STATE DIRECTOR: Chris Ferruso has been named state director for Ohio by the National Federation of Independent Business.

Ferruso previously served as NFIB’s state member benefits manager and, since 2010, as the organization’s state legislative director, advocating on behalf of NFIB’s 21,000 Ohio members in the state Legislature. Ferruso, a native of northeast Ohio, also chairs the Ohio Alliance for Civil Justice.

“It has been an honor and a pleasure to advocate on behalf of our members these past 16 years,” Ferruso said. “Small business owners are some of the hardest working people I know. They care about their families, employees, and their communities,” he said. “I look forward to leading our team in Ohio as we continue to fight for Ohio’s entrepreneurs on crucial issues including taxes, healthcare, regulations, and workforce development.”

Ferruso holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio State University. He lives in Westerville with his wife, Melissa, and their sons, Nicholas and Jack.

EGCC GETS GRANT: Eastern Gateway Community College has received a $50,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education to invest in providing more students with the opportunity to earn a commercial driver’s license.

“At Eastern Gateway, we strive to set our students up for success so that when they leave our campus, they are heading towards a better future. The CDL program gives our students a valuable tool that does just that,” said Eastern Gateway Community College President Michael Geoghegan. “This grant allows Eastern Gateway to enhance and continue to provide the CDL program, and we couldn’t be happier. Eastern Gateway is going to keep putting students on the road to a brighter future.”

“At Eastern Gateway, we help students earn their CDL, with a 99 percent employment rate upon graduation. With this grant, we will be able to put even more students first with an opportunity to further their career,” said Brian D. Beckett, Director CDL Workforce at Eastern Gateway Community College.