[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 135 (Friday, August 30, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E854-E855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 2024 YOUNGSTOWN WARREN REGIONAL CHAMBER SALUTE TO 
                       BUSINESS AWARD RECIPIENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL A. RULLI

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 30, 2024

  Mr. RULLI. Mr. Speaker, having worked in a family-run small business 
my whole life, I understand both the challenges and importance of 
running a successful small business venture. As you know, U.S. small 
businesses make up about 99.9 percent of all businesses and create more 
than 60 percent of all new jobs. Accordingly, I would like to take a 
moment to recognize the 2024 award recipients for the Youngstown Warren 
Regional Chamber's annual Salute to Business. I am proud to be able to 
honor these recipients for their work as upstanding business leaders in 
the community.
  Mr. Greg Toporcer, owner of Top Property Holdings, will be presented 
with the Business Professional of the Year.
  Ms. Kristen Olmi, chief executive officer of KO Consulting, Inc., 
will be presented with the Business Advocate of the Year.
  Ms. Dionne Dowdy, executive director of United Returning Citizens, 
will be presented with the Non-Profit Professional of the Year award.
  Mr. Ronnell Elkins, president of YOGO Bikeshare, will be presented 
with the Entrepreneur of the Year award.
  Ms. Melissa Poland, owner of Sweet Melissa's Good Eats, will be 
presented with the Small Business Professional of the Year award.
  Mr. Antonio Di Tommaso, Jr., of Carpenters Local 171, will be 
presented with the Salute to Labor Achievement Award.
  Finally, Ms. Sarah O'Brien, owner of a chain of Little Tart Bakeshop 
locations in Atlanta, will be presented with the Valley Champion Award.
  I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to 
join me in recognizing these honorable leaders, pillars of the 
Youngstown Warren community, as we congratulate them on their 
accomplishments and their contributions to the community. These 
admirable citizens illustrate the thriving Ohio business community I am 
proud to represent, and may their work continue to be a blessing to our 
industrious Nation.

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