YSU commencement to feature top lawyer, business grad

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Atty. Paul G. Perantinides, a Youngstown State University alumnus recognized as one of the best lawyers in America, will be the featured speaker at YSU’s summer commencement at 10 a.m. Saturday in Beeghly Center.

The student speaker will be Kolton Ross Codner of Poland, who receives a master of business administration degree at the graduation ceremony.

Perantinides, a native of Youngstown now practicing law in Akron, graduated from YSU in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in social studies and earned a law degree in 1969 from the University of Akron School of Law.

He served in the Army during the Vietnam War, reaching the rank of captain and earning the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star for Distinguished Service.

Since 1995, Best Lawyers has recognized Perantinides as one of the Best Lawyers in America

Perantinides is a member of the Akron Bar Association, Akron Bar Foundation, American Bar Association, American Board of Trial Advocates, American College of Barristers, American Trial Lawyers Association, Cleveland Academy of Trial Lawyers, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Ohio Bar Foundation, Ohio State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the International Society of Primerus Law Firms. He has presented and lectured at dozens of conferences and seminars throughout his career.

His community involvement includes membership in the Jermiah Milbank Society, Leadership 100, the board of directors of the University of Akron Foundation, the Kent State University President’s Council and the WKSU Community Advisory Council.

Codner, a lifelong Mahoning Valley resident, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from YSU in summer 2009. In 2006, while pursuing his undergraduate degree, Codner accepted an internship with the city of Youngstown’s Department of Public Works and was subsequently hired in 2008, working full- time for the city during the day and attending classes full- time in the evening.

With the city of Youngs-town, Codner has assisted in the administration of more than $40 million in local, state and federal funding for various public-works projects. Additionally, he has worked to aid in the implementation of various economic development initiatives.

Throughout his studies for his MBA, Codner has sought opportunities to develop his professional skills through collaborative projects. For instance, over the course of 10 months in the program, Codner was the project manager leading two teams of peers to develop a strategic marketing and implementation plan for a new product developed by a research and design firm in Houston, Texas.

Codner is the son of Ross and Linda Codner.