Fifty-five leaders from across the state have accepted invitations to participate in the 2015 Class of Leadership West Virginia. Candidates were selected from a list of nominations that was submitted in late 2014.

 

Leadership West Virginia (www.leadershipwv.org) is now in its 24th year as the statewide education and leadership development program in West Virginia. The eight-month program identifies emerging leaders from a variety of employers throughout West Virginia and enhances their knowledge not only of the challenges facing the state, but also the state’s unique attributes and diversity. Recognizing that the cultivation of new leadership is of utmost importance to West Virginia’s future prosperity and progress, Leadership West Virginia works to develop and motivate a cross-section of leaders who will use their talents and abilities to inspire others and to foster a new spirit of energy, enthusiasm and vitality throughout the state. LWV is affiliated with the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

 

“Each year, the class participants are selected from a list of top-quality applicants from around the state. Individuals are selected into the program because they demonstrate leadership skills and experiences in civic activities, public affairs and in their professional careers,” said Pam Farris, Executive Director of Leadership West Virginia. “We had a record number of applicants for the 2015 program and are very pleased with the diversity of candidates in this year’s class.” Farris noted that interest in being a class member continues to be a very competitive process as the program now has over 1,200 alumni from across the state.

 

Throughout this year members of the class will travel to eight different communities in West Virginia to receive broad-based education on critical topics and, at the same time, have opportunities to hone their leadership skills. The locations and topics for the training program for the Class of 2015 include:

 

March 26 – 27, Charleston -Welcome to Leadership;

April 16 – 17, Eastern Panhandle – Economic Development/Education Session;

May 14 – 15, Logan – Coal Session; June 18 – 19, New River Gorge – Tourism Session;

July 16 – 17, Morgantown – The Justice System Session;

September 17 – 18, Wheeling – Critical Issues/The Marcellus Shale Session;

October 29 – 30, White Sulphur Springs – Health Care Session;

November 19 – 20, Charleston – Government & Commencement Session.

 

“Leadership West Virginia provides graduates with the skills and the knowledge in making sound, informed decisions,” added Farris. Many of the participants serve as private citizen volunteers, and many seek and serve in public office. Among the many benefits that come with being a graduate of the program is the network alumni throughout the state. “Leadership West Virginia congratulates the individuals who were selected to this year’s class and wish them the best of luck.”

 

Members of the 2015 Class of Leadership West Virginia:

Allen Ammons, Dominion (Morgantown)

Christy Bailey, National Coal Heritage Area Authority (Oak Hill)

Lawrence Bell, Suttle & Stalnaker (Charleston)

Timothy Brady, Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau (Charleston)

William Carter, Acorn Technologies (Charleston)

Maria Castro, Arnett-Foster Toothman (Charleston)

Richard Cavender, Charleston East End Main Street (Charleston)

Steven Condaras, Jackson Kelly PLLC (Charleston)

Robert Dunbar, Old Colony Realtors (Scott Depot)

Charles Ellison, Frontier (Ranson)

Sherri Ferrell, West Virginia Primary Care Association, Inc. (Charleston)

Emily Fisher, Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center (Wheeling)

Marjorie Fulknier, The Dow Chemical Company (South Charleston)

Sam Gallo, MVB Bank (Fairmont)

David Gilpin, Dave Allen Communications (Hurricane)

Amy Goodwin, WV Division of Tourism (South Charleston)

Craig Griffith, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (Charleston)

Mark Hall, Braskem (Kenova)

Kensie Hamilton, Executive Ink, LLC (Charleston)

Rebecca Hardy, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC (Charleston)

Rebecca Harless, Charleston Area Medical Center (Charleston)

Adam Harris, WV Public Broadcasting (Charleston)

CSM Kevin Harry, West Virginia National Guard (Charleston)

Elliott Harvit, Harvit & Schwartz, L.C. (Charleston)

Cynthia Heiskell, Highmark West Virginia (Parkersburg)

Robert Hinton, Upshur County Development Authority (Buckhannon)

MG James Hoyer, West Virginia National Guard (Charleston)

John Hudson, Bowles Rice, LLP (Parkersburg)

Jennie James, West Virginia University Foundation (Morgantown)

Holly Kauffman, FirstEnergy (Fairmont)

Andrea Kerr, City of Bridgeport (Bridgeport)

Dustin Lanning, Charles Ryan Associates (Charleston)

Beth Maley, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Charleston)

Briana Marino, Babst Calland, P.C. (Charleston)

Jeffrey Matheny, Physician's Business Office, Inc. (Parkersburg)

Andy McKenzie, Wells Fargo Advisors (Wheeling)

Carl Nichols, Davis Medical Center (Elkins)

Patrick O'Malley, BB&T (Charleston)

Wesley Page, Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC (Charleston)

Carmen Prati-Miller, AEP/Appalachian Power (Wheeling)

Heidi Prior, ACE Adventure Resort (Oak Hill)

Nathan Randolph, Edward Tucker Architects, Inc. (Huntington)

Joshua Rogers, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP (Morgantown)

Natalie Roper, Generation West Virginia (Lewisburg)

Christopher Ross, Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe, PLLC (Charleston)

Jeffrey Shawver, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (Lewisburg)

Susan Snowden, Martin & Seibert, L.C. (Martinsburg)

Aaron Spurlock, WVMI & Quality Insights (Charleston)

Toney Stroud, BrickStreet Insurance (Charleston)

Michael Teel, Progressity (Charleston)

Nicholas Vance, MedExpress Urgent Care (Morgantown)

Dean Van Horne, West Virginia American Water (Charleston)

Ryan Wheeler, Kanawha Stone Company (Poca)

Carrie White, West Liberty University (West Liberty)

Jessica Wintz, The Education Alliance (Charleston)