Youngstown is announcing the hiring of Stephanie Gilchrist as the city’s Economic Development Director. Gilchrist will serve in the Community Planning and Economic Development Department under the leadership of Nikki Posterli, Chief of Staff and CPED Director. Gilchrist will oversee the Economic Development Division.
A Mahoning Valley native and Youngstown resident, Gilchrist formerly served as the regional director of the Minority Business Assistance Center, a state-affiliated program to assist minorities, women, and veterans in their business development, at the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI).
Gilchrist joined the YBI in 2014 and served as the project coordinator for Tech Block Building 5, overseeing the $5.7 million project. In 2016, she and her team developed a program, Women in Entrepreneurship (WE)Program, where she worked with over 100 women with their business ideas.
In late 2017, Gilchrist became executive director for Inspiring Minds Youngstown, an after-school and summer program that works with under-represented youth. While there, she served over 200 youth from 2017-2020.
Gilchrist and her husband own Ryan’s Chair Barber and Beauty Salon, which has been in the community for over 25 years. They are parents of two sons.
Gilchrist earned her bachelor’s in business administration from Youngstown State University in 2005. In 2017, she completed the Executive MBA program through Strayer University. Currently, she is enrolled in the Certified Business Advisor Program at Kent State University.
She was recognized has been recognized as a Youngstown Business and Professional Women – Business Woman of the Year, recognized by YSU, as a 2020 Penguin Woman on the Move, and one of the honorees for the 2020 League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown Women’s Hall of Fame.
Gilchrist serves on the boards for the Autism Society of Mahoning Valley, Valley Economic Development Partners and on committees for the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley’s Fund for Women and Girls Guiding Circle and the Choffin Career Center Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee.
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