REGION

REGION

HBA promotes Aikens to executive director

BOARDMAN — Joshua Aikens has been named executive director of the Home Builders/Remodelers Association of Mahoning Valley. He replaces Terry Abrams, who has announced he is retiring Nov. 1.

Aikens has been director of training and development since 2004. He started with the HBA as an intern in 1999 and then stayed on part time until 2001. He received a bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University and plans to complete his master’s degree studies in December.

OHIO

400-500 GM workers lose jobs at SUV plant

MORAINE — It’s the last day of work for between 400 and 500 employees at General Motors’ SUV plant in the Dayton suburb of Moraine. The workers are losing their jobs because the company eliminated the plant’s second production shift. About 1,000 workers will remain at the factory after Friday.

General Motors says it plans to close the plant by 2010 or sooner because surging gasoline prices have caused a customer shift to smaller vehicles. An exact date for the closure has not been announced. The factory assembles the GMC Envoy, Chevrolet Trailblazer and Saab 9-7X.

From Vindicator staff and wire reports