ERIE — State Senator Sean D. Wiley of Pennsylvania’s 49th District will discuss current initiatives affecting the northwest Pennsylvania region, during the Manufacturer & Business Association’s legislative luncheon starting at noon Wednesday, May 30 at the Association’s Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street. Registration begins at 11:45 a.m.

In addition to unemployment and the economy, Senator Wiley will address key legislative topics affecting the 49th District, including payment for area in-home health-care attendants, Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, privatizing of liquor sales and others.

Senator Wiley was elected in November 2012 and has been appointed as the Democratic chairman of the Intergovernmental Operations Committee. The committee was created to consider proposals for streamlining government, including the potential consolidation of agencies. Wiley also serves on the Labor and Industry, Public Health and Welfare, Communications and Technology, and Community, Economic and Recreational Development committees.

To register for this briefing, contact Terry Nunez at 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660, or visit www.mbausa.org.

Cost is $30 for members and $60 for nonmembers.

ERIE — Photos from the Association’s 108th Annual Event on Tuesday, May 14, at the Bayfront Convention Center are now online at www.mbausa.org. The event featured a stirring performance of the national anthem by star performers of the Erie Playhouse, entertainment by political satirist Mark Russell, and keynote address by former Hewlett-Packard chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina.

To learn more about this year’s special guests, see the May edition of the Business Magazine at www.mbabizmag.com.

ERIE — The Manufacturer & Business Association announced the winners of the Patrick R. Locco Scholarship Awards during a recognition ceremony held today, April 25, at the Association’s Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street.

Winners are: Matthew Washburn, Erie County Technical School; Carley Unger, Crawford County Career & Technical Center; Ashley Johnson, Mercer County Career Center; Stephanie Puckly, Corry Area Career & Technical Center; and Austin Walls, Central Career and Technical School.

A $1,000 scholarship has been awarded to winners to assist them in future academic endeavors. Awards also were presented to nominees during the event.

Nominees included: Todd Goss, Vitaliy Koblyuk, Jesse Bean and Anthony Visalle, of Erie County Technical School; Eric Brocious, Adam Riddle and Charlotte Roxberry, of Crawford County Career & Technical Center; Zachary Rushwin, of Mercer County Career Center; Garrett Shields, Justin Messenger, Evan Melnichak and Jeremy Palmer, of Corry Area Career & Technical Center; and Joshua Bowersox and Onjane Goodwin, of Central Career and Technical School.

The Locco Awards were created by the Association to recognize outstanding high school students who distinguish themselves in pursuit of technical and academic excellence. Students must apply and be nominated by a teacher to be considered. Each school narrows the nominees to their top five candidates. These students are then interviewed by local businesspeople who choose the winners.

To see photos from the awards ceremony, visit the Business Magazine photo gallery.

LAWRENCE & MERCER COUNTIES- Eight women from Lawrence and Mercer Counties, finalists for the first annual Lawrence/Mercer County ATHENA Leadership Award® and the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award®, were honored — and a recipient of each ATHENA Award announced — at the Inaugural ATHENA Award Celebration on April 23 at Park Inn by Radisson in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania.

Finalists for the ATHENA Leadership Award were: Ruthanne Beighley, Sharon; Colleen Chamberlain, New Castle; Carrie Goff, New Castle; Dr. Kathleen Mastrian, Sharpsville; and JoAnn McBride; New Castle. Finalists for the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award were: Lisa Lombardo, New Castle; Marci Radcliffe, Hermitage; and Lisa Walton, Hermitage.

The ATHENA Leadership Award recipient, JoAnn McBride, is executive director of Lawrence County Tourism Promotion Agency. She was nominated and introduced by Linda Nitch and Therese McShea.

The ATHENA Young Professional Award recipient, Marci Radcliffe, is administrative assistant to the Chief Investment Officer & Portfolio Management Team of F.N.B. Investment Advisors, Inc. She was nominated and introduced by Dr. Missa Eaton.

Sponsored by the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Western PA and Eastern OH, ATHENA Leadership Awards honor those individuals who have achieved excellence in her/his business, profession or community service, have served the community in a meaningful way and have assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills.

The first ATHENA Leadership Award® was presented in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan. Since then, the program has grown to include presentations to more than 6,500 individuals in 500 communities in eight countries including the United States, Canada, China, Russia and the United Kingdom. The ATHENA Leadership Award takes the form of a hand-cast bronze sculpture symbolizing the strength, courage and wisdom of the recipient. The ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award is a diamond shape with the ATHENA Leadership Tenets engraved on the face.

ERIE – Americans for the Competitive Enterprise System (ACES) will honor Jim Martin of Northwest Savings Bank and Dr. Jay Badams, superintendent of the Erie City School District, at a luncheon on June 26 – at a yet-to-be-determined location – for their personal achievements, business success and commitment to economic education.

Jim Martin, Erie Region president of Northwest Savings Bank, will be honored as the recipient of the Bob and Betty Merwin Outstanding Citizen Award, which recognizes his success in business and his active participation in charitable community endeavors. Martin began his career at Northwest in 1985 as a management trainee. After 19 years of service at various management levels, he was promoted to Region President in 2004. Under the direction of Martin, Northwest Savings Bank has been a major supporter of ACES’ programming. During this past program year, Northwest employees provided more than 200 hours of volunteer service to ACES’ Pennsylvania Business Week program.

ACES also will honor Erie City School District Superintendent Jay Badams, Ph.D. as the ACES Educator of the Year. Dr. Badams has served as superintendent since June of 2010.  Under Dr. Badams leadership, ACES’ Pennsylvania Business Week program was brought to Central Tech this past October.

ACES was founded in 1956 to promote the understanding of the American free enterprise system to students, educators, and general public. ACES’ flagship program, Pennsylvania Business Week has reached more than 15,000 students over the past 16 years.