Chamber to honor Naffah, Kacmar

Wednesday, August 23, 2006 The mayors of Youngstown and Warren also will be recognized. YOUNGSTOWN — A businessman building a commercial and residential development in Canfield Township will be honored next week by the Regional Chamber. Michal Naffah, president of Naffah Hospitality Group, has been named the chamber's business professional of the year. He will be honored at the chamber's Salute to Business breakfast Aug. 31. Other honorees are: Donald Kacmar, chief executive of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Retirement Services, nonprofit professional of the year; and Warren Mayor Michael O'Brien and Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, business advocates of the year. Naffah owns The Embassy, a Boardman banquet hall, and operates the banquet facilities at the Maronite Center in Youngstown. His latest venture is Ironwood Commons on Boardman-Canfield Road, a mixed-use development on a site that used to be a farm owned by his family. The family also operated Ironwood Funland at the site. What's being developed Now, the site is home to Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel and Bob Evans Family Restaurant. Ruby Tuesday's is to open soon, and construction is about to begin for a new restaurant, Harry & Jean's. Also planned are retail shops and a housing development with condominiums and villas. Kacmar has been CEO of the long-term care corporation since 1983. During his tenure, Shepherd of the Valley has grown from one site with 120 employees supporting 170 residents to five sites with 650 employees supporting 700 residents. The chamber said it is recognizing O'Brien for taking the lead in bringing Leedsworld, a maker of promotional products, to Warren and Williams for providing small business financing through a program known as the Youngstown Initiative. The breakfast and awards ceremony will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman. Cost is $15 for members and $20 for prospective members. For a reservation, call the chamber at (330) 744-2131, Ext. 12.