TRAVEL CENTER GETS NEW LOOK: The Pilot travel center in Girard has undergone a curb-to-counter remodel, which is part of the company’s more than $1 billion store modernization initiative, New Horizons.

To celebrate, Pilot is donating $10,000 to Girard City Schools.

Updates to the travel center at 2786 Salt Springs Road include a remodeled and expanded kitchen, remodeled restrooms and showers, updated public laundry facilities and driver’s lounge, and three new self-checkouts.

HOSPITAL RANKED: Akron Children’s ranked nationally in five pediatric specialties in U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of the Best Children’s Hospitals for 2024-25.

Akron Children’s improved its position in pediatric diabetes and endocrinology and added rankings this year in the subspecialities of neonatology, orthopedics, pediatric and adolescent behavioral health, and neurology and neurosurgery.

Akron Children’s ranked in the following specialties: neonatology,50; pediatric diabetes and endocrinology, 43; pediatric neurology and neurosurgery, 38; pediatric orthopedics, 20; and pediatric and adolescent behavioral health, 47.

FUNDING AVAILABLE: The American Heart Association is opening its Social Impact Funds to local organizations and social enterprises in Youngstown for the first time. The money is designed to reduce the social and economic barriers that prevent longer, healthier lives in communities nationwide.

The financing opportunity, supported by the FirstEnergy Foundation, aims to buoy local entrepreneurs to measurably increase equitable access to health and health care, economic empowerment and food security.

Organizations can apply through Nov. 1.

Applicants can be at any business stage and can be nonprofit or for-profit social enterprises. A governance committee of association volunteers and staff executives review all funding requests.

Selections are focused on demonstrated ability to drive change in under-resourced communities, quality of team and program, organic connection to the community and ability to scale for maximum health impact.

New businesses

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONIES: A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. Sunday for Boundless Wonders, 5000 E. Market St., Warren, a studio that provides music classes designed to support the growth of children by fostering language, motor, cognitive and social / emotional development.

Dr. Kristen Shepherd Crish is the owner. She holds a doctorate and is a licensed speech- language pathologist.

Meanwhile, a ribbon cutting ceremony was planned for Oct. 14 for Doughlicious Bakery, 1040 E. Market St., Warren. The bakery is owned by Jackie Brown.

It provides a variety of baked goods, from cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls and seasonal themed donuts to pizzas, pepperoni rolls, pretzels and kolachi walnut rolls.

People on the move

MOVES AT AKRON CHILDREN’S: Akron Children’s recently welcomed Dr. Deepak Ozhathil, a burn and critical care surgeon, to its Adult and Pediatric Burn Institute, and Anthony Gutowski as chief government relations and business development officer.

Ozhathil attended medical school at the University of Massachusetts and completed his surgical residency at the University of New Mexico. His surgical critical care and acute burn surgery fellowship took place at the University of Texas Medical Branch and Shriners Children’s Texas Burn Center.

He has established a tissue biorepository to study the burn wound microbiome. Recently, he has been leveraging innovative technology, including next-generation sequencing, to explore intercellular communication and their role in the complexities of burn wounds to improve patient outcomes.

Gutowski will continue to lead and advance Akron Children’s government advocacy efforts at the local, state and federal level and be responsible for identifying partnerships and pursuing new business opportunities to complement existing Akron Children’s services. Prior to accepting the new expanded role, he was the director of government relations at the hospital for the past five years.

Gutowski began his career working with various community organizations before entering health care.

NEW PROFESSOR: Andy Goodhart, a graduate of Maplewood High School in Mecca, in August joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an assistant professor of political science.

He earned his doctorate degree in political science from Ohio State University in May.

He previously worked as a strategist with the U.S. Department of Defense

To submit items for business briefs, new businesses and people on the move, email business@tribtoday.com.