YOUNGSTOWN Chamber to honor two longtime Valley leaders

Ohio's lieutenant governor is the speaker for the luncheon meeting.
By CYNTHIA VINARSKY
VINDICATOR BUSINESS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two longtime community leaders will be offered kudos for their commitment to the Mahoning Valley at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce annual membership meeting, set for 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the Holiday Inn MetroPlex, Liberty.
Thomas Hollern, northeast region president of National City Bank, will receive the William G. Lyden Jr. Spirit of the Valley award, and David Paull, vice president of administration at RMI Titanium, will be presented the Donald Cagigas Spirit of the Chamber award.
Keynote speaker for the luncheon meeting will be Maureen O'Connor, Ohio's lieutenant governor, who is spearheading the state's safety efforts as chairwoman of the State of Ohio Security Task Force.
Bank executive: Hollern, a Canfield resident, has worked in a wide-range of executive positions since he started his career in banking in 1967. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Gannon University in Erie, Pa.
Since joining National City Bank in 1993, he has helped to increase the company's profile as an outstanding corporate citizen, investing in schools and colleges, supporting local arts and local health and human service organizations.
Under his leadership, the bank's philanthropic work in the area won recognition twice last year. National City was named a 2001 Torch Award recipient by the Better Business Bureau, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals honored the bank as an outstanding corporate philanthropist.
Hollern's work as a leader and volunteer for a long list of community groups and organizations, including the boards of the chamber and the Youngstown Central Area community Improvement Corp., also helped qualify him for the Spirit of the Valley award. Named after the late William G. Lyden Jr., the award is presented yearly to an individual who displays "exemplary leadership and commitment to the community, economic development and the overall progress of the Valley."
RMI officer: Paull, of Austintown, has served in a variety of positions at RMI Titanium since joining the Weathersfield Township company in 1978. He assumed his present post in 1999. He has a bachelor's degree from Youngstown State University.
Paull is active in the chamber, now serving on its finance committee. He was a part of the task force that regionalized the Niles, Warren and Youngstown chambers, and was the first treasurer of the regional chamber.
He also is a leader in several community groups in the region, including the budget and allocation committee panel for the United Way of Trumbull County, of which he is chairman.
He will receive the Spirit of the Chamber Award, which is presented for exceptional dedication, commitment and accomplishments on behalf of the chamber. The award was named in honor of Cagigas, a retired Youngstown area bank executive who is active in community affairs.
Reservations are still being accepted for the dinner. To save a place, or for more information, call Jennifer at the chamber, (330) 744-2131, extension 12.
vinarsky@vindy.com