CANTON ‒ Consumers National Bank has opened a new downtown branch at the Millennium Centre, 210 Market Ave. N.
The Minerva-based bank hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 6 to celebrate its 23rd full-service location and 10th branch in Stark County. Tony Klonowski was named bank relationship manager.
“We will provide a refreshing local banking alternative for the downtown businesses and residents as well as to the surrounding neighborhoods,” President and CEO Ralph J. Lober II said in a prepared statement.
“We will apply the same energy that drives our success in our other communities, and we will support the organizations that are vital to Canton’s economic and social fabric. Know that the community’s deposits entrusted to the Canton branch will be managed in Stark County and invested in local families, businesses, farms, and civic organizations.”
The branch has a business banker, a mortgage originator and two relationship bankers. The lobby features four teller stations, two private offices, and a walk-up ATM and night depository.
National Inventors Hall of Fame appoints new CEO
The National Inventors Hall of Fame, headquartered in Lake Township near the Akron-Canton Airport, has appointed Monica Jones as its new chief executive officer.
She started on Sept. 8 to fill the role previously held for 12 years by Michael J. Oister. Jones joined the nonprofit organization in 2011 and was named chief operating officer in 2015.
“I am honored to lead the National Inventors Hall of Fame as we commit to reaching even more children and introducing them to our Hall of Fame Inductees, who are relatable, innovative role models,” she said in a prepared statement.
“Every child, in every community across the country, needs to know that they belong in STEM and innovation, and that they can change the world through creative problem solving.”
Jones has a Master of Business Administration degree from East Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron, according to the announcement. She helped increase the organization’s annual revenue from $19 million in 2011 to more than $50 million in 2024 and increased the number of children served through nationwide invention education programs from 82,000 in 2011 to 387,000 in 2024.
“Monica has played an instrumental role in the growth of the National Inventors Hall of Fame,” Oister said in a prepared statement. “It’s been my privilege to lead this organization. I know that as CEO, Monica will continue moving the mission forward in ways that will make a lasting difference for this country’s next great inventors and entrepreneurs, and for its innovation economy.”
Society Brands partners with iHeartRadio, Crunchi
Society Brands has secured a national marketing campaign with iHeartRadio to promote its portfolio of brands.
The Canton-based e-commerce aggregator manages 12 brands, primarily in the health and wellness sector, that include Vitality Now, Club Early Bird and Clarifion. The company reports an annual revenue of more than $100 million a year.
“We remain hyper-focused on raising awareness for Society’s portfolio brands on a national scale,” Michael Sirpilla, co-founder and CEO of Society Brands, said in a prepared statement. “Beyond the growth and awareness through the marketing campaign with iHeart, our Society Talent Collective is an innovative approach to align high-profile talent with our brands to be true partners in the brand’s success and growth.”
The iHeartRadio campaign will continue a partnership with media personality Xen Sams and involve marketing alongside top podcasts — The Herd with Colin Cowherd, My Favorite Murder, Dear Chelsea and Betrayal.
Society Brands also recently announced that its portfolio of brands expanded with Crunchi, “clean, high-performance cosmetics and skincare products.” The company, founded by Kelly Kreusler and Melanie Petschke, sells direct to consumers.
“Crunchi represents everything we look for in a brand — exceptional products, a passionate community, and founders who have built something truly meaningful,” Sirpilla said in a prepared statement. “We’re honored to welcome Crunchi into the Society Brands family and are excited to accelerate their momentum with expanded resources, operational support, and a platform for continued growth.”
Locals receive accolades, honors
- Vikram Bedekar — manager of materials development at the Timken Co. who specializes in advanced coatings, surface engineering and industrial materials science — has been named a fellow by the International Academy for Production Engineering or Collège International pour la Recherche en Productique (CIRP). The honor involves a peer-review process, international recommendations, and support from two-thirds of current fellows. Bedekar is the second CIRP fellow from Ohio and one of only 20 fellows from the United States and 160 fellows worldwide. “I’m deeply honored to be named a CIRP fellow and grateful for the continuous support from my colleagues at Timken,” Bedekar said in a prepared statement. “This recognition is a reflection of our shared commitment to advancing engineering excellence and delivering innovative solutions for our customers.”
- Alessandra Gesiotto, who grew up in Jackson Township, has been named a Stevie Award for Women in Business finalist in the Best Women-Led Wellness Product of the Year category. Gold, silver and bronze award placements will be announced at a banquet on Nov. 10 in New York City. Gesiotto’s product, The Breakthrough Journal, was designed to help process emotions with prompts for self-reflection. “It’s not just a journal—it’s a step toward making wellness tools more accessible and conversations about mental health more honest,” Gesiotto said in a prepared statement. “This award celebrates not only our product, but also the movement toward greater emotional well-being that we are proud to be part of.”
- Alan L. Meshekow, who practiced locally as an osteopathic surgeon for 40 years, has been awarded the 2025 Orel F. Martin Medal, the highest honor from the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. It was presented during the organization’s annual assembly on Sept. 19 in Salt Lake City. Meshekow served on the medical staff of all Stark County hospitals — Doctors, Massillon Community, Aultman, Mercy and Affinity. He co-founded a general surgical residency in 1983 at Doctors Hospital in Massillon and directed the program until it closed in 2018 and also taught at several universities. “This is a great honor, and I deeply appreciate the respect and acknowledgment from my peers,” Meshekow said in a prepared statement, adding that young physicians should “get involved in their professional organizations and help shape decisions at local, state and national levels.”
Manufacturers recognized for excellence
- Metallus, the Canton-based manufacturer of specialty metals and components, has received a 2025 NorthCoast 99 award for being a Northeast Ohio workplace with top talent for the fourth time. The Employers Resource Council selects 99 organizations with at least 15 full-time employees from a 22-county region. “It’s a reflection of the passion and professionalism of our people. At Metallus, we prioritize a culture based on care, collaboration, communication, and growth, which we believe is essential to attracting and retaining top talent,” CEO Mike Williams said in a prepared statement.
- Diebold Nixdorf, the North Canton-based ATM and retail checkout manufacturer, and the Jackson Township-based Timken Co., which manufactures industrial motion products, have been named among the World’s Best Companies of 2025 by Time magazine and Statista. Diebold Nixdorf ranked 827 and Timken ranked 948 out of 1,000 companies. The scores were based on employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and transparency regarding environmental, social and governance matters.
