Four honored at Williamson College of Business Administration Alumni Banquet Oct. 16

The Warren P. Williamson, Jr. College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University presents the 2015 WCBA Outstanding Alumni Awards at the WCBA Alumni Banquet 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, in Williamson Hall on the YSU campus. Honorees are Anthony Vross, BSBA 2001, co-owner, Simon Roofing, Outstanding Business Alumnus; Thomas Meola, MBA 1993, BSBA 1980, president and CEO, Northern States Metals and Solar Flex Rack, Outstanding MBA Alumnus; Melanie Cann, SPHR, MBA 20114, BSBA 2008, vice president, Human Resources, Cafaro Company, Outstanding Recent Alumna; and Chris Allen, BA, 1992, North American Talent Acquisition Manager, Vallourec USA Corporation, Outstanding Service Award. To make reservations for the banquet by Oct. 10, visit the WCBA website. For more information, contact Christine Shelton, coordinator of external relations, WCBA, at 330-941-3068 or cgshelton@ysu.edu.

Anthony Vross, Outstanding Business Alumnus. A lifelong resident of the Youngstown area, Vross graduated from YSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an Accounting major and Economics minor. He joined Simon Roofing, a family-owned business, in 1979 and served in a variety of positions before being named a co-owner in 1984. Throughout his 36 years with the company, Vross has gained extensive experience in executive administration, research, manufacturing, customer service, installation, distribution, sales and marketing. Within the commercial roofing industry, Vross is recognized as the inventor of the Fume Recovery System, which has been utilized nationwide by schools, food processing plants, hospitals, and many other odor sensitive environments. He is also the developer of the roof abrader, flameless hot air torch and re-roof alternatives, as well as many other innovative concepts and technology within the industry. He has authored several articles in national publications, including Retail Facility Business Magazine, Buildings.com, Shopping Center Business and Commercial Building Magazine. Vross has also served as a national speaker on roof-related topics to roof consultants, plant and facility engineers, roofing contractors, asset and property managers and architects. Vross is a member of the National Roofing Contractors Association, Professional Retail Store Maintenance and Restaurant Facilities Maintenance Association. He is a past executive committee member for Facility Experts, a national provider of facility services and products and networking company. He also serves on Cortland Banks board of directors. A strong believer in community involvement, Vross has spearheaded corporate support and involvement to many non-profit organizations, both local and national, as well as sponsored programs designed to benefit youth education, health education, disadvantaged children/adults and student athletics.

Thomas Meola, Outstanding MBA Award. Meola earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA from YSU. While at YSU he played football and was a member of the 1979 national championship team. After graduation, he joined Premix Inc., in North Kingsville, Ohio, a leading developer and manufacturer of thermoset composite materials and customer molded parts, as assistant controller. During his tenure, he held roles of controller, chief financial officer and, ultimately, president and chief operating officer. After four years as president for Premix, Meola joined Northern States Metals in Youngstown, where he currently serves as president and chief executive officer. A leading manufacturer of metal fabricated parts serving diverse globally markets, Northern States Metals has grown by developing innovative products and services and is recognized for its acclaimed patented Solar Flex Rack product line. He credits YSU for contributing to Northern States Metals success as they depend on YSU for developing talented engineers and business leaders. Meola has served on the board of directors of the American Composites Manufacturing Association, the Advisory Board of Directors for Factory Mutual Insurance Co., the Ashtabula County Civic Development Corp. and the Ashtabula County YMCA Board of Directors. Meola resides in Ashtabula with his wife Renee. They have two children, daughter Krista Toula, her husband Joe, and their son Thomas, who reside in Brecksville, Ohio, and their son Nicholas, who is attending the University of Dayton.

Melanie Cann, Outstanding Recent Alumna. Cann earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources and an MBA from YSU. She joined the Cafaro Co. a large real estate developer based in Youngstown, in 2000. Cann was promoted from manager to director and later advanced to vice president of Human Resources and Business Aviation Director. Cann has worked with YSU business students, participating as a speaker at WCBA college events and assisting with the development of professional portfolios. She recently served as president of the Warren Junior Women’s League and currently serves as an executive board member for Goodwill Industries. Cann was given the 40 Under 40 Award from the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals.

Chris Allen, WCBA Service Award. Allen is North American Talent Acquisition Manager, Vallourec USA, the world leader in premium tubular solutions primarily serving the energy markets (oil and gas, powergen). He graduated from YSU with a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications Studies in 1992. Allen started his career with Vallourec Star in 2013 as HR staffing manager of the Youngstown Operations and was later promoted to the North American Talent Acquisition Manager to expand recruitment of external talent from Canada, the United States and Mexico. He is responsible for sourcing and recruiting of all external talent for interns as well as full-time employees. Allen has participated in many WCBA undergraduate student events serving as a mentor to business students. YSU students and graduates have been hired at Vallourec Star for both internships and full-time employment. Allen serves as a member of YSU’s Pete’s Pride and has assisted with enrollment, career development and community outreach efforts for the WCBA. Allen also serves as an executive board member for the American Red Cross, Lake to River Mahoning Valley Chapter. Banquet sponsors as of August 28 include Bodine Perry, LLC; The Cafaro Foundation; Gasser Chair Company, Inc.; Packer Thomas; PNC Bank; Simon Roofing; Vallourec Star; Callos Resource, LLC; Cortland Banks; Hill, Barth, & King, LLC; Anness, Gerlach & Williams, CPAs; A.P. O'Horo Company; Cohen & Company, Ltd.; H.D. Davis CPAs, LLC; Huntington Bank; Hy-Tek Material Handling, Inc.; Falcon Transport Company/Comprehensive Logistics, Inc.; L.E. Roberts Consulting; Northern States Metals; Better Business Bureau; City Machine Technologies, Inc.; Cope Farm Equipment, Inc.; Donald & Barbara Graham; Hometown Pharmacy Solutions; Hunter-Stevens Land Title Agency, Ltd.; Jocelyne Kollay Linsalata; Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation; Schroedel, Scullin & Bestic, CPAs; and Sherman Creative Promotions, Inc.