Cuba outreach

Cuba outreach

YOUNGSTOWN

As Cuba and the U.S. continue forging diplomatic relations, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber discussed emerging opportunities with Economic & Trade Office’s Minister Counselor Ruben Armos Arrieta of the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Washington this week.

Local business representatives from agricultural, construction, telecommunications, transportation, fashion and art companies also were involved with the discussions. A trade mission to Cuba tentatively is planned for early 2016.

“It might be a couple of years or so until the trade embargo is lifted, but rather than react when that happens, we want local companies to already have relationships established and be first in line,” said Sarah Boyarko, regional chamber vice president of economic development, North America.

KeyCorp promotion

YOUNGSTOWN

KeyCorp announced Friday that Lucia Pileggi has been named Mahoning Valley Market President and Key Private Bank Sales Leader. Pileggi began her banking career at Key in 1988 as a management trainee. She then served in various branch and private-bank roles.

After spending several years at FirstMerit Bank as senior vice president of wealth-management services, she returned to Key in 2011 as a private-bank sales leader.

She has a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Ohio State University. In addition, she has a certified wealth- adviser designation from Greene Consulting.

BWC rate proposal

COLUMBUS

Steve Buehrer, administrator/CEO, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, has proposed a reduction in workers’ compensation rates for Ohio local governments by an overall average of 9 percent beginning Jan. 1. The reduction, combined with decreases implemented during the past five years, would result in a total average decrease to local government rates of 26.5 percent since 2011. Buehrer presented the proposal during Thurday’s meeting of BWC Board of Directors Actuarial Committee.

The BWC board of directors will vote on the base rates as well as the overall average 9 percent reduction at its next meeting scheduled for Sept. 24.

Team NEO to lead

CLEVELAND

Team Northeast Ohio, in partnership with Western Michigan University’s Center for the Advancement of Printed Electronics, will serve as the Midwest Node leader of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Innovation Institute.

The institute will be led by San Jose-based FlexTech Alliance, a research consortium and trade association.

The Midwest Node encompasses more than 32 organizations. Youngstown’s America Makes was the first Manufacturing Innovation Institute; the Flexible Hybrid Institute is the seventh announced and the fifth under DoD management.

For information, visit www.FHEMII.com.

Staff/wire reports