YOUNGTOWN, Ohio – The newly formed JobsOhio Region Lake to River Economic Development has appointed seven people to its staff.
Lake to River encompasses a four-county area including Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. The 7th JobsOhio region was officially announced by Gov. Mike DeWine during an event held at the Eastwood Event Center in Niles last month.
The staff consists of the following seven people.
alexa sweeney blackan Interim CEO
Sweeney Blackan is the former president of Sweeney Chevrolet and Sweeney Buick GMC in Boardman and currently serves as a consultant for No. 1 Cochran, which acquired the dealership in 2023.
Sweeney Blackan serves on the boards of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, Bright Energy Partners, Youngstown State University Foundation, Better Business Bureau, and Akron Children's Hospital Foundation. She also chairs the Youngstown and Mahoning Valley United Way Impact Committee and serves on the Youngstown and Mahoning County Public Library Board.
Sweeney Blackan holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from YSU and is a graduate of the NADA Dealer Academy.
Sara Boyarko Vice President for Economic Developmentt
Mr. Boyarko leads all aspects of the economic development team focused on job growth and investment throughout the four-county region.
Mr. Boyarko spent nearly 18 years with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, holding various executive-level positions, including Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Economic Development. Under her direction, the regional chamber's economic development team managed 214 projects, resulting in $6.2 billion in private investment and 10,178 new employees across the Mahoning Valley. Jobs were created. Before she joined the local chamber, she worked in law enforcement for 12 years.
Boyarko is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Mahoning Valley and the 2009 recipient of the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals 40 and Under Award. She is a member of the National and Western Reserve Chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management and serves on several boards and committees in the Valley.
Boyarko earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice from YSU.
michael mcgiffin Vice President of Engagement and Investor Relations
McGiffin leads efforts on private investment and stakeholder engagement. He most recently served as Foundation Chair for the Regional Chamber of Commerce and also oversaw operations for the Warren Regional Chamber Economic Development Foundation and the Warren Regional Chamber Educational, Civic and Cultural Foundation.
Previously, he served as project manager for Allegheny Intermediate Unit's onramp to remote learning, chief strategy officer for Stambaugh Auditorium, and director of events and special projects for the City of Youngstown.
McGiffin earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in education from YSU.
matt falter Director of Talent Engagement
Falter manages the regional workforce coalition and is responsible for coordinating the region's talent strategy.
Mr. Falter previously served as Director of Business Solutions at Workforce Initiative Association in Canton, Ohio. He has over 24 years of combined public and private experience in economic development and workforce development, including roles with Thomas P. Miller and His Associates and the Ohio Department of Development.
Falter earned his bachelor's degree and Certified Business Engagement Professional designation from Kent State University.
David Willage project management director
Wilaj partners with JobsOhio and local communities to help retain and expand local businesses and attract new investment to the four-county region.
Mr. Willaji recently served in a similar role with the Regional Chamber, overseeing the launch of the Mahoning Valley Logistics Council. Before he joined the Chamber of Commerce, he served as an economist and market research analyst for the United He Alliance, the world's largest graphic arts industry organization.
Wilaj earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in financial economics from YSU and holds the Ohio Certified Economic Developer designation through the Ohio Economic Development Association.
Jason Neal site strategy director
Neil partners with JobsOhio and local stakeholders to identify and market available buildings and land throughout the four-county region to support business expansion and attract investment.
Neil previously worked for the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet and Euphrates International Investment Corporation. He was also a self-employed businessman and a championship-winning college baseball coach.
Michelle Phillips Director of Research
Phillips collects, analyzes and reports regional economic, demographic and quality of life data throughout the four-county region.
For the past 25 years, she has served in a similar role with the regional chamber and also provided business counseling services to entrepreneurs. Before she joined the Chamber, she worked in data systems at the YSU Bookstore and the YSU Small Business Development Center.
Phillips earned a bachelor's degree in computer information science and certificates in data analysis and multimedia from YSU.
Published by Business Journal (Youngstown, Ohio).