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LWV Heads to Logan for the First TimeA Wild and Wonderful Session

by Joseph Bunn ‘13

I was riding shotgun in a UTV with my friend and a sponsor of the Logan session, Greg Wooten. The woods encircled us.

As we rounded the bend on the Bear Wallow Trail of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System, I did so with a great sense of trepidation and excite-ment. That moment marked the beginning of a wild and wonderful Class of 2013 session in Logan. It was the first time that LWV had gathered in this historic, southern town.

A highlight of our class trip occurred during a visit to Alpha Natural Resources’ North Surface Mine, which straddles Logan and Mingo Counties. We were able to observe all phases of surface mining. The tour began with an overview of the rigorous permitting process. Our guides then took us to active mining sites where Alpha employees were conducting surface and high-wall mining activities. We

were able to view reclaimed sites where all of the mineable and merchantable coal had been extracted. A regional prison is now on one of the reclaimed sites. We also learned about state and federal requirements and regulations to which Alpha and other coal mining companies must comply. The result is a safe and highly-productive industry that supports high-paying jobs and large amounts of tax revenue for the State of West Virginia.

Logan’s rich coal mining history has provided many economic engines that will outlast even its vast coal reserves. Through multiple private-public partnerships involving post-mine land use, Logan now touts an airport, a large-scale shopping district, a jail, a hotel resort, one of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails and many other economic development projects.

Logan’s commitment to coal mining deemed it as the best location for the Academy for

Mine Training and Energy Technologies at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. The Academy provides educational services to Continued on page 6

LEADERSHIPWVPreparing Leaders to Move West Virginia Forward www.leadershipwv.org

Volume 11 | Issue 1 | Summer 2013

IN THIS ISSUE

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Alumni NewsClass of 2013

Cole Malcom (almost LWV alumni) and his wife Mary Beth welcomed twins Emma Katherine and Noah Cole to their family on April 15, 2013. Congratulations!

In 2012, West Virginia resident and Marine Corps veteran Jamie Summerlin (almost LWV alumni) ran across America to raise awareness and funds for wounded veterans. Summerlin shares the highlights of his transcontinental trek and the inspiring stories of the veterans he collected along the way in his book Freedom Run: A 100-Day, 3,452-Mile Journey Across America to Benefit Wounded Veterans. Today, Summerlin continues to support veterans in West Virginia through Operation Welcome Home, CamoToCap, and Veterans On Call, as well as by participating in running events across the country. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Freedom Run will benefit veteran-focused charitable organizations. Learn more at www.freedomrunusa.com.

Class of 2012 Ben Ashley was promoted to Assistant Director of Architectural Services at the School Building Authority of West Virginia.

Scott Cosco is now the Director of Business Development and External Affairs for Custom Business Solutions, Inc. and plays a duel role within the company. He is responsible for the development and maintenance of CBS’ clients as well as government relations consulting. His job is to manage client needs by serving as a liaison

between the company and client. CBS is a Professional Employer Organization that provides clients with dedicated human resource partners to proactively and cost-effectively manage regulatory matters as well as provide employee benefits, payroll, and workers compensation coverage.

Joshua Jarrell recently accepted a position as the Deputy Secretary and General Counsel with the West Virginia Department of Commerce.

Mark Lewis has been named to the Southeast Tourism Society’s Board of Directors and began serving a two-year term in January. STS is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of tourism throughout the southeast. The organization was founded in 1983 and has grown to include 12 participating states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. There are three representatives from each state on the Board.

The following LWV Class of 2012 members have taken on leadership roles within the state’s first electronic Rotary Club: Brian Moore, president; Andrea Salina, president-elect; Wes Harvey, vice president and sergeant at arms; Rebecca Randolph, secretary; and Diana Martinelli, membership director. The club provides a convenient way for busy professionals to stay involved in Rotary or to make up missed meetings in traditional clubs. To join or learn more about the Mountain State E-Rotary Club, visit msre.org.

Diana Martinelli, associate dean and Widmever Professor in Public Relations in the WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism, was selected to be one of 17 participants in the national Scripps Howard Academic Leadership Academy, sponsored by the Scripps Howard Foundation and the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University. The Academy brings together academics and professionals to discuss the future of media education and its administration.

Reid Amos, ‘11CommissionerMountain East Conference

Mary Elisabeth Eckerson, ‘05District DirectorRep. Shelley Moore Capito

Sammy Gray, ‘07Manager, State AffairsFirstEnergy, Inc.

Mychal S. Schulz, ‘05PartnerDinsmore

New 2013 LWV Board Members

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Volume 11 | Issue 1 | Summer 2013

Charylene St.Clair graduated from West Virginia University on May 19, 2013 with an M.A in Corporate & Organizational Communication Studies.

Class of 2011 James Owrey has taken a position with the WV Housing Development Fund as of mid-April. He is the Managing Director of Multi-Family Programs.

Chuck Penn has moved to Northern Virginia. There he will continue as Media and Community Relations Manager for Dominion but will do so at his new location based in Herndon, VA.

Laura Prisc was the keynote speaker during the 2nd Annual Women in Leadership Luncheon presented by the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley, on May 1. Prisc shared the need for increased self-awareness and intentionality in actions when you are striving to move toward new levels in your career. In addition she spent a week in June in Guatemala City with John Maxwell and the John Maxwell Team teaching Transformational Leadership to members of law enforcement, clergy, teachers, and business leaders. This amazing opportunity is part of Maxwell’s vision of teaching leaders who will teach leaders across the globe and transform the cultures of teams, organizations, communities, and even countries.

Class of 2010 Lisa Biafore recently left the corporate world after more than 25 years and started a small business. She opened The Tea Shoppe at

Seneca Center in Morgantown. Her store carries over 70 fine loose leaf teas, tea gift items and supplies, and a fabulous lunch menu of tea sandwiches, soup, scones, quiche, and sweets. The store’s website is

www.TheTeaShoppeWV.com. She is living her dream!

In addition to his full-time employment as an administrator at West Liberty University, Ronald Witt is also a WV licensed Realtor for Kennen & Kennen Realtors in Wheeling. In December, he received the highly coveted “Wheeling Board of Realtors Rookie of the Year” award for 2012. What makes this even more special is that he was only six months on the job at the time of the award.

Class of 2009Mike Cvechko is taking the entrepreneurial skills that he developed during leadership West Virginia and opening Cvechko Insurance Services in Barbour County this summer. He will be an independent insurance agency offering Home, Auto, Life and Business Insurance. He will represent a variety of insurance companies with his lead company being Erie Insurance. During Mike’s successful 17 year insurance career he has worked in various capacities for a large regional insurance company as well as served as Vice President of Sales for an independent insurance agency.

Class of 2008Ed DeCosta, of Catalyst Associates, was recently named the 2013 Small Business of the Year by the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce. Ed is a speaker, executive coach and also runs Ascend, an online personal development program.

Emily Fisher had a granddaughter! Leila Mary Ann was born on December 11, 2012.

Class of 2006Katrina Mailloux opened Brown Dog Yoga in January, offering a variety of classes for all levels of yogi. www.browndogyoga.com

Teresa Miller will be Chairmen of the Alzheimer’s Association WV Chapter for 2013-2014. She is also an Ambassador for the National Alzheimer’s Association for Congresswomen Shelly Moore Capito’s District.

Clayton Rice purchased Ryan Environmental, LLC in October 2012. Ryan is a Full Service Environmental and Construction Company based in Bridgeport. Ryan’s staff of geological, environmental, construction, operators, and skilled laborer work closely with natural gas transmission companies, exploration & production companies, pipeline construction companies, utility companies, coal operator, and local, state & federal governmental entities such as the West Virginia DEP and U.S. EPA.

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Clayton Rice & Jill Bentz were married on July 21, 2012. The couple met in Leadership West Virginia. To underscore the significance of LWV to them, Jill wrote her wedding vows on LWV stationary. The couple resides in Bridgeport with their three children: Alex, Paige and Adam.

Jill is a Partner with Dinsmore & Shohl. She formerly practiced in the firm’s Charleston office but moved to Dinsmore’s Morgantown office last summer. Clayton is President & CEO of Ryan Environmental located in Bridgeport.

Class of 2004Anna Dailey received the State Journal Who’s Who in WV Business 2013. Anna has become a go to resource for companies facing labor & employment issues and credits LWV for helping her find a more public voice.

Class of 2003Elizabeth Gaucher relocated this Spring to Middlebury, Vermont. She is continuing her work at West Virginia Wesleyan College in pursuit of a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Nonfiction. Her husband, Jamie, also an LWV graduate, is now the Business Development Director for the Town of Middlebury.

Class of 2002Effective on July 1, Joseph R. Oliverio assumed the position of Director of Elementary Services for the Wood County School system. Having served as a building level principal/assistant principal for the past 14 years, and prior to that teaching high school band and choir for 15 years. He looks forward to the challenge of working with 19 Elementary schools and principals.

Class of 2001Dr. Gene Coulson retired from the West Virginia Department of Education on April 30, 2013 and has established Coulson Consulting so he can continue to take on jobs in the education and training field.

Class of 2000William B. Armistead, was appointed President of the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc. in September 2012. Will was previously employed as Director of Development at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, Morgantown.

Class of 1992Marjorie Mathieu is currently serving as Vice Chairman of the American Red Cross Coastal Chapter of Southeast Georgia, a member of the Board of Directors of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia, and a member of the Brunswick, GA Downtown Development Authority. Her daughter, Ann-Marie, was recently married in Wheeling to Greg Panebianco, and they reside in Boston.

Leadership West Virginia is at the forefront of bring-ing positive change to the state, an effort we wholeheartedly support. Each year for more than 20 years, we have been fortu-nate to have an employee take part in Leadership

West Virginia, helping us to develop leaders from within our organization. Because of the benefits our employees have derived from the program, I’m pleased that we at Dominion participate on the organization’s panels and at the board level, while also contributing to fund-raising efforts to keep Leadership West Virginia at a high level. My involvement has helped me immensely in my own personal and professional development. I have fostered many of our employees to apply to and go though the program. Once they graduate, they come back to Dominion more confident and better prepared for leadership. Without a doubt, I will continue to identify potential participants from our workforce and encourage them to take advantage of everything Leadership West Virginia has to offer.

Bob Orndorff ‘99 Leadership West Virginia Testimonial

Reminder: Applications are due by

November 1st for the 2014 program year.

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Volume 11 | Issue 1 | Summer 2013

Members of the 2013 Class

Ashley Alford, Putnam County of Commerce (Huntington)Lucy Allara, BrickStreet Insurance (Charleston)Michelle Barnes-Russell, Frontier Communications (Martinsburg)Bobby Blakley, Jr., BB&T (Charleston)Anne Blankenship, Babst Calland (Charleston)Matthew Bowles, Lewis Glasser Casey & Rollins PLLC (Charleston)Elizabeth Bridgeman, WV Mutual Insurance Company (Charleston)Joseph Bunn, Jones & Associates (Charleston)Gail Carter, Wells Fargo Insurance Services of WV, Inc. (Charleston)Rachel Coffman, Dollar Energy Fund (Charleston)Richard Colebank, Alpha Associates, Incorporated (Morgantown)Staci Criswell, Dinsmore (Charleston)Ryan Culhane, GE Healthcare (Bridgeport)Amy Dobkin, Chesapeake Energy (Wheeling)Karen Eddy, Dominion Hope (Morgantown)Leisha Elliott, Convention & Visitors Bureau of Marion County (Fairmont)Christopher Fazio, CONSOL Energy (Mannington)Hoy Ferguson, Davis Trust Company (Elkins)Sheree Gayman, Charleston Marriott Town Center (Charleston)Seth Hayes, Jackson Kelly PLLC (Morgantown)Greg Hefner, FirstEnergy (Clarksburg)Hannah Hern, Constellium Rolled Products (Ravenswood)Miri Hunter, Suttle & Stalnaker, PLLC (Charleston)Laura Jordan, West Virginia American Water, (Charleston)Joyce Landers, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield WV (Charleston)

Dylan Lewis, Bowles Rice LLP (Morgantown)Thorney Lieberman, Thorney Lieberman Photography (Charleston)Anders Lindberg, Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC ( Huntington)D. Cole Malcolm, Ernst & Young (Charleston)Terry Mathias, Capital Financial Solutions LLC (Charleston)Wendy McCuskey, ABC-West Virginia (Charleston)Kimberly Moyers, First United Bank & Trust (Morgantown)Erica O’Briant, Hatfield-McCoy, CVB Logan Chamber Commerce (Logan)Debra Osborne, AEP (Charleston)Courtney Persinger, Jarrett Construction Services (Charleston)Richard Rogers, Hatch Mott MacDonald (Morgantown)Brad Rowe, General Corporation (Charleston)Roberka Smigielski, Enterprise Rent-A-Car (Scott Depot)Candice Stadler, New River Community and Technical College (Beckley)Christina Sullivan, West Virginia Northern Community College (Wheeling)Jamie Summerlin, PuroClean (Morgantown)Megan Tarbett, West Virginia Library Commission (Charleston)Randall Trickett, WesBanco Bank (Morgantown)Julie Warden, West Virginia Junior College (Charleston)Tammy Whitacre, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center ()Morgantown)Paul White, Commercial Insurance (Charleston)Timothy Whittaker, City National Bank of West Virginia (Cross Lanes)Tommy Young, ZMM Architects & Engineers (Charleston)Angela Zambito Hill, West Liberty University (West Liberty)

Reminder: Applications are due by

November 1st for the 2014 program year.

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individuals interested in pursuing careers in the coal mining industry, and provides retraining services to current employees of coal mining companies. On site, the Academy can simulate thin-seam and thick-seam mining conditions for its students, which compliments its focus of workforce safety and mine rescue strategies. Moreover, the Academy provides its cutting edge equipment and services for hire to local coal mining companies in the event that an actual mine rescue operation is necessary.

Logan’s dedication to arts and culture is reflective of it thriving economy. West Virginia Division of Culture and History Commissioner, Randall Reid-Smith, and First Lady Joanne Tomblin greeted our LWV class at the Museum in the Park at Chief Logan State Park where our group was able to view exhibits illustrating the lives of West Virgin-ians throughout its history. We also visited the Logan Jamboree where the efforts of many Logan residents have brought new life to an early 20th Century theater.

We’re happy to welcome Kate Reed as the Alumni Coordinator for the organization.

Kate is an Elkins West Virginia native. She attended West Vir-ginia Wesleyan College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2004. She left West Virginia in 2005 to pursue a master’s degree from the George Washington University School of Political Management. Kate and her husband lived in Northern Virginia for the next 6 years.

Prior to returning to the state, Reed built a career working in the areas of business development and consulting, public relations, political fundraising, campaign work and event planning. Most recently, she has been working as the Executive Director for the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, where she oversaw new member recruitment, administered daily operations, and promoted the region as a quality business and career destination for economic investment, commercial and retail expansion and job creation. It was with the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce that she was nomi-nated to be part of Leadership West Virginia and is a 2012 graduate.

LWV Heads to Logan - from page 1

Reed is very active in her community and serves on the board of the United Way of Randolph County, Elkins ON TRAC, the First United Methodist Church of Elkins Pastor Parish committee, and is the Founder and Co-Chair of Generation Randolph County. She was also recently appointed to the board of Generation West Virginia.

Reed has been in her new role since April and has been working to-ward increasing alumni engagement throughout the state. Many of you have probably noticed more frequent alumni communication in the past few months. Look for additional changes to the Leadership West Virginia website geared to inform our alumni of opportunities to connect with each other.

Some of Reed’s goals for the future of the position are to: create alumni chapters throughout the state, plan alumni events starting as early as Fall, find and connect alumni with mentor opportunities, create educational opportunities for alumni, and develop additional benefits as part of being a Lifetime Investor. Reed is working closely with Pam Farris, Executive Director and the LWV board of directors to accomplish many of these goals as LWV continues to grow.

Please feel free to contact Kate to share your ideas for increased alumni involvement. Kate can be reached at kreed@leadershipwv. org or (304) 590-1156.

There is a New Face at the LWV Office!

Our class session in Logan created a lasting memory for each par-ticipant. From the campfire chats at Chief Logan Lodge to the panel discussion with mining leaders to the community cookout at Logan County Airport, Logan leaders exemplified an admiration for their community that is uncommon in most places throughout the world. Moreover, this admiration is not just retrospective. On every occasion during LWV’s visit to Logan, residents and leaders made every effort to educate, entertain, and accommodate our class. This genuine hospitality has made Logan a wild and wonderful place to live, visit and conduct business.

On behalf of the LWV Class of 2013, I thank everyone who partici-pated in our visit to Logan.

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Volume 11 | Issue 1 | Summer 2013

LWV Board Retreat Highlights Progress, Program Improvement and Alumni Engagement

LWV Objectives

By John S. Reger II ‘94, Chair, LWV Board of Directors

The LWV Board of Directors gathered at its annual Retreat on January 20 and 21, to evaluate progress and discuss ideas to take LWV to a higher level.

Priority topics included the overall program, class selection, session curriculum, tuition, alumni and financial stability.

Beth Walker ‘99, with WVU Hospitals, led the Retreat as outgoing Board Chair. State Senator Evan Jenkins ‘93, who serves as Executive Director of the West Virginia Medical Association, ably facilitated the two-day discussions.

I am pleased to share these highlights from the 2013 LWV Board Retreat:

• Alumni Recognition - An idea evolved at the Retreat to start annually recognizing a past graduate of LWV. On Friday, October 18, 2013 at a Luncheon to be held at the Waterfront Hotel in Morgantown, the first “Distinguished Alumnus Award” will be bestowed on a graduate. A deserving candidate will be consid-ered for the award with the exception of current Board Members of LWV and The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

• Alumni Relations – The Board continued to focus discussions on the importance of serving alumni. At the 2012 Board retreat a commitment was made to hire a LWV alumni coordinator. I am very pleased to announce that after the 2013 retreat, Kate Reed ‘12 was hired (see article about Kate on Page 6). In support of Kate’s efforts, two committees have been created, Marketing and Alumni Resource.

• LWV Application – The Board felt that revision of the class application was needed. In response, the Selection Committee, through the leadership of Jim Fawcett ‘07 as Committee Chair, has developed a fully automated application process that fits into the framework of the website developed over the last year with the support of Progressity, Inc.

• Tuition Increase – Board discussions regarding LWV finances led to consideration of increasing class tuition. In response, Gary McIntyre ‘09 chaired the Tuition Committee to conduct a thorough tuition analysis. As a result of the Tuition Committee’s report, the Board has elected to raise the LWV tuition by $250 starting in 2014 and will again consider raising tuition in 2015 by $250. An

analysis of other State Leadership Programs indicates LWV tuition to remain a bargain by comparison.

• Program Curriculum Enhancement – A traditional focus of Board discussion is class curriculum. The Board though the Program Committee, with Rob Aliff ‘06 as its Chair, is focused annually on refining the curriculum to keep each session relevant. A recent example of LWV’s commitment to adjusting curriculum to changing times is the 2013 Class visit to Logan County, West Virginia. The class was given the opportunity to become better acquainted with the evolving dynamics in the coal industry and the likely impact of those changes on all West Virginian’s.

I feel the Board Retreat proved most productive in producing an am-bitious work plan for 2013 and beyond. The vision for LWV is strong.

My sincere gratitude is extended to fellow Board Members for con-tributing their time and resources to participate and to our executive director, Pam Farris ‘98, and Cindi Napier ‘07, of The Greenbrier, for their coordination of the overall retreat.

• SeekoutandengagemotivatedWestVirginianstoleadthough service to their communities and the state

• Recruitadiversegroupofemergingleadersrepresentinga broad range of professional skills, personal interests and geographic areas

• Educateparticipantsforlifelongleadershipandengagementthrough a robust program which includes both personal and professional skill development

• Facilitateandsupportmeaningfulandlong-lastingprofes-sional relationships among leaders through our statewide network of alumni

• Engageparticipantsinrichdiscussionsofkeyissuesandchal-lenges facing West Virginia with an eye toward creating solutions

• Builduponourreputationasthepreeminentstatewideleadership development program in West Virginia

During this event we will be recognizing a Leadership West Virginia graduate with the first ever, Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Description: The Distinguished Alumnus Award will recognize a graduate of the program whose continued leadership activities have demonstrated the highest standards of Leadership West Virginia and sets an example for aspiring leaders.

Criteria: Please consider a nominee who conducts themselves within their business, or organization, with high ethical standards, professionalism, and a positive image. This individual should also

for a Leadership West Virginia Alumni event to be held on

October 17 & 18, 2013 in Morgantown, WV.

have an unlimited respect for the state and the ability to create a compelling vision for the future through work or volunteer activities. Additional qualities should also include humanitarianism, and the skill to motivate and inspire the people around them to strive toward greatness.

Nominate one person by August 15, 2013 who you think fulfills these qualities and deserves to be recognized with this award. A nomination form is available on our website at www.leadershipwv.org.

Save Date

Leadership West Virginiac/o Pam Farris, Executive Director1624 Kanawha Blvd., EastCharleston, West Virginia 25311

Address Correction Requested

COMING SOON: LWV 7th Annual Alumni Dinner at the Greenbrier on August 28, 2013 during the West Virginia Chamber’s annual Business Summit. Visit www.leadershipwv.org/alumni-events.php for more information.

Progressity is proud to be a sponsor of this newsletter.www.Progressity.com

This newsletter is produced for participants, graduates, sponsors, and friends of Leadership West Virginia.

Publisher: Pam FarrisWriters include: Joe Bunn, Pam Farris, Kate Reed, and John S. Reger, IIProduction: Progressity, Inc.

Photos for the Logan Session article and the Class of 2013 photo are courtesy of Thorney Lieberman. Visit Thorney’s web site at www.ThorneyLieberman.com.