Builders group has annual meeting

Builders group has annual meeting

YOUNGSTOWN

The Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania had its 45th annual meeting Wednesday. In addition to issuing reports on 2014 activities, the association also elected officers and executive committee members for 2015. Five Youngstown State University students each received $2,000 scholarships for the year. Kevin Reily, executive vice president, said this year was the highest amount awarded in scholarship money since starting the program. Since 1971, the association has awarded $150,210 to YSU students.

Creating full-time jobs at VAM USA

YOUNGSTOWN

VAM USA LLC, a supplier of premium connection solutions for the oil and gas industry, expects to create 71 full-time positions, generating $3.2 million in additional annual payroll and retaining $348,333 in existing payroll as a result of the company’s redevelopment project in the city.

The company is among 11 projects approved for assistance by Gov. John Kasich to create 551 jobs and retain 748 jobs statewide. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a 75 percent, seven-year Job Creation Tax Credit for VAM USA.

Colleagues honored by inscribed bricks

Providence, R.I.

Bruce Van Saun, the CEO of Citizens Bank, parent company of Charter One Bank, unveiled 138 specially inscribed bricks honoring colleagues who have been with the company for 25 years.

Each brick bears the name of an honoree, including Youngstown resident Karen Kowal. The bricks will be installed outside Citizens’ headquarters at 1 Citizens Plaza. More than 2,200 colleagues have been honored with bricks since the bank started the tradition in 1999.

Lenders’ suit against Target moves ahead

ST. PAUL, Minn.

A federal judge says several banks suing Target Corp. over its data breach have a plausible case for negligence and can proceed with the lawsuit.

U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson has allowed three of four claims made by the plaintiffs to move forward. The claims allege negligence, failure to provide sufficient security against data hackers and violation of Minnesota’s Plastic Security Card Act.

The Minneapolis-based company faced myriad lawsuits after the 2013 data breach in which hackers stole millions of customers’ credit- and debit-card records.

WellPoint switches name to Anthem

INDIANAPOLIS

The nation’s second-largest health insurer has changed its corporate name to Anthem from Wellpoint to reflect a label familiar to consumers shopping for coverage.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield insurer sells insurance in several states under the Anthem brand, which was the company’s corporate name before it bought WellPoint Health Networks a decade ago. It sells no plans under the WellPoint name.

Vindicator staff/wire reports