Login | September 18, 2025
MCBA President Scott Kamenitsa discusses his goals
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: September 18, 2025
It’s been just over two months since attorney Scott Kamenitsa started his term as president of the Mahoning County Bar Association.
Since then, he’s been reviewing membership numbers and discussing ideas as to how to ensure the long-term success of the organization.
“We have been successful in getting more attorneys to join the bar association,” said Kamenitsa, a partner at Schmidt Kamenitsa in the city of Canfield. “Our main issue right now is that many recent law school graduates are moving out of the area to start their careers.
“We are a tight-knit community and I am working closely with other members of the board of trustees to see what the bar association can do to attract and retain talented young lawyers,” Kamenitsa said.
Kamenitsa began his one-year term on July 1, after now past president Corey J. Grimm passed the gavel on June 30 during the bar association’s annual election banquet & golf outing at the Youngstown Country Club.
“My overarching goal as bar president is to build on the existing camaraderie that exists in the legal profession and the bar association to demonstrate the many benefits that come with bar membership,” said Kamenitsa.
“I’m only about two months into my term and I’m excited to continue my service to the bar association.”
Grimm said the organization will be “well served” with Kamenitsa at its helm.
“I've known Scott since the beginning of his career,” said Grimm, a partner at Ingram Grimm & Yacovone. “He was immediately active in the bar association, particularly the social committee, and then later as a member and eventual chair of the grievance committee.
“He has been a longtime trustee as well,” said Grimm. “He always brings a positive attitude and is willing to lend a helping hand to make the bar a better place. He has even taken over matters for lawyers who left the practice, which is a tremendously important and often a thankless task.”
Mahoning County Bar Association President-elect Thomas Hull echoed similar sentiments.
“I’ve known Scott for many years,” said Hull, a partner at Manchester Newman & Bennett. “We’ve been opposing counsel on a few cases.
“He has been very active in the social areas of the bar association,” said Hull. “He is very committed to the bar association’s success and has a lot of good ideas.
“He faces a number of challenges, including marketing our great community to new and younger practitioners,” said Hull. “As someone who recruits for my firm, I can tell you it can be a challenge convincing law students to practice here.
“I think the bar association is lucky to have Scott as president and I look forward to finding the organization in a better place when I take the baton,” Hull said.
A native of Canfield Township, Kamenitsa graduated from Canfield High School.
As an undergraduate at Ohio University, he majored in audio production and minored in music and business.
“I was interested in the entertainment industry, but what I realized as an undergraduate was that it was the business side that intrigued me,” he said. “I was thinking I might become an entertainment lawyer or an agent.”
But by the time he earned his JD/MBA degree from The University of Akron School of Law in 2015, he said his goals had changed.
“As I learned more about other practice areas, my thoughts about focusing on the entertainment industry went by the wayside,” said Kamenitsa. “As I like to say, I went to law school and sold out to the man.”
Instead, he accepted an associate position with Friedman & Rummell Co., where he focused on probate, corporate matters and civil litigation, becoming a partner in 2023.
He left the firm at the end of 2024, and in January 2025 started Schmidt Kamenitsa with Friedman & Rummell Co. partner and former bar president Tracie Schmidt, while also assuming the practice of Lane & Burke.
Schmidt Kamenitsa represents clients in estate planning, probate and business matters as well as handling probate litigation and disputes.
“I enjoy practicing,” said Kamenitsa. “I like the problem-solving aspect of the job, which brings new challenges and adventures on a daily basis.”
Since joining the Mahoning County Bar Association in 2016 Kamenitsa has served in a variety of roles, including as vice chair and chair of the certified grievance committee, where he continues to be a member.
He’s also currently a member of the Law Day, estate planning & probate and social committees and serves on the board of trustees.
In addition, Kamenitsa is a member of the Ohio State and Trumbull County bar associations.
A resident of the city of Canfield, Kamenitsa is a regional advisory board member for the Salvation Army of Mahoning County Area Services, where he previously served as chairman.
He is also a member of the Cardinal Joint Fire District Personnel Committee and the city of Canfield Civil Service Commission.
As bar association president, Kamenitsa said he wants to ensure that all members of the organization see the benefits.
“One of the things I am doing is seeking input from our younger lawyers to get ideas about what they are looking for, whether it be new events or more consistent mentorship opportunities for young lawyers starting in their respective practices,” said Kamenitsa.
“Our past approaches may not work for the next generation, so we want to be sure we remain relevant.”
As part of the effort to recruit and retain local talent, Kamenitsa said he and other bar leaders are reaching out to law schools in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and especially Akron Law to shift students’ attention back to the Youngstown area instead of the current focus on bigger cities.
“We want to get the word out that this is not an area to be overlooked,” said Kamenitsa. “We have a lot to offer, including membership at our bar association.
“The Ohio Supreme Court recently declared Mahoning County as a legal desert and we are exploring whether we could help market this area so that recent law school graduates who choose to practice here could potentially receive student loan forgiveness,” said Kamenitsa.
“We are trying to position ourselves for the future and we cannot do that without the next generation of attorneys.”