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The lasting influence of six businessmen has earned them induction into the Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Business Hall of Fame.
Honorees in the 2024 Hall of Fame class, scheduled to be inducted in April, include Robert Bantry, owner of Bantry Hardware. Joe Fortunato, owner of American Insurance Marketing Group and The Health Insurance Place. James Hargreaves, former senior vice president of Morgan Stanley. His three members of the founding family of L. Robert Kimball & Associates: John Kimball, former senior vice president; Jeff Kimball, former president and CEO; Anne Kimball Balazs, former senior vice president of architectural engineering;
The Hall of Fame Committee announced these honorees Wednesday at a press conference at The Willow in Richland Township. An induction ceremony and dinner are scheduled for April 19th at the same venue.
Following the induction of these honorees, the Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Business Hall of Fame, established in 1992, now consists of 126 businessmen recognized for their contributions to the region’s economy and community. Masu.
“This is a tremendous honor considering the talent and quality of the people of Johnstown,” Bantry said. “I represent those who lost their lives in the 1977 flood but survived and thrived. I cannot thank the committee enough.”
Bantly Hardware has been in operation since 1861.
Bantry was a Navy electronics technician and air/sea rescue swimmer during the Vietnam War. He began working for his father at his Bantry Hardware Company in 1971. The company survived his 1977 Johnstown flood, and Bantry acquired the company in 1981, tripling his sales territory and inventory.
He continues to work part-time at his company.
Fortunato came to Johnstown in 1974 from the Pittsburgh area. He opened his Bagel Mania in downtown Johnstown on July 19, 1977. By the next morning, his store had been destroyed by the waters of the 1977 Johnstown Flood.
In 1979, Fortunato obtained his life, health and annuity license and subsequently founded American Insurance Marketing Group LLC as a general life, health and annuity agency. After the Affordable Care Act of 2010, the agency expanded its reach to include a walk-in center to provide guidance to those affected by the new health care law.
The agency has approximately 30,000 policyholders and 15 employees. More than 400 independent brokers sell wholesale through his agency.
In 2021, his agency was acquired by Integrity Marketing Group, an insurtech company with $2 billion in annual revenue.
Fortunato selected the company for its employee stock ownership program. With the proceeds from his sale, he and his wife Barb established the Wellington Endowment Foundation.
“It’s a great honor to be here,” Fortunato said. “I never imagined I’d be able to accomplish this. All I know is how to get up, go to work, start a business and go out of business. I’ve lived in Johnstown for 50 years. I am very grateful to be here.”
Mr. Hargreaves’ investment career spanned 46 years and ended in 2019 as a senior vice president at Morgan Stanley.
He served on the Westmont Hilltop School Board for 18 years and also served on the boards of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center and the 1889 Foundation.
John Kimball, Jeff Kimball, and Ann Kimball Balazs are three of the nine children of L. Robert Kimball, founder of L. Robert Kimball & Associates and 2007 Business Hall of Fame inductee. is.
John Kimball has served as the company’s owner and senior vice president for 53 years. He has served as a board member or advisor to Junior Achievement, the UPMC Diabetes Center, the Johns Hopkins School of Education, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport Authority, and the Ebensburg Regional Development Advisory Board.
Jeff Kimball, former president and chief executive officer of L. Robert Kimball & Associates, currently serves as an advisor and coach to companies in a wide range of industries. He advises CEOs, management teams, and boards of directors. His consulting business serves multi-generational family-owned businesses.
Jeff Kimball has served on community and nonprofit boards, including Mainline Bancorp, Johnstown Area Regional Industries, and the Community College Foundation Board. He also helped found his AYSO youth soccer in Ebensburg and has coached youth basketball for over 60 years.
Ann Kimball Balazs, former senior vice president of architectural engineering, has served on the boards of several organizations, including Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital, Laurel Bank, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, Mount Aloysius College, and the American Red Cross. I did.
Todd Cover, vice president of commercial lending for InFirst Bank and chairman of the 2024 Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Business Hall of Fame Awards, said the honorees are recognized for their contributions to the Johnstown/Cambria County area and their He said they are chosen based on the outstanding and lasting impact of their contributions. . Also, the winner must not be in a business position or he must have reached the age of 65 at the time of nomination.
“The Business Hall of Fame was founded on the principle that truly successful leaders deserve to be recognized not only for what they accomplish professionally, but also for what they give back to their communities,” Cover said. said.
Russ O’Reilly is a reporter for the Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @RussellOReilly.
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