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Chamber honors members, celebrates 20 years
BOARDMAN
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber honored its members Thursday and commemorated a two-decade history during which, leaders said, the Mahoning Valley has evolved from a “black hole” into a “boomtown.”
Chamber President and CEO Tom Humphries, speaking at the organization’s Annual Meeting & Luncheon at Mr. Anthony’s, recalled the dark days of the early 1990s when a new, fledgling chamber emerged out of a few disjointed, regional efforts.
A member of the chamber’s original board of directors, Humphries remembered a time when business attraction and retention efforts floundered and chamber membership was shrinking.
But the Valley of the past has given way to a “diverse economy” that has benefited from renewed cooperation and economic-development initiatives, Humphries told the approximately 475 people in attendance.
“It’s our job as a community to help [businesses] and keep them growing,” he said.
Since 1993, Humphries said, the chamber has garnered $4.3 billion in investments, while creating more than 21,100 jobs and retaining about 28,000 more.
In 2013, the chamber completed 17 projects and brought in almost $575 million in total investments, according to its statistics.
Helping to spur the region’s growth has been the chamber’s work with the developing oil and gas industry, which has made the Valley a “poster child” for working with such companies, Humphries said.
The chamber recognized Chris Jaskiewicz, president and COO of VEC Inc., with the Spirit of Excellence Award. VEC is a four-division company that, in part, provides construction services to that industry .
Jaskiewicz, a Warren native, echoed Humphries sentiments that the Valley has entered a “renaissance” through persistence and cooperation.
“We become our thoughts,” he said. “You have the opportunity to grow this city.”
The Chairman’s Political Achievement Award went to Trumbull County Commissioners Frank Fuda, Paul Heltzel and Dan Polivka, whose recent efforts include working on an initiative to convert fleets to run on compressed natural gas, streamlining government operations and emergency call centers, and increasing cooperation among local governments.
“None of these accomplishments could have been possible without working together,” Polivka said.
Meanwhile, Spirit of the Chamber Award recipient Sylvester J. Frazzini III, a chamber ambassador and general manager and vice president of American Business Center Inc., challenged the audience to become more involved in the community and its events.
“Do one more,” he said.
The Spirit of the Valley Award went to Robert Shroder, president and CEO of Humility of Mary Health Partners, whose medical facilities have undergone major expansions in recent years.
The annual meeting and luncheon was one of about 100 large- and small-scale events organized by the chamber each year.
Pete Asimakopoulos, regional president and CEO of event sponsor First National Bank, closed the event by echoing the theme of the chamber’s economic forecast lunch last month.
“I do believe the best is yet to come,” he said.
The meeting also was sponsored for the 11th time by Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield.