Valley's young hopefuls starting networking group

RSVP for the networking event is required by June 20.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — A group of young professionals, entrepreneurs and college students is starting a networking group to develop the future business and social fabric of the city.

The inaugural event of the Youngstown Social Network is planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 25 in the Huntington VIP Club of the Covelli Centre, formerly the Chevrolet Centre. Although the group is targeting young professionals, there is no age limit.

Attendance is open to anyone from graduating college students to established business professionals.

The event is free, but RSVP by June 20 to youngstownsocialnetwork@gmail.com. A cash bar will be available. Attendees should bring business cards or resumes.

“We noticed that Youngstown is becoming a stronger community by becoming smaller and tighter-knit,” said Hanna Kassis, one of the founders, who is also a co-founder of CollegeFinance101.com, a personal financial literacy Web site for college students.

The network’s mission is to develop the future business and social fabric of Youngstown by connecting like-minded and civic-oriented individuals.

Founded by Kassis, Joe Carrabbia and Morgan Tondo, the Youngstown Social Network aims to help entrepreneurs, business professionals, community activists and young professionals learn from each other and network more effectively for their own personal, business and communitywide gains.

Quarterly events will be planned with the focus on networking and idea sharing, professional development and leadership.

“We love Youngstown, and we want to be successful long-term in this region, as individuals and as a community,” said Tondo, who works at Turning Technologies Inc.

Carrabbia, who works out of his home as a vacation benefit consultant for Rovia Inc., a South Carolina-based travel agency, agreed.

“We believe that we can help Youngstown grow and further develop as we get closer together as a group that truly cares about this region,” he said.

The format will be speed networking, the founders said. Attendees will spend an allotted time at a particular station before moving on to the next.

Nonprofit organizations also are expected to participate in the event.

Young people graduate from college and leave Youngstown, Carrabbia said.

“I don’t think they have to do that,” he said. “We want to show businesses the young talent that’s here and show the young talent the business opportunities that are here.”

Youngstown Social Network is incorporated as a nonproft in Ohio and is in the process of securing its 501(c)(3) exemption status through the Internal Revenue Service.

Founding sponsors include Covelli Enterprises, Panera Bread and O’Charley’s.

Real-time updates will be posted on twitter.com/Youngstown_Ohio.