The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber announced staffing updates today that will help strengthen the efforts of the organization in the Valley in 2020 and beyond.
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber announced staffing updates today that will help strengthen the efforts of the organization in the Valley in 2020 and beyond:
The Chamber's Board of Directors unanimously approved naming Tom Humphries president & CEO. Humphries led the organization from 1997 to 2017, and during his tenure, the organization enjoyed unprecedented growth in membership and services offered. He also implemented an aggressive economic development and marketing program in order to help the region develop a balanced economy, increase employment, diversify its tax base and create a better quality of life.
Don Kline, chair of the Board of Directors, said, "We are pleased that Tom has agreed to return as president and CEO. He has a longtime, proven track record of success with the Chamber, and we look forward to his continued leadership."
The Regional Chamber is accelerating its military advocacy and has promoted Valley attorney and United States Army Veteran Vito Abruzzino to vice president of Defense Programs.
In 2015, Abruzzino was named director of the Regional Chamber's Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission, which was created to protect and grow the economic impact of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS) and the Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center.
As a part-time consultant, Abruzzino led the public policy effort to help both military installations receive tens of millions of dollars each in federal investments and position them for future growth. As a result, YARS' economic output has increased three years in a row, to $108 million, erasing six consecutive years of economic decreases.
Abruzzino's efforts with EOMAC will continue through his new role at the Chamber.
Chamber president & CEO Tom Humphries said, "With the potential to bring new, modern aircraft to YARS and have the aerial spray mission expanded, as well as the potential for Camp Garfield to house an east coast missile defense system, the time is right to build on the momentum we have already created."
Abruzzino is a licensed attorney who practices in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The West Virginia University law graduate previously served as a Judge Advocate with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps and as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.