Leadership Mahoning Valley will formally introduce the 43 individuals selected to participate in the Class of 2026 at a kick-off breakfast to be held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. at The Grand Resort, 9519 E. Market Street, Warren, OH 44484. The event is open to the public. Advance registration is required. Individual reservations are $55 each and can be made online at www.leadershipmahoningvalley.org or by calling 234-877-1520.
Immediately following the public breakfast event, the members of the Class of 2026 will continue for a two-day opening retreat which will begin the 9-month program. Through this immersive, interactive program which includes a series of speakers, tours, hands-on activities and site visits, participants will gain knowledge of programs, services, businesses, and institutions in our community. Program days are centered around specific topics such as History, Heritage and Culture of the Valley, Government and Public Service, Media and Communications, Health and Human Services, Education, Business, Labor and Economic Development, Housing and Community Development, Justice and Public Safety, and Quality of Life. The program year will conclude in June, 2026, with the Leadership Mahoning Valley annual meeting and graduation ceremony.
Additionally, participants will participate in a DiSC© Assessment designed to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others. Participants will enhance their personal leadership development by increasing the skills necessary to raise self-awareness and improve teamwork, productivity, and communication.
JoAnn Stock, Leadership Mahoning Valley president, said, “A total of 43 outstanding individuals have been selected to participate in the Class of 2026.” “Upon completion of the program, these individuals will join the nearly 1,400 Leadership Mahoning Valley alumni who have graduated from the program and have gone on to serve our community in a variety of leadership roles,” Stock added.
Now celebrating 41 years as the area’s premier community leadership development program, Leadership Mahoning Valley is an independent 501(c)3 organization, governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of alumni from the program. The program originally began as Leadership Youngstown in 1984. In 1994, Leadership Mahoning Valley combined the highly successful Leadership Youngstown and Leadership Warren programs which were first established by a group of interested, concerned and committed community citizens in 1984 and 1988, respectively.
Members of the Class of 2026 are:
Ketuan Baldwin, Solutions Architect, Microsoft Corporation
Julianna Begalla, Vice President, Director of Marketing, Farmers National Bank of Canfield
Kimberly Bauchens, Vice President, Service Lines, Bon Secours Mercy Health
Varada Bhide, Chief Operating Officer, YWCA Mahoning Valley
Maria Bova, Associate Director of Government Affairs, Youngstown State University
Traci Buttar, CPA, Manager, Packer Thomas
Amanda Cox, Project Engineer, Hynes Industries
Jessica Bochy Deane, VP of Marketing, Aim Transportation Solutions
Melanie DeCarmen, Human Resources Manager, Vallourec Star LP
Gina DeGenova, Magistrate, Mahoning County Juvenile Court
Rachael Dobson, Director, The Rich Center for Autism at Youngstown State University
Kevin Flinn, Commissioner of Building and Grounds, City of Youngstown
Amanda Fluck, Marketing Director, Window World Youngstown
Adam Gargano, Branch Manager, First National Bank
Karrington Griffin, Certification Specialist, The Youngstown Business Incubator
Alex Hertzer, Executive Director, Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition
Tanay Hill, Business Resource Advisor, Valley Economic Development Partners
Jim Houck, President, Houck Agency
Robert Kearns, Deputy Superintendent, Youngstown City Schools
Jeremy Kerola, Owner/Vice President, Uniserv, LLC
Monica Kirkland, Program Service Director, Mahoning County Juvenile Court
Courtney Lockshaw, Financial Resource Development Director, Youngstown Area Jewish Federation
Ryan MacLennan, Director of Operations and Outreach, Trumbull County Historical Society
Bridget Madden, Customer Service Manager, Berk Enterprises
Nicole Madison, Clinical Nurse Manager, Akron Children’s Hospital
Casey Makosky, HR Generalist, Metalico Youngstown
Heather McCowin, Chief Nursing Officer, Mercy Health
Jason Neal, Director of Site Strategies, Lake to River Economic Development
John Orsini, Partner/Owner, BSHM Architects
Nikunj Patel, Chief Operating Officer, Cadence Care Network
Katie Petridis, Program Coordinator, Potential Development
Jacqueline Podolsky, Senior Manager, Tax, Cohen & Co
Luke Politsky, Director of Development, The Youngstown Business Incubator
Brian Rella, Treasurer, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center (MCCTC)
Elizabeth Repasky, Chief Human Resource Officer, The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County
Angela Sanders, Customer Success Manager, Philips Healthcare
Michelle Sawicki, Business Engagement and Training Coordinator, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG)
Michelle Schmader, Senior Communications Coordinator, National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM)/America Makes
David Sova, Operations Manager, Vallourec Star
Jill Stefanucci-Uberti, Vice President Medical Affairs, Bon Secours Mercy Health
Zachary Teter, Business Project Manager, ms consultants, inc.
Patricia Summers, Founder, President and CEO, Youngstown Blue Coats
Danielle Yarina, Property Manager, Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority
About Leadership Mahoning Valley
Leadership Mahoning Valley is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization created to identify individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who demonstrate leadership talent and community commitment. Created in 1984 and governed by a volunteer board of directors, LMV is one of more than 300 community leadership programs in the United States and is a member of the Association of Leadership Professionals (ALP). The Leadership Mahoning Valley (LMV) Signature Program is an extensive 9-month leadership training program that incorporates key community concepts, current leadership themes and training opportunities. In addition to the signature Leadership Mahoning Valley program, specialty leadership development educational workshops such as a Lessons in Leadership Speaker Series, Youth Leadership, Young Professionals (LMVNXT), a Women’s Leadership Network and a Nonprofit Leadership Development Program will be presented throughout the year.