VIP Café Show – Youngstown, Ohio – Local Guests with Amazing Impact to Our Community
Friendships begin based on numerous circumstances. Many are created because of similar interests and hobbies. For example, being part of the same sports team or maybe being a member of the same academic club. Other friendships are formed based on proximity or what neighborhood you grew up in. Whatever the reason, having a good solid friendship is a wonderful thing.We believe Podcasts are very similar to friendships. They are many times created by a few people who have common interests and share a similar vision. They are generally formed to help “inform” others about a variety of topics and subject matter. The question many Podcasters ask themselves is….why me/us? With so many options to choose from as a listener, what makes one Podcast better than another? We believe it all begins with….a good host or pair of hosts! That is exactly how The VIP Café Show came to fruition. Two friends, Greg Smith and Brian Blasko had a conversation while enjoying a cigar on a cool crisp January evening and the rest as they say…is history.The VIP Café Show was created to inform, educate and entertain listeners from the great city of Youngstown, OH. Although The VIP Café Show listeners reach far beyond the Youngstown area, the primary focus of the show is to highlight local “Youngstowners” and to hear their story. The Podcast also dives into a variety of fascinating topics besides Youngstown. Greg and Brian love discussing leadership, public speaking, customer care, team building, and life in general. They are always fascinated by what makes people tick and how people became (or are becoming) the person they are today! The VIP Café Show is a fun and informative program that engages the audience with every interview, conversation, and dialog that transpires.
VIP Café Show – Youngstown, Ohio – Local Guests with Amazing Impact to Our Community
E2: VIP Café Show featuring Joe Schiavoni
The Honorable Joe Schiavoni is our special guest. Joe was born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up on the south side of Youngstown, Ohio, before moving to Boardman, Ohio, where he attended Boardman High School. He has three younger brothers.
While in high school, he was a Golden Gloves boxer, as were his three brothers and his father before them. As a young man, he held jobs at Catullo Prime Meats, Fab-Art Steel, and Keffler Construction in the Mahoning Valley.
Following high school, Joe attended Ohio University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. He then attended law school at Capital University and received his Juris Doctor in 2004.
After graduating from law school, Joe returned to Youngstown where he became a member of the family law firm. Since then, he has practiced worker's compensation law. He is licensed to practice law in both Ohio and West Virginia.
Joe at one time helped legally represent Kelly Pavlik, the Middleweight Boxing Champion of the World, with whom he boxed as a child on the south side of Youngstown.
Joe has long been an active member of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Mahoning Valley. He earned the "Big Brother of the Year" award in 2007. Through this organization, He later joined the Youngstown State University Senior Youth Mentorship steering committee.
As a political novice, Joe was selected in 2008 to replace Senator John Boccieri, who had been elected to the United States House of Representatives. His selection surprised many, as he was only 28 years old at the time and had never held elected office. Nonetheless, Joe easily won the party nomination in 2010 and was elected in the general election with over 60% of the vote.
In November 2011, Joe was named Assistant Minority Whip in the Senate but quickly rose to Assistant Minority Leader under Eric Kearney in January 2012. He would serve in that capacity for two years until 2014 when he was unanimously elected by his colleagues to be Minority Leader.
He was unopposed for re-election in 2014 to hold his seat in the Senate. Due to term limits, Joe cannot run for reelection in 2018. On November 3, 2020, Joe Schiavoni was elected to serve as a Judge in the Mahoning County Court System.