Chamber to honor 3 for advancing Valley’s economy

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YSU President David C. Sweet

Debra D’Alesio is the chamber’s Business Professional of the Year.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University President David C. Sweet is one of three community leaders to be recognized for advancing economic development in the Mahoning Valley.

The Regional Chamber will present its annual Salute to Business breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman.

Sweet, YSU president since July 2000, will be named Business Advocate of the Year.

Debra D’Alesio, president and owner of Valley Industrial Trucks in Boardman, will be honored as Business Professional of the Year at the event, which kicks off the 162nd Canfield Fair.

Sister Patricia McNicholas, executive director of Beatitude House, will receive the chamber’s Non-Profit Business Professional of the Year Award.

“All of the recipients have had a significant impact on this community and helping to move the Valley forward,” said Tom Humphries, chamber president and chief executive.

Specifically, he said Sweet deserves recognition for his focus on increased enrollment at YSU and expanded community partnerships and diversity, all of which have had a positive effect on the region at large.

“Dr. Sweet has greatly influenced our youth and shaped their future as part of our region’s work force,” Humphries said. “He is also working to connect the campus to downtown Youngstown and position our Valley in the middle of the proposed Tech Belt between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. He is leaving a legacy that will continue to benefit this region for decades to come.”

The numbers speak to the success of the Sweet administration’s efforts. YSU’s enrollment reached a 13-year high last fall, with 13,497 students, and the number of minority students has more then doubled since 1998. Numbers of full-time minority faculty and minority staff have also grown substantially.

Additionally, construction is set to begin in January on a new $34.3 million Williamson College of Business Administration building, with a far-south campus site that was chosen because of its proximity to downtown Youngstown. The building, nearly half of which is funded by private gifts, is designed to connect the campus to the city’s business community.

D’Alesio will be honored for her leadership at the full-service material handling company, said Humphries.

McNicholas will be recognized for her work with Beatitude House, providing housing for 31 homeless Valley families and supervising a career-preparation program for low-income women.

The event, sponsored by Key Bank, will also feature presentation of a new chamber award, the Salute to Labor Achievement, to the Warren Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee.

Also, Mike Broderick, chief executive officer of Turning Technologies Inc. in Youngstown, will demonstrate the company’s popular audience-response keypad system; Valley businesses celebrating milestone anniversaries will be recognized; and YSU head football coach Jon Heacock will offer a preview of the upcoming football season.