Metro Monthly

FedEx president to speak May 22 at Athena Awards

Virginia C. Albanese, president and CEO of FedEx Custom Critical, Inc., is scheduled to speak at the 16th Annual Athena Award Dinner on May 22 at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman.
The award dinner, co-sponsored by the Regional Chamber and The Vindicator, recognizes area business and professional women who have demonstrated excellence in their chosen career, provided leadership in the community and mentored or contributed to the growth of other professional women.

Reservations are due by May 14. The evening begins with a cash bar from 6–6:30 p.m. The dinner and program will begin at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $45 per person or $360 per table of eight.

Albanese leads North America’s largest critical-shipment carrier and its efforts to provide continuous service throughout the United States, Canada and internationally, delivering hundreds of thousands of critical shipments each year. Since joining FedEx Custom Critical in 1986, she has worked with various departments to streamline processes and use technology to provide more efficient service to internal and external customers.

Albanese earned a bachelor of science degree and an EMBA from Kent State University. She serves as the vice president of operations for the Akron Zoo Board and is a board member for The Boys and Girls Club of Summit and Portage counties.

In addition to the recognition of Athena nominees and the announcement of 2008’s award recipient, other awards being presented include the third annual Advocate Award, awarded this year to Patricia A. Syak, president and CEO of the Youngstown Symphony Society, for her longstanding support of the Regional Chamber’s Athena Award program.

Also honored will be the recipient of the $1,500 Athena Scholarship, created in 2007 through a partnership with the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley.

For more information about the Athena Award Dinner, contact Jennifer Mascardine at 330-744-2131, ext. 12. Reservations made prior to May 14 will receive tickets in advance; otherwise, tickets may be picked up at the registration table that evening. No refunds will be made after May 14.

2008 Athena Award nominees
• Peggy J. Bailey, vice president and business-relationship specialist, First Place Bank;
• Sandra Barger, independent consultant, district manager, Arbonne International;
• Aubrey Blews, vice president, general manager, Huntington Bank;
• Denise L. Bobovnyik, M.D., family practice physician, president Primary Care Specialist, Inc.;
• Monica A. Bokesch, industrial engineering manager, General Motors Lordstown Complex;
• Bonnie Deutsch Burdman, director, Jewish Community Relations Council, Youngstown Jewish Federation;
• Kathleen Burgdorf, president and CEO, Lifeline Partners, Inc.;
• Catherine Cala, director of development, Youngstown State University;
• Denise Carissimo, human resource specialist, General Electric;
• Kathleen Brown Carroll, president, Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors;
• Karen Cohen, principal, Packer Thomas;
• Melissa Crowley, certified public accountant, Manager, Hill, Barth and King, LLC;
• Roan M. Craig, Ph.D., superintendent, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center;
u Laura Dye, president and owner, Tu-Dor Physical Therapy Centers;
• Rev. Eleanor Felder, pastor, Holy Bible Church of God;
• Robyn Gallitto, attorney, Siciliano & Siciliano, PLL;
• Joann Johntony, state president, Ohio Association of Public School Employees;
• Marilyn S. Kenner, P.E., Mahoning County chief deputy engineer
Mahoning County Engineer’s Office;
• Marsha G. Kuite, M.S.N, R.N., director, Hannah E. Mullins School of Practical Nursing;
• Diane Less, co-founder, board member, Angels for Animals;
• Deborah A. Maust, parent facilitator, Rich Center for Autism;
• Patricia J. Miller, vice president, Huntington Bank;
• Susan Moorer, diversity coordinator, Youngstown State University;
• Robeta Myers, owner, Roberta’s Gallery of Fine Arts;
• Evelyn M. Olenick, M.S.N., R.N., C.N.A.A., vice president and chief nursing officer, Forum Health WRCS Northside Medical Center;
• Lynn A. Roman, public relations, manager, MultiMedia Farms, LLC;
• Elena M. Rossi, M.D., M.M.M., chairwoman of pediatrics, St. Elizabeth Health Center; associate chairwoman of pediatrics, Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron Children’s Hospital & St. Elizabeth Health Center;
• Sharon J. Schroeder, Metro Credit, assistant director, Youngstown State University;
• Sister Elizabeth Schuster, O.S.U., assistant director, Beatitude House;
• Karen Sciortino, assistant vice president, Wachovia Securities, LLC;
• Phyllis Simeone, owner, Salon 3410;
• Shelley Taylor, vice president and treasurer, Paige & Byrnes Insurance.

Library to offer assistance on job, business searches

You may be an entrepreneur, business owner, job-seeker or consumer. No matter your connection to the business world, the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County has a collection of databases to help boost business initiatives.

To teach you more about some of these resources and how to use them, the Library’s Business and Investment Center is offering a free series of training sessions in May.

During the series, “Using Databases to Advance Your Business and Career,” representatives from several database publishers will give expert overviews of the following resources: “ReferenceUSA” on May 5; “DemographicsNow Library Edition” and “Business & Company Resource Center” on May 15; and “Dun & Bradstreet Million Dollar Database” on May 19.

All sessions will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Main Library, 305 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Registration for each of the programs is required by calling 330-744-8636 and pressing “2” at the prompt.

“Learning to use these databases is one of the greatest investments any person who is tied to business can make,” said Business and Investment Center librarian Hannah Moses. “Some of the features within these databases would normally cost a great deal of money for an individual or business to obtain, but the Library enables the public to use these resources at no expense.”

Access to these databases is free with a Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County library card. Patrons can use the databases at each of the Library’s 16 locations, as well as from the office, home or anywhere Internet is available, giving them flexibility to conduct research after Library hours. Also, all databases allow users to download their search results and most let researchers e-mail their findings; to export data from the Library’s computers, a flash drive, floppy disc or e-mail must be used.

Job-seekers will be able to research potential employers with “Business & Company Resource Center” and employment opportunities with “Dun & Bradstreet Million Dollar Database.”
If you’re starting a new business, aren’t certain of the best location for it, but know the potential area’s age and income will be determining factors in its success. You should use “DemographicsNow Library Edition,” which provides access to Ohio’s demographic data and has the ability to generate maps and reports including information about consumer expenditures, population, age, income, race, housing, employment and Mosaic cluster groups by various geographic breakdowns. It even offers a five-year projection of data.

You’d like to find work in a specific sector and particular region, so you log onto “Dun & Bradstreet Million Dollar Database” for employment trends at leading public and private companies in the U.S. and Canada. Not only does this resource help you identify potential job opportunities, but it also allows for comprehensive marketing research with its in-depth company, contact and executive information, as well as sales data.

To access these Business and Investment Center databases and more, visit http://www.libraryvisit.org/electronic.htm.

Ryan endorses Clinton

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan formally announced his support for the presidential candidacy of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on April 19. “The people of the 17th district overwhelmingly voted for Senator Clinton in the Democratic primary and today I officially pledge my support for Hillary Rodham Clinton. Throughout the 1990s, Senator Clinton working alongside President Bill Clinton had a proven record of economic growth and higher wages for America’s working families,” said Ryan in a prepared statement.

“I am honored to have Congressman Ryan’s support,” said Clinton. “Tim is a vital voice for the rights of our working class, and I look forward to having his help spreading our message of change and experience throughout Ohio and the United States.”

Ryan was first elected to represent the17th Congressional District in 2002. Now in his third term, he sits on Appropriations Committee and the Steering and Policy Committee. He is also the co-chairman of the Congressional Manufacturing Caucus.

$14,000 grant to aid anti-hunger initiative

The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley awarded a $14,000 challenge grant to Second Harvest Food Bank for continued support of the BackPack Program at Campbell Elementary School.

Backpack allows needy children in the Campbell schools to take home food during the weekend. “The Community Foundation helped to get the BackPack Program off the ground with initial funding and we appreciate their ongoing support of this very worthwhile program,” said Mike Iberis, executive director of the Food Bank. Second Harvest Food Bank provides food to approximately 165 hunger relief programs in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

They include church pantries, homeless shelters and soup kitchens and shelters for battered women. In 2007, the Food Bank distributed over 5 million pounds of food including 1.4 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley is operated exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes which effectively assist and promote the well being of residents of Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Information about the foundation can be found at www.cfmv.org.

Compiled from local reports.