Please help us in congratulating this years' 2026 Visionary Award Winners.

Leadership in Health Award - TBA

RECIPENT: Bio & Photograph

Heart of the Mission Award - TBA

RECIPENT: Bio & Photograph

Continuing the Legacy Award

Ian Beniston | Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation

Ian Beniston, AICP, HDFP is the Executive Director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) and has been a part of the organization since the idea of YNDC was conceived in 2008. He is responsible for YNDC’s consistent achievement of its mission and day to day operations. He has twenty-one years of neighborhood planning, development, and finance experience in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. He has guided more than $90 million in direct neighborhood investment in Youngstown's neighborhoods. Ian holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Youngstown State University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a Grow America Housing Development Finance Professional. He resides in the City of Youngstown with his wife and daughter.