Correspondent photo / Sean Barron Cheryl Wormley, a 15-year volunteer with Goodwill Industries in Liberty, cuts a cake during an event Thursday at Goodwill to celebrate a 30-year relationship between the business and Aim Transportation Solutions.

LIBERTY –Much like those in a healthy, long-term marriage, two well-established local businesses are celebrating their relationship with each other — and with an eye on continued longevity.

“We love doing business with companies that share our values and care about the community as we do,” Shelley Murray, Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries’ chief executive officer, said, adding, “No trucks, no Goodwill.”

Murray was referring to Goodwill’s relationship with Liberty-based Aim Transportation Solutions, a family-owned truck and trailer leasing company.

The two businesses celebrated the 30-year anniversary of their partnership during a luncheon Thursday afternoon at Goodwill Industries, 2747 Belmont Ave.

Their relationship is essential largely because Goodwill leases Aim Transportation’s vehicles to transport donated clothing, household goods and numerous other items to Goodwill’s 10 local and regional sites, Murray noted. In addition, the business helps Goodwill with fundraising and program efforts, she said.

Also, Goodwill recently formed a partnership with the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center in Canfield to offer classes for adults that will help them earn their general educational developments and receive driving permits, Murray noted. The free classes will get underway Tuesday, she added.

Beyond being a business client, Goodwill, like Aim Transportation Solutions, is “part of the Youngstown fabric” and the community as a whole, Matt Svancara, Aim Transportation’s chief operating officer, said.

In another sense, the partnership dates back about 50 years. Henry McNicholas, the uncle of Thomas Fleming, Aim Transportation’s CEO, served on Goodwill’s board of directors in the mid-1970s and spearheaded the company’s first fundraising effort, Svancara explained.

At the time, Fleming worked on the campaign and served as board chairman, as had his brother, Joe Fleming, Svancara continued.

In her remarks, Thursday, Trisha Mossor, Aim Transportation’s business development manager, praised the partnership between her company and Goodwill. Specifically, each has spent more than three decades providing the other with support and important collaboration, she said.

In addition, Mossor handed Murray an award for the two businesses’ 30-year partnership.

Among the several dozen at the luncheon was Cheryl Wormley of Struthers, who has volunteered for about 15 years with Goodwill Industries. Her duties include donating time to its food pantry, along with fundraising efforts and special events.

During Thursday’s luncheon, Wormley spent time carefully cutting a cake on which was inscribed, “Happy 30th anniversary, Goodwill Youngstown & Aim.”