Valley Partners

09/03/2026

Always a great time at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber's Salute to Business event! Congratulations to all award recipients—including our very own board member, Stephanie Gilchrist for Business Advocate of the Year, as well as our client Meghan Reed, Executive Director of the Trumbull County Historical Society for Nonprofit Professional of the Year. We celebrate you! 💫

08/31/2026

Valley Partners mourns the passing of Mr. James E. “Jim” Glenn—a remarkable gentleman whose dedication, wisdom and generosity left an indelible mark on our organization and the entire Mahoning Valley.

Mr. Glenn began his 26-year tenure on our Board of Directors in 1992. For 24 of those years, from 1994 until his retirement from the Board in 2017, he faithfully served as Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer. His leadership, financial expertise and steady guidance helped strengthen Valley Partners and advance our mission of serving local businesses and the community.

Mr. Glenn devoted his life to the service of others. A U.S. Army veteran and retired Internal Revenue Service agent, he shared his knowledge and leadership with numerous community, economic-development, healthcare and nonprofit organizations throughout the region. He was always willing to offer thoughtful advice, encouragement and guidance to anyone who sought it—including me personally.

Beyond his many accomplishments, Mr. Glenn will be remembered as one of the sweetest and kindest gentlemen you could ever meet. His wisdom was matched by his humility, and his commitment to helping others was evident in everything he did.

We are profoundly grateful for Mr. Glenn’s decades of service, his friendship and the lasting legacy he leaves behind. Valley Partners extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends and the countless members of our community whose lives he touched.

Rest in peace, Mr. Glenn. Your impact will never be forgotten. 💙

August 21, 2026

08/28/2026

Thank you to Bethanie Meredith, owner of HATHA Yoga - Healing At The Hands of Almighty, for stopping in this week to spend time with our staff, leading us through a calming and relaxing yoga session. 🧘‍♀️💚

In the midst of busy days and full schedules, Bethanie reminded us to slow down, breathe, be present, and most importantly — life is not an emergency.

We’re so grateful for the opportunity to pause, reset, and take a little time for ourselves. Thank you, Bethanie, for sharing your time, your wisdom, and your calming energy with our team! If you're interested in booking Bethanie for a session & learning more about H.A.T.H.A, visit https://www.hathanp.org/. 🌿

08/26/2026

Valley Partners is proud to celebrate our incredible client, Tracy Jordan, owner of Happy Campers Learning Center on the exciting extension into their newest campus on Glenwood Ave! 🌟

This milestone is a beautiful reflection of Tracy’s vision, dedication, and commitment to creating enriching spaces where children can learn, grow, and thrive. We’re honored to support Happy Campers Too! as they continue expanding their impact in the community.

Congratulations, Tracy, and cheers to this exciting new chapter! 🥳

08/26/2026

September is Disaster Preparedness Month, now is a good time to prepare your business!

During SBA's upcoming virtual session on Thursday, September 3rd, you can discover:

✅ What can and should small businesses do today to prepare for a disaster?
✅ When a disaster occurs, how does the government respond?
✅ In the aftermath of a disaster, how should small businesses find resources, and what resources should they expect to find?

Click here to register:

September is Disaster Preparedness Month, now is a good time to prepare your business!

08/25/2026

Last week, the Business Resource Center at Valley Partners hosted our second-annual Seeds for Growth event, powered by Huntington National Bank! 🌱

From branding and client-mapping sessions to great food, networking, and local resources, the evening was all about helping small businesses and nonprofits grow.

The highlight? Six amazing entrepreneurs pitched for a chance to win $500! 🎤🌱 Congratulations to The Head Spa Studio, YNOT Woods, Thread In Faith , Love Conquers All Bridal, Warrior Art Program, and Petal & Porch—and to all of our contestants for planting seeds for their next chapter.

See below to help us send a HUGE shout-out & thank-you to our speakers, pitch panelists, vendors, community partners, volunteers, and everyone who showed up to learn, connect, and support one another.

It takes faith to start a business, hard work to keep it going, and a COMMUNITY to make it thrive. 💚

Thank you for helping us grow! 🌱

Sway Cooper from Aspire Affect | FuzionKitchen | A Fresh Wind Catering Youngstown First Social Media Cafe | Karters Korner | Itz Crackin 330 | Yo Chill Water Ice and Italian Ice | SCORE | U.S. Small Business Administration | Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber | YBI | Grant Impact | The Raymond John Wean Foundation | Gary DjKickdrum Reynolds Jr. | provencemills | Shenango Valley Urban League | Eastwood Quick Print

08/24/2026

💗 Valley Partners was proud to participate in this year’s Panerathon this past Sunday!

Our team came together to walk, support, and raise awareness for an incredible cause—helping those affected by breast cancer in our community. We’re grateful for the opportunity to stand alongside so many local organizations, businesses, families, and community members who continue to make a difference. 🎀

08/21/2026

A look back at our Nonprofit Readiness Workshop | Part II! 🎥✨

We had a great time bringing nonprofit leaders together to learn, connect, ask questions, and strengthen the tools they need to build organizations that are ready for what’s next.

From governance and operational excellence to financial resources and everything in between, we’re proud to create spaces where businesses can learn, grow, and thrive.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, shared their expertise, and helped make this workshop a success! A special thank you to our partners at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber: Center for Nonprofit Excellence & our speakers and panelists—including Dani Robbins Lake to River, Kelsey Fischer KO Consulting, LLC, Kathleen Clayton HBK CPAs & Consultants, Leah Sakacs Community Spark Consulting, Lynnette Forde The Youngstown Foundation, Stuart Gibbs The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, and Marie Banks with Grant Impact. And finally, thank you to The Raymond John Wean Foundation for hosting us in their beautiful space.

We hosted our Seeds for Growth event with Huntington Bank THIS week, and we will have pictures and a recap to share with you soon!

08/21/2026

Great connections and meaningful conversations at the Heart of Opportunity Tour! 🤝

Our very own Mario Nero, Director of Lending, and Matthew Longmire, Business Resource Manager, had the pleasure of meeting Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel this past Monday and connecting around the opportunities shaping our communities and our state.

We’re proud to be part of conversations that inspire collaboration, growth, and opportunity across Ohio! 💙

08/18/2026

Last Tuesday, our Business Resource Center partnered with the Center for Nonprofit Excellence to host a Nonprofit Readiness Workshop for entrepreneurs around the region. 🌟🤝

See how we built stronger nonprofits and stronger communities in the recap video below!

Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber