angelcaremedicalltc.com

Boardman

ASPIRE MENTAL HEALTH

aspirementalhealth.net

Austintown

COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL CONSULTING

abaforall.org

Canfield

COMPLETE DENTAL CARE

completedentalcaresmile.com

Warren

HEARTLAND HOSPICE

heartlandhospice.com

Boardman

INDEPENDENT DIALYSIS GROUP

independentdialysisgroup.com

Boardman

KA WELLNESS & NUTRITION

wellnesswithkayla.com

North Lima

MILK GUIDE

milkguide.com

Youngstown

QUICKMED URGENT CARE - BOARDMAN

quickmedclinic.com

Boardman

Home & Commercial Services

713 INTERIORS, LLC

West Farmington

A&G HOME IMPROVEMENTS & REPAIR

Youngstown

BARE ROOT LANDSCAPING

barerootlandscaping.com

Warren

CERTIFIED PRECISION CARPET CLEANING, LLC

certifiedprecisioncarpets.com

Warren

HD MOVING SERVICES

hd-moving.com

Hubbard

LAWN RECON, LLC

Youngstown

NEVIN DESIGN, LLC

nevin-design.com

Youngstown

OLMI CONSTRUCTION

Lowellville

ON THE SPOT CLEANING & RESTORATION

otsrestoration.com

Beloit

SAINT MICHAEL HOUSE WASHING

Burghill

SCS GLASS

North Jackson

THE LAUNDRY SPOT

thelaundryspotmahoning.com

Youngstown

WATER SOLUTIONS WATERPROOFING

facebook.com/watersolutions

waterproofingPA/

New Castle

Insurance

AMERICAN ATLANTIC, LLC

americanatlantic.net

Girard

BRANDON BERGANA INSURANCE AGENCY

facebook.com/BrandonBergana

InsuranceAgency/

Warren

ROCCO NOLFI AGENCY / ALLSTATE INSURANCE

nolfiassoc.com

Boardman

W.T. SCHRADER INSURANCE AGENCY

schraderinsuranceandtax.com

Warren

Logistics

R-K-CAMPF TRANSPORT

rkcampf.com

Salem

Manufacturing

CONVERSE ALL STEEL SERVICES, INC.

converseallsteel.com

Canfield

HURRICANE VENTURES

Greenville

UNITED PROTECTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

upt-usa.com

Niles

Media

BOARDMAN NEIGHBORS

bestversionmedia.com

Youngstown

Professional Services

HASENSTAB ARCHITECTS, INC.

hasenstabinc.com

Akron

YOUNGSTOWN ENGINEERING COMPANY

youngstownengineering.com

Boardman

Real Estate

JLH PROPERTIES

Youngstown

TRILOGY ASSET INVESTMENTS

millennialmoments.com

Canfield

Restaurants

BIBIBOP ASIAN GRILL

bibibop.com

Niles

BUBBLES THE TEA & JUICE COMPANY

bubblesteacompany.com

Niles

BUFFALO WILD WINGS - AUSTINTOWN

buffalowildwings.com

Austintown

BUFFALO WILD WINGS - GREAT EAST PLAZA

buffalowildwings.com

Niles

BUFFALO WILD WINGS - SOUTHERN PARK MALL

buffalowildwings.com

Boardman

BULL & BEAR NEIGHBORHOOD GRILLE & TAVERN / YSU CAMPUS

bullandbeartavern.com

Youngstown

ENZO'S RESTAURANT

enzosofwarren.com

Warren

IRENE'S ICE CREAM

Cortland

NICO'S HAWAIIAN GRILL

Warren

THE RISI FOOD COMPANY

Canfield

Retail

CORTLAND BP

Cortland

DELIRIUM PICKLING LLC

deliriumpickling.com

Warren

LEANA'S BOOKS & MORE

leanasbooks.com

Niles

LEPPO RENTS - BOBCAT OF YOUNGSTOWN

lepporents.com

Girard

RENT-A-CENTER

rentacenter.com

Boardman

UNITED RENTALS / RELIABLE ONSITE SERVICES

Akron

VALLEY TOBACCO

Austintown

Services

ALTERATIONS EXPRESS

alterations-express.com

-AUSTINTOWN

alterations-express.com/location/austintown/

- BOARDMAN

alterations-express.com/location/boardman/

- NILES

alterations-express.com/location/

niles/

DUTCHESS CLEANERS

- AUSTINTOWN

dutchesscleaners.com/our-locations/austintown/

- BOARDMAN

dutchesscleaners.com/our-locations/boardman/

- LIBERTY

dutchesscleaners.com/our-locations/liberty/

- NILES

dutchesscleaners.com/our-locations/niles/

RONDINELLI TUXEDO COMPANY

- BOARDMAN

rondinellituxedo.com/contact-us/boardman

- NILES

rondinellituxedo.com/contact-us/

niles/

Social & Community Services

MASCO, INC.

mascoinc.org

Boardman

PORTAGE INDUSTRIES, INC

portageind.org

Ravenna

SHAKER WOODS HELPING HANDS

shakerwoodshelpinghands.com

Columbiana

UNITED NETWORK ALLIANCE

portageind.org

Ravenna

Wealth Management

CABOT FAMILY PRACTICE

cabotfamilyoffice.com

Warren

PROSPERITY PARTNERS FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC

Cortland

THE WEALTH ADVISORY GROUP OF DiLAURO WRACHER & THOMAS, LLC

wagdwt.com

Boardman

Wellness / Self-Care

B OPULENT STUDIOS

Warren

BEST YOU EMPLOYEE WELLNESS

bestyouemployeewellness.com

Canfield

BRASS BEAUTY REVIVAL & STYLING SALON

Brookfield

PERMANENT BEAUTY

pmu-by-leeann.aquare.site

Warren

RIBBON CUTTINGS

1-TOM-PLUMBER

May 20th, Columbiana

ALL STAR AUTO GROUP, LLC

June 4th, Poland

http://allstarautoohio.com

ANIMAL CHARITY OF OHIO

June 24th, Boardman

http://www.animalcharityofohio.org

AUSTINTOWN IMPACT REFERRALS

CHAPTER / BNI

June 4th, Austintown

https://bnineo.com

B OPULENT STUDIOS

May 10th, Warren

BIBIBOP ASIAN GRILL

May 9th, Niles

http://www.bibibop.com

BRASS BEAUTY REVIVAL & STYLING SALON

May 6th, Brookfield

CLIMB YOUNGSTOWN

May 31st, Youngstown

https://m.facebook.com/climbyoungstown

EASTERSEALS OF MAHONING, TRUMBULL & COLUMBIANA COUNTIES

June 4th, Youngstown

http://www.easterseals.com/mtc/

FORD OFFICE TECHNOLOGIES

April 24th, Niles

http://fordtech.com

GENERATIONAL STRUCTURES, LLC

April 12th, North Jackson

http://www.generationalstructures.com

HEARTLAND HOSPICE

June 13th, Boardman

http://www.heartlandhospice.com

HECK YA!

May 1st, Youngstown

HOWARD HANNA / CARROUSEL CORNERS DEVELOPMENT

April 23rd, New Middletown

http://howardhanna.com

HOWARD HANNA / MILLENNIAL MOMENTS DEVELOPMENT

May 21st, Canfield

http://howardhanna.com

IDENTITY SKIN SPA

May 4th, Canfield

https://www.identityskinspa.com/

IRENE’S ICE CREAM

May 15th, Cortland

IRON CITY WOOD PRODUCTS, INC.

June 20th, Youngstown

http://icpallets.com

LEANA’S BOOKS & MORE

June 15th, Niles

http://leanasbooks.com

MARS ELECTRIC

June 6th, Youngstown

http://www.marselectric.com

MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

May 29th, Hermitage

http://www.mercomfcu.org

MUSIC & ARTS

May 17th, Canfield

http://www.musicarts.com

NICO’S HAWAIIAN GRILL

May 22nd, Warren

ONE HEALTH OHIO / Warren West Community Health Center

June 7th, Youngstown

http://onehealthohio.org

PARADISE LAUNDROMAT

May 1st, Boardman

PERMANENT BEAUTY

June 21st, Warren

http://www.pmu-by-leeann.aquare.site

SCRAPPY’S SAFE HAVEN / FAIRHAVEN FOUNDATION

June 29th, Niles

http://www.fairhavenindustries.com

SHAKER WOODS HELPING HANDS

June 30th, Columbiana

http://shakerwoodshelpinghands.com

SPOTLIGHT PERFORMING ARTS STUDIO

May 28th, Warren

http://www.actingstarpower.com

STATE FARM / RICHARD STEWART

May 17th, Niles

http://www.myteamstewart.com

THE BARREL ROOM AT 5 POINTS

June 20th, Poland

THE RISI FOOD COMPANY

May 8th, Canfield

THE WEALTH ADVISORY GROUP OF DiLAURO WRACHER & THOMAS, LLC

June 26th, Boardman

http://www.wagdwt.com

TRACTOR SPECIALISTS

May 4th, North Jackson

YOGO BIKESHARE

April 23rd, Boardman

http://www.rideyogobikes.com