Youngstown, OH – Leadership Mahoning Valley (LMV) is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors, Sarah Boyarko, Vice President of Economic Development, Lake to River Economic Development, and Jessica Foster, Senior Manager, Assurance, Cohen & Co. Each brings a wealth of professional expertise, leadership experience, and a shared commitment to strengthening the Mahoning Valley.
Board members of Leadership Mahoning Valley play a vital role in guiding the organization’s strategic direction and ensuring its long-term growth and sustainability. Responsibilities include participation in quarterly board meetings, engagement in committee work, support of organizational initiatives, and a personal commitment to advancing LMV’s mission.
“Our newest board members bring valuable insight and perspective that will further strengthen our efforts to cultivate informed, connected, and engaged community leaders,” said Paul Homick, Chairman of the Leadership Mahoning Valley Board of Directors. “Their dedication to this region and passion for leadership development will be instrumental as we continue to grow our impact.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Sarah and Jessica to the Leadership Mahoning Valley Board and appreciate their willingness to serve,” said JoAnn Stock, President. “Their professional expertise and commitment to community will help guide our organization as we continue our work of building strong leaders for the Mahoning Valley.”
Sarah Boyarko, Vice President of Economic Development, Lake to River Economic Development:
In her position as Vice President of Economic Development at Lake to River, JobsOhio Regional Network Partner, Sarah Boyarko leads all aspects of the economic development team which is focused on job growth and investment throughout the four-county region. Under her direction, the Lake to River team has managed expansion and attraction projects, resulting in $860 million in private investment and the creation of 685 new jobs in the region.
Prior to Lake to River, Boyarko spent 18 years at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, where she held a variety of executive level positions including operations and human resources and spent 15 years leading economic development throughout Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. In this role, she oversaw or managed 216 expansion and attraction projects, resulting in more than $6.2 billion of private investment and the creation of 10,218 new jobs. Prior to the Chamber, Boyarko spent 12 years in law enforcement.
The 2009 graduate of Leadership Mahoning Valley and 2009 honoree of the Mahoning Valley Young Professional’s 40 Under 40 Award is a member of the National and Western Reserve Chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management. In 2024, she was inducted into the Association of Ohio Commodores, elected to the Ohio Economic Development Association Board of Directors and sits on several regional economic and community development boards and committees.
Boyarko earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in criminal justice from Youngstown State University. She and her husband Matt are lifelong residents of Boardman Township.
Jessica Foster, Senior Manager, Assurance Department, Cohen & Co:
Jessica Foster is a lifelong resident of Girard, except for her four years attending Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College with a B.A. in Mathematics, minors in Secondary Education and Italian, and a concentration in middle school education. After graduation, she moved back to Girard, where she taught mathematics in grades 7-12 for three years at McDonald and Howland High Schools.
Foster then attended The University of Akron and obtained her M.S. in Accountancy in 2013 and has since been employed at Cohen & Co, where she is currently a Senior Manager in the Assurance department, focusing on assurance work for privately held companies as well as various firmwide initiatives.
Jessica has served as a board or committee member of various non-profits including Alta Care Group, Beatitude House/Ursuline Sisters, the United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley, Junior League of Youngstown, and Junior League of Akron. She is a past president of Youngstown Business & Professional Women and the current President of the Saint Mary’s College Alumnae Association Board of Directors. Her honors include being a 2018 Mahoning Valley Young Professionals 25 under 35 honoree, a 2019 class member of the AICPA’s Leadership Academy, and the 2022 Irish Echo 40 under 40 Women’s Empowerment award winner. She currently serves as the Chair of the Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee of the AICPA and is a member of the Women’s Initiatives Committee of the Ohio Society of CPAs.
Foster is a graduate of the Leadership Mahoning Valley Class of 2024. She resides in Girard with her husband, Doug.
About Leadership Mahoning Valley:
Leadership Mahoning Valley is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation created to identify individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who demonstrate leadership talent and a strong commitment to the Mahoning Valley. Founded in 1984 and governed by a volunteer board, 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 core 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. Since its inception, the program has cultivated more than 1,400 alumni who continue to make meaningful contributions in business, nonprofit, and civic life across the region. While the hallmark nine-month Signature Program remains at the core of its work, new initiatives such as the Lessons in Leadership Speaker Series, Women’s Leadership Network, On Board! Board Training and BoardMatch Program, and the Nonprofit Leadership Resource Network have expanded the organization’s reach and relevance. Planning is also underway for LMV NXT!, a program for emerging managers, and for the revitalized Youth Leadership Mahoning Valley initiative. For more information, visit www.leadershipmahoningvalley.org