Anthony Spano’s leadership skills, passion for service and community engagement began to take shape during his early days as a student at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio where he received a B.S. in Business Administration and finishing his Master Degree in Communication. It was during his undergraduate years as a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity that he led the organization’s philanthropic efforts to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Paul Newman’s “ The Hole in the Wall Gang” that benefits seriously ill children and their families.

His campus-wide achievements included spearheading a student initiative to erect a “9/11 Attack on America” memorial; assisting the American Red Cross in significantly increasing blood donations on campus; hosting two consecutive Student Leadership Summits; being selected as a “Who’s Who Among Students at American Colleges and Universities;” serving on the executive committee of Greek Campus Life; coordinating the local Great American Smokeout for the American Cancer Society; United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s Make a Difference Day; and the 10^th Annual North Side Clean Up. From 2000-2004 Tony served as Coordinator of Student Programming.

In 2007, while employed by the YSU Parking/Vehicle Enforcement Department Tony founded The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to improve the quality of life for our community’s chronically and terminally ill children and their families through charitable support. He holds the position of executive director to this day while maintaining a full-time position at the university as purchasing coordinator. Over the last decade H.F.M.V. has raised over $300,000 in both donations and services.

Amazingly, he finds the time to serve on the board at Mahoning County Children Services.
Tony’s awards and recognitions include:

2009    YSU Distinguished Services Award
2010    North Eastern Ohio Education Association Positive Image Award
2010    Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley 40 Under 40 Award
2011    Certificate of Special Recognition from U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan
2011    Ohio Education Media Award for Public Service
2012    Ohio High School Athletic Association Meritorious Award
2012    Phi Kappa Fraternity President’s Citation
2013    Mahoning Valley Young Professionals 25 Under 35 Award
2013    Akron Children’s Hospital MV Children’s Advocate Award
2015    President’s Volunteer Service Award for Lifetime Achievement-Presented by President of the United States-Barack Obama

Neal Bayless is an engineer and statistician working for a Fortune 50 company for more than 15 years. During his career, he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and is now enrolled in a post-graduate University of Georgia Financial Planning program. He serves on my Village Council and has revised the Finance Committee establishing more structure and transparency. Neal has also established a more formal grant seeking process resulting in an immediate successful award of FEMA dollars of over $120,000 to the Leetonia Fire Department.

Neal sits on the Northeast Ohio Financial Planning Association Board, The Columbiana County Visitors Bureau Board, and the Steel Valley Triathlon Board of Directors.

He lives in Leetonia, Ohio with his wife and daughter and engage in long distance triathlon and endurance events as a balance between work and leisure.

Chad Davis is currently the Security & Surveillance Manager at Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley, a casino and entertainment company located in Austintown, Ohio.  Chad’s teams appreciate his straight talk, and often unconventional perspectives, and the depth of his “real world” experience in both the government and private business sectors.  Chad is also a reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department; he was with this organization for many years before leaving for the private business sector.

Chad has been successful by his ability to identify, leverage, and develop talent all while connecting the people around him to benefit everyone involved.  Throughout his career he has helped those around him to recognize their unique capabilities and position themselves to be an asset to an organization as well as to help put individuals on a path for personal success.  Chad has contagious enthusiasm and is very passionate in helping others in any way that he can.

Chad grew up in the Boardman area attending Boardman High School.  After high school Chad attended Youngstown State University where he earned a Bachelor of Art’s degree in Criminal Justice.  After graduation he attended the Youngstown State Police Academy where he was the commander of his class.  Chad currently lives in the Mahoning Valley with his wife and two children.

Core characteristics he focuses on are integrity, optimism, decisiveness, pursuit of perfection, and a strong curiosity. Respected for strong decision-making skills, finding strategic partners, and being well versed in government and private audits and compliance, Chad enjoys earning his position for the organizations he represents.

Matthew Onest is an attorney with more than nine years’ experience protecting the interests of manufacturers, businesses of all sizes, property owners, and energy companies in all aspects of civil litigation. He has significant trial experience in many courts in the State of Ohio. Matthew is also a member of the firm’s litigation and appellate practice group and has successfully handled appellate cases before the Ohio Supreme Court, and Ohio’s Fifth, Seventh, Ninth, Eleventh, and Twelfth District Courts of Appeal. Matthew also practices in several federal courts throughout the United States. Though experienced in a wide variety of legal matters, Matthew focuses his practice mainly in energy litigation, business litigation, and real estate litigation. Matthew is also a member of the firm’s oil and gas practice group and has successfully represented companies and landowners in many aspects, including civil litigation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission and the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission. Matthew has experience negotiating oil and gas contracts and other energy-related agreements, including leases and easements.

Matthew lives with his wife, Kelly, and his four children in Hubbard, Ohio. Matthew is a member of Hubbard Rotary and is a parishioner at St. Patrick’s Church in Hubbard, Ohio. Matthew has significant experience serving non-profit organizations. Most recently, Matthew served as the Vice-Chair for the Massillon Museum’s board of directors. Matthew previously served on the board of directors for Bluecoats, Inc. (Canton, Ohio) and on the Vintage Jackson Committee for the Jackson Township Rotary Club.

Consulting