West Virginia Executive - Winter 2014

www.wvexecutive.com

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West Virginia’s Leading Lady

HEATHER BRESCH

The Future of

Health Care 2014

A Tribute to Buck Harless FIND INSIDE YOUR

SPECIAL EDITION OF

West Virginia University and Morgantown: A Vital Partnership A shared vision of This spirit of

progress and opportunity unites WVU and Morgantown.

cooperation and teamwork has created one of the best places to live in the nation.

Morgantown was ranked by Business Insider as the #13 Best College Town in America.

As the state’s flagship institution, we are proud to be the

driving force for education, health care,

and economic development for our neighbors in Morgantown and the people of West Virginia.

wvu.edu

Many West Virginians suffer from chronic disease

Many West Virginians are also dedicated to helping Free Services and Information to Prevent and Manage Chronic Disease We are committed to the prevention and management of chronic disease in West Virginia.

Here are some of the ways we can help:

- Access to resources for planning health promotion programs - Sharing expertise and education - On-site training for clinical staff and people in the community - Community chronic disease health assessments - Access to a network of exercise and disease self-management leaders and classes - Tools for addressing asthma, cancer, hypertension, prediabetes, diabetes and obesity for the health care provider and people in the community - Funding for physical activity and nutrition community projects - Technical assistance for efforts to improve health - Sharing state and national resources

Call Today for the Free Services and Information You Need at (304) 356-4193.

West Virginia Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease

Helping Prevent and Manage Chronic Disease

West Virginia’spremierbusiness publication!

Published by Executive Ink, LLC

Best Home Medical stocks a full line of HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT including wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, sleep apnea machines and much more.

ned w O y l l Loca erated & Op

Editor in Chief Kensie Hamilton Creative Director Jennifer Jett Senior Graphic Designer Lisa Affolter Production Assistant Amy Arnett Production Assistant Maggie Matsko

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Vice President of Business Development Mark Lamborn markwvexecutive@aol.com • 304.543.2505

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Photogr aphy Rick Lee Photography, Thorney Lieberman, Dr. David Fogarty, Dr. Tom McClellan, Interplast WV, Tracy Toler, “A Most Fortunate Life,” West Virginia Lottery, Jim Read, Howie McCormick Photography, Carlie Hensley

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West Virginia Executive is published quarterly by Executive Ink, LLC, PO Box 6277, Charleston, West Virginia 25362. All rights reserved. All contents are copyrighted by Executive Ink, LLC; reproduction in whole or part without written permission from Executive Ink, LLC is expressly forbidden and punishable by law.

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Throughout this issue, trademarked names are used. Rather than denoting a trademark symbol in every occurrence of a trademarked name, West Virginia Executive uses the names in an editorial fashion, with no infringement. All trademarked names are still fully protected and anyone who uses them without permission will be prosecuted.

About the Cover Heather Bresch, the CEO of Mylan Inc.

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By now, we’re all aware of the January 9th

chemical spill during which a combination of 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol (MCHM) and polyglycol ethers, known as PPH, were leaked into the Elk River, affecting more than 300,000 West Virginians. Since then, the spill has been a huge topic of conversation in West Virginia and across the country.

There has been a great deal of debate about the impact of the chemical spill, which includes lost wages, temporary business closings and the uncertain long-term health and environmental effects of the chemicals.

Unfortunately, there was one unrelated element that seemed, at times, to receive more national attention than the spill itself: West Virginia’s negative stereotypes.

My frustration with the degrading comments about West Virginians began with some of the reactions of not only the national media but also our fellow Americans. On a good day, to have others insult or mock the State of West Virginia is infuriating to me; to have the same done during a crisis is unacceptable. Probably the most popular example of this was the tweet heard ‘round West Virginia by Detroit Free Press journalist Zlati Meyer.

My job is to be a cheerleader for the Mountain State, and as a life-long resident and proud business owner here, I feel this behavior toward my state has gone on too long. Exacerbating the problem is that we tend to react to insult as we always have by turning the other cheek instead of addressing the mockery. For those of us who are proud of our wild and wonderful state, we must be the positive voice of West Virginia. At West Virginia Executive, that task embodies our main purpose, and perhaps that is why I take it so personally when people like Meyer make a mockery of the place I love.

Don’t get me wrong: I understand the tweet was meant to be funny and that Meyer was not doing anything different than she has on any other day via Twitter. My problem with the situation is that people like Meyer used a devastating accident as a springboard to belittle our state and every citizen within it. That national attention would have served a much more powerful purpose had it focused on the problem itself and not on repeating worn-out jokes.

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Despite the crisis and ensuing negativity, I was proud to see how West Virginians handled themselves after the spill. It was interesting to see their ingenuity, such as catching rain water for personal use and rigging showers out of buckets or watering cans. I was also proud to hear about kind strangers—both in West Virginia and from neighboring states—who went out of their way to offer support.

Here are just a few examples of individuals and organizations I personally heard about that went out of their way to provide some relief: • Past Young Guns Justin Seibert and Chad Remp combined their businesses’ resources to deliver more than 400 gallons of water the day after the spill.

• The Pinch Volunteer Fire Department worked at water distribution centers every day, for 12 hours a day, handing out water.

• St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in St. Albans was open daily to share their clean water and organized hot meals for those who could not cook in their homes.

• Famous Superstars and Green’s Feed and Seed loaned the Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association a 300-gallon horse trough to store donated water for the animals in their care.

• Proud Eagle, the local Budweiser distributor, had specialized canned water brought in, which they distributed to restaurants so that business could resume.

• Carol Workman and her girls basketball team at Logan Middle School delivered 21 cases of water to Winfield Middle School when they played them during the water crisis.

In light of all the negativity, it’s my hope that each West Virginian affected by the spill found themselves the recipient of a stranger’s kindness. As stewards of this great state, it is our responsibility to look out for each other, and in doing so, we can help silence the ugly stereotypes by showing the world the real West Virginia. 

ENERGY CHOICE FOR WEST VIRGINIA. The right choice for your legal counsel is a firm that understands every aspect of energy law and is flexible and responsive to your needs. Our diverse team in West Virginia includes former in-house counsel and attorneys with litigation, environmental, regulatory and legislative backgrounds important to energy clients.

We have more than 25 years of experience in energy and environmental law, and our focus is the Appalachian Region. Make an informed choice about your next legal project. Contact us in Charleston at 681.205.8888.

WEST VIRGINIA

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Energy & Natural Resources

Environmental

Business Services

Construction

Creditors’ Rights & Insolvency

Employment & Labor

Litigation

Real Estate/Title

In Nothing—no person, no state, no in-

dustry—is immune to challenges. While some can be seen down the road, others pop up unexpectedly and throw a wrench into the mix.

Challenges are not necessarily weaknesses, but rather, they represent opportunity. Challenges inspire resolution and enable growth. Challenges force us to be better than we are because we can be better—because we are better.

The U.S. is no exception. One does not have to look hard to see some of our nation’s biggest challenges: a sluggish economy, an education system struggling to produce a knowledgeable work force, a nation of citizens torn between opposing political parties, a health care system in upheaval and an endless debate on how to generate adequate electrical power in an environmentally responsible way. But America has a valuable weapon in its arsenal to overcome even the most daunting challenges: perseverance.

The same can be said for West Virginia.

One source of West Virginia’s strength lies in its history of struggle. Before the Mountain State liberated itself from the control of the Commonwealth of Virginia, citizens felt that they were not being wellrepresented. When push came to shove, our ancestors declared to the rest of the nation that they would not sit back and allow their people to be treated unfairly, and they backed up this declaration with an unexpected show of courage by creating a new state. In the mid-1800s, western Virginians stood on the shoulders of leaders who believed that those they represented deserved a better life, and they fought to make that better life a reality.

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west virginia executive

Letter from the Publishers Today, we elect leaders on city, county, state and national levels to represent our beliefs, our rights, our needs and our culture. We grant to them the burden they seek: to make West Virginia a better place by bringing change and giving hope.

As our legislators embark on a new year, we encourage them to focus on identifying opportunities for new business and new jobs; exploring new industries; addressing our work force challenges and resolving the issues facing our fossil fuel industry in a way that is fair and responsible. The list may be long, but the Mountain State has the tools, resources, ingenuity and spirit to address these issues and give hope to its people for better days ahead.

While our elected leaders are required to be strong and do what’s right for us, we have responsibilities, too. It is our responsibility to provide them with the support to follow through on their mission, and we do this by giving them feedback and voicing our concerns. At West Virginia Executive, we will continue to highlight the state’s challenges in a way that encourages dialogue, with the hope of finding resolutions that will bring economic growth.

In the annual health care issue of West Virginia Executive, we address some of the state’s foremost industry concerns.

“The Predicament of Primary Care” takes a look at the shortage of primary care physicians in West Virginia and how medical schools across the state are trying to remedy this problem. “West Virginia’s Wellness” defines the health disparities that exist in the Mountain State, while “Planning for the Future” encourages West Virginians to examine the cost of longterm care and plan accordingly. Heather

Bresch, CEO of Mylan Inc., provides insight into one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, whose roots are deep within the Mountain State, and native West Virginian Dr. Tom McClellan shares with us how he has used his knowledge and passion to improve health care for others around the world.

This issue includes our annual Executive Event Planner magazine (EEP). Known in the past as Executive Meeting Planner, EEP features a broader range of information for anyone planning a trip to West Virginia. From meetings and conferences to weekend getaways and adventure vacations, EEP shows off the wild and wonderful side of the Mountain State.

This issue also has a different look than usual. At Executive Ink, we believe that change is a necessary part of success. We have switched to a departments-based format for our content, which allows us more room for creativity when it comes to the topics of interest to our readers.

We hope you will join us in supporting our state’s leaders in 2014 by playing an active role in local government and providing valuable feedback to our elected officials. We also encourage you to share your copy of Executive Event Planner with friends and show them why West Virginia is a great place to stay and play. 

Assurance

Tax

Advisory

DHG Healthcare Facts

150+

220+

Healthcare Audit Clients

Healthcare Professionals

30+

Top 20

Dedicated Healthcare Partners

Healthcare Management Consulting Firm

(Modern Healthcare)

With stats like that, and advisors like this

Shouldn’t We be Talking?

Brad Benton Managing Partner, DHG Healthcare

Rick Slater

Managing Partner, West Virginia | Firm Executive Committee Member

Norman Mosrie

Partner in Charge of Healthcare, West Virginia

dhgllp.com/healthcare | Charleston: 800.924.6697 | Morgantown: 877.826.6372

[ in this issue | winter 2014 ]

the

health care issue

West Virginia’s Leading Lady West Virginian Heather Bresch is the CEO of Mylan Inc., the third largest generic and specialty pharmaceutical company in the world, where she is responsible for a global work force of more than 20,000 employees.

36 33

47

FEATURES 31 Cinemavision 33 The ACA in 2015 41 The Cost of Long-Term Care 47 Innovator Tom McClellan 51 The Evolution of Information 55 The Predicament

of Primary Care 59 Around the State

55

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west virginia executive

Leading a Responsible Energy Future ™

Our work goes beyond producing the oil and natural gas America needs to grow and succeed. We’re taking best practices and finding new ways to make them better. We’re dedicated to giving back to our neighbors and making a difference in the communities we call home. This is our commitment to leading a responsible energy future.

[ in this issue | winter 2014 ] leadership 18 Young Guns Reloaded 21 Leadership West Virginia

community 23 2014 Photo Contest

18

25 Young Guns Class of 2014

Awards Reception

Humanity 78 Remembering Buck Harless 80 The West Virginia Lottery

80

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Technology 65 Cloud Computing 69 The 411 of SEO

Economy 75 West Virginia’s Health Disparities

lifestyle 83 In the Chef’s Corner 87 Under the Mediterranean Sun

IN EVERY ISSUE 4

Masthead

6

Editor’s Journal

8

In Ink

14 Contributors 91 Regional Focus

83

96 Ad Finder

75 14

65 west virginia executive

What’s it take to bring water to your tap?

Miles of pipeline constantly renewed.

Testing and treating it. People working day and night to keep it flowing. At about a penny per gallon, water is a real value.

WE CARE ABOUT WATER. IT’S WHAT WE DO. FIND OUT WHY YOU SHOULD, TOO, at www.westvirginiaamwater.com.

“West Virginia American Water” and the star logo are the registered trademarks of American Water Works Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

[ contributors | winter 2014 ]

Lisa Affolter Lisa Affolter is a cum laude graduate from Marshall University who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design in May 2006. In addition to designing magazines, Affolter works on a variety of projects, including print advertising, business proposals and Web sites. She may be reached at (304) 941-0600, ext. 12, or via email at lna@wvexecutive.com.

Amy Arnett Amy Arnett studied public relations at West Virginia University before her position as a production assistant with West Virginia Executive magazine. Born and raised in Philippi, WV, she is a proud West Virginian and takes every opportunity to share her love for the Mountain State. In her spare time, Arnett enjoys community service and traveling, and she rarely turns down an adventure. She may be reached at (304) 941-0600, ext. 10, or by email at aja@wvexecutive.com.

Josh Brown Josh Brown is the communication specialist at the West Virginia Health Information Network (WVHIN). Brown joined WVHIN in April 2013 after working in Medicaid and social services for the State of West Virginia. He earned his master’s degree in communication studies from Marshall University in 2010 and is a graduate student in the Health Informatics Graduate Program at Marshall. Brown resides in Hurricane, WV, with his wife, Amber, and dog, Daisy.

John Deskins John Deskins is the director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at West Virginia University, where he leads the bureau’s efforts to serve the state by providing rigorous economic analysis and macroeconomic forecasting. Deskins holds a Ph.D. in economics from The University of Tennessee. His research has focused on U.S. state economic development, small business economics and government tax and expenditure policy.

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Adam Farnsworth

Venkat Gudivada

Adam Farnsworth is the business development director for Pars Brain and Spine Institute in Parkersburg, WV. He is a 2006 graduate of University of Kentucky, where he received his bachelor’s degree in psychology, and he is a 2008 graduate of West Virginia University, where he earned his master’s degree in science industrial relations. Farnsworth is the assistant basketball coach for his alma mater, Parkersburg Catholic High School.

Pam Farris Pam Farris is the executive director of Leadership West Virginia (LWV), where she is responsible for leading the program, recruiting qualified participants, fundraising and building an alumni network of leaders. Farris earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from West Virginia University and has 22 years of marketing and client relations experience. She is a 1998 graduate of LWV and is a member of the West Virginia Business Volunteer Council’s Steering Committee and the West Virginia Society of Association Executives. She resides in South Charleston with her husband and two sons.

Damian Ferek Damian Ferek is the president of Morgantown, WV-based marketing and design agency Asayo Creative, Inc. and vehicle wrap and decal provider STICK, LLC, Inc., and he is the founder of the West Virginia Oil and Gas Expo. He is a co-host of the Ohio Valley Regional Oil and Gas Expo, serves on the board for the Morgantown Home Show and is a founding member of WeDesignWV, a monthly networking event for design industry members throughout the State of West Virginia.

Ferek is a strong supporter of Multiple Sclerosis research and has planned successful MS fundraising walks in Morgantown, Fairmont and Bridgeport.

Denise Getson Denise Getson is the director of Marketing and Communications for the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, WV. She has a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University. Previous publications include business and education articles, fine arts reviews and a science fiction novel.

Venkat Gudivada is a professor and interim chair of the Weisberg Division of Computer Science at Marshall University. He received his Ph.D. in computer science from the Center for Advanced Computer Studies at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Before joining Marshall University, Gudivada worked for University of Michigan, University of Missouri and Ohio University, and he served as a vice president for Merrill Lynch and Financial Technologies International in New York City.

Eric Hicks Eric Hicks is the owner and founder of Right at Home, a non-medical home health care company serving Kanawha, Putnam, Raleigh, Fayette and Mercer counties. Since 2005, he has grown the organization to a staff of 250 that provides services to 200 customers. Hicks is a 1985 graduate of West Virginia University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, and he has 20 years of experience in health care, specializing in long-term care.

Jennifer Jett Jennifer Jett is the creative director for Executive Ink, LLC, where her roles as a researcher, writer and editor keep her on her toes.

Jett is a graduate of West Virginia State University and a 2012 graduate of Leadership Kanawha Valley. She spends her free time editing manuscripts, boating on Lake Erie and working on her novels. She resides in Solon, Ohio, with her cats, Buddy and Jovie. She may be reached at jlj@wvexecutive.com.

Maggie Matsko Maggie Matsko, a production assistant for West Virginia Executive magazine, is a graduate of West Virginia University (WVU), where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism. A Delaware native, Matsko has freelanced for the Delaware State News and WVU’s newsletter, Signals WV. Matsko is an alum member of Phi Sigma Pi and was a recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Advertising Senior Award for the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism. She may be reached via email at mam@wvexecutive.com.

[ contributors | winter 2014 ]

William McKee, Jr. William McKee, Jr. is a member with Arnett Foster Toothman PLLC and A&F Financial Advisors LLC. As a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner®, he has extensive experience providing services to businesses and individuals. McKee graduated from Concord University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and he has served on boards of charitable, civic, business and professional organizations. He is a member of Concord University’s board of governors, Charleston Rotary Club, Kanawha Valley Business Forum, Kanawha Business Club and the Charleston Estate Planning Council.

Amber Nary Amber Nary is the business development manager at the West Virginia Health Information Network. Her background in state government and health care is broad and diverse; she’s held positions at the West Virginia University Department of Radiology, the West Virginia Health Care Authority and the Missouri Health Connection. Nary is a magna cum laude graduate of West Virginia University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration. She lives in Charleston, WV and enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors.

Candace Nelson Candace Nelson is a senior communications specialist for University Relations-News at West Virginia University (WVU). She graduated summa cum laude from WVU with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and English and a master’s degree in journalism. Previously, Nelson worked as a reporter for the Charleston Daily Mail and has contributed to WV Living, Spotlight West Virginia and Savor! West Virginia. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the Mountain State and blogging about food culture. Nelson is originally from Wellsburg, WV and currently lives in Morgantown with her pet turtle, Franklin.

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Nikki Orcutt Nikki Orcutt has served as the deputy director of Marketing for the West Virginia Lottery since August 2008, where she oversees nearly $200 million in traditional lottery gross revenue with responsibility for leading all marketing and salesrelated activities in West Virginia. Prior to joining the lottery, she was a specialty pharmaceutical representative for Eli Lilly and Company and a public affairs specialist for Dow Chemical Company.

Orcutt graduated magna cum laude from The Ohio State University in 2001 with a double major in journalism and communications and a minor in sociology.

Jim Read Jim Read is a college professor of English at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA, where he teaches writing and literature, specializing in Victorian literature and Shakespeare. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English at Shepherd University and his master’s in English at West Virginia University. Read is the author of “Paris and its Metro” and “Paris and its Cemeteries,” and he is co-author of the travel blog “Cleared and Ready for Takeoff.” He lives near Pismo Beach, CA.

Jane Ruseski Jane Ruseski is the associate director of West Virginia University’s ( W V U ) Bu re a u o f Business and Economic Research and an associate professor of economics at WVU. Before joining WVU, Ruseski was an associate professor of economics for five years at the University of Alberta and an adjunct assistant professor for the School of Public Health for four years. She received her Ph.D. in economics from Johns Hopkins University in 1998, and her research has focused on applying theory and econometrics to topics in health, sports and gambling economics.

Courtney Sisk Courtney Sisk is a public information specialist with the West Virginia Department of Commerce, focusing on the areas of energy and work force. Originally from Beckley, she now resides in Scott Depot with her son, Andrew.

She is a proud graduate of Marshall University.

Doug Tate Doug Tate is the founder and owner of Alpha Technologies, a service disabled veteran-owned technology company located in Hurricane, WV. Tate graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree and received his MBA from the University of Charleston. He prides himself as being a data network engineer as he believes all customers are different in needs and requirements for their network and prefers to help customers design their networks using the best cost solution practices.

Tracy Toler Tracy Toler scaled Seneca Rocks at the age of 5 and has been reaching new heights ever since. Through his business, Tracy A. Toler Photography, he has become a leading pioneer, serving as creative director and feature photographer for many of the region’s largest magazines. Known among his peers as “Mr. McGyver,” he can fix anything with a bobby pin, rubber band or Swiss Army knife. This comes in handy at home with his wife and two children. Toler may be reached by email at tracytoler@yahoo.com.

Meeting the highest standards of care matters to us because it matters to you.

Greenbrier Valley Medical Center is now an Accredited Chest Pain Center. Rigorous evaluation by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care has shown that we consistently deliver care that meets or exceeds the highest national standards of care to patients who come to us with chest pain. We have processes in place that meet strict criteria designed to: • Reduce the time from the onset of chest pain to diagnosis and treatment • Treat patients more quickly during the critical window of time when heart muscle can be preserved If you experience the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, call 911.

GVMC.com Greenbrier Valley Medical Center is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.

[ leadership ]

Young Guns Kathryn “Katy” Brown Since being selected as a member of

the Young Guns Class of 2000, Kathryn “Katy” Brown has gone through quite the professional transformation. When she was selected to be a Young Gun in 2000, Brown was a bright-eyed industry executive at Jackson Kelly PLLC. Now, she is dominating her career in an entirely new way. She has taken on several different jobs, showcasing her talent in multiple fields while always maintaining a focus on her number one priority: motherhood.

Today, Brown works for herself, doing freelance work under the business name The Write Word, LLC. She also believes in investing in the future generation of business leaders, and she teaches on a collegiate level and gives advice to young professionals. Brown is someone who has always taken charge of her career, and she has shared with us some of the secrets and motivations of her success.

WVE: Since being inducted into the Young Guns Class of 2000, you have moved from your job as an executive to a full-time writer. What was it like making the transition from corporate life to being your own boss?

KB: When my oldest daughter was born, I found myself unsure of where I was going or what I was to make of my time or talent as a new mother. During this phase, I also learned that my father’s health was in serious decline. In many ways, my career was just taking off, but it had to come to a halt because my loved ones needed me.

In time, I realized I was doing an important thing by caring for my daughter at the beginning of her life and caring for my father at the end of his. Eventually, I figured out that my purpose was, and still is, to manage the business of family.

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Class of 2000 In May of 2006, my dad passed away.

Once again, I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. I told my husband I needed to restart my brain in some way without going back to a traditional job. I made a couple of calls to former colleagues and associates, and I was shocked that so much writing work existed. After a few assignments and positive reviews, I decided to make things official under the name The Write Word, LLC. Today, I keep a steady amount of writing work from law and accounting firms, advertising agencies and medical practices. I also contribute to a parenting blog, “The Mommyhood,” for the Charleston Daily Mail. When projects thin out, I teach communications and creative writing courses at a local college. All of this happens when my daughters are in school. I am their mother before I am anything else.

WVE: You’ve worn a lot of hats throughout your career. How has each experience shaped you and what have they taught you?

KB: I’ve been an administrative assistant, television host and producer, news reporter, marketing assistant, fundraiser and law firm executive. At this moment,

I’m an entrepreneur, writer and editor, as well as a professor of those subjects. I can add published author to those titles, too, now that I’ve sold a memoir and a children’s book on the national market.

Wearing these hats has taught me to leave the door wide open for opportunity and to say yes more than no. I’ve also discovered that there’s no shame in having a lot of little jobs. A patchwork quilt can keep you as warm as a wool blanket.

WVE: As a business owner, you are highly diversified in your talents. What do you enjoy doing most?

KB: I love blogging for the Charleston Daily Mail, even though my family might not enjoy this reality show in print. People might also be surprised to learn that I’m not paid a dime for my blog posts, which have developed a nice readership. “The Mommyhood” allows me to blend my favorite things—writing and parenting— with a dash of humor. That’s the greatest lesson I’ve learned: laughter is a survival tool of the fittest. 

By Amy Arnett Photography by Rick Lee Photography

Drive.

To get to the top, you need ambition and

(800) 427-4034 • www.smithcars.com

Good Business Sense Employee Eye Care

CEOs and business owners are always looking for ways to save money. Sometimes, spending money can provide a better return than saving. When it comes to employees, eye care is one investment that delivers a solid return.

problems can lead to the employee struggling to see the computer screen, micrometers or details of small print.

This can turn into a safety issue, which can become a legal issue. Why take the risk?”

Dr. Zane Lawhorn of Lindsey Optical recommends that business owners offer eye care to their employees on a private pay basis. “The advantage of private pay over in­ surance is twofold,” Dr. Lawhorn explains. “One, it pro­ vides a fixed cost. While the cost of insurance often varies, especially now with the uncertainties of the Affordable Care Act, a private pay fixed cost benefit can remain the same indefinitely for businesses. Secondly, employers only pay when the service is used. It is a controllable cost because employees who do not take advantage of the benefit lose it. An insurance premium, on the other hand, is an expense to the business whether or not it is used.”

Dr. Lawhorn encourages business owners and manage­ ment to consider offering one lump sum benefit to cover an annual fixed dollar amount that is budgeted for both the eye exam and eye wear. “If businesses were to offer a benefit of around $200 per employee per year, the liabil­ ity risk would be lower, the fixed cost would be simple to budget and the increased productivity would improve.”

The primary benefit to a business for providing eye care is increased productivity. Employees who have vision prob­ lems tend to struggle for months before seeing their eye doctor. As a practicing optometrist for nearly 30 years, Dr. Lawhorn sees this in his practice regularly. “I have ex­ amined several patients who describe their inability to work due to their vision problems. Headaches, blurred vi­ sion and discomfort are common complaints, and these

“Every business is different, and business administrators need to evaluate the benefit of the plan for their individu­ al situation,” says Dr. Lawhorn. “In general, though, the more your employees are asked to use their eyes, the greater the benefit. The cost of not offering this benefit could be not only a higher productivity level lost but also the potential for liability issues.”

Talk to your accountant or legal advisor today to find out how a private pay eye care plan can help you improve your bottom line and your employees’ quality of life. It just makes good business sense.

Dr. Zane Lawhorn Optometric Physician “The One To See” for affordable comprehensive eye care since 1985.

Accepting Medicare, WV Medicaid, VSP, Davis, EyeMed and other insurance plans. Call for more information.

Princeton-Bluefield Area (304) 487-2020

Beckley-Mt. Hope Area (304) 254-2014

[ leadership ]

Cultivating a Culture of Leaders Leadership West Virginia Imagine an experience that enriches your personal life, expands your professional network and exposes you to the best of West Virginia. Picture traveling throughout the Mountain State with 50 colleagues, learning, growing and determining how you can move West Virginia forward.

Since 1991, Leadership West Virginia (LWV) has been that experience for more than 1,100 alumni.

These alumni often refer to their experience as “life changing.”

One goal of LWV is to not only facilitate personal change for participants but to also bring about positive change within the state. The cultivation of new leadership that occurs during this year-long program is of the utmost importance when it comes to West Virginia’s future prosperity and progress.

Traveling to every corner of the state, program participants witness the best the state has to offer, as well as the areas in which change should occur. They engage in rich discussions of key issues and challenges facing West Virginia with an eye toward creating solutions. At each session, recognized authorities—practitioners, industry professionals and analysts—provide information and insight into relevant topics and geographic regions. In essence, the LWV experience expands the participants’ vision while equipping them with the tools necessary to take action.

The best business relationships are built on the foundation of a shared experience. Although the participants have varied backgrounds and possess diverse talents, they all have one common characteristic: an abiding interest in the growth of West Virginia and its businesses. Alumni of LWV have a common bond and are always eager to lend a hand to fellow graduates through business-to-business sales and referrals.

“The contacts and relationships developed, not only with my 2013 classmates but also with other alumni, far outweigh the

costs of the program in both time and money,” says Rick Colebank, president of Alpha Associates and a recent program graduate.

“Through participation in Leadership West Virginia, our design firm has been able to significantly grow its bottom line.”

While it is rare for an experience to have a significant impact on an individual both professionally and personally, LWV alumni overwhelmingly agree that they experienced growth in both areas while participating in the program. Some of the components of personal growth that are addressed during the sessions include responsibility, learning, attitude and confidence. This individual growth creates momentum that quickly spreads to those in the individual’s sphere of influence, generating a far-reaching, long-term impact. “Leadership West Virginia improved both my professional and personal life. It helped me develop goals and leadership skills to move forward in a positive fashion,” says Emily Fisher, president of Grow Wings Consulting, LLC. When asked about their LWV experience, alumni collectively agreed that building and enhancing relationships is a result of the program. Participants have an opportunity to network with their classmates, alumni and presenters and are encouraged to continue the process long after the eight-month program ends. “The people you connect with are among the highest quality you will ever meet,” says Brian Allman, a member of the 2008 class. “I consider it to be one of the greatest honors to be a member of the organization.”

LWV graduates complete the program with their eyes opened to what is possible in West Virginia. The energy and vitality that is harnessed by this program create an environment in which growth is encouraged, change is made possible and the path to West Virginia’s prosperity is paved. 

By Pam Farris • Photography by Thorney Lieberman

www.wvexecutive.com

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Caring for You in Nature’s Playground

Pocahontas Memorial Hospital strives each and every day to make a real difference in the rural community it serves. Whether a resident of the county or one of the million visitors passing through each year, you can take comfort in the fact that Pocahontas Memorial Hospital is here to help if you need us. Your health and well-being are our top priorities.

We are truly “caring for you in nature’s playground.”

Excellence in Community-Based Health Care • 24-Hour Emergency Care and Ambulance Service

• Medical Clinical Lab With Same-Day Test Results

• Level IV Trauma Center

• 24-Hour Respiratory Services

• 7 day-a-week Rural Health Clinic for Family Health Care Needs – call for appointment

• Skilled Rehabilitation (Or “Swing Bed”) Services

• CT Scans, Diagnostic X-rays and Ultrasounds

• Acute and Respite Care

Visit our Web site at www.pmhwv.org for department information, our events calendar and our most recent job postings.

US 219, South of Marlinton, at 150 Duncan Road (304) 799-7400 • www.pmhwv.org

Located on US Route 219—12 miles north of Watoga State Park and 31 miles south of Snowshoe Mountain Resort GPS coordinates: 38.120321N, 80.063207W

[ community ]

Photo Contest Winner Category: Portraits If there’s one thing that remains a constant truth about West

Virginia, it’s that it is full of unique and unwavering beauty.

We are sharing in a piece of paradise as we live and work in the Mountain State. At West Virginia Executive, we love seeing and sharing the scenery and people of the state, which is why we decided to hold a year-long photo contest in four categories: portraits, wildlife, architecture and scenery. We will have one winner from each category and a grand prize winner, all decided by your votes. For more information on how to submit photos for the contest or how to vote, visit www.wvexecutive. com/west-virginia-photo-contest.

Featured here is photographer Howie McCormick, who won the portrait category via online voting for his entry, “Girl in the Fall.”

A native of Boone County, WV, Howie McCormick began his career as a photojournalist. It was his work in a variety of environments and fast-paced situations that forced him to adapt to a range of lighting scenarios on the fly and use what resources were available, shaping his style into what it is today.

McCormick and his wife, Erica, have been working together since 2009 and operate Howie McCormick Photography out of their studio in Gassaway, WV. McCormick attended Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio and Ohio University Southern in Ironton, studying various forms of visual media from 3-D animation, print and Web design to drawing and photography. Since then, he has had work published in several national publications, including Time, Sports Illustrated and SLAM magazines.

Howie McCormick Photography 527 Elk Street Gassaway, WV 26624 (304) 364-6000 www.howiemccormick.com

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Excellence. Dedication. Advanced Care Highly advanced neurosurgical care located right here in the Mid-Ohio Valley When you are suffering from pain the last thing you should worry about is traveling long distances to receive specialized care. Fortunately, for residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley, surgeons at the Pars Brain and Spine Institute provide modern treatments for complex brain and spine conditions typically only offered in major metropolitan areas so you can stay right here, close to home for the care you deserve.

Our team of board-certified neurosurgeons utilize the latest diagnostic and surgical technology including minimally invasive and microsurgical techniques to serve as a leader in providing quality, comprehensive neurological care.

P A R S BRAIN & SPINE INSTITUTE

Rammy Gold, M.D. Abdi Ghodsi, M.D. Houman Khosrovi, M.D. Charles Levy, M.D.

Pars Brain and Spine Institute

Parkersburg, WV

www.parsbsi.com

[ community ]

Photography by Tracy Toler

By Maggie Matsko

In November, West Virginia Executive

returned to the West Virginia Governor’s Mansion once more to welcome its 15th class of Young Guns. The reception, which honored the 12 members of the 2014 class, would not have been possible without our sponsors: Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Smith Company Motor Cars.

Dennis Noonan, who provided the opening remarks, traveled from Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, PA, to attend the reception. He was accompanied by Jake Hatch, who expressed his excitement for the new Young Guns class and the opportunity for the resort to play a part in the reception.

“Nemacolin is proud to have been a sponsor at this year’s Young Guns event. It is great to have friends like the staff at West Virginia Executive to provide us with the opportunity to be more visible and support the growth in wild and wonderful West Virginia.”

Rick Slater, managing partner at Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, presented the awards to the new Young Guns. As a previous Young Gun himself, Slater expressed the importance of the program and the people it represents. “It’s about being an ambassador for West Virginia and an advocate for all of the brilliant young minds coming through our state.

I believe that special talent deserves special recognition.”

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This year, the Young Guns were photographed on location at Smith Company Motor Cars in Charleston, WV, where photographer Tracy Toler was able to capture the 2014 class with some of the world’s top luxury car brands used as backdrops. Jedd Smith, CEO of Smith Company Motor Cars, shared his enthusiasm for this year’s class and the things our Young Guns are doing to improve the Mountain State. “As a proud sponsor of the Young Guns Class of 2014, it’s our privilege to connect with the best and brightest of today’s—and tomorrow’s— leaders in West Virginia. It was an honor to host the new members at Smith Company Motor Cars. Their collective ambition inspires us all as we drive toward a brighter future for our state.”

Young Gun nominations are accepted throughout the year via the nomination form online, and a new class is chosen every September. Nominees must be 43 years of age or younger and must live and work in West Virginia. They must also have been with the same company for at least two years and have community service outside of their jobs.

For more information, visit the nomination form at www.wvexecutive.com. 

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west virginia executive

David & Margaret Wallace gathered with their daughter and grandchildren for a summer picnic at The Wallace Center at HospiceCare.

HospiceCare is honored to announce the dream of David & Margaret Wallace with the opening of The Wallace Grief Support & Education Center. David and Margaret’s vision and leadership to bring their dream to reality demonstrates their deep love and devotion to family and community, reinforcing the value of each in all of our lives.

The new addition allows HospiceCare to enhance community outreach and programming throughout our 16-county service area with expanded support groups and individual counseling for area schools, churches, businesses, civic groups and the general public.

The Wallace Center at HospiceCare is a place where grieving people can freely express themselves in a safe and supportive environment as they proceed in their journey of healing.

With the generous support of The Wallace Family, this new facility touches the lives of so many people in our community who are seeking understanding and support after the loss of a loved one. From the death of a spouse or parent to the ongoing suffering of a terminally-ill infant or child, HospiceCare is dedicated to helping families and friends cope, grieve and carry on with peace and comfort.

For more information about what the The Wallace Center has to offer, please call us at (304) 768-8523 or (800) 560-8523, or stop by our Main Office at 1606 Kanahwa Blvd. W, Charleston WV, 25387.

“OUR PREMIUMS HAVE DECREASED EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.” – Mark Feldmeier / President of Paul Wissmach Glass Company

IMPACT – Through our premier team structure, services and technology, we focus on keeping your employees safe by fundamentally improving your business culture. We work with your team to eliminate injuries and mitigate risk to positively impact your bottom line.

brickstreet.com / 866.452.7425

www.wvexecutive.com

THE ACA IN 2015

Planning for the Future The Evolution of Information

Discover the top 5 reasons to visit Woodridge Golf Club!

#1. Beautiful 18-Hole Golf Course This Links-style golf course is a par 71 with 6,830 yards from the championship tees. Frequently used for outings and tournaments, this venue has a 2-tier driving range, beautiful white sand traps, a pro shop, and a snack bar. #2. Wonderful Banquet Facilities for Your Next Business Meeting, Wedding, Reception or Event Comfortable seating is available for groups up to 300. The facility includes a full-service kitchen, catering and delicious menu options. #3. Separate Meeting Space with Scenic Views for Corporate Functions, Retreats and Luncheons Our meeting space is available 7 days a week for your convenience. Amenities include audio and visual equipment.

301 Woodridge Drive Mineral Wells, WV 26150 304.489.1800 woodridgegolfclub@hotmail.com www.woodridgegolfclub.com

#4. Convenient Lodging More than 500 hotel rooms are located within 1 mile of Woodridge Golf Club. #5. Easy Access to the Interstate and Retail Shopping Woodridge is located 1 mile off of Exit 170 on Interstate 77, just minutes from Parkersburg, WV.

Advances in Patient Comfort Cinemavision Eases Patient Discomfort and Improves Results During MRIs

Advances in medicine, particularly those of a technological nature, have taken place at an astounding rate over the last few decades. What once would have been impossible to diagnosis with certainty can today be not only clearly diagnosed but also treated efficiently, improving quality of life and lengthening life spans for people all over the country.

One such advance is magnetic resonance imagining, or the MRI. An MRI machine uses a magnet to detect internal problems like bleeding, infection, injuries and tumors in the head, chest, stomach, spine, blood vessels, bones and joints.

The scan can offer more in-depth information than an X-ray, ultrasound or CT scan. While the MRI is a powerful diagnostic tool, the test can also be extremely noisy and create anxiety for some patients.

“MRIs are known for being uncomfortable tests,” says Dr. Scott Meyers, neuroradiologist for the Pars Brain and Spine Institute in Parkersburg, WV. “Patients are placed in the MRI machine where the magnet is housed, and they must lie very still anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours while technicians capture the necessary images. Some patients who suffer from claustrophobia are very uncomfortable in the small space. Others, including children, struggle with remaining still for that long of a period, which can have an impact on the scan’s results.”

Past solutions to this problem have included using either general anesthesia or conscious sedation for the patient, which can pose additional risks to the patients when combined with their existing health problems.

While more than 10,000 MRI machines exist in the United States, only about 300 hospitals and physician offices across the country, like Pars Brain and Spine Institute, are utilizing Cinemavision goggles and headphones. These features are used to make the MRI experience more comfortable for both adults and children while improving the quality of the captured image and reducing the need for sedation.

Through the Cinemavision goggles, patients are able to watch their favorite movie or television show or listen to their MP3 player, a CD or an Internet radio station.

The goggles produce a video image that takes up the patients’ full peripheral vision so they cannot see anything but the movie or television show they are watching.

“Cinemavision has been a great addition for Pars,” says Meyers. “When patients can take their mind off the pain they are suffering with something entertaining or soothing, they are not moving as much and experience less anxiety or claustrophobia.

Between the ability to help the patient and limit the patient’s motion, we obtain great MRI scans. It makes the experience more comfortable as well as efficient.”

Cinemavision also provides the patient with audio and video feeds that allow for two-way communication between the patient and the technician, which is beneficial to the technician. “This feed plays a very important role in my being able to communicate with my patients during their scans,” says Michelle Nunn, an MRI technician and manager at Pars Imaging Center. “Before Cinemavision, it was a struggle to keep the patient perfectly still and relaxed one minute and

clearly communicate to them the adjustments I needed them to make for the scan the next minute. The overall improvement I’ve seen in MRI scans since Pars began using Cinemavision has been ten-fold.”

“Before, when I had an MRI done, I was terrified,” says Jeremy McDonald, a patient at Pars. “The space was too closed in, and the noises were unnerving. You’re lying there, anxious to get out, and the tech keeps telling you that you have to lie still. I brought a movie to watch, and the next thing I knew, the test was done.

More physician offices should definitely use this.”

“We implemented this technology in January 2013,” says Dr. Rammy Gold, president and neurosurgeon at Pars.

“Patient feedback in the first year of operation has been extremely positive. Each year, more than 1,300 patients come to Pars for an MRI. While providing comprehensive, high-quality care is our goal, we also want to enhance the patient experience in any way possible. It’s very gratifying to offer Cinemavision to help ensure comfort and eliminate fears for our patients.” 

By Adam Farnsworth

www.wvexecutive.com

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We Love to See Your Smile!

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TEAYS VALLEY 102 Poplar Fork Road Scott Depot, WV 25560 Office: 304.757.7441

Back to the Future The ACA in 2015

By William McKee, Jr.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA)

was passed in 2010 with the purpose of ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable health care. The original deadline for individuals to sign up for health insurance under the ACA was December 15, 2013, with coverage effective January 1, 2014. Recently, due to challenges with the ACA Web site’s functionality, the deadline for individual enrollment has been extended to March 15, 2014, with coverage effective April 1, 2014, after which individuals are subject to a monthly penalty.

In addition, the ACA’s penalty requirements for employers have been extended to January 1, 2015. As a result, many employers are holding off on making decisions with regard to insurance coverage in order to thoroughly evaluate their company’s situation in relation to the new health care law. Many organizations do not realize that although the employer coverage requirements do not begin until 2015, actual payroll practices from 2013 and 2014 can affect the employees who will receive insurance coverage.

It’s important for employers to consider the impact the ACA may have on their businesses and what their plan of action will be. To help employers do so, this editorial takes a hypothetical look ahead at the year 2015 and the impact the ACA would have on Jolie Dog Biscuit Company (JDBC), a fictional company that falls into the large employer category under the ACA. The memo that follows was distributed by the company’s human resources manager to the company’s owners, providing an update on what has been done to ensure the company’s health insurance plan is in compliance by January 1, 2015.

Editor’s Note: Do not make decisions based solely on the information provided in this article without further investigation. Frequent changes to the ACA are occurring and will continue to occur in this area.

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anager urces M o s m e u R d n n a a any Memor th, Hum it Comp nne Smi g Biscu o D l-time From: A e e i l n 50 ful ory, n Updat rs, Jo a o e h i n t 5 t w 1 a O s 0 t s 2 n : e e l To teg 14, lem f having oyer ca Act Imp ebruary A test o the large empl Date: F C le Care A b s, offer a e e d i h r t t o l ff a : A into t pass e pen l o l l n b a i f d t Subject i c eases. e d u w d JDBC that st incr nonde , o d d c d e e i s n s o s i ’ v u m C a c r B s JD to within dete ously di control the ACA ould be he test w d f T n o s a . l s s s a As previ t e e o n e e g eme loy loy our ent emp ain emp o key el ecided ues. equival p us ret entation of tw t, we d ost iss l l c e u h s e e o c r t n a m e a r e g u l a s s p r n a m e i e i th and ce cov te on th d company heal insuran e an upda n a s health i s i g effectiv s n y i low verage e anal o g d c a o r The fol i e e r v c e o n c h p sura mployee 12-mont ered in e d ff h o o T i r e JDBC: e . e b e p his ould nalyz p a for t yees sh od to a u nalysis t o i o A a l r r d p e g e m p g f e r a o u l r which s on o ation torica e Cove e u e s e e l n i y y a h i o o v m l l E r a p p e m m t E e 4. se r to de to choo 15, 201 umber of In orde 141 we had ed the n October , n 5 i o 1 m t 0 r 2 e 3 t 1 1, ch de iod: 6, 20 i r 1 h e w p 22) r ( , l e January n a b o c o ormati istori as Oct f h w n i e : n h 5 g e t 1 n s 0 i o (12) ch ring 1, 2 llow JDBC du anuary d the fo J

e y : d b f k i o e v s e o e s

107 w r g a : p cy s a mmer id wa ce poli 30 hour very su yees pa e n o a l d h p 24) e t m ( r e insuran i s h f e: d les umber o ployees coverag average r 83 o e h ff : • The n he seasonal em w o 5 1 s t , 20 C mus t ployee nuary 1 a hom JDB ing J time em w v • Minus a

f t o h : o r t e a g g s p e the overa icy a peopl cludin c l s n o u f i f p n o o i , e M r s t c e

n u o n • umb ng n a ed o sura reaso s the n remaini who opt BC’s in arious D d v s J n e a ce r e n o y o r f o • Equal e l s g Insuran youn verage ployee the emp Health age or a to i ance co r of em f n r e o m i u b • M i n u s r g s m o s r n u f r i i n the est V t of t-out 26 yea W u s p o l o e g a h n d u t l i e q a e t E h u b l p o • ann m a so hroug icy; ployees out for ned the erage t g e’s pol v t i s o p s u c o o is e p Some em r e g s e h a a . T t JDBC cheap cover e under to them eiving and tha out of c d s e e d e r r e i e t r t coverag ff p o l o o y s ho pena s polic rage wa loyee w ect to parent’ loyees at cove be subj ach emp h E t y a . f m e o c o s . our emp a r t s l p n e f p e i o t s d t e n n l k w i e a r e a Ma pen a f ve any int r dep g those t recei JDBC ma n 2014, nd thei n o i a i n y e s a l g e p l a e r i y r e w ensure e plo g o cov that em rage. W culatin dicaid ng states for cal BC cove n of Me D o e J i l s oncerni b n f i a o s p n x po , 2014 c ees and d out a’s e 1 e i t n r p i e not res o g b r o d i t n a oy y Oc est V to empl edicaid oyees b so Since W , costs d for M ployees. ur empl will al s e o l fi s i o i i a t l h t T a e n u d o . m i e e e t c g a a a e c l r s i p have q e e n t th ke cov ommu es for the mar ovided uired c the penalti through hich pr the req w e d c , e n n h a ject to a s r l i u not sub ance p re ins r We furn i e u u r s q a n c i a e can . s, w pany’s overage mployee ow they ired the com y for c alent e about h f v i he requ i n l t u o a i q . f u t e s o q a e e r t o m i n h i h e w t c w r s inform l e o n pe ple.

95 pe loyee 0 ful ided to of five age to y for emp than 20 r a e s s w v e s e e as o l e e be prov c u l l r it ther ave a urance e have lment h e s w l v n o e a i e r w e c n l r n e o e i S s to 7, s ercent st off rance rcent i the 5 p r is 10 t we mu e ic insu e a p e t b h s a m t 5 u m u o n s s o t e i t u t a an ired e th law sta ng a pl y to us ur requ r The ACA designi dent wa yees. O u n o r a l Decembe p h p t m a e r of through rathe e isors, e v c p c d n u n a i a number s p r r i u u , l week s a s ir ins g to o i e a n h i t e 0 d r 3 r p e o e e h n c e v Ac tha n k abo . ase t 2015 ca s shown to less on in c i r i s o s h y f r s e l u u a n o c n a h a l a t.

015 cal nsuranc ce p up fron their 2 histori insuran ealth i h e s r d h e u C e t c o B p u D p y n d J leeway o b o e r y d the ned ny r loyees out of determi e compan for not e compa h s h g t a t n The emp w i : t f e 5 p i s 1 o a 0 2 y re es 5, even ees for employe this dec ividual penalt 31, 201 ber of r employ d ons for m o n s f u i a n e y e r t e h i h t n l t i d a eligibi ase in 2015 an ly two m a decre e probab f coverage for 014. r a e We saw r e h o 2 2015. T l cost 5 from into plan for ees’ individua doubled in 201 y will go o e l t g p s a m o r e c e v e e o th rag ce c ce cove insuran n insuran ues having s h s t I l has bee a t e s h mployee loyee e ance Co p r m e u e h s t n s I ’ DBC e on Health es to J coverag Company g chang st for n o i c w o e l c l n : sura The fo 1, 2015 thly in anuary e’s mon e y o l p m effect J e covered • Each

reduced to $100 pe r month. This $100 per month will be only for coverage paid by the employ on the employee. ee and is • If an employee wa nts insurance covera ge on his or her dependen the entire monthly ts, the employee wi cost for this cove rage. ll pay According to the AC A, effective in 2015 , large employers ar up to 9.5 percent e allowed to charge of the employee’s an employee gross pay for sing penalty. We have ca le coverage withou lculated the afforda t incurring a ble cost required company, which is by the ACA as it ap $100 per month. Mu plies to the ltiplied by 12 fo employee’s total in r the 12 months in surance coverage co a year, the st for one year is $13,000 in annual $1,200. If an empl wages from JDBC, th oyee makes en 9.5 percent times not have any employ $13,000 equals $1,2 ees required to be 35. We do covered by our heal $13,000 annually, th insurance plan th which means we will at make below pass this test and The ACA also states not receive any pe that, effective in 20 nalties.

15, large employers the cost for depend are not required to ent coverage, but the pay any of company is required entire monthly cost to offer it. JDBC wil for any dependent cov l cha era rge the ge Through 2014, our to the employee and not receive any pen employees paid $3 alties.

00 a month for th cost, and employee eir single insura s paid only part of nce coverage their dependent co they will pay less verage cost. Beginn for single coverage ing in 2015, and more for family added an option th coverage, but the at will result in company has ta x sa vings to the employ increases for insu rance coverage. ee and offset employ ee cost We are also setting up a premium only pl an, which is a taxallows employees to qualified “cafeteria pay their monthly plan” that cost share of insu coverage cost with rance for single an pretax dollars. Al d dependent l em pl in this plan effecti oyees with JDBC he alth insurance are ve for 2015. enrolled We estimate that al l of the changes ma de to JDBC’s health company 9 percent insurance plan will more in 2015 for it cost the s share of the heal the cost in 2014. th insurance costs compared to Future changes are expected in many he alth care cost and to meet one of the reporting areas. We primary goals in ou will work r business plan, wh operating surprise ich is to avoid fin s to the company. ancial and 

www.wvexecutive.com

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West Virginia’s Lady Leading A Q&A with Heather Bresch

“West Virginia is known for its quality work force, which is a tremendous asset for a company such as Mylan.

West Virginia’s success is important to me personally, having grown up here, and professionally, as Morgantown is home to our largest U.S. employee base.”

A mural portraying Mylan’s leaders over the course of the company’s history.

By Jennifer Jett

She was the first female CEO in

the pharmaceutical industry and is currently one of only 23 female CEOs to lead Fortune 500 companies. Esquire named her one of its “Patriots of the Year” in 2011, and Fortune has ranked her among the country’s 50 most powerful women, coming in at number 37.

West Virginian Heather Bresch is the CEO of Mylan Inc., the third largest generic and specialty pharmaceutical company in the world, where she is responsible for a global work force of more than 20,000 employees.

With a shortage of women CEOs as examples of how to compete for and succeed in high-level executive positions, Bresch set out to blaze her own path to the top. By combining her core values of ambition, drive, compassion and generosity with hard work, she has created a unique leadership style that made her the ideal candidate for the CEO position at Mylan in 2012.

Bresch took some time to discuss with us her climb through the ranks of Mylan and provide insight into the pharmaceutical industry. Here, she discusses West Virginia’s business climate, advances in technology, the impact the Affordable Care Act will have on the pharmaceutical industry and her plans for the company’s future, which include doubling Mylan’s business through 2018.

WVE: As a native West Virginian and the CEO of Mylan Inc., tell us about the journey that has brought you to where you are today.

HB: My journey began at Mylan more than 20 years ago when I started as a data entry clerk. Over the course of the last two decades, I worked my way through roles in about 15 different functional areas, touching most aspects of our business. I think the holistic, diverse picture of our company I built from this experience has been instrumental to my success.

Along this journey, there were a few opportunities that were particularly important catalysts in my career. The first was serving as head of Government Affairs. This role, combined with my family’s background in politics and public service as I was growing up, led me to embrace public policy as a key factor in our business, as well as an area where we can make a real difference in people’s lives—this is truly an area where Mylan can do good and do well.

Another impactful role in my career was serving as Mylan’s chief operating officer and chief integration officer. In this role, I led the successful integration of two international acquisitions—Matrix Laboratories and Merck KGaA’s generics business, which more than doubled the size of the company and transformed Mylan from a purely U.S. company to a global one.

This process allowed me to not only understand our company inside and out but to vertically and horizontally integrate Mylan in order to maximize our opportunities and the potential of our global platform.

WVE: How would you describe your model for success in running a large company?

HB: As a successful, 50-year-old company, it can be easy to rest on your laurels and keep doing things the same way. However, part of Mylan’s success in the past and what will drive our success going forward is a willingness to continually transform and challenge the status quo. I challenge everyone to look at their jobs with the mindset of “Is this the best way to be doing it?” And, if it isn’t, to put forth ideas of what would work better.

A key to our continuous transformation has been preserving and cultivating our unique culture. Mylan’s success has been the result of the commitment and passion of our employees, as well as our company’s unconventional and relentless approach. We have managed to maintain Mylan’s culture while growing from a few dozen employees to a work force of more than 20,000 people around the world today, and our challenge is to continue to preserve this culture as we double the size of our business through 2018.

WVE: As the CEO of a large company with strong roots in West Virginia, what is your perspective on the Mountain State’s business climate?

HB: West Virginia is known for its quality work force, which is a tremendous asset for a company such as Mylan. West Virginia’s success is important to me personally, having grown up here, and professionally, as Morgantown is home to our largest U.S. employee base.

Given the ongoing challenges in West Virginia that impact both the reality and the perception of the state’s business climate, such as the legal and tax environments, we are active in our efforts to ensure that West Virginia continues to evolve its business practices. Our efforts within the state are part of our overall efforts on a state and federal level to advocate for what is right, both for Mylan and for the patients we serve.

WVE: Tell us about some of the most important industry trends you are seeing in both the health care and pharmaceuticals industries.

HB: There are a number of macro trends shaping our industry, such as an aging population, a greater incidence of chronic disease, an emerging middle class in countries like India and China that is seeking

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Fast Facts

1961

20,000 11

Mylan has a global work force of more than 20,000 people.

One out of every 11 prescriptions in the U.S. is filled with a Mylan product.

140

2,600

Mylan Inc. was founded in 1961 in White Sulphur Springs, WV.

Mylan provides products in 140 countries and territories.

7

Mylan has seven technology-focused development sites.

1,218/2,167 40

greater access to health care and a greater availability of information, which allows greater consumer involvement. In addition, I see continued spiraling of health care costs putting significant pressures on many economies, particularly those with government-funded health care, which is forcing them to seek ways to lower costs and improve outcomes.

The health care industry is in the process of being redefined and, in fact, must be reinvented in order to meet today’s challenges and the rapidly changing policy environment. Since its inception, our health care system has focused on taking care of the sick rather than preventing illness. As a result, our nation’s health care spending, as a percent of the gross domestic product, is the highest in the world, yet our outcomes in terms of life expectancy are among the lowest. We rank 27th out of 33 countries in the developed world. I believe Mylan has a unique opportunity to lead the way in redefining this industry by driving access to affordable, high quality medicine for all and by engaging the consumer in their health care decision making.

WVE: Technology is continually changing, and those changes have an impact on every industry. Which technological advances do you see revolutionizing the pharmaceuticals industry?

HB: I believe mobile technology will transform how health care is delivered. By 2018, 5 billion people will have access to the Internet via their phones. The possibilities that this, and other

west virginia executive

As of July 2013, Mylan had 1,218 products in the pipeline globally and 2,167 submissions globally pending approval.

In the developing world, 40 percent of HIV/AIDS patients receiving treatment use Mylan products.

54,000,000,000

40

Mylan employs 2,600 scientists and regulatory workers.

Mylan has a 54 billion-dose manufacturing capacity.

technologies, creates in terms of access to medical information and treatment are boundless. We are looking at several ways to use technology to enhance engagement with our customers and consumers, improve access to information and achieve our mission of reaching 7 billion people. Personally, I am excited by the increased prevalence and affordability of teleconferencing capabilities that are allowing the acceleration of e-medicine.

WVE: What does the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mean for the future of pharmaceuticals?

HB: As a pharmaceutical company, the ACA should, theoretically, result in more insured lives seeking access to medicine, which would benefit us. Generic medicines, which represent the lion’s share of our business, are one of the prime sources of health care savings for consumers or payors, including insurance companies and government entities. For instance, over the last decade, generics have saved the U.S. government, payors and consumers more than $1 trillion. Regardless of the final impact of reform, we see the generic utilization continuing to increase and generics playing a vital role in the sustainability of our health care system.

WVE: As a major employer, how will the ACA affect Mylan?

HB: The ACA is impacting us both as a pharmaceutical company and as a large U.S. employer. As a large U.S. employer, Mylan must consider the ACA’s impact on the health care benefits we offer our employees and think long-term about how

we must adapt to these changing dynamics. It is important to note that Mylan offers one of the most generous and affordable employer health benefits packages in the U.S. For more than 50 years, we have bucked the trend of passing health care costs along to our employees and instead absorbed the majority of our employees’ health care-related expenses.

However, health care costs are skyrocketing, and the ACA is mandating that employers with generous benefits packages such as ours pay additional federal taxes. All of these factors create significant cost burdens for companies like Mylan that provide excellent benefits. This is forcing businesses, including our own, to assess the sustainability of their health care offerings.

To preserve the exceptional benefits we have at Mylan, we are asking employees to serve as change agents with regard to adopting a preventive approach to health care. As a leading health care company, we want our people to be on the forefront of the evolution of our health care system and serve as an example of how taking an active role in their health can make a difference.

WVE: What do you see as potential growth areas for the health care industry both regionally and for Mylan specifically?

HB: Mylan’s differentiated operating platform, combined with our innovative commercial model, positions us to transform and innovate how we deliver medicine and health care.

We are evolving from a pharmaceutical company to a health care company through a greater focus on differentiated products and services.

WVE: After 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, tell us what the best thing about your job is and what your biggest challenge is.

HB: The best thing about it is making a difference in people’s lives. Whether producing an orphan drug, which is used to treat an extremely rare medical condition; making a medicine affordable or innovating to make a medicine easier to take, we make a difference. While our mission is to get highquality medicine to 7 billion people, we must always keep in mind how we impact the lives of each individual patient. Their stories are our inspiration.

The biggest challenge in our industry is staying ahead. Health care evolves at an extremely fast pace—virtually daily—and you can’t succeed by just keeping up. You have to stay ahead.

WVE: What advice would you give other women who are trying to work their way to the top of their industry?

HB: I’d like to believe that achieving a leadership position is all about competency, capability and ambition, so I try not to distinguish between the sexes when it comes to giving career advice. Having said that, there is a lot of discussion about what keeps women from entering the executive ranks. We have seen an increasing number of women succeed and reach the highest levels in functional roles, such as legal, marketing and human resources, but there continues to be fewer women in key business and operational roles where there is responsibility for profit and loss and the financial success of the business. These are the roles that often lead to becoming a CEO. I think the obstacles for women in taking on these kinds of business roles start at a very early age and, ultimately, create a funnel that leads to a smaller talent pool of women for top business leadership positions. For instance, there is simply not enough focus on math and science for girls and building up

The lobby of Mylan’s new corporate headquarters.

girls’ confidence to excel in these areas. As a result, they begin to opt out of business and science curriculums in high school and college. Then, the funnel becomes narrower, as there are fewer women pursuing careers in those fields, resulting in a smaller pool of available talent for business and operational roles. Both society and women themselves play a role in creating this phenomenon. I hope that seeing me and other women in leadership roles, particularly in CEO positions, demonstrates to young women what is possible and expands their view of what their career options are.

WVE: What keeps you motivated?

HB: I am motivated every day by our mission of setting new standards in health care and providing high quality medicine to the world’s 7 billion people, as well as by the fact that we have the global platform necessary to actually achieve this goal.

For us, this is much more than just words on a sheet of paper; it is something we live by. I am also motivated by our continued transformation and belief that we can continue to transform this industry. Finally, I have always been motivated by being underestimated, something that dates back to my childhood. When people—whether it’s investors, analysts, media or competitors—underestimate Mylan and our ability to achieve our goals, it makes me all the more resolved to deliver on or exceed them.  Photography by Tracy Toler

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Planning for theTheFuture Cost of Long-Term Care When it comes to health care for the elderly, being able to obtain treatment and afford the cost is a growing struggle.

By Eric Hicks

It is no secret that West Virginia has a

rapidly aging population. According to the Partnership for Elderly Living’s 2012 report, “The State of Older Adults in West Virginia: Economic Security and the Over 65 Population,” the Mountain State is the second most elderly state in the U.S., and its percentage of the 65-plus population continues to climb at a rapid rate.

A large portion of those in the state’s elderly demographic struggle with illness, disabilities and financial stability. For many, social security is their only source of income, and they rely on support services like food stamps, Medicare and Medicaid to survive. When it comes to health care for the elderly, being able to obtain treatment and afford the cost is a growing struggle. With policy changes, budget cuts and everevolving insurance coverage, it’s more important now than ever for residents to take on the responsibility of planning for their future long-term care.

Examining the Options

As the elderly begin to evaluate their options for where they want to live as they age, there are many factors to consider as to how they can maintain their independence. For instance, is it a preference to move into a senior community setting that incorporates independent and assisted living or to stay at home?

Once this is determined, it is time to consider where the funds will come from ExEdge to pay for health care needs, whether Nearly half of all the needs are short term or long term. baby boomers Many people believe that if they who are in the return home after a short- or long-term work force today illness, Medicare will cover their medical don’t expect to retire until needs until they have recovered. This they’re 66 or is not necessarily true. Medicare will older, and one only cover skilled services, such as in 10 think physician and nursing care and therapy they’ll never stop working. services. The services many people need after returning home are assistance Source: www. with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) babyboomers. com and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). ADL may include assistance with walking, getting up from a chair, dressing, personal hygiene, eating and drinking and taking medication. IADL provides help with driving, preparing meals, housework, shopping and managing medication. Medicare will not cover ADL or IADL services unless skilled services are also being provided, which means many are left with limited options to receive the help they need.

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When individuals find themselves in a situation where they need assistance, they often don’t know where to turn or how to pay for the care they need. If a senior citizen has declining health or is recovering from an injury, he or she may need help on a daily basis, which can be very costly. Consider this: if the daily assistance rate is $20 per hour and John Smith needs daily assistance four hours a day for five days a week, he or his family will have a weekly bill of $400. This weekly expense may be short term or ongoing for years, raising the question, how does one prepare for this expense and where can he get help in covering the cost?

Paying for Care

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In West Virginia, the available payment options for care are private pay, long-term care insurance, Medicaid waivers and Medicaid personal care.

With the private pay option, the individual pays out of pocket for the in-home care services.

Long-term care insurance (LTC) can be purchased through insurance companies. LTC companies work with the individual to determine the desired daily payout limit and cap on the policy.

Based on this information, the insurance provider will determine the premium. It is important that people are clear on the difference between an LTC policy and a Medicare supplemental policy, because the two are different and are not interchangeable. An LTC policy is the only one that will pay for in-home care services.

Until 2011, West Virginia residents who met certain financial eligibility requirements could qualify to receive care through the West Virginia Medicaid Waiver Program. This program was established as assistance for those who could not afford to pay for services out of pocket. Unfortunately, this program has been on hold since December 2011. More than 2,000 residents who qualify for this benefit are currently waiting to receive care.

Many have passed away while waiting for care while others are forced to leave their homes and enter a skilled nursing facility.

Eligible state residents may also receive care through the West Virginia Medicaid Personal Care Program, though there is limited access. This program requires new providers to get a Certificate of Need (CON) in order to provide care, and there

have not been any CONs granted to any providers in more than 20 years. This means the only way to receive care is through the senior centers located throughout West Virginia. Many of these senior centers have people waiting for months to receive care and cannot adequately meet the demand for this service.

There are two other challenges our state’s health care industry is facing: a growing senior population and a dwindling work force to meet the high demand for care. It is projected that in 2016, West Virginia will have more people that need care than there are people willing and able to provide in-home care services.

Planning for the Future All of these challenges in meeting the health care needs of West Virginia’s elderly can be overcome, but it will require the state’s elected officials taking action on the matter and the general public educating itself on how the health care system works.

For instance, the West Virginia Medicaid Waiver and Personal Care programs’ problems will require legislative action, including a restructuring of the levels of care under the waiver program.

The CON process will either need to be removed or relaxed so that more providers can meet the in-home care needs of those looking to receive care under the personal care program. The resulting increase in competition would improve the quality of care available to senior citizens. West Virginia’s state government will also need to help facilitate the attraction, education and hiring of health care professionals in order to build the work force necessary to care for the state’s growing elderly population.

Individuals cannot leave all of the action to government officials, though. They must take on the responsibility of educating themselves about the system and planning for their future care needs by setting aside money and purchasing a long-term life insurance policy. A good place to begin research on long-term care insurance policies is the American Association of Long-Term Care Insurance.

By being informed and planning ahead, aging West Virginians can be happier, healthier and able to enjoy retirement without the unnecessary fear and anxiety so many face over how they will receive care and what it will cost. 

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“I’ve heard ‘no’ a hundred times, and that only serves to strengthen my resolve to succeed.

It’s the West Virginian in me, I guess.”

A Cut Above

By Amy Arnett

An Introduction to Innovator Tom McClellan

Plastic surgery is a field that is oftentimes

defined by the pursuit of perfection—facelifts, breast augmentation and tummy tucks—but it is actually a highly diversified and complex field that serves to improve quality of life and solve complicated health problems.

“Plastic surgery as a specialty is so much more than it’s portrayed on reality TV,” says Dr. Tom McClellan. “There is a great amount of freedom for creativity in order to solve complex, three-dimensional problems. It requires attention to detail, a bit of OCD and the ability to think outside the box.” McClellan is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Morgantown, WV, as well as a serial entrepreneur within the health care industry.

An avid inventor at heart, McClellan holds four U.S. patents for medical devices with approximately 15 more pending with the U.S. Patent Office. Two of his devices have been actively used on patients to improve breast cancer reconstruction and chest repair following open heart surgery.

McClellan founded Figure 8 Surgical, with funding from famed Stanford heart surgeon Tom Fogarty and a few West Virginia investors, to design and build the FlatWire sternal closure system. The device increases the stability and strength of the breast bone and reduces bone pain following open heart surgery. FlatWire is FDA-cleared and currently in a multicenter clinical trial across the country. Distribution agreements with companies in Japan, South Africa and India will soon take the FlatWire device global.

The FlatWire sternal closure system.

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Missions in Medicine In preparation for each trip, Fogarty sets the dates and locations and begins working with hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and fundraisers in order to get the money and supplies required to perform surgery. “We can do surgery in any place,” says Fogarty. “In terms of patient safety, we do the exact same things as we do here. We bring all of our monitoring supplies and equipment.” Being able to perform procedures safely and using advanced equipment provides the communities with outstanding care to which they would otherwise not have access.

Fogarty himself has been on trips that range from nine days to a year, but most trips are for more brief periods of time. With a busy practice and a family, McClellan finds it hard to leave for longer than a week or two. “I’m in private practice, and I have a wife and two kids. It’s hard to get away, but it’s something I plan to do more of in the future,” says McClellan.

Like many medical professionals, Dr. Tom McClellan entered the medical field in order to help others, and his work in doing so doesn’t stop with his practice at home.

He has been on two trips abroad with groups who perform surgeries on patients in developing countries. The majority of surgeries performed on these trips are for congenital deformities in children. “We only do reconstructive surgery, and we see a lot of hand deformities, cleft lip and palette and burns,” says McClellan. “These cases would be dealt with here at a much younger age, but they just don’t have the same surgical opportunities.”

McClellan’s first trip was to Pignon, Haiti, followed by one to Tacna, Peru. “I absolutely loved it, and it was a lot of fun,” he says. “It’s the purity of medicine, which I love.

I wish I could go on more of these trips.” He explains that working abroad is an adventure. A typical workday consists of performing surgery from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., resulting in about 70 surgeries per week.

The trips are coordinated by Dr. David Fogarty, a plastic surgeon and longtime friend of McClellan’s who is also based in Morgantown and who founded the organization Interplast. Fogarty works with surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists and pediatricians from across the globe to assemble teams for these surgical trips that provide locals with access to quality surgery for free. “My last trip was my 101st trip,” says Fogarty. “This has been an integral part of my career.”

50

west virginia executive

Having met when McClellan was a resident in Morgantown, the two surgeons have become close friends and speak highly of each other. “Dr. McClellan is an accomplished surgeon and very good at what he does. He’s a team player and fits right in,” says Fogarty. “He understands what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”

Working for others and meeting new people is an important part of the process for trips like this to be successful. The relationships that are created and strengthened by traveling on service trips are some of the most rewarding, according to McClellan. “You have a lot of fun with the team you go with, and you feel like you’re making a big difference in the lives of the people there, who are wonderful,” he says. “You get to see the richness of the people and how they want their children to have the best, just like we do.

They’ll sacrifice like we will. Coming back, I realized we are fortunate people. My trip to Peru was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life.”

Another patent now being manufactured is the AlloX2, a tissue expander for women undergoing breast reconstruction.

This device helps reduce many of the common complications associated with breast cancer surgery. McClellan has two other funded medical device companies in queue: StealthSuture, a knotless suture for repairing tissue during surgery, and AcuArc, a non-operative way to cosmetically improve lower eyelid bulging and darkness.

All in the Family Growing up in a family of doctors, McClellan’s future in the medical field was set from an early age. “My great-grandfather, my grandfather and my dad were all doctors, and my sister is a doctor as well. I have wanted to be a surgeon for as long as I can remember,” says McClellan. “I have a picture of myself when I was 5 with a surgical mask on, and I would go on rounds at the hospital with my father and play at the nurses’ station. I would pretend to wear his pager, which is funny because now, I wish I could get rid of mine because it goes off so much.”

He thinks the fifth generation McClellan doctor will likely be his 14-year-old niece rather than one of his two sons, who are 7 and 10. “I’ll be making a video of a surgical procedure for my YouTube channel, and my kids will see it. I’ll ask them if they want to be doctors,” he says. “They always say no. They want to work with computers and robots. But given the success of Instagram and Tesla, I am supportive of that choice.”

Beyond shaping his career in medicine, McClellan’s family was responsible for his strong work ethic and independence.

“My mom and grandmother were supportive of thinking differently,” says McClellan. “It was like a badge of honor to be creative and industrious and to build things. That’s how I was raised.” Today, through his wife and two kids, he has found even more support. Developing new devices and getting them onto the market has taken him to meetings and pitches all over the country, oftentimes on his own dime. “My wife is very supportive,” he says. “She says, ‘Give it a go,’ instead of ‘Why don’t you focus on your real job?’ It’s OK to dream and reach, and to have that is amazing.”

The Patents and Project Process Innovation is at the heart of plastic surgery. In an industry where procedures face complications, patients’ lives are improved by problem-solving and constant evolution. McClellan has personally succeeded in helping to reduce some of these difficulties by creating new devices. How does he do it? The process of invention is much like one would expect, but the most important element is motivation.

“I think about my ideas continually,” says McClellan. “It might take a year of thinking about something, reducing it to its simplest form. Then I start by drawing sketches in one of my 50 lab notebooks.” From there, he researches his ideas to see why a product or procedure might not already be in use. “If I find an idea that has already been invented, I try to figure out why it didn’t see the light of day. Understanding their failure is tremendously valuable.”

Once his idea has been researched, McClellan presents it to his team of engineers and business partners, who give honest feedback. If they are on board, he begins the process of finding a way to design, manufacture, produce and protect

his invention. “That’s where the fun and work starts: flying all over the country for meetings, pitches, small wins, losses and frustrations. I love it,” he says.

Back to His Roots Originally from Charleston, McClellan has lived all over the U.S., but he moved back to West Virginia because of his love for the state and its people. “It’s like the mountains get in your blood,” he says. “The people here are salt-of-the-earth, hard workers and appreciative; they’re people you want to take care of.” When an opportunity to join a private practice in Morgantown came up, he was thrilled.

McClellan also credits his upraising for his tenacious personality.

“When you want to innovate, you have to be fearless. People may laugh at me. I may fail terribly, but I’ve got to try it,” he says. To get his first company funded, he flew back and forth to Palo Alto, CA 23 times in six months, usually staying less than 24 hours per trip.

“I’ve heard ‘no’ a hundred times, and that only serves to strengthen my resolve to succeed. It’s the West Virginian in me, I guess.”

Development in the Mountain State comes with its struggles, which McClellan believes should be addressed. For instance, he sees a real lack of start-up infrastructure, from venture and angel funding to finding other like-minded innovators and engineers with whom to collaborate. The potential resources here are great, though, and he believes West Virginia should look to its universities and young people for innovation.

“I am involved with biomedical and software innovation at West Virginia University (WVU), and I have noticed that there are numerous obstructions to getting inventions past the university level and into use. If we could streamline and support that process, WVU could be very successful.” He uses The University of Utah as an example. “They had more than 20 spinoff companies last year and more than $200 million in venture capital funding enter Salt Lake City.”

At the end of the day, McClellan admits his biggest challenge is not having enough time to do everything he wants. There’s no lack of motivation, only a lack of room on the clock. His philosophy is to keep pushing forward and working through his next project.

“I don’t look at these things as success. It’s my job; that’s what I intended to do,” he says. “My kids are my best inventions, and I didn’t even have to patent them. Raising kids and doing the best I can at that—that’s really success.  Photography by Tracy Toler, Dr. David Fogarty, Dr. Tom McClellan and Interplast WV

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The

Evolution of Information Data at Your Doctor’s Fingertips

By Josh Brown and Amber Nary

Anyone who has interacted

with the health care system knows the exchange of medical records among health care providers is not always seamless or efficient. Patients are often required to track down their medical records from the various providers who treat them, request copies and transport the paper copies from provider to provider. Likewise, administrative personnel at the provider level wait on medical records to arrive via fax or mail. This inefficient process often results in patients completing the same paperwork multiple times, answering the same questions over and over: What medications are you currently taking? Do you have allergies? Have you had any recent surgeries? Most importantly, patients may not receive the best care if a treating provider does not have a patient’s health history available when developing a treatment plan. The West Virginia Health Information Network (WVHIN) is working to change all of this.

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The WVHIN is West Virginia’s designated entity responsible for establishing a statewide, fully-interoperable network to facilitate the public and private use of health care information in the state. Formed in 2006 by the West Virginia Legislature, the WVHIN receives administrative support from the West Virginia Health Care Authority and is under the umbrella of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. It is governed by a separate 17-member public/private board of directors whose membership is specified in state code. WVHIN services allow health care providers to securely exchange patient health information electronically, giving providers quicker access to patient data before treatment decisions are made. Studies have shown that this streamlining of patient information leads to improved quality of care, a reduction in health care costs and greater efficiencies within the health care system.

The network’s services replace antiquated data-sharing methods like fax and mail. For health care providers, having an electronic health record (EHR) system is an important first step in health care transformation, but data still resides in an electronic silo.

Exchanging data electronically among disparate systems is where the WVHIN brings value. Participating providers who have EHR systems can electronically share patient data with each other for treatment and public health reporting purposes via a secure, query-based network. This means providers can access a patient’s health history in a matter of seconds, creating a win for both providers and patients.

“The WVHIN has been particularly valuable to rural health care providers who may refer or transfer patients to larger participating facilities for subspecialized care or higher level

trauma,” says Bob Milvet, CFO of Preston Memorial Hospital.

“It enables providers to view patient care information in a live format that includes patient history and present condition, test results, medication lists and active problem lists, regardless of the electronic health record system utilized by the various providers.”

Providers who are new to technology may wish to gain experience by utilizing WVHIN’s secure, encrypted, HIPAAcompliant messaging system to support care transition activities such as making referrals or sharing discharge summaries. This service only requires providers to have an Internet connection.

“Secure messaging with other providers allows me to know when my patient is treated outside of my facility and if they’ve had any changes in their health status since I last saw them,” says Dr. Sarah Chouinard, medical director at Clay Primary Care System. “Having this information when I follow up with my patients is essential to the practice of primary care.”

Additional value-added services of the network include enabling participating providers to automatically report necessary data to state public health registries through real-time data feeds. Prior to the WVHIN, this data was faxed or manually entered into a secure Web-based portal. Providers can also access advance directives from the West Virginia e-Directive Registry via the network.

All health care providers who want to become a part of the network must complete the necessary legal agreements, and depending on which service a provider selects, a provider’s EHR system may be required to meet certain technical standards.

There may also be a cost from the EHR vendor to connect the EHR to the network.

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Some of the benefits for patients include a reduction in duplicate tests, resulting in reduced costs for patients, and improved quality of care due to providers having a patient’s most current medical information available. Another benefit for patients is that by having their health records kept in an electronic format, there is a recoverable record in case of a natural disaster. The ability for the patient’s health care data to follow them no matter where they reside, travel or visit can prove invaluable if a patient requires emergency care resulting from a disaster or other emergency. Access to a patient’s allergies, blood type and medications can be critical and life-saving during an emergency.

Privacy and security of data is of utmost importance at the WVHIN. The network has implemented privacy and security measures to protect the confidentiality and security of patient data. Also, the network has the ability to audit and track provider usage to help ensure proper access. If a patient wishes to not have their health information available for access, the patient can opt out at a participating provider, and their health information will be blocked from access.

Since launching its services in 2012, the WVHIN has made significant progress in this recently uncharted territory. Currently, nine hospitals and more than 100 hospital-owned physician practices are connected to the query-based network. Ten additional hospitals are onboarding to the network and another 10 hospitals will begin the onboarding process in early 2014. Close to 50 independent physician practices have signed legal agreements to connect to the network. Additionally, more than 700 health care providers subscribe to the WVHIN’s secure clinical messaging

service. Recruitment of providers will continue to be a focus of the WVHIN. The network is also in the process of developing a financial sustainability model as initial seed funding for planning and operations is limited.

“Throughout the country, there has been a paradigm shift regarding the role of technology in health care,” says Phil Weikle, chief operations officer at WVHIN. “Electronic health records and data exchange is the new reality. Our goal is to leverage these technologies to provide the best health care to patients across the State of West Virginia.”

The future of health care is evolving now with the continued implementation of EHR systems and the utilization of health information networks to exchange patient data. Providers need an interoperable network that brings this data to their fingertips.

“The ultimate goal is to improve patient care by having readily available patient information no matter where a patient is being seen, and the WVHIN is helping make this possible,” says Milvet. 

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Unlike many health care treatments that focus on curing disease, the role of the primary care physician is to focus on preventive medicine.

The Predicament of Addressing Primary Care the Physician Shortage

By Denise Getson

In 1996, the Institute of Medicine defined

primary care as the provision of “integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients and practicing in the context of family and community.”

The role of the primary care physician at the frontline of patient health is critical. Research published in a 2004 issue of Health Affairs, a leading health journal, broke down Medicare spending and quality as it impacted communities. Based on the data, researchers determined that states with a higher proportion of primary care doctors had better care and improved health outcomes than those with a shortage of primary care practitioners.

In the State of West Virginia, 47 out of 55 counties have Health Professional Shortage Area designations for primary medical care, according to a May 2013 study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The shortage of primary care doctors is a serious issue that is poised to get worse. The Office of Rural Health Policy has revealed that 36.1 percent of West Virginia’s primary care physicians are at or near retirement age. Compounding this problem is the reality of fewer medical students choosing family medicine and other primary care specialties, along with expected increases in physician demand due to population growth, aging and insurance expansion.

This situation begs the question: how are West Virginia’s medical schools responding to this need?

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The Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University, based in Huntington, WV, has a twofold approach to addressing the need for primary care physicians: pipeline and recruitment programs. “We have developed a number of pipeline programs to enhance student interest in rural health care careers,” says Jennifer Plymale, M.A., the associate dean for Admissions and the director of the Center for Rural Health at Marshall’s medical school. “These programs not only raise awareness but also assist in removing perceived or actual barriers for students in pursuing these careers. Last year, we worked with 1,500 students from 14 rural counties and 31 high schools.”

Marshall also educates its students regarding financial incentives and aid programs that provide assistance to physicians who commit to practice in rural communities. “Marshall University’s Rural Scholars Program incentivizes students with a goal of rural practice and is coordinated with other financial incentive programs offered through state and scholarship loan repayment programs,” Plymale explains. “This program provides students the opportunity to work directly with faculty and rural health leaders, conduct research on a range of rural health issues and attend state and national level meetings pertinent to rural health. By utilizing rural communities as part of the educational process, the initiative provides recruitment opportunities for students and medical residents.”

West Virginia University’s (WVU) Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center School of Medicine also receives funds earmarked for the development of rural health care providers, the majority of whom will be primary care practitioners.

“WVU established a scholarship program that awards thirdand fourth-year medical students with $25,000 a year when they commit to work in a rural area once they complete their training. If they commit as third-year students and agree to two years of service, they receive $50,000,” says Larry Rhodes, M.D., chair and professor of WVU’s Department of Pediatrics and director of the WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health. While it’s a little early to determine the results of this initiative since students have to complete their medical residencies before beginning the service commitment, the school hopes the initiative will pay dividends for the State of West Virginia.

“We require our students to do two months of rural rotation,” says Rhodes. “In addition to that, the school now offers a rural track for medical students with a rural health-specific curriculum and immersion experiences. It may be five or six years before we truly know if these things are working. If we can keep the students in-state for their medical residencies, we know the chances of keeping them in the state to practice are improved. We work tirelessly to assist our graduates finding good matches here in West Virginia.”

The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is also passionate about attracting medical students to primary care medicine. “Of our students who graduated between 2009 and 2011, 70 percent are physicians entering primary care specialties,” says James Nemitz, Ph.D., vice president for Administration and External Affairs. “It’s in our mission statement that our program emphasizes primary care with a focus on rural medicine.

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Nemitz credits the consistency of messaging along each touch point of recruitment, admissions, education and residency matching for the school’s success rate. Like the other medical schools in the state, WVSOM’s Rural Health Initiative supports a pipeline program, collaborating with Heart of Appalachia Talent Search (HATS), Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA), Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) and other programs to educate both high school and college students about career opportunities in medicine.

“In 2012, WVSOM introduced a patient presentation curriculum,” says Nemitz. “This model is constructed around the common ways patients present to a primary care physician in the examination room. In addition, many of our instructors are primary care physicians. The exposure to frontline care and the value of knowing your patients and monitoring their health and their lifestyle habits—these behaviors are reinforced daily.”

Unlike many health care treatments that focus on curing disease, the role of the primary care physician is to focus on preventive medicine. Family doctors advise regular check-ups so they can monitor their patients’ health, educate the patients about healthy lifestyle changes and refer patients to specialty care when necessary.

According to data from Merritt Hawkins, a national health care search firm that specializes in the recruitment of physicians across all medical specialties, primary care physicians are at the top of the wish list for health care organizations nationwide. For the seventh consecutive year, two types of primary care physicians—family physicians and general internists—were their two most requested physician search assignments in 2012.

In 2008, the U.S. General Accounting Office summed up the primary care shortage in this way: “Ample research in recent years concludes that the nation’s over-reliance on specialty services at the expense of primary care leads to a health care system that is less efficient. At the same time, research shows that preventive care, care coordination for the chronically ill and continuity of care—all hallmarks of primary care medicine— can achieve better health outcomes and cost savings.”

With the state’s medical schools all committed to bringing attention and resources to the recruitment, education and retention of primary care physicians, there is hope to counteract the present trend. A strategic focus on rural care, monetary incentives for physicians who serve in underserved areas and the dramatic increase of rural immersion experiences for medical students are being well-received by future physicians and the communities they will serve. The desired results of these efforts are more balanced health care delivery and improved patient outcomes, two elements of health care that West Virginians depend on to live full, healthy lives. 

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Around the State Advances in Health Care Compiled by Amy Arnett

Kids in Motion Initiative Improves Children’s Health

Kids in Motion Program Director Jamie Berry supervises a participant as he climbs the wall.

Kids in Motion, a fun and innovative exercise and nutrition program designed to improve the health of tri-state area children, experienced great success during its first months and has now expanded to include Fit Family for parents.

Kids in Motion is a joint initiative of the Huntington YMCA, Cabell Huntington Hospital, St. Mary’s Medical Center, the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University and Cabell County Schools. It is the only program of its kind in West Virginia.

At the heart of Kids in Motion is Kid Fit, a 10-week program to get kids ages 5-14 moving and having fun, while also learning about fitness and nutrition. Weight, body mass index, body fat percentage and blood pressure are tracked throughout the program to measure progress and to customize the program to fit each child.

During Kid Fit, children utilize exergaming equipment, which combines video games and exercise. “The kids get so caught up in these games that they don’t even realize the impact it’s having on their health. That’s what we want: for them

to be active without even thinking about exercise,” says George Smailes, executive director of the Huntington YMCA. The spring sessions of Kid Fit and Family Fit will begin March 24th. For participation information, contact Jamie Berry at (304) 697-7113 or via email at kidsinmotion@huntingtonymca.org.

Study Finds State Medicaid Funding Would Generate Jobs Expanding the state’s home health care program for low-income elderly and disabled residents would require $13 million in state expenditures but would generate almost $80 million in economic activity across West Virginia and support more than 1,000 jobs.

A study on the Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW) program by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) at West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics found that, despite the state’s tight budget, state funding of $13 million for the program would have a significant impact.

The ADW program currently serves more than 7,000 West Virginians, with an additional group of more than 2,000

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The study estimated that an additional $13 million in state spending, along with matching funds from the federal government, could clear that waiting list. Moreover, the economic activity associated with this new spending would bring in approximately $1.5 million in additional tax revenues that would offset about 12 percent of the state’s costs.

“Our research indicates that the aged and disabled waiver creates significant economic benefits for the State of West Virginia, in addition to the direct benefits it provides,” says Dr. John Deskins, BBER director. “However, we also understand that resources are very tight in West Virginia at the moment. Our hope ultimately is that our research will help enable our government leaders in their decision making to spend our valuable tax dollars as wisely as possible.”

line of inpatient care in early 2014 with the opening of a 14-bed inpatient facility in March.

“This project has long been a dream of our board and, really, the entire community,” says G.T. Schramm, hospice board chair and campaign chair. “The level of support that we’ve received has been phenomenal. I can attribute that to the care that our staff and volunteers provide. We are incredibly excited to be opening this unit.”

The inpatient facility will house hospice patients whose pain and symptoms can’t be controlled at home. The average length of stay is estimated at three to seven days. Families in need of respite care for their loved ones in hospice care can also take advantage of the inpatient unit.

TAVR is for people who have been diagnosed with severe symptomatic aortic valve disease and who are at high risk or too sick for traditional open heart surgery.

This less invasive procedure allows a new artificial valve to be inserted within the diseased aortic valve.

The first two TAVR procedures were performed at Mon General in November 2013, and both patients quickly recovered.

The surgery was performed by a team that included Mon General cardiac surgeons Alexander Nagy, MD and Kee Lee, MD and cardiologists John McKnight, MD; Richard Smith, MD; Michael Englund, DO and Firas Almahasneh, MD.

Hospice of the Panhandle Prepares to Open New Inpatient Facility

Mon General First in State to Offer Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Replacement Procedure Mon General Hospital is the first hospital in north central West Virginia to offer Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), an alternative for patients who may not be healthy enough for open heart surgery.

The Chemical Alliance Zone’s Chemicals and Materials Commercialization Fund has awarded $20,000 to a Marshall University scientist to help bring to market a technology he has developed for repairing skin injuries.

The award was presented to Dr. Jingwei Xie of the Marshall Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (MIIR) and will help

Hospice of the Panhandle, a 33-yearold nonprofit agency that cares for seriously ill patients in four eastern West Virginia counties, will begin offering a new

Grant Will Support Commercialization of Technology to Repair Skin Injuries

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his research team produce device prototypes and samples, market to potential customers and conduct patent analysis.

Research in Xie’s lab involves using one of science’s fastest-growing fields to develop products that can be used to improve treatment of burns and other skin wounds.

He and his colleagues at MIIR are using nanotechnology to create scaffolds made of tiny fibers, invisible to the human eye, to be used as skin grafts. According to Xie, their devices can also be used to deliver medications topically for chemotherapy, anti-infection or pain relief purposes.

“This is exciting for us because we can use these funds to get our product closer to the market and potential customers,” says Xie. “There are many grant programs out there to support research itself, but there is not as much funding available for these purposes. Having an actual product to show people will be invaluable as we continue toward our goal of starting up a company and commercializing our products.”

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New Child Advocacy Center to Open in Parkersburg Community members have united to establish a child advocacy center in Wood County. The Children’s Listening Place (CLP) is a nonprofit organization with the mission of protecting and serving children who are abused. This will be accomplished through the creation of a community-based center dedicated to providing a coordinated approach to investigating abuse and assisting children in coping with the trauma of abuse.

“We want to provide children with a safe place where they feel comfortable sharing,” says Judy Ball, a domestic violence expert in Wood County. “Child advocacy centers protect children by limiting the number of times they have to talk to professionals regarding abuse they have experienced.”

The CLP has received legislative funding as well as grant funding from the Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund and the McDonough Foundation and will continue seeking additional funds. Vital support has also been provided by the United Way of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

MVB Insurance Receives National Certification for Affordable Care Act

First graders Bryce Eggleton, Addison Holley and Ava Bentley with a check presented to Lakewood Elementary by the Highmark Foundation.

MVB Insurance, a subsidiary of MVB Financial Corp., has received certification in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in an effort to help business clients.

“This is one of the most significant— if not the most significant—health care measures in recent history, and it’s critical that businesses know the act and understand what it does,” says L. Randall Cober, CEO of MVB Insurance. “We believe one of the best ways we can serve our business clients is to help them through the ACA and make it less intimidating.”

With this certification, MVB Insurance is able to expand its service offerings to help business clients with knowledge and compliance.

Camden Clark Medical Center Recognized for Quality in Cardiac Care Camden Clark Medical Center has been recognized as one of the first hospitals in the nation to receive a Blue Distinction Center+ designation in the area of cardiac care as part of the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care Program.

Blue Distinction Centers are hospitals shown to deliver quality specialty care based on objective, transparent measures for patient safety and health outcomes that were developed with input from the medical community. This year, the national program has added a new designation level, Blue Distinction Centers+, to recognize hospitals that deliver both quality and cost-efficient specialty care.

“While we are honored and grateful for this national recognition, the real winner is our community, which can be confident and proud that outstanding, cost-effective cardiac care is available right here in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” says Dr. David Gnegy, an invasive cardiologist at Camden Clark.

University of Charleston to Begin Online Nursing Program The University of Charleston (UC) began offering a new nursing program in January 2014 that allows registered nurses (RN) to complete requirements for a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) online in as little as 18 months.

“This new RN-BSN nursing program at the University of Charleston answers an immediate need of West Virginia’s health care facilities,” says Dr. Ed Welch, UC’s

president. “By completing their bachelor’s degree at UC in just 18 months and continuing to work full time, nurses are able to advance their careers and better serve patients in the field.”

RN-BSN students attending UC will have the opportunity to choose one of two tracks for their degree: leadership or case management. The case management track is especially unique, as it will allow UC graduates to work in their organization while learning to navigate the new Affordable Care Act.

Genesis HealthCare Announces New Physician Model in West Virginia Genesis HealthCare, a leading provider of skilled nursing services in West Virginia, has expanded full-time physician and advanced practice nursing leadership in its skilled nursing facilities through its Genesis Physician Services subsidiary.

Patients and residents typically enter a skilled nursing center after an acute hospital stay with multiple medical conditions that require ongoing monitoring and clinical treatment. In the past, a physician might make rounds at a skilled nursing facility approximately once per month. The new Genesis physician model, however, provides a solution to the need for daily physician oversight, as well as an unmatched level of personal, familycentered care.

“To ensure the highest standard of care in the industry, we have added a team of providers who want to leverage their advanced skills and experience in a highacuity, fast-paced environment,” says Dr.

Joshua Dower, who will direct the new team of doctors. “Feedback from the patients, residents and families we serve has been overwhelmingly positive and has favorably positioned our centers with health care partners in acute care, home health and hospice care.”

Highmark Foundation Awards Grants to Create a Healthier Environment for Students In an effort to make schools throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia healthier places for students, the Highmark Foundation recently launched its new school strategy, Creating a Healthy School Environment, a multi-level response promoting health and wellness. As a result, the foundation awarded grants to 97 schools and school districts across Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Dr. Joshua Dower

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Recipients received funding for programs that address childhood injury prevention, healthy eating, physical activity and physical and environmental health.

Grants totaling $42,500 were distributed among 10 West Virginia schools.

Stonerise Healthcare Purchases Heartland of Charleston Stonerise Healthcare has purchased Heartland of Charleston, a 184-bed nursing and rehabilitation center, from HCR Manorcare. Under the new ownership, the facility has been renamed Eastbrook.

Eastbrook provides long- and shortterm care services such as orthopedic and joint replacement care, cardiac care, dementia services and diabetes management.

The amenities at Eastbrook provide residents and families with an experience that makes them feel at home with private and semi-private rooms, homemade meals, an Internet cafe, free Wi-Fi, inviting lounges and activities.

Cortland Acres Names New Administrator Cortland Acres, a long-term nursing care and rehabilitation center located in Thomas, WV, has named Beth Clevenger as its new administrator. Clevenger takes over the role held by Don Black, who is retiring after 28 years of service. The board of directors for the Tucker County facility unanimously voted to name Clevenger as administrator.

“We have great confidence that Beth is the person to lead us in the coming years,” says Pat Nichols, board president. “This is a difficult time for health care, filled with uncertainty, but we’re excited about the potential for Cortland and know Beth will do a great job.”

Jackson Home Health Named one of Nation’s Top 500 Home Health Agencies Jackson Home Health has been ranked among the nation’s top 500 home health providers in an independent rating of home health quality and performance.

The Ripley home health agency was named to the 2013 HomeCare Elite list, compiled annually by National Research Corporation and DecisionHealth to recognize the top-performing home health agencies in the United States.

“Every day, in 26 states across the nation, LHC Group’s team of health care

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professionals deliver high-quality, compassionate and efficient care to tens of thousands of patients and families who depend on us,” says Keith Myers, LHC Group’s chairman and CEO. “HomeCare Elite status is a meaningful mark of excellence within our industry, and more importantly, it demonstrates we are successfully fulfilling our mission of helping the people under our care.”

Valley Health Practitioner Receives National Recognition Valley Health is pleased to announce that one of its practitioners, Daniel Brody, DMD, received the Indispensable Man Award from the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) Board of Directors at the 2013 National Primary Oral Health Conference, recently held in Denver, CO. The conference, which had more than 600 attendees, was sponsored by NNOHA, a national organization whose mission is to improve the oral health of underserved populations and contribute to overall health through leadership, advocacy and support to oral health providers in safety net systems.

Brody was honored for the “talent, dedication, wisdom, guidance and friendship we cannot imagine doing without, and without which we cannot imagine the successes we have achieved,” according to NNOHA President Wayne Cottam, DMD, MS. Dr. Daniel Brody

Brody has been a member of NNOHA for 18 years and has served on the organization’s board of directors and executive committee. He is also slated to chair the 2014 National Primary Oral Health Conference.

Randox Reaffirms Commitment to West Virginia, Pledges More Jobs Global medical diagnostics company Randox Laboratories has reasserted its commitment to the company’s West Virginia operation. Randox initially set up their West Virginia facility in Kearneysville in early 2010 with a multi-million-dollar investment.

Randox Managing Director Dr. Peter FitzGerald has also announced plans for growth at the 33,000-square-foot facility, with hopes to double the current work force by 2015.

“Randox continue to invest hundreds of millions of dollars of our own resources into developing the world’s most revolutionary diagnostic technology,” says FitzGerald. “The West Virginia region has a long and proud tradition of innovators in science, from Eugene Aserinsky, noted for his discovery of REM Sleep; to Mahlon Loomis, not only known for his invention of artificial teeth but also as the earliest inventor of wireless communication. Randox wants to nurture this proud tradition, and we feel that we must ensure the drive for innovation at our West Virginia facility.”

Executive Turned Consultant Receives New Certification Jane Marks, who retired in 2013 from her position as executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association, West Virginia Chapter, is in the process of receiving certification as a certified dementia practitioner from the International Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners to continue her work in the field. This certification will assist her in her new role as a consultant.

“I am excited to receive this certification,” says Marks. “As more and more individuals are faced with caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia, the need for expert assistance, training and advice will be paramount. The more I can learn, the more knowledge and expertise I can share with those who need it.” 

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Published by Executive Ink, LLC Editor in Chief Kensie Hamilton Creative director Jennifer Jett SENIOR Graphic Designer Lisa Affolter Production assistant Amy Arnett Production assistant Maggie Matsko

Business Development Vice President of Business Development Mark Lamborn markwvexecutive@aol.com • 304.543.2505 Business Development Amie Lamborn amiewvexecutive@aol.com • 304.345.5517 Managing Member Linwood Hamilton lfh@wvexecutive.com • 304.543.4142

contributors Lisa Affolter, Amy Arnett, Damian Ferek, Jennifer Jett, Maggie Matsko, Candace Nelson, Courtney Sisk

Photography West Virginia State Parks, Tracy Toler, Lindsay Gardner, C&S Photography, Photography by Amanda, Chief Logan State Park, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, Briggs Photography

Contact Us We welcome your inquiries. For advertising or information, please call 304.941.0600 or email kmh@wvexecutive.com.

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Executive Event Planner is published annually by Executive Ink, LLC, PO Box 6277, Charleston, WV 25362. All rights reserved. All contents are copyrighted by Executive Ink, LLC. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission from Executive Ink, LLC is expressly forbidden and punishable by law.

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THE FEATURES

The Features 6 8 11 13 17

Tricks of the Trade Damian Ferek

Weddings Made Easy Candace Nelson

Charleston’s Tourism Trendsetter Maggie Matsko

The Scenic Route Amy Arnett

29

Destination West Virginia Maggie Matsko

8 Weddings Made Easy

20 21 24 26

Eversnap Amy Arnett

The Home Field Advantage Amy Arnett

WV Meeting Site Analysis

Behind the Scenes Maggie Matsko

Your Meeting Place Destination Courtney Sisk

13 The Scenic Route

21 The Home Field Advantage

About the Cover

2014

Canaan Valley Resort is open for business after a $34 million renovation.

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Becoming an Expo Expert

Tricks of theTrade Damian Ferek

W

ith proper planning and execution, exhibiting at trade shows and expos can be one of the most effective methods of marketing a business. As each company develops and refines its sales techniques, each will take a different approach to exhibiting its goods and services to the world. There are, however, some universal tips that any business can abide by to improve the returns on investment gained through business exhibits.

An exhibitor should: • Be attentive while manning the exhibit. Hands down, exhibitors can benefit more from this tip than any other. While the ability to answer emails on a smartphone during a lull in booth traffic may be tempting, others will see a lack of attention as a cue that an exhibitor is too busy to speak with them. Talking to colleagues, eating and drinking at the booth and other activities that take one’s attention away from booth traffic should be kept to a minimum. Exhibit staff members are encouraged to remain standing as much as possible when actively working the booth, especially when approached by a potential sales lead.

• Attend associated networking events. Nearly every trade show or exhibition will hold a networking event either before or after the show to allow for additional networking in a relaxed setting. Attending these events will not only increase face time with potential customers or vendors but will also allow individuals to do so comfortably. Sometimes an entirely personal interaction does more for business than one focused strictly on business.

• Know the show’s demographic. It’s essential to remember the intended audience when presenting a business to other members of the industry. Overdressing for an informal event and underdressing for a formal event demonstrate a lack of knowledge in the audience and subliminally tells attendees that a company is out of touch with the industry.

• Use the resources available. Many events offer preferred booth placement to early registrants, so registering as early as possible should be a goal for each event. Most shows provide exhibitor lists prior to the event, and each booth staff member should take his or her time to research the other companies they may interact with at the show.

• Avoid narrow thinking. Look for events not only within your industry but also in related fields. If an exhibiting company is the only one of its type at an event, it doesn’t need to worry about competition or conflicts of interest.

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Conversely, there are several things that trade show exhibitors should avoid.

An exhibitor should not: • Judge a book by its cover. No attendees or exhibitors are going to add “decision-maker” to their nametags, so it is best to treat every individual as if he or she may become a major client.

• Treat the event as a personal vacation. It’s understandable; everyone enjoys a day away from the office. However, skipping networking events to fit in a round of golf or leaving the show early to beat traffic won’t produce leads or, in turn, generate sales.

• Forget to listen. Reciting a single sales pitch to each booth visitor is a common mistake made by exhibitors at nearly every industry trade show and event. Exhibiting companies are not there only to speak of their services. They’re also there to listen to, learn from and establish rapport with potential clients.

• Embarrass yourself. While serving as a representative of a company, all it takes is a single bad decision to change others’ views completely. Bad first impressions are incredibly difficult to overcome, and the best advice on dealing with them is to avoid them completely. Drinking should be done responsibly and in a limited fashion, and controversial or other divisive topics should be avoided.

• Be a shut-in. Booths are most effectively run in shifts, which allow the nonworking members to visit other exhibits around the venue. Remember, leads can arise at any time during trade shows and expos, and some of the most promising business leads may develop through visiting another company’s booth.

Marketing successfully at an expo can be boiled down to the five P’s: be prepared, be professional, be proactive, be per sonable and be punctual. Learning the correct balance between these attributes is what separates the most successful exhibitors from their competition. 

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Weddings Made Easy

Weddings Why Hiring a Planner Works

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rides-to-be oftentimes find themselves swimming in a sea of bouquet colors, catering options and venue choices. While some brides choose to take on the responsibility of planning this big day on their own, others turn to wedding planners to make the planning process stress-free and budget-friendly.

Made Easy Candace Nelson

Whether brides are looking for a traditional ceremony, a destination wedding or a day that is tailor-made for the couple, wedding planners can use their contacts and expertise to help brides create the day they’ve been dreaming of since childhood—all without breaking the bank.

Destination: I Do Jessica Campbell is an event coordinator for Adventures on the Gorge, an outdoor adventure resort in Lansing, WV, where her focus is on destination weddings. Her services come with the bride’s venue selection, and she coordinates all the details for a minimal charge.

“Many of my brides that use a coordinator are located out of town and are terrified they are going to forget something,” says Campbell. “The wedding planner alleviates that fear.”

Campbell says one of the main benefits of hiring a wedding planner is having a significant portion of responsibility lifted from the bride by making sure to cross the t’s and dot the i’s. The wedding planner can keep the brides on point to guarantee they are getting everything done in a timely manner and that nothing falls through the cracks.

“I work with the vendors to ensure details like scheduling, and I deal with any unpleasantness that may occur with guests,” says Campbell. “I am there from the first look at the venue until they say their goodbyes.”

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For weddings at Adventures on the Gorge, Campbell recommends setting a date for the wedding first and then securing the on-site lodging. “I ask my brides to send out a save the date announcement that asks guests to book lodging immediately,” she says. “The resort is usually booked to capacity, and I don’t want people to be unable to attend the wedding because they neglected to make a room reservation.”

Katlyn Hatcher, who was married at Adventures on the Gorge in September 2013, worked with Campbell to plan the wedding. Hatcher is a native of Vienna, WV, who now lives in Uniontown, PA. Due to a hectic work schedule, she had limited time to visit the venue for planning.

“Having a coordinator was such a huge help in the planning process. Jessica provided us with several lists of local vendors with contact information right at the start, which was so helpful and a major time saver,” says Hatcher. “As time went on, she was there to walk me through each decision, assisting me and making me feel secure that everything was taken care of. I had heard so many horror stories of the stress of planning a wedding, and I can honestly say it was a very enjoyable, low-stress process. My family kept telling me how calm and organized I was, but it wasn’t me; it was because I had a professional walking me through it.”

John and Katlyn Hatcher

Bouquets and Budgets Despite the abundance of services offered by planners, brides are sometimes concerned about the added expense of hiring someone to help them plan their wedding. Yohana Williams, an independent planner based out of Morgantown, WV, says that not only does a wedding planner save sanity but a planner can save money, too.

“A wedding planner can save you money by recommending the best vendors for your budget and style, the ones that will go the extra mile for you, the ones that will show up on time and provide outstanding customer service,” says Williams. “A wedding planner knows where to get exactly what you are looking for, saving you hours in sending emails and making phone calls to find that ‘perfect’ something. A wedding planner will also review your vendor agreements to get you great rates and negotiate airtight contracts.”

Wedding planners will also help a bride stick to her budget.

“I use my expertise to advise the bride on where people tend to overspend and where they can find the best deals without breaking the bank,” says Williams. “I work with the couple to determine the aspects of their wedding that are most important to them and then work to make it happen.

Part of my job is to ensure that they don’t spend more than they can afford—having them on board seems like a no brainer because ‘I do’ and ‘I’m broke’ don’t belong in the same sentence.”

Gisela Cartagena, a resident of Morgantown, WV, enlisted Williams’ services last April for her wedding in her home country of Puerto Rico. Cartegena originally set a budget close to $15,000, though she anticipated the cost to create her dream wedding would be higher than that. Williams was able to find compromise between Cartagena’s wants and her budget in order to create an event the bride would love.

“Her knowledge of which photographers, decorators, bakeries and invitation printers were good and affordable was extremely helpful,” says Cartagena. “The wedding was amazing! I had no stress at all. I knew she had it all under control.”

All in the Details While wedding planners can streamline the process to make brides’ decisions easier, they are careful not to take the personality out of the event. Planners understand that brides want their wedding to be personal and not the cookie-cutter celebration that excludes touches of individuality from the bride and groom.

www . wve x e c u t i ve . c o m

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Weddings Made Easy

Derrick and Maria VanDyke

Lori Horvath is a coordinator at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, WV, where she manages everything that happens within the venue including room set-up and menus for weddings.

While wedding planners tend to help more with tasks outside of the venue, like picking out the wedding dress and invitations, Horvath’s job as a coordinator is exclusive to the location, where the staff is mindful that catering to a bride’s needs is important to keeping the wedding personal.

“I tell all of the brides that I want their day to be as special as they do,” says Horvath. “A bride can make her reception personal by something as simple as bringing in pictures of her grandma’s or mom’s wedding day, using favors and decorating the tables and venue.”

Maria VanDyke of Canonsburg, PA, worked with Horvath to plan her wedding after seeing the success of her sister’s wedding at the same location.

“I didn’t want the same wedding, but I did use the same vendors and location because I loved it,” says VanDyke.

“Lori helped me differentiate my ceremony from my sister’s by customizing the food and decorations. She gave us multiple options to fit our budget, and she had great ideas to help me make the wedding my own. She worked with us to get us exactly what we wanted.”

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Weddings are all about the details, and in order to get everything just right, planning involves a lot of time making site visits and contacting vendors. Event planners like Campbell can alleviate the stress of a destination wedding by being the on-site liaison in charge of the check list for the big day while coordinators like Horvath oversee the transformation of a venue into a personalized tribute to the new couple. When it comes to following budgets and getting more for your money, independent planners like Williams make it possible to shop from a list of vendors who are guaranteed to come through on the big day.

Regardless of the type, size or location of the wedding, a planner will ensure the big day is both special and seamless.

After all, the focus of the bride on her wedding day shouldn’t be on arranging details; it should be on feeling beautiful and blissful at the beginning of a lifetime of love. 

Q&A with Alisa Bailey

Charleston’s

Maggie Matsko

Trendsetter

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ince returning to West Virginia a year ago to serve as the president and CEO of the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Alisa Bailey has used strategic planning to push her team to a new level. Bailey’s results-driven philosophy is evident: since 2012, her team has booked more than 32,000 room nights; overhauled Charleston’s tourism marketing through efforts that include a new Web site and the launch of the “I’m Charlie West” campaign and raised awareness through the opening of a new visitor experience at the Capitol Market. Even though she has only been in her position for one year, Bailey is optimistic about the future of the Charleston CVB and promises the best is yet to come.

Recently named the Tourism Professional of the Year at the 2013 West Virginia Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Bailey took some time to discuss with us her tactics for success in the tourism industry and how she believes technology is changing the face of marketing for CVBs around the state. Here, she discusses the challenges the state’s tourism industry is facing, the promotion methods her team is using to make the Charleston CVB stand out and what she sees for the future of both the Charleston CVB and the state’s tourism industry as a whole.

WVE: As the president and CEO of the Charleston CVB, what would you identify as your biggest challenges?

AB: Eighty percent of our efforts are directed toward luring large conventions and meetings to Charleston.

Both our short-term and long-term obstacles stem from increased competition and reduction in the government and association meetings market and business travel; the Charleston Convention Center also needs to expand to meet the needs of large groups.

Budget is always a challenge as well. The duress put on the West Virginia Division of Tourism’s Matching Advertising Partnership Program (MAPP) is a threat to every CVB and tourism business in the state. While there are millions spent on other forms of economic development strategies, the MAPP fund is one of the few available to the tourism industry, and the erosion of that fund is at a disastrous level. As a city and a state, we have a Rolls Royce sitting in the driveway, but with the dramatic reduction of matching grants from the state, we are not going to have any gas to get it anywhere. Investing in tourism sales and marketing brings back a strong and immediate return on investment and enhances the tax base we so desperately need to run our city and our state.

www.wvexecutive.com

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Q&A with Alisa Bailey

Tourism’s Economic Impact

on Charleston

In 2012, tourism had a $649 million economic impact on Kanawha County, a 10.5 percent increase over 2010. The industry supported 5,220 jobs and brought in $53.4 million dollars in state and local taxes.

The Charleston CVB staff at the launch of Capitalize Charleston.

As a travel destination, Charleston is going through a renaissance of tourism infrastructure improvements. The current private and public investment of $100 million includes: • $45 million slated for the Charleston Convention Center and Coliseum; • $20 million to rehabilitate the Ramada Inn, which will carry the Sheraton Four Points flag, be the city’s third fullservice hotel and boast the largest restaurant in the city; • $3.6 million in improvements at the Holiday Inn Express Civic Center; • $5 million in remodeling the Hampton Inn at Southridge; • $7 million to refurbish the Charleston Town Center, one of the largest urban malls on the East Coast; • $8 million in remodeling at the Charleston Marriott; • $13.5 million for a new Marriott Courtyard slated to open in 2014 and • $200,000 for the new Kanawha Café at Yeager Airport.

Source: Charleston CVB

WVE: At the 2013 West Virginia Governor’s Conference on Tourism, you were named the Tourism Professional of the Year, an honor that recognizes your significant contribution to the state’s tourism industry.

What would you say has been the key to this success?

AB: The key is to hire smart people and inspire them to be life-long learners, risk takers, innovators and hard workers.

I always look for people who can have dinner with the president, but if the trash needs taken out, they will do that, too. I also seek out colleagues who are the best in the industry and try to emulate their successes. Everything I have ever achieved in my career, including this accolade, has been due to the people around me.

WVE: Technology is constantly evolving, bringing with it exciting new opportunities for marketing.

How is it having an impact on the way your CVB promotes meetings in Charleston?

AB: The changing technology and its importance to tourism marketing is mind-boggling. Charles Ryan Associates helped 12

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us develop a new optimized and mobile-friendly Web site, which is already showing great promise. In conjunction, we launched the “I’m Charlie West” campaign, which was designed to get local residents to use social media platforms to tell friends and relatives why Charleston is a great place to visit. The number one reason why tourists come to Charleston is to visit with friends and relatives, and that statistic exceeds the national and state averages.

Also, more and more people are depending on advice from friends, relatives and social media platforms in making travel decisions. The marketing decisions are more complex, but the advantages of using technology levels the playing field, allowing a small city like Charleston to compete with larger contenders. Social media allows our marketing reach to literally go world-wide, which is something I could not claim when I started in the tourism industry.

WVE: As you look to the future, in what direction do you see the tourism industry moving?

AB: Policymakers and citizens will be more aware of the value of the CVB’s efforts to enhance a locality’s tax base through tourism expenditures. We are so fortunate in Charleston to have the support of Mayor Danny Jones, our city council and board of directors. I would like to see as much effort put toward tourism marketing as there is in attracting other industry sectors, and I believe that day will come.

WVE: What can you tell us about your plans for the CVB in 2014?

AB: In 2014, we will continue to strive to be the best economic development engine for the city and the region.

In February, we will host—along with our partners from all over the state—the Travel South USA Domestic Showcase, a motorcoach tour operator marketplace held for the first time in Charleston. This will help jump-start our sales efforts in a sector that had been almost abandoned by the CVB, though it continues to show growth nationally. We will continue to complement our aggressive strategies in selling the city to meeting planners with strong weekend travel offerings and messaging to fill hotel rooms on the weekends, primarily between May and November, with events like FestivALL, the Capitol City Biker Bash, the Vandalia Gathering, Live on the Levee and Appalachian Power games. 

West virginia by motorcoach

Amy Arnett

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acations are meant to be relaxing, but sometimes planning and traveling can be stressful. There are many ways to make the traveling process easier, and one of those is to skip the traditional types of travel for a motorcoach tour. While it may seem like an obvious choice, many don’t think about a coach bus as an option for their vacation plans. Scheduling one of these tours has a number of benefits, which include the convenience of not having to drive, make reservations or plan events, as well as the social perks that come with a group of travel companions.

Turner Tours, based in Detroit, MI, provides tours to the Mountain State every year. Jim and Carole Mayrose had never been to West Virginia before 2000, but they love traveling and enjoy the interaction with others along the way, which led them to browse motorcoach catalogs from Turner. The couple has now been to all 48 continental states and has traveled to West Virginia for three separate trips.

“Our first trip to West Virginia was for whitewater rafting on the Red River.

That was one of our favorites, as well as Canaan Valley Resort. We love that place and want to go back,” says Jim. “We really enjoy traveling by coach. I don’t have to drive, the accommodations and meals are good and we almost always end up visiting an interesting stop that we would not have known about otherwise. It’s just plain fun!”

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West virginia by motorcoach Steve and Diane Moore of Terra Haute, IN, have also come to West Virginia with Turner. “We probably wouldn’t have come to West Virginia on our own, but reading about the trips in the catalog made it sound interesting, and we can honestly say our trips there were some of the most enjoyable trips we’ve ever taken,” says Steve. “We can’t wait to see next year’s book and start planning our 2014 trips.”

The Breakdown The benefits of these group tours go beyond the passenger experience; motorcoach tourism significantly impacts both businesses and the state’s economy. In 2012, the motorcoach industry generated a total economic impact of more than $1 billion in West Virginia and was responsible for 14,420 jobs, according to the American Bus Association Foundation.

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Kathy Johnson, the domestic marketing specialist for the West Virginia Division of Tourism, works to familiarize touring companies with West Virginia and the unique opportunities available here.

According to Johnson, the attractions West Virginia has to offer are increasing, and business owners are constantly working to accommodate larger groups.

“The Elkins area has seen a tremendous amount of growth in the last several years. It started with the American Mountain Theatre, followed by the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad.

In turn, these attractions caused the need for more lodging and restaurants in the area,” says Johnson. “All of this rolls over into the outlying regions as well. Adaland Mansion in Philippi is a wonderful meal stop, Appalachian Glass in Weston explains the dying art of handblown glassmaking and the Flatwoods Outlet Center provides shopping.”

Though it may seem like long bus commutes would limit interested passengers, tour groups aren’t restricted to a regional customer base. Johnson explains that groups have come to West Virginia from all 48 continental states, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Bob Cline, the president of U.S. Tours, has been in the motorcoach industry for more than 35 years and estimates that the company, which is located in Parkersburg, has more than 500 departures and 15,000-20,000 passengers per year. The company’s tours of West Virginia specialize in showcasing the sites, music and history of Appalachia.

Ultimately, traveling through a tour company provides an economic boost for both parties. “For the consumer, there are efficiencies in time and money management when we are handling your arrangements,” says Cline. “Inevitably, you will see and do twice as much when you buy a tour package.”

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“Safety is also a major factor for tours, especially for seniors and students,” says Johnson. “Motorcoach tours are a cost-effective way of gaining that.” The group atmosphere of the coach tour

is a much safer environment than that of those who choose to travel to new places alone, and the tour companies coordinate reputable accommodations and sight-seeing venues. This eliminates the concern for passengers, especially those with special needs, such as a large student group.

Moving Forward “Today, the industry is much more experiential,” says Cline. “It’s not enough to simply look out the windows or attend a show. The consumer is looking to connect with a real experience. My first trip as a tour manager was to see the Grand Ole Opry. Now, they see the opry and get a chance to record their own songs.”

This change in expectations has created a dynamic industry that is always evolving to suit the preferences of travelers. Companies who specialize in motorcoaches secure group deals and handle the details, so there is no

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standing in lines, baggage is carried to your room and all the plans are pre-determined, which reduces the traditional stress. The cost efficiency has both budget-conscious travelers and those with more flexible finances taking notice. “Groups are becoming more and more active,” says Johnson.

“We would have never had a group of men come to play golf for five days 15 years ago. People like to have some free time in their itineraries and choice of activities, and there are more upscale options than ever before.”

The future of the industry is based on its marketing, according to Cline. Locations around the state have customized their lodging and dining options toward motorcoaches; consumers simply need to know about their options. “Media and marketing will drive us for the foreseeable future. I see West Virginia growing steadily at a better than average rate,” says Cline. “West Virginia needs buzz more than anything else.” 

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Destination West Virginia

M

ar ke tin g

International Marketing

ler e v a l Tr a We n o i at st Vir ginia to the Intern

Maggie Matsko

W

est Virginia is known all over the United States for its raw beauty and outdoor adventures, and that reputation has gone global, drawing international tourists who bring with them a boost to the state’s economy.

Visitors from around the world come every year to experience West Virginia’s wild and wonderful side, and this tourism trend is gaining momentum with the help of international marketing.

Exploring America There’s a reason why the U.S. is interested in attracting international tourists: when travelers come from abroad, the economic impact is great. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, “International travel is one of the largest exports for the United States, ranking ahead of agricultural goods and motor vehicles.” The International Trade Administration Manufacturing and Services Office of Travel and Tourism Industries has also reported that, in 2012, international travel was responsible for 7.8 million jobs, $1.46 trillion in travel and tourism sales and an 11.9 percent share of world traveler spending, putting the U.S. ahead of Spain and France.

Numbers like these show why international travel has become one of the United States’ top industries. In West Virginia, where a strong tourism industry is an economic

driver for the state, the West Virginia Division of Tourism also sees the value in international tourism. In 2012, the state’s tourism department reported that travel spending by all day and overnight visitors in the Mountain State was $5.1 billion. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the year 2012 brought an estimated 201,000 overseas and Canadian visitors to the Mountain State where they spent $36 million during their stay.

Travel South USA is an organization that understands the importance of international marketing and the role it plays in bringing tourists to the U.S. from around the world. As the official regional marketing organization for the southern United States, Travel South USA focuses its marketing efforts on connecting tour operators and journalists from around the world with destinations and attractions in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

“International tourism is not only big business but should be seen and protected as one of the South’s premier export products,” says Liz Bittner, executive director of Travel South USA. “International visitors buy goods and services using monies from outside the U.S., bringing new money into the region, states and local economies.”

www . wve x e c u t i ve . c o m

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Travel South USA captures 7 percent of all overseas arrivals to the U.S. and approximately 10 percent of all Canadian arrivals. In 2012, the organization reported that approximately 5.6 million Canadian and overseas visitors generated about $3 billion in export spending and supported 33,696 U.S. jobs, resulting in $762 million in payroll and $449 million in taxes.

Reaching an International Audience Whether marketing efforts are focused on tourists within the same time zone or those across the Atlantic, the main objective is to grab the attention of the specific audience.

“Good marketing speaks directly to the target,” says Bittner.

“Therefore, it is necessary to adapt a marketing message that can address each target audience. For instance, in our region, the Chinese tend to travel more in groups, and thus marketing agricultural and industrial touring combined with shopping would be an appropriate message for that market.

Conversely, Germans interested in the South are typically more comfortable traveling in the U.S., which tells us that marketing promotions that feature outdoor adventure and nature would likely be more successful to that audience.

It is not one size fits all when it comes to international marketing. You have to understand who you are targeting.”

Each year, the West Virginia Division of Tourism and the state’s convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) seek help

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from other organizations in order to effectively market the Mountain State to an international audience. In 2013, with the help of Travel South USA, West Virginia participated in a Canadian online advertising program, promotional advertising in Western Europe and Brazil and featured articles in travel magazines in the U.K., and the state hosted international tour operators and journalists on familiarization tours in West Virginia.

Travel South USA’s International Showcase provides an excellent opportunity for the Mountain State to create brand recognition and show what West Virginia has to offer. The event is tailored to target international buyers and U.S. tour operators who specialize in booking travel for international tourists with an interest in visiting the southeastern U.S. During the showcase, pre-scheduled appointments with buyers and operators take place in a pod-style format, which allows suppliers to group together to better promote their region.

The annual United States Travel Administration’s International Pow Wow (IPW) allows the state’s tourism professionals to meet with international tour operators and journalists from all over the world to promote West Virginia as a destination.

The event, a marketplace for international tour operators and media from all over the world, draws more than 5,000 people from the travel and tourism industries in 70 countries.

International Marketing “At the 2013 IPW, we met with a U.K. operator, and we now have a 14-day itinerary focusing specifically on West Virginia. The program, called Totally West Virginia, came at no cost to us, and that’s pretty fantastic for the tourism industry,” says Betty Cutlip, marketing manager for the West Virginia Division of Tourism.

Canaan, Davis and Thomas. A tour of The Greenbrier and Lewisburg are on the agenda, as well, and the Fayetteville area proves to be a highlight with its rafting, hiking, biking and bridge walk. The last destination is Charleston, where the guests tour the capitol complex and enjoy the local cuisine before flying out of Yeager Airport.

To market tourism internationally, the Charleston CVB participates in trade show marketing for international group travel. Their most effective marketing strategy, though, is public relations outreach. In 2013, the CVB hosted a group of travel writers who each represented Germany, Japan and England.

West Virginia is Calling

“Bringing international media and tour operators on familiarization tours of West Virginia to get a first-hand look at our product seems to be a very effective way to impact the tourism industry,” says Cutlip. “After the tour, they go home and promote what we have available to suit their clients’ needs and interests.”

Like any type of business, West Virginia’s tourism industry is embracing the opportunity available through the global marketplace. Tourism is West Virginia’s leading industry, and it has its sights set on being recognized internationally as a premier vacation destination. In order to remain competitive, it is continually refining its product, adding new lodging and restaurants and introducing new thrill-seeking adventures for all ages and interests. The Mountain State has a reputation for being wild and wonderful, and thanks to the efforts of the state’s tourism division and CVBs, word is getting out on an international scale.

During a familiarization tour, the tour operators and journalists are picked up from Dulles International Airport and taken to the Eastern Panhandle to the towns of Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown, Martinsburg and Berkeley Springs. The next stop is the Monongahela National Forest to visit West Virginia’s state parks and quaint towns like Blackwater Falls,

“West Virginia is an unknown product to a lot of international folks,” Cutlip says of the importance of international marketing.

“Once they experience the Mountain State, though, they fall in love with it and the people here. As an outdoor recreation mecca and one of the safest states in the nation, we have everything the visitors want at a reasonable price.” 

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photo sharing for your big day

Amy Arnett

W

eddings are the most special of occasions, and the photos taken at them last for generations, showing the magic of a beautiful day and a timeless love between two people. Sometimes, the best photos even come from the wedding guests, giving the bride and groom keepsakes from a different perspective.

In the past, brides and grooms have given guests disposable cameras at the wedding reception, providing the happy couple with a variety of photos that were more fun than traditional. Now, the digital age is upon us, and film has become virtually obsolete. These days, guests snap photos with their smartphones, and there are now apps available for couples to easily access, organize and display these photos.

Once the package is selected, customers receive their instruction cards. The Web site recommends that couples mail these out with their invitations or give them to guests as they arrive at the wedding reception. The Eversnap app can be easily downloaded using an app marketplace, and from there, guests can then log into the event’s album and begin uploading photos in real time. The entire process takes only a few minutes but leads to an album of timeless memories.

Eversnap, formerly known as Wedding Snap, is a Weband app-based way to gather, organize and share photos.

Launched in 2012, Eversnap’s goal is to help its users— who are fondly called Snappers—capture memories from their life events. While Eversnap can be used for any type of event, like graduations, birthdays and holidays, the app has a special focus on weddings.

The company’s CEO, Sasha Eslami, has explained that the Eversnap team is a small group of professionals who are focused on customer satisfaction above all else. The small staff employs a full-time customer service specialist, and the Web site offers customer support in the form of live chat, email and a support hotline.

The streamlined process of sharing photos begins when couples register at www.eversnapapp.com. Three wedding packages are offered by the company: the Essentials, the Unforgettable and the Luxury. At $99, the Essentials package is the most budget-friendly option and includes unlimited photos, videos and albums that can be downloaded and printed, as well as 200 custom instruction cards to give to guests. The instruction cards guide guests in using the online album code specific to the event they are attending.

At $199, the company’s most popular package, the Unforgettable, includes all of the same items as the Essentials package and adds two-day shipping for instruction cards and professional retouching for all shared photos.

The Luxury package, which costs $249, comes with the value of a customized, active slideshow that can be projected throughout your event. Photos from the event are automatically incorporated into the slideshow as they are taken, and Eversnap moderates each slideshow to ensure customer satisfaction.

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Once the wedding is over, Eversnap can also be used for free to chronicle other events in the happy couple’s new life together like family reunions, vacations and, of course, the honeymoon. 

Sports Complexes Boost the Mountain State

The Home Field Advantage Sports Complexes Boost the Mountain State

Amy Arnett

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ports are a big deal here in the Mountain State; we love to cheer on our collegiate and minor league teams. Oftentimes, that spirit carries over into the local athletic scene as well. There are many communitybased and high school teams that call West Virginia home, and their tournaments draw large numbers of participants and supporters. Events of this size require facilities that can handle crowds, and West Virginia has numerous options for tournaments for every sport. The benefits of having large facilities like the WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, the Bridgeport Conference Complex in Bridgeport and the Summersville Arena & Conference Center in Summersville go beyond housing a sports tournament. Attracting participants from several other states and from every part of West Virginia leads to positive economic benefits for cities that invest in these facilities.

The Ohio Valley Athletic Conference’s wrestling tournament at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, WV.

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WesBanco Arena In 1978, the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) purchased floor clocks for their wrestling tournament and stored them at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, WV. In 1979, OVAC began holding its annual wrestling tournament at the arena, and it has become the event’s permanent home. The tournament, which has since been named the Ron Mauck Tournament after its longtime director, brings almost 40 schools to the arena for one weekend each January.

WesBanco Arena facilitates more than a wrestling tournament for OVAC; it also hosts their annual cheerleading competition and houses the OVAC Hall of Fame and a small museum on the second floor of the arena. “WesBanco holds our history,” says Ron Mauck, who still works with the tournament each year, coordinating with his successor, Dr. Dan Doyle. “We’ve had an unbelievable relationship with them. They are a very important part of our conference, and it all started with wrestling.”

In preparation for the tournament, the arena has to cover the ice with plywood, then eight mats are set up for the wrestlers. There are several matches happening at once, but coverage of the event has now become all-encompassing. Cameras are set up on each mat throughout the tournament, and each feed is broadcast over the Internet.

The Wheeling community has become a large part of the OVAC conference as well. “It has a very positive impact for us because we have a lot of rooms that go to wrestlers, their parents and staff,” says Steve Novotney, director of Marketing for The McClure Hotel. “I see several restaurants and businesses that react to the additional people in town. We welcome it for the positive impact but also because it is a tradition.”

Bridgeport Recreation Complex Bridgeport, WV is now home to one of the newest facilities in the state, the Bridgeport Recreation Complex. The complex boasts four new baseball fields, a multipurpose field, a full-size basketball court and hiking trails. Since its establishment in 2012, the baseball fields have hosted more than 12 tournaments, including the Bridgeport Bracket Bash, which brings almost 40 teams into Bridgeport each summer.

“The Bridgeport Bracket Bash is one of the few tournaments where you can see the majority of the games in one location,” says Robert Marra, coordinator of the tournament. “In addition to that, each game is announced, and the scores are kept on a scoreboard. These are little touches that make a big difference and wouldn’t be possible without the Bridgeport Recreation Complex.”

The tournament began in 2011, but in 2012, Marra spoke with

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Sports Complexes Boost the Mountain State Don Burton, director of Bridgeport Parks and Recreation, about relocating the Bracket Bash to the newly-built recreation complex. “It was the first year of the complex, and we wanted to be able to show it off to as many people as possible,” says Marra. He and his wife, Diane, coordinated the tournament alongside Burton and volunteers from the community. “The complex is a tremendous facility. It’s built with the needs of the players and their families in mind.”

“My goal is for each spectator, wrestler and coach to have a great experience,” says Parlier. “I stay in touch with participants during the entire year, and I am always asking for any input that could improve the tournament.” One of the improvements Parlier hopes to make this year is adding an additional mat, something that is possible because of the Summersville facility. “Without the available square footage on the floor, it would not be possible for us to do what we do.”

Burton says that hosting tournaments like this not only helps gain exposure for the new facility but also creates a domino effect for local businesses. “I would estimate that the revenue created from hotel rooms, gas, food and other expenses is around $750,000 per tournament,” says Burton. “Each family spends close to $500 on a weekend tournament. It has a major economic impact for the local community.”

Many of the tournament’s participants return year after year to what many say is their favorite competition. Greenbrier West High School Coach Jeremy Tincher has been coaching wrestling since 1996 and now attends The Lumberjack Classic each year with his students. “I love going to Summersville because it’s close, and there is some great competition,” says Tincher. “Sometimes, we have to travel three hours or more to get quality competition, but this tournament brings teams from all over close to home.”

Summersville Arena & Conference Center In the southern part of the state, a local wrestling tournament has been growing in size since its formation in 2008.

The Lumberjack Classic was started by Lee Parlier, who still coordinates the tournament today, with teams participating from Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia. Teams from 35 schools bring in approximately 700 wrestlers for two days in the winter to participate in more than 1,400 individual matches.

Wrestling is a high-contact sport, and a facility’s cleanliness is a concern for many of the coaches. With a facility like Summersville Arena, coaches are at ease knowing that the mats are clean and there is enough room for their teams and parents to be comfortable. “A wrestling tournament can be a big undertaking, and by the end of the week, you’re pretty worn out,” says Tincher. “It’s a great thing to be able to have room to relax and find places to sit down or get away from the crowds.” 

Lottery Proceeds

Schools and Education

More than $2.7 billion in West Virginia Lottery proceeds have been used to strengthen public education in West Virginia since the Lottery began operations in 1986. These proceeds have improved public education at every level by providing new and improved schools through the West Virginia School Building Authority, placing computers in the classrooms through efforts of the West Virginia Department of Education, and providing higher education opportunities for students through funding for the PROMISE Scholarship program.

In FY 2013, the State of West Virginia received a total of $126.6 million of Lottery proceeds for Education, and an additional $29 million for the PROMISE scholarship program.

More Than $7.4 Billion In Proceeds To West Virginia Since 1986 executivemagad.indd 1

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On-Site Nearby

SiteAnalysis

Beckley-Raleigh Beckley-Raleigh County Convention County Convention Center Center (304) 252-7361 (304) 252-7361 Blackwater Blackwater Falls StateFalls Park State Park (304) 259-5216 (304) 259-5216 Bridgeport Bridgeport Conference Conference Center Center (304) 808-3000 (304) 808-3000 Cabell-Huntington Cabell-Huntington Convention Convention & Visitors&Bureau Visitors Bureau(304) 525-7333 (304) 525-7333 CacaponCacapon Resort State Resort Park State Park (304) 258-1022 (304) 258-1022 Canaan Valley Canaan Resort Valley State Resort Park State Park (800) 622-4121 (800) 622-4121 Charleston Charleston Conference Conference Center Center (304) 414-0449 (304) 414-0449 Charleston Charleston Marriott Town Marriott Center Town Center Chief Logan Chief State Logan Park State Park

(304) 353-3620 (304) 353-3620 (304) 855-6100 (304) 855-6100

Clay Center Clay for Center the Arts forand the Sciences Arts and Sciences of WV of WV Comfort Inn-Parkersburg Comfort Inn-Parkersburg

(304) 561-3570 (304) 561-3570 (304) 424-5300 (304) 424-5300

Comfort Suites-Bridgeport Comfort Suites-Bridgeport (304) 933-3390 (304) 933-3390 Flatwoods Flatwoods Days Hotel Days andHotel Conference and Conference Center Center (304) 765-5055 (304) 765-5055 Greater Morgantown Greater Morgantown Convention Convention & Visitors&Bureau Visitors Bureau (800) 458-7373 (800) 458-7373 Greenbrier Greenbrier County Convention County Convention & Visitors&Bureau Visitors Bureau(800) 833-2068 (800) 833-2068 Hawks Nest Hawks State Nest Park State Park (304) 658-5212 (304) 658-5212 North Bend North State Bend Park State Park (304) 643-2931 (304) 643-2931 Oglebay Resort Oglebay and Resort Conference and Conference Center Center (800) 972-1991 (800) 972-1991 PipestemPipestem Resort State Resort Park State Park (304) 466-1800 (304) 466-1800 Residence Residence Inn by Marriott Inn by Marriott (304) 599-0237 (304) 599-0237 Schoenbaum Schoenbaum Family Enrichment Family Enrichment Center Center (304) 414-4400 (304) 414-4400 Summersville Summersville Arena & Conference Arena & Conference Center Center (304) 872-3722 (304) 872-3722 TamarackTamarack Conference Conference Center Center (304) 256-6843 (304) 256-6843 Twin FallsTwin Resort Falls State Resort Park State Park (304) 294-4000 (304) 294-4000 Tygart Lake Tygart State Lake Park State Park (304) 265-6144 (304) 265-6144

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On-Site Nearby

West Virginia Meeting

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WV MEETING SITE ANALYSIS

Changes may occur. EEP recommends that you contact each facility directly to ensure the most up-to-date information.

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WEST VIRGINIA’S State Park Professionals

Scenes

Behind the Maggie Matsko

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ince the 1920s, West Virginia State Parks and State Forests has provided major tourist attractions and travel destinations for individuals visiting the Mountain State. According to www.wvstateparks.com, the state’s park system is made up of 34 state parks, eight state forests, five wildlife management areas, the Greenbrier River Trail and the North Bend Rail Trail, all brimming with unmatched scenery and adventure.

When people visit a state park within West Virginia’s parks system, they are thinking about what they can see and do during their trip and not necessarily about those who make the park experience possible. It takes many people to maintain and run such a large system of parks, forests and tourism sites; it also takes a special kind of person—the type that has a passion for sharing West Virginia’s heritage and beauty with others.

Some of these state park employees, like Melissa Brown, work behind the scenes to ensure the flow of processes like registering guests or planning events for visitors or, like Scott Fortney, hold extensive knowledge on special topics that makes visitors’ experiences one of a kind. Others, like Michael Smith, can make history come alive in new ways for the park system’s guests.

Here we take a look at these three West Virginia State Parks employees and the roles they play in keeping West Virginia wild and wonderful.

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Melissa Brown

Supervisor 1, Chief Logan State Park Number of Years with West Virginia State Parks: 7 www.chiefloganstatepark.com Since her first day on the job, interacting with visitors at Chief Logan State Park has kept Melissa Brown motivated.

“It is great to be able to come to a job you enjoy and don’t dread coming to in the morning,” says Brown. “The people, lodge and environment are all the things that make this location a great place to work and stay.”

Brown began her career with the state parks system as a lead desk clerk at the Chief Logan Lodge, Hotel and Conference Center in Logan, WV. As a new employee of the state park system, she was determined to understand the ins and outs of the park as well as its new computer and reservation system. “It was second nature to me to want to know about every aspect of the job,” says Brown.

The reservation system is now used at all of the state park lodges in West Virginia, including cabins at lodge parks and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Using computers and software is a more efficient way to check a guest in and out of a room, arrange blocks of hotel rooms for groups and set up rates and package information.

Scott Fortney

Park Superintendent, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park Number of Years with West Virginia State Parks: 17 www.cassrailroad.com Scott Fortney has been a fan of trains since he was a toddler, and today, as the superintendent at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Cass, WV, it appears that his childhood dream of working with locomotives has come true. “I have been learning about trains since I was very young, and it has proven to be very helpful in my career to have that knowledge and understand how these engines work and what it takes to restore them to their historic beauty,” says Fortney.

As the superintendent of the park, Fortney is responsible for the operation, security and maintenance of the entire park. In addition, he is also accountable for fiscal control, administrative functions and budget, including revenue collection, enhancement and operating the area. “I oversee the maintenance of all of the park buildings, trains and grounds, and while it keeps me busy, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” says Fortney Being a part of the state parks system is something that runs in Fortney’s family. His father, Dr. Ronald Fortney, spent the majority of his career involved with West Virginia State Parks and State Forests. “My father was a source

Brown also helps other state parks when they have technical issues with the reservation system and assists with training.

It was her understanding of and experience with the system that led to her role as one of the three members in the park system involved in operational support. “Helping fellow employees at other parks is rewarding,” says Brown.

Brown, like all staff members at Chief Logan Lodge, embraces the idea that making a guest feel taken care of is a top priority. For instance, the entire team prepared to open the lodge’s doors for the first time for the Aracoma High School Reunion when the rooms were not yet completely furnished. For two months, the staff worked diligently to make this a very memorable event for these guests, and now the same group returns every three years to the facility.

As Brown looks back on her introduction to the park system, she is also looking forward. “I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I do hope there is continued opportunity to meet new people and be an asset to the state parks of West Virginia.”

of constant encouragement and guidance for my career path,” says Fortney. “My childhood was spent touring and learning about each and every state park in West Virginia.”

Fortney enjoys not only getting to meet different people through his job but also making sure that each guest has a unique experience at Cass Scenic Railroad. A family who traveled from Southern West Virginia had a 3-year-old boy who was getting ready to have major heart surgery.

The little boy loves trains, and his mother wrote to ask Fortney if there was anything the staff could do to make their family vacation a little more special. “Our staff was all about making sure that every moment of their visit was special,” says Fortney. “From tours of the locomotive shop to blowing the whistles on the engines, we made sure that their vacation was one they wouldn’t forget.”

Fortney’s values are focused on community support, ensuring great family experiences and showing visitors the beauty every West Virginia state park has to offer, and he shares those values with his wife and children. “My wife, Rita, and I have raised our children in five different West Virginia state parks. Every park has allowed me to share with my children truly unique experiences,” says Fortney.

“I believe that getting all children excited about all that the state parks have to offer will lead to a lifetime of positive visitor experiences and memories.”

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WEST VIRGINIA’S State Park Professionals

Michael Smith

Park Superintendent, Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park Number of Years with West Virginia State Parks: 31 www.droopmountainbattlefield.com Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, located in Hillsboro, WV, is known for its rich history and lively Civil War reenactments. Michael Smith, superintendent of the park, started contacting reenactment groups because he wanted visitors to experience a less traditional way of learning about this era in history. “Seeing a horse and uniformed rider come galloping up near you, feeling the concussion from a nearby cannon blast and talking with a first-person interpreter are experiential learning opportunities that often lead to a renewed interest in more conventional learning methods such as books and videos,” says Smith.

From a very early age, Smith nurtured a love for the outdoors, and that love led to his career choice with West Virginia’s state parks system. “Their mission to preserve and protect the natural, cultural and historical resources of our state has always resonated with me,” says Smith. His first assignment was serving as a conservation aide at the Bluestone Public Hunting and Fishing Area in Summers County. There, he learned the basics of park work, and after two years,

he was promoted to superintendent at Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park. “My work at the park has been challenging and fulfilling and has provided a wonderful place to raise my two children,” says Smith.

Since his first day at Droop Mountain Battlefield, Smith has made it his personal policy to talk with anybody, anytime, believing that one of the major reasons he is there is to serve the visiting public. “Over the years, this has been the most rewarding part of my job, as I have often learned as much from visitors as they learned from me,” says Smith.

Smith has been a part of many projects for the park and is thankful for the staff and park system administration’s support. This past November, the 2013 sesquicentennial memorial hikes were held at the park for descendants of soldiers killed in the Battle of Droop Mountain, and they were able to walk the actual routes of their ancestors.

“While I conceived the idea and led these hikes, it never could have happened without support from park system administration, local parks staff, Pocahontas County’s tourism commission and many others, especially the individual hikers themselves,” says Smith. “Our mountains, streams and forests are certainly wonderful, but it is our people who make West Virginia’s parks some of the finest in the nation.” 

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Meeting Place Destination

Courtney Sisk

West Virginia Your Meeting Place Destination

I

n corporate America, the purpose of having a meeting, conference or retreat is to provide an environment in which a company’s team can exchange ideas, develop solutions, drive business and strengthen relationships.

Conference spaces around the country come in all sizes, accompanied by a long list of available amenities. The decision on how to choose one location over all the others can be a tough one to make.

What people all over the country and from all industries are coming to realize is that West Virginia’s many unique features and opportunities not only meet a planner’s event criteria but, in many ways, exceed them. From small gatherings to large conferences, historical tours to team building exercises, West Virginia has the resources to accommodate groups of all sizes and ensure meetings are successful in every aspect. Whether meeting planners are looking for a grand banquet hall or a state-of-the-art conference room, it’s available in West Virginia.

Planning Your Trip The West Virginia Division of Tourism’s Web site is often the first stop for meeting planners and group travel coordinators who are researching the state’s regions and attractions. Through the site, they can develop travel itineraries and map out their trips, adding stops or sites they want to include in their visit, then share these online travel plans with their groups.

In addition to the Web site, visitors can get planning assistance from travel counselors by calling the tourism department’s toll free number, (800) CALL-WVA. The tourism department also has a full-time group coordinator on staff.

Kathy Johnson acts as the liaison between the meeting planners and the private sectors.

“The main reason people want to hold their meeting or conference in West Virginia is because it’s more cost effective here than other states,” says Johnson. “West Virginia also offers very unique venues and activities, and we’re not far from major cities.”

As a matter of fact, West Virginia is centrally located between the Mid-Atlantic and the southeastern U.S., a location that puts it within a day’s drive of more than 75 percent of the United States’ population. This close proximity to so many people makes the Mountain State an ideal destination for both frequent meetings and annual conferences.

Whether traveling by car or plane, it’s easy to get to the Mountain State from almost anywhere. West Virginia sits at the crossroads of six interstates: I-64, I-68, I-70, I-77, I-79 and I-81. It is also home to eight commercial airports, many of which offer direct flights to major regional hubs. For visitors in the Washington, D.C. area, the MARC Rail’s Brunswick Line will bring them by train to Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg in the Eastern Panhandle.

When planners begin to explore which city or region of the state they would like to visit, the local convention and visitors bureaus (CVB) and chambers of commerce prove to be sources of valuable information. CVB staff members can help people make the right local connections so their trip to West Virginia is a memorable one. Specifically, a CVB can help in selecting the right event facility and assist with pre-event planning and arrangements, as well as itineraries for attendees and their families.

In Jefferson County, the most visited county in West Virginia, the local CVB has developed special itineraries to suit different schedules and interests, which can be viewed at www. wveasterngateway.com/itineraries.php. They can also create an individualized itinerary for those guests with specific

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needs. In Southern West Virginia, the local CVB can assist with brochure mailings, local tour information and visitor center information displayed at your meeting or conference.

In addition to the recognition from the NGA, the city of Charleston was awarded the distinction of hosting the Travel South USA Domestic Showcase in February 2014.

A Nationally Recognized Destination

The domestic showcase is an event for southern tourism organizations to connect with qualified tour operators focused on developing southern tours. As the host city and state, Charleston, WV had the unique opportunity to highlight its tourism products while providing a first-class experience for more than 500 delegates in attendance.

The nation’s leaders are recognizing that West Virginia is one of the premier places in the country to hold a major event.

The Mountain State will host the nation’s governors for the National Governors Association’s (NGA) Summer Meeting in July 2015.

NGA’s nine-governor executive committee selected West Virginia over several other states because of its excellent accommodations and venue options, as well as its overall appeal. The state’s strong bid demonstrated its ability to meet all of the association’s criteria for hosting a summer meeting, including hotel and meeting space, transportation requirements and security and volunteer needs.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase wild, wonderful West Virginia to my colleagues from across the country,” says West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin.

“White Sulphur Springs is one of West Virginia’s small town gems, and I’m confident this will be a productive and memorable experience for everyone involved.” wvexadnew6.pdf

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The reasons Charleston was chosen for the showcase include the city’s 3,500 citywide hotel rooms, with more than 1,400 in downtown Charleston alone, and its easily navigable downtown area, which is full of thriving, local restaurants and unique shops.

Charleston is also the perfect gateway to other West Virginia activities. The Mountain State is known for its skiing, worldclass zip line canopy tours, whitewater rafting, ATV trails, golfing, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, mountain biking, canoeing and kayaking. All of these adventures and more are within an hour’s drive or less of Charleston.

And what would West Virginia’s outdoor adventures be without participation from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA)?

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304-424-5300 Parkersburg

401 37th Street Parkersburg, WV 26101

Meeting Place Destination In 2013, more than 50,000 Boy Scouts and their leaders attended what was one of the largest events ever held in West Virginia: the National Scout Jamboree.

The jamboree was held at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, a 10,600-acre site in the New River Gorge near the towns of Fayetteville, Mount Hope and Glen Jean. The site lies adjacent to more than 70,000 acres of the New River Gorge National River area, providing the Scouts easy access to activities such as whitewater rafting, hiking, bicycling and rock climbing.

The work to attract the event to West Virginia started in 2007, when the BSA decided to move the National Scout Jamboree from its former location on a Virginia military base to a permanent facility that the organization would own. West Virginia competed in a nationwide search to become the new host to the Scout camp. Proposals were submitted for 82 sites in 28 states.

Candidate sites were required to be at least 5,000 acres in size, lie within 25 miles of interstate highways and near adequate medical facilities and have spectacular scenery as a backdrop for recreational activities. Gary Hartley, spokesman for the BSA, says two deciding factors in the Scouts choosing the Fayette County location were its

access to outdoor recreation and its location to population centers on the East Coast.

“This is a beautiful state with a great outdoor environment and, even more importantly, great people,” says Hartley.

“Everyone from government officials to the locals really pulled together to make it a phenomenal success.”

The next national jamboree will be held in 2017. In 2019, the reserve will host the World Scout Jamboree, the first time in more than 40 years that the event has been held in the United States. The World Scout Jamboree is expected to draw 100,000 Scouts from more than 160 countries and territories around the globe.

West Virginia’s capabilities to provide meeting space and entertain all age groups is a best-kept secret—but not for long. As Travel South, the National Governors Association and even the Boy Scouts of America will tell you, events of all sizes and purposes find great success along the rivers and throughout the hills of the Mountain State. For more information or for help in planning your next meeting or conference in West Virginia, visit www.wvtourism.com. 

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Charleston Conference Center................................. 15

Summersville CVB................................................2-3

Charleston Marriott Town Center...............................4

Tamarack Conference Center............ Inside Front Cover

Comfort Inn-Parkersburg...................................30-31

The Clay Center....................................................19

Flatwoods Days Hotel...........................................22

The Media Center..................................................18

Greater Bridgeport CVB............................................7

The Schoenbaum Center........................................22

Greater Morgantown CVB.......................................10

West Virginia Lottery..............................................23

Greenbrier County CVB..............................Back Cover

West Virginia State Parks....... Cover, Inside Back Cover

Visit and support your state parks every chance you get.

State park lodgeS meet and exceed meeting planner expectations. open year-round, parks host small gatherings to full-conference requirements. ample parking, outstanding food and catering service, and onsite meeting planner assistance make state parks an exceptional value.

Tygart Lake North Bend 304-643-2931 northbendsp.com

Blackwater Falls 304-259-5216 blackwaterfalls.com Canaan Valley 304-866-4121 canaanresort.com

Stonewall 304-269-7400 stonewallresort.com

planning a family or high school reunion? Meeting? annual conference?

Make a West Virginia State park your site choice.

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Chief Logan Lodge Twin Falls

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Hawks Nest 304-658-5212 hawksnestsp.com

wvstateparks.com Pipestem 304-466-1800 pipestemresort.com

MEET UP

Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center Rahall Conference Room

The Greenbrier Valley offers a variety of unique meeting and event venues to suit any occasion, whether it be an annual meeting, corporate retreat, wedding or reunion.

Choosing the Greenbrier Valley as your event location offers guests the opportunity to take advantage of the area’s wonderful amenities like hiking the 78-mile Greenbrier River, shopping in Lewisburg, America’s Coolest Small Town, or exploring the famous Greenbrier resort.

LEWISBURG

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From the 100,000 square feet of meeting space and amenities of America’s Resort, The Greenbrier, to the many facilities of the West Virginia State Fair or Lewisburg’s very own Carnegie Hall to the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center, an assortment of options are available.

For complete venue details, call to request a Destination Planning Guide at 800-833-2068.

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[ technology ]

Cloud Computing Taking IT to the Next Level

If you have daily access to a computer, you

What Businesses Should Know About Cloud Computing

have likely heard of cloud computing, but you may not understand what it is, how it works or how it can help your business. The term cloud computing refers to the storage and accessibility of data and programs through the Internet instead of through a computer hard drive. In order to understand how cloud computing can influence your business, it is necessary to understand the basic technical concepts behind the term.

Cloud computing has become a catchall category in today’s information technology (IT) landscape. The variety of cloud types includes public, private and hybrid, as well as hosted versus managed, and many providers offer their own custom spin on the concept. The key is learning how to make cloud computing work for you and your business.

As with the installation of most types of new technology, there are many things businesses should consider before adopting the use of cloud-based data storage and sharing. For instance, it’s important to understand how cloud computing can help your business, what the benefits of using a service provider are and what, if any, elements of cloud computing you should be concerned about before making the leap.

Before adopting a cloud solution, there are things a business should consider. Cloud solutions are generally focused on reducing IT-related spending while increasing the reliability of business applications, protecting business data, lowering the total cost of ownership and getting a resilient, protected system for your business. Security is also key; businesses must ensure that their cloud services are protected and secured. Traffic must be encrypted and private, and service providers must be trustworthy and maintain proper compliance to guarantee your data is safe.

By Doug Tate

Using a Cloud Service Provider Service providers bring key value to the businesses they serve in a couple of different ways. Consider the requirements of a stable information technology infrastructure. Businesses need the proper facilities to house the hardware, power and cooling, as well as specialized software and a team of technicians and engineers to keep it all working. Many businesses have taken serious consideration of the cost of IT-enabled business, and service providers can remove this layer of concern and provide IT as a service so businesses can focus on their mission, vision and

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Losing a parent shouldn’t mean losing a good education When a parent or guardian is permanently disabled or killed in a workplace accident, their children and families are also victims.

Since 1999, Kids’ Chance of West Virginia has helped reduce the burden for these families by providing scholarships to their children.

Kids’ Chance is a nonprofit, volunteer organization.

Every dollar of your contribution helps us provide scholarships to West Virginia students.

Kids’ Chance

of West Virginia, Inc.

Educating Children of Injured Workers

To learn more about us or to make a donation, please visit

www.kidschancewv.org Ad Courtesy of Rollins, Clevenger & Rollins, CPA 66

west virginia executive

core values. Cloud computing can aid in getting technology management and administration out of the way. With a service provider, businesses pay less and get a higher level of service.

It is important to consider a service provider that will customize the experience for your business. One size does not fit all, and many companies find themselves locked into a service that doesn’t necessarily work for them. A local provider will bring key value in the form of a relationship. The more the provider can learn about your business, the better the IT experience can be catered to your business goals. Local providers can also provide on-site visits and tours and facilitate direct data access in the event of a disaster. Many are even willing to set up a smallscale proof on concept projects so you can test a cloud service before committing. Ask your provider if they would be willing to let you test drive their services before you buy.

It is also a good idea to ask others for advice. What are businesses around you doing? Are there cloud adopters in your peer group? Technical knowhow is a key component. The professionalism and relational elements of the provider are important as well. Does the provider have enough business knowledge to design an IT solution that will fit your needs? Each service provider should be able to provide local references for customers using their cloud computing services.

BUILDING BETTER SINCE 1964

Concerns About Cloud Computing Data security is the number one concern of cloud use. Businesses must ensure that their information is protected, private and not accessible by anyone unauthorized. Service providers must maintain certifications that ensure their processes, procedures, facilities and employees have undergone in-depth audits and are secure.

Accessibility of your data is also a critical component. Where is the service provider? Can you see where your data is located?

Do you have multiple Internet paths to your applications? Can you meet the engineers and technicians keeping your systems alive? With many service providers out there advertising and soliciting your business, care must be taken in who you trust with your business data. What is the service provider’s data protection and business continuity plan? In the event of a disaster, how will you gain access to your data? What if your business data is too large to download via the Internet in a reasonable amount of time? Does the provider allow direct access to your cloud system in an emergency? Be certain that these questions have satisfactory answers before settling on a service provider; this will ensure that your cloud computing experience is one of efficiency and purpose rather than an IT nightmare.

Cloud computing is a great concept when executed properly.

Cloud services allow companies to focus on their core business and, in many cases, save money while doing it. Many companies are now accelerating their business through technology provided to them via cloud service providers. Others are starting with their own internal cloud systems. Whether you choose a private, public or hybrid approach, cloud computing may be just the thing your company needs to take IT to the next level. 

ENERGY • TRANSPORTATION • WATER & WASTE

(304) 722-4237 • www.ordersconstruction.com 67 www.wvexecutive.com

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Apprenticeship Training Works CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF A HIGHLY SKILLED, DRUG-FREE WORK FORCE

BOILERMAKERS • BRICKLAYERS • CARPENTERS/MILLWRIGHTS • CEMENT MASONS & PLASTERERS ELECTRICIANS • INSULATORS • IRONWORKERS • LABORERS • OPERATING ENGINEERS PAINTERS • PLUMBERS/PIPEFITTERS/SPRINKLER FITTERS • ROOFERS • SHEET METAL WORKERS

West Virginia Construction Apprenticeship Programs provide a combination of onthe-job training and related classroom instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. Apprenticeship training is a proven system of training that benefits workers, companies, and communities. For more information, visit wvapprenticeships.com.

Skilled Labor Across West Virginia’s Industries

West Virginia State Building & Construction Trades

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• Chemical Plants

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• Health Care Facilities

[ technology ]

The 411 of

Optimizing Your Online Business Presence Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to a set of industry practices that aims to increase search engine traffic to a Web site.

By Venkat Gudivada

With 2.4 billion Internet users

worldwide, Web sites have become a vital marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. Consumers today have limitless information available at their fingertips at all times, making shopping easier for them—and competition tighter for businesses. In fact, the Web has taken competition to a new global level; businesses are not only competing with other businesses in their town or region but with products and services all over the world.

The three big search engines—Google, Yahoo and Bing—make up for most of the Web search traffic in the U.S., and almost all Web sites compete for top spots in search engine results pages (SERP), which makes maximizing the efficiency of your site crucial.

Web sites are often the first point of contact between a potential customer and a product or service supplier, making the content and navigation of a site a vital piece of the sales pitch. Drawing customers to your Web site before your competitor’s site is all the more important.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to a set of industry practices that aims to increase search engine traffic to a Web site. SEO has become a game-changer for Web-based consumerism, and yet many people—including businesses that could greatly benefit from utilizing it—are still unaware of what it is and how it works.

Recommended SEO Practices Businesses should take a long-term, strategic approach to attracting and sustaining search engine traffic. Depending on what types of SEO practices are already in place on a Web site, complying with the requirements of search engines may involve only minor changes or a major rewrite and reorganization. SEO practices that are sure to help boost your ranking and customer return are those that focus on content, site organization, internal and external links, negative SEO and monitoring SEO performance.

The single most important factor to attract traffic to a site is its content. Quality content has the best chance of becoming popular, and search engines reward such content with higher rankings in SERP.

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For some businesses, customers coming through search engines represent an important marketing channel. HubSpot, marketing software that is designed to help businesses optimize their Web sites, provides valuable insight into the role played by Web search engines in improving sales revenues of businesses.

of users never scroll past the first page of search results

of global Internet users research products online

of the links that users click on are organic, not paid

of online shoppers begin by using a search engine

of all organic clicks go to the top three organic search results

more inbound links

Companies that blog have

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A large part of content creation is in the natural use of targeted or theme keywords. Keywords should not be repeated too often at the expense of good writing. Content should be written naturally with relevant theme words and phrases spread across the entire article. Different users of a Web site may use different vocabularies. Content should accommodate for these variations by choosing a good mix of theme words and phrases.

Having a privacy policy page for Web sites also helps to improve their trustworthiness.

A carefully-designed directory structure for content not only helps with site maintenance but also helps search engine robots traverse a Web site and index its content. Site maps are an important component of well-designed Web sites because they depict the structure of the site. A site map should be provided in at least two formats: XML format for the search engines and plain text format for the users.

Text links play a central role in helping search engine robots navigate from one page to another to ensure comprehensive indexing of site content. One way to build links is to ask webmasters from authoritative sites relevant to your business to link back to your Web pages. If a page points to external links, it is important to ensure that these links are of high value and point to trusted sites. If the sites are not reputable, there is a risk that your Web site will incur penalties in the form of reduced rank.

Negative SEO refers to webmasters building poor quality links to their competitors’ Web sites so that the latter are penalized by either pushing them to lower positions in SERP or eliminating them from a search engine’s index. Negative SEO is a reality, and many affiliate Web sites are already affected

since they typically violate search engine guidelines. Businesses should guard against negative SEO by closely monitoring any subversive activities that insert undesirable backlinks.

SEO performance monitoring should be an ongoing activity, and businesses should respond to changing guidelines and new approved SEO strategies from search engine companies so that their SEO practices are in compliance. Responding to these events may entail site reorganization to achieve desired rank in SERP, among other things. Also, businesses should maintain constant vigil for negative SEO from competitors and unsuspecting third parties. Web analytics programs like Google Analytics can give insight into how a Web site is functioning and help identify ways to improve rankings.

The Future of SEO As search engine optimization continues to evolve, social media content is becoming increasingly more important for search engines. Web searches on mobile devices have also had a dramatic impact on SEO in recent years. Looking forward, responsive web design, an emerging Web site development approach, will provide optimal user reading and navigation experience across a wide range of devices.

As access to the global market increases, businesses will continue to focus their marketing on a Web-based approach. It will be interesting to see where social media and mobile devices take the world of SEO in coming years. 

Combining TALENT & EXPERIENCE to get the job done.

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Since 2008, our goal has been to create optimized systems that meet all of our clients’ performance, energy use and budgetary needs.

With a combined 93 years of experience, we have fused eager young talent and proven experience in order to serve your building systems design needs, including HVAC, plumbing, lighting, electrical, fire alarms and sprinkler suppression systems. We have worked with clients in a variety of fields such as K-12 schools, hospitals, offices, airports, manufacturing and water treatment plants.

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Simple Solutions

Your business resource for job recruitment and disability-related job retention services.

Contact an employment specialist for more information.

West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services 1-800-642-8207 www.wvdrs.org

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Real Estate Trends in West Virginia

Family-based culture adds to stable housing market By Marge Leonard West Virginia has never really been a part of the real estate bubble. Its housing market tends to stay more stable than other parts of the country. There are more short–term ways to profit on the sale of a home in other parts of the country. However, because of the strong sense of family in the state’s culture, West Virginians tend to look long-term for their housing needs. Family life, a sense of community, and dedicated school districts generally keep residents from moving around more frequently. Long-term fixed mortgages are more prominent in this market. Many West Virginian’s have a desire to pay down debt and accelerate the process of paying off a home. Overall, people in this market are not looking to move around or make a fast profit.

Adjustable rate mortgage (ARM*) loans are common when being transferred. If a company is relocating people every five years, the employees may seek an ARM loan. ARM loans aren’t for everyone, though, especially since after the adjustable rate period, the payment may substantially increase. A conventional fixed rate loan may be a better choice for consumers who prefer more predictable payments. And if you are a first time homeowner, an FHA loan may be a good option. Fifth Third offers multiple types of mortgage loans including ARM, conventional and FHA loans, in many states. We recommend you talk to a Mortgage Loan Originator to find out what product or service best fits your needs.

West Virginia is a place where businesses relocate to and often transfer employees to our state. Corporations who relocate employees to the region help maintain the flow of people transferring and staying in the area. Because of the affordable cost of living and the sensible tax rate, people can typically buy more of a home in West Virginia. For example, the price of a $150,000 home can expect about $1,000 of taxes per year. A $450,000 home would have about $3,500 in taxes per year. Plus, when you add in the notion that West Virginia is very welcoming, it can be easy to get to know people, which is attractive for newcomers.

West Virginia’s friendly culture can be appealing to many people who relocate to the area. When people transfer to West Virginia, they generally fit in very quickly. I moved to West Virginia from Pittsburgh many years ago and was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the people in the community.

Families and young professionals can also buy a very affordable house in West Virginia that is comparable to the cost of paying rent. This is due to the tax structure on real estate, which can be very appealing. Recently, the request for VA loans has been increasing in the West Virginia market. Fifth Third offers this type of mortgage for military families buying and refinancing homes.

To learn more about your mortgage options, give Marge a call, visit your local Fifth Third branch, or visit us at www.53.com.

Marge Leonard (NMLS # 438600) is a Vice President and Mortgage Loan Originator at Fifth Third in West Virginia. She can be reached at 304-760-0238.

Marge Leonard is a Vice President and Mortgage Loan Originator at Fifth Third Bank in the West Virginia market with over fifteen years of banking and mortgage experience.

Marge has earned the Presidents Circle Award, Top Volume Producer and Top Unit Producer Awards and in 2009 was Fifth Third Mortgage Rookie of the Year.

She has assisted more than eight hundred families in a home purchase or refinance of a home over the last six years. Marge’s most valued award is receiving referrals from past clients. She is dedicated to ensuring all of her clients receive nothing less than excellent customer service.

Marge is a member of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, committee member for the Putnam Chamber Women’s Networking group, and a Board Member for the Tri County YMCA. Marge and her family live in Hurricane, WV.

*Loans are subject to credit review and approval. Fifth Third Mortgage is the trade name used by Fifth Third Mortgage Company (NMLS #134100) and Fifth Third Mortgage-MI, LLC (NMLS # 447141).

Fifth Third Bank, Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

[ economy ]

West Virginia’s Wellness Addressing Our Health Disparities

Eliminating health disparities has become a policy priority, in part, because disparities are a drain on the economy.

By Jane Ruseski and John Deskins

A major focus of health care

policy in the U.S. today is the elimination of health disparities in order to improve the overall health of its population and reduce mortality rates. Health disparities occur when members of socially disadvantaged populations fall victim to preventable diseases, injuries or violence, and oftentimes, these populations are defined by factors like race, gender, income, disability and geographic location.

Eliminating health disparities has become a policy priority, in part, because disparities are a drain on the economy. Direct costs of health care for sicker, disadvantaged populations are high, and the indirect costs associated with lost productivity, lost wages, absenteeism, family leave and premature death can be avoided if disparities are lessened.

West Virginia has the opportunity to dramatically improve the overall health of its population and reduce mortality rates through successful implemen-

tation of wellness and preventive care programs in both the public and private sectors. Work-based wellness programs with incentives to engage in healthy behaviors have the potential to improve not only the health of West Virginians but also the health of West Virginia’s economy.

Complexity of the Problem The challenge in reducing health disparities lies in the complexity of the problem. Even if there is success in eliminating disparities in access to health care and health insurance, the disparities will likely remain because of the interrelated roles personal health behaviors, biology, genetics, the environment, socio-economic status and ExEdge health policy play in determining our On average, overall health status. in 2009, 26 In West Virginia, we face a formidable percent of battle in our efforts to reduce health dis- Americans parities. The Mountain State’s all-cause reported barriers that restricted mortality rates and mortality rates for their access heart disease, cancer and diabetes are to care. among the highest in the country. West Source: www.

Virginia ranks among the bottom tier of ahrq.gov states across health risk factors like high blood pressure, physical inactivity, eating well, smoking and obesity. On the bright side, the Mountain State is performing as well as, or better than, the U.S. in preventive care measures such as cancer and cholesterol screenings and vaccinations. The good rankings on preventive measures combined with poor rankings on lifestyle measures suggest that a policy focus on encouraging healthy lifestyles will help improve the overall health of West Virginians.

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Quality Care One major focus of health policy aimed at reducing health disparities is better access to quality health care. An important step toward improving access to health care is the availability of affordable health insurance. The U.S. is unique among developed nations in that it is one of the few countries that relies more heavily on privately funded health insurance. One implication of a largely privately funded health care system is greater disparities in access to health care and health insurance, particularly across income levels. In West Virginia, only 75 percent of the adult population aged 18-64 had health insurance coverage in 2009.

Health insurance coverage in West Virginia should improve with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the associated expansion of the state’s Medicaid program. An important priority of increased federal funding for Medicaid programs is the development and implementation of wellness and preventive care programs. This emphasis on wellness and

prevention of disease begins to tackle the challenge of eliminating disparities by encouraging healthy behaviors and lifestyles.

Preventive Care West Virginia performs as well as or better than the U.S. in terms of access to important preventive and disease management care such as blood cholesterol screenings, cancer screenings, diabetes management and vaccinations. The disparity across these measures describes the use of preventive care in low-income households, which have an income of $25,000 or less, versus high-income households, at an income of $75,000 or greater.

Overall, the Mountain State is doing better than the U.S. on several of these measures, which indicates less disparity by income level in use of these services. For example, the rate for colorectal cancer indicates that low income households reported having a colorectal cancer screening more often than high income households. West Virginians had less income disparity across all measures of diabetes management than the

U.S. The Mountain State also performed well, relative to the U.S., across all of the vaccination measures except for high-risk adults receiving flu shots.

Reducing the Mortality Rates A challenge for West Virginia lies in reducing its mortality rates for all causes of death and for specific diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes-related deaths. According to the 2013 Health Disparities Profiles, West Virginia ranks 54th out of 54 for all-cause mortality; 47th for heart disease deaths; 54th for total cancer deaths and 51st for diabetesrelated deaths. Health disparities by race and ethnicity exist for the all-cause death rate, and disparities by race are present for heart disease, cancer and diabetesrelated deaths.

Mortality due to heart disease, cancer and diabetes can be reduced through improvements in some key risk factors including high blood pressure, physical activity, nutrition and smoking. West Virginia ranks poorly across all of these

WEST virginia naTural gaS FuElS WEST virginia’S ManuFacTurErS.

The word is out, and West Virginia is open for business thanks to natural gas. Beyond powering our homes and vehicles, natural gas plays a critical role in manufacturing processes, either as energy to produce a bevy of products such as steel and glass or as a feedstock to produce chemicals and plastics. West Virginia’s own Blenko Glass is a prime example. “(Blenko Glass) Vice-President Katie Trippe says that the Milton glassmaker has benefited from a recent drop in natural gas prices and a surge in sales.” - WSAZ, August 6, 2012

Milton, WV

Learn more at 76

west virginia executive

More than $20 billion in manufacturing projects have been announced in America to come online by 2015 covering a geographic region ranging from the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley. That’s good news for America’s manufacturers, and for West Virginia.

www.anga.us/westvirginia

measures, which undoubtedly contributes to the high mortality rates. In 2011, West Virginia ranked 43rd out of 54 entities in terms of the share of adults diagnosed with high blood pressure at 35.1 percent. The percent of obese adults ages 20 and older was 32.9 percent in 2011. West Virginia ranked 50th out of 54 on this measure.

Major Risk Factors High blood pressure and obesity are both major risk factors for heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Both of these factors can be moderated by engaging in healthy behaviors like regular physical activity, eating well and not smoking. In 2011, 34.2 percent of West Virginians reported being physically inactive. For inactive people, even small increases in physical activity are associated with improved health outcomes. Only 16 percent of West Virginians reported eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, which puts the state’s rank at 52 out of 54 on this indicator of eating well.

West Virginia also ranks 52nd out of 54 in

terms of current smoking, as 30.2 percent of West Virginians currently smoke.

The Economic Impact Poor health outcomes in the Mountain State likely impact the state’s economy in several ways, although exact impact estimates do not exist. First, and most directly, poor health drives up health care expenses for both individuals and government. For government, this leaves fewer resources available for other important areas, like education and transportation infrastructure. However, these direct costs likely pale in comparison to the foregone productivity associated with poor health outcomes. This foregone productivity means less business activity overall. In addition to this direct decrease in productivity, businesses may be less likely to move to the state if poor health means that fewer workers are available.

Addressing Our Health Disparities

ginia’s population and reduce its mortality rates lies in the implementation of wellness and preventive care programs.

The good rankings on preventive measures combined with poor rankings on lifestyle measures suggest that a policy focus on encouraging healthy lifestyles will help improve the overall health of West Virginians. An important priority of increased federal funding for Medicaid programs is the development and implementation of wellness and preventive care programs. This emphasis on wellness and prevention of disease begins to tackle the challenge of eliminating disparities by encouraging healthy behaviors and lifestyles.

Addressing the quality of care, the need for preventive care, our mortality rate and the major risk factors involved by both the public and private sectors will foster dramatically improved health among West Virginia’s citizens, and where there are healthy citizens, a healthier economy is possible. 

The opportunity to dramatically improve the overall health of West Vir-

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[ humanity ]

Honoring a Legacy James H. “Buck” Harless, 1919-2014

78

se to remain in ny times why I choo “I’ve been asked ma t I should live in tha s success dictates es sin bu if as rt, be Gil ted entrance. The palace behind a ga some metropolitan -town person, and ppen to be a small ha t jus I t tha is er answ ople here in Gilbert, friends. I like the pe I like to be near my ck. I would never kids here call me Bu and I like it that the a big city, and I of e stl bu hustle and be comfortable in the hours to work in the ught of driving two don’t relish the tho at night, like many ho t o hours to ge me morning and then tw commuters do. ormous cathedral end church in an en I do not wish to att little church that I the e all church. I lik ys at a time. I go because I like a sm for three or four da ies cit big ; the e lik I attend. ck. I visit Los Angeles en trapped in gridlo ies cit Big ur. ho to New York; I’ve be an miles ne freeways at 80 me I’ve driven in 12-la out of you at the sa lot a e tak y the t bu nds frie my d an have a lot to offer, tains lot to give. The moun time. Gilbert has a l.”

They keep me rea strengthen my soul. rtunate Life” Harless, “A Most Fo —James H. “Buck”

“Big cities have a lot to offer, but they take a lot out of you at the same time. Gilbert has a lot to give. The mountains and my friends strengthen my soul. They keep me real.”

By Amy Arnett

They say all good things

must come to an end. James H. “Buck” Harless worked his entire life to become the exception to that rule. His charitable spirit, his faith and his devotion to people will be forever impressed upon the hills of West Virginia and beyond.

Born in Taplin, WV, Harless was raised by his aunt and uncle in Gilbert, WV after his mother passed away. He began the traditional, hard-working life of a coal miner in his younger years before becoming part owner of Gilbert Lumber Company. The path from there wasn’t easy, but eventually, Gilbert Lumber Company became International Industries, Inc., the multimillion-dollar company that gave Harless his financial success. Rather than leave West Virginia or move to a metropolitan area, Harless built his company and lived his entire life in Gilbert. He ate his lunches in the local restaurants and chatted with locals and visitors, and he was a committed member of the community.

The contributions that Harless made to the great State of West Virginia—and the nation, for that matter—were grand in number and of the utmost sincerity. He held firmly to the belief that his fortunate monetary gains were best used in diversity rather than singularity. His outlook on his charitable giving is best told by Gary Simmons, a longtime friend and colleague of Harless: “I first got to know Buck Harless when I had the opportunity to make a documentary film about him and his life in 1985. An assistant and I spent days at a time shooting in and around Gilbert, seeking insight into this fellow who I discovered was easy-going, gentle and warm hearted.

“One of the subjects we tried to understand was the scale of his wealth, a subject that he consistently deflected.

“One evening my assistant, Frank, and I were having dinner, and Buck Harless

walked in and sat at our booth. He said he was impressed by our dedication because he had seen us several times, working from early morning until sunset. He asked how the production was going. “‘Quite well,’ I answered, ‘except I can’t seem to get you to talk about your wealth and your charitable giving.’

“He just smiled. ‘Since you don’t have your camera or recorder with you, I’ll say this: some things should be private, between you and the Almighty. They shouldn’t be used for self-promotion or inflating your ego.

That’s the way I treat wealth. I’m fortunate to have business success, and I worked hard to get here today. But I’m just the steward of that wealth, and I owe the Lord my best efforts to spend it wisely for the greatest good. Sometimes, it doesn’t go easily. I recall a time that I made a substantial financial commitment to a project that was going to do a lot of people a whole lot of good. When it came time for me to make my contribution, I didn’t have the money. So I went to the bank and borrowed the money in order to keep my word.’

“The man impressed the dickens out of me at that moment: borrow money to make a charitable contribution! How many of us would do that? I remember that conversation every once in a while. It sums up Buck Harless for me. It embarrassed me, because I would not consider such an act, and it focused me on trying to become a better person.”

In his contributions to the education of future generations, his investments in the people who he felt were in earnest and his love for and ability to inspire those with whom he lived and worked, Buck Harless is far from gone. His legacy will continue on in our hearts and in the seemingly endless ways he shared his many types of wealth with West Virginia.  Photography from “A Most Fortunate Life”

“Buck Harless was a dear friend, not only to me but to all of West Virginia. His contributions to our state, particularly to our coal industry, state education programs and Boy Scouts of America, will never be forgotten. Buck was, and will continue to be, an inspiration to me and so many others. He will be deeply missed.”

—U.S. Senator Joe Manchin

“West Virginia has lost one of our state’s most outstanding benefactors—Buck Harless. He knew it was family, locally-owned businesses and the next generation of entrepreneurs that could truly make the largest gains for our state and her people. He will long be remembered as a West Virginian who gave to his community and our state a blueprint for a life well lived.”

—West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin

“In my life, I have had the privilege to work with many people. Buck’s up there in a class of his own. If I sound like I loved and admired the man, it’s because I loved and admired him. He truly was an inspiration, role model, mentor. I’ve run out of adjectives. I’m woefully inadequate to try to capture the picture and image of the man called Buck Harless.”

—Mike Perry, Founder, Heritage Farm Museum and Village

“Buck Harless is truly an iconic individual in West Virginia. I believe he understood that the economic gap we see in West Virginia could best be narrowed by education. He was a bridge builder, and the bridges he built were of education, compassion and belief in the spirit of our West Virginia heritage.”

—Dr. Stan Maynard, Executive Director, The June Harless Center for Rural Educational Research and Development at Marshall University

“His relational skills were multi-dimensional. He could relate to people from all walks of life, and he valued every life he met. In the business world, he could relate to workers, managers and CEOs. He could put all kinds of people in the same room and enable and inspire them to work toward a common goal, hammer out a compromise. He loved being around gifted people and learning from all different kinds of people.”

—Dean Thompson, President and Professor, Ministry Emeritus, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary 79

[ humanity ]

The Winning Number

West Virginia Lottery

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By Nikki Orcutt

Now in its 28th year of operation, the West

Virginia Lottery continues to generate a revenue stream that supports several good causes each year. While the average citizen may only know the lottery by its most notable opportunity—winning cash—the benefits of lottery dollars go far beyond the stories of instant millionaires.

Directed by John Musgrave, the lottery operates as a component agency under the West Virginia Department of Revenue and provides 100 percent of its proceeds, after operating expenses and statutory transfers, to the State of West Virginia for distribution by the West Virginia Legislature. In fact, since the lottery’s inception on January 9, 1986, more than $7.4 billion in lottery proceeds have been directed by the legislature to support programs and services that have touched nearly every corner of the Mountain State. And, while there are many benefactors of lottery dollars, the largest portions of revenue are directed to senior citizens, education and tourism. These proceeds help fuel growth that’s unmatched by any other source.

bells and whistles of slot machines have never sounded sweeter to the more than 46,000 people whose jobs in the travel industry are supported by this revenue stream. In addition, a large portion of revenue from a 35 percent privilege tax rate applied to table games is directed to the reduction of state debt. Each year, millions of gaming dollars are also paid directly to counties and local municipalities across the state, further maximizing the impact of lottery dollars on the citizens of West Virginia.

Assisting Senior Citizens The State of West Virginia invests a sizeable portion of its bottom line to improving senior services, and much of that support is made possible by proceeds from the lottery. The lottery has generated more than $828.3 million for West Virginia’s elderly, which has assisted the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services in carrying out their mission to meet a wide range of care and services. This funding has also provided millions of meals annually to senior centers and nutrition sites across the state, helped meet transportation needs, aided in matching Medicaid

Improving Education Since 1986, more than $2.7 billion in West Virginia Lottery proceeds have been used to strengthen public education in West Virginia, and $126.6 million of that total came in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 alone. The lottery not only works to enhance public K-12 education through the construction of new schools and improved access to technology in classrooms statewide, but it also provides millions of dollars to support higher education.

Each year, $29 million from Limited Video Lottery revenue is used to support the PROMISE Scholarship Program, with a total of more than $283.5 million provided to PROMISE since 2002. From the lucky players purchasing the winning ticket to the thousands of students who benefit annually from the improvements made to education in West Virginia, the bottom line is that someone is always winning big.

Supporting the Tourism Industry The largest source of lottery revenue continues to come from sales of Racetrack Video Lottery, the source from which West Virginia’s growing tourism industry has received more than $805.7 million in proceeds. These dollars are used through a matching grants program established with the West Virginia Division of Tourism in addition to supporting the West Virginia State Park Improvement Fund and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The benefit of lottery contributions are clearly reflected in the more than $5.1 billion spent by travelers to West Virginia in 2012, a new record-spending level for travelers visiting the state, according to the West Virginia Division of Tourism. The

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Through the Years November 1984 – The West Virginia Lottery was established when voters passed a lottery amendment to the state constitution.

1985 – The seven-member West Virginia Lottery Commission was created to assist and advise the director of the lottery.

January 9, 1986 – The first instant scratch-off tickets were sold.

February 1987 – The online draw games, Lotto 6/36, Daily 3 and Daily 4, were introduced.

September 16, 1987 – West Virginia became a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association’s Lotto America game, the forerunner of today’s Powerball® jackpot game.

April 4, 1989 – West Virginia lawmakers dedicated lottery profits to programs benefiting education, senior citizens and tourism.

March 17, 1994 – West Virginia lawmakers passed legislation that allowed slot machine-style video lottery terminals in racetracks, pending approval in each track’s respective county.

2001 – The West Virginia Legislature outlawed private video poker machines.

2007 – Voters in Hancock, Ohio and Kanawha counties voted to allow table games at the respective racetracks in each county. In the same year, table game activities were offered at Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino & Racetrack and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort.

2008 – Table games were added at Mardi Gras Casino and Racetrack in Cross Lanes, WV. December 2009 – Voters passed a referendum for table games at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. Full table games operations were in place in July 2010.

Source: www.wvlottery.com

funding for senior services, assisted with long-term care and allowed West Virginia seniors to maintain their independence with the help of expenses associated with property taxes at their homes through a property tax credit.

Benefiting Our Veterans

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In FY 2000, legislation was passed that requires lottery revenue from a special instant ticket game to help support funding for West Virginia veterans. West Virginia was one of the first jurisdictions to begin an initiative of this kind and has continued to work hard to provide up to $1 million each year to support a skilled nursing facility and a cemetery for veterans who have placed their lives on the line in order to protect the nation’s freedom.

There are many facets to this story, and the intricate details of the positive impact of lottery dollars will be maximized through ongoing advancements in the services provided to West Virginia citizens, the sustainability of existing programs and the overall improvements to the state’s future.  Photography by West Virginia Lottery

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[ lifestyle ]

In the Chef ’ s Corner Noah’s Eclectic Bistro

By Maggie Matsko

At just 13 years of age, Noah Miller

knew he wanted to be a chef. During his first job, working under the guidance of Otis Laury at the West Virginia Governor’s Mansion, Miller began his journey into the culinary world, learning the basics of classic cooking.

From there, Miller’s career took him on many different paths. He worked at the former Tarragon Room at the Charleston Marriott until he graduated from Capital High School. Upon graduation, Miller enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Looking for a bigger challenge, he left the institute for Palm Beach, FL to work at a five-star restaurant called Café Boulud. In 2006, he returned to West Virginia where, over the next six years, he worked at and ran kitchens for the Bridge Road Bistro, The Greenbrier Sporting Club, The Pines Country Club and Sargasso. After his many successful endeavors in the culinary field, the Charleston native returned to his hometown to open his own restaurant.

Noah Miller, owner and chef.

Noah’s Eclectic Bistro, located on McFarland Street in Charleston, opened in 2012 and offers an everchanging weekly menu that presents a lively mix of dishes. Using the freshest local and seasonal ingredients, every entrée is layered with flavors, colors, textures and aromas designed to make customers’ taste buds ignite. The carefully orchestrated weekly menu reflects Miller’s artistic culinary talent by displaying extraordinary recipes with only the best ingredients. The new menu is posted each Monday and can be viewed at www.noahseclectic.com.

When the bistro opens at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, it becomes a local escape for those searching for a comfortable atmosphere with exceptional food and an impressive wine list. To kick off the fine dining experience, Miller offers his guests tantalizing starters such as curried crab salad and sautéed veal sweet breads. Main courses like the roasted beef tenderloin and crispy braised pork belly put a twist on ordinary home-cooked classics. For a unique dining experience, the bistro offers a six-course chef’s tasting menu that allows the entire table to indulge in unique courses.

Wine pairings are available for this dining experience.

In addition to his local success, Miller found statewide recognition when he was named the Cook-Off Grand Champion at the 9th Annual Cast Iron Cook-Off in January, held at The Greenbrier.

“The Cast Iron Cook-Off was a pleasure to be a part of,” says Miller. “The event and the purpose behind it aids West Virginia in getting to a new level in the food service industry. As West Virginians, we have so many resources around us that we overlook, and I’m glad we were able to use those resources to promote local West Virginia ingredients and products.”

To experience this award-winning chef’s culinary creativity, visit Noah’s Eclectic Bistro at 110 McFarland Street in Charleston. Reservations are strongly recommended and should be made one day in advance by calling (304) 343-6558.

Photography by Tracy Toler

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Multigrain Salad ½ cup cooked barley ½ cup cooked red wheat berry ½ cup cooked bulgur wheat 1 carrot 1 bell pepper 1 cucumber 3 radishes 1 small head of radicchio 2 handfuls of baby arugula 1 tbsp chopped cilantro 2 tbsp chopped scallion ¼ cup chopped peanuts Julienne the carrot, bell pepper, cucumber, radishes and radicchio and combine in a bowl with mixed grains and arugula. Top with herbs and peanuts.

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Sesame Vinaigrette 4 tbsp red wine vinegar 2 tbsp honey 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 3 tbsp olive oil Dash of sesame oil Sprinkle of sesame seeds Salt and pepper to taste Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and whisk until blended. (Serves 4)

Port Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs

3-4 lbs bone-in short ribs 2 cups red wine 2 cups port wine 1 cup prepared demi-glace (reduced veal stock) 3 cups beef stock 1 shallot 2 sprigs of thyme 1 sprig of rosemary Flour Salt and pepper to taste

Season a bowl of flour with salt and pepper. Dredge each piece of short rib in the flour and pat off the excess. In a hot pan, brown the short ribs on all sides until the fat starts to render. Remove and place in a shallow baking dish with a rim.

Next, add the beef stock, shallot, thyme and rosemary into the baking dish. Cut a piece of parchment paper the size of the inside of the pan and place it on top of the meat. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap, making sure to only wrap under the rim and not to the bottom of the pan. Cover the plastic with aluminum foil, making sure no plastic is exposed.

Place in the oven at 300º for three hours or until the meat is falling off the bone. Remove the bones and place the meat on a tray. Refrigerate until firm.

While the ribs are cooling, reduce the wine by half in a tall sauce pot, then add demi-glace and simmer until a smooth sauce has been achieved. When the ribs are cool, place them on a cutting board and carefully shave off the outer crust and excess fat. Once trimmed, place them in a shallow sauté pan with a lid, cover with the sauce and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, adjusting the sauce with small amounts of beef stock as it thickens. (Serves 4)

Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp

Peeled, deveined shrimp Minced shallot Chopped garlic White wine Lemon juice Butter Salt and pepper to taste Sauté the shrimp with minced shallot, garlic, white wine, lemon juice, butter and salt and pepper to taste.

Grits 1 box of grits Shredded, aged cheddar cheese Chicken stock Make your choice of quick or regular grits by following the recipe on the box, using chicken stock for more flavor. One cup will make approximately four servings. When the grits are tender, stir in the shredded cheddar.

Tomato Jam 1 qt diced Roma tomatoes, outer flesh only ½ cup minced sweet onion 1 tbsp minced garlic 1 tsp chili flakes 1 cup sugar ¼ cup white wine vinegar In a sauce pan, combine all of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes until thickened.

Season with salt and pepper to taste and refrigerate. Serve the shrimp on top of the grits with the tomato jam. Garnish with French beans and fried green tomatoes. 

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[ lifestyle ]

Under the Mediterranean Sun

By JIM Read

As the sweat from my forehead dripped onto

the dusty Pamplona street, I watched as a crying woman was hoisted over the wooden barriers that separated Plaza Consistorial from those who were about to run with Spain’s fighting bulls. I was with those crazy ones, packed together tightly moments before a rocket would announce the release of the bulls just a few hundred meters down Calle de Santo Domingo. Cameras on balconies above us clicked wildly.

I knew that when the cameras started to swivel toward Santo Domingo, the bulls would be seconds away. I turned to one of the Shepherd University alumni I was traveling with and shouted that I’d never felt more alive. He just stared at me.

Read and his trip companions outside Barcelona at the Codorníu Winery.

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We were fraternity brothers from the Reagan Era, planning to see the great museums of Madrid, explore Gaudí’s architectural genius in Barcelona and visit the chaos of Marrakesh during Ramadan.

The crying woman was inconsolable, and she was yelling something in a language I didn’t understand.Then again, I didn’t quite understand what I was doing in Pamplona, either. Shouldn’t a 50-year-old English professor know better? Suddenly, I felt the ground rumble beneath my feet.

Our group ended up in Pamplona in a way that is a testament to modern technology and the dangers of rash decisions.

We were fraternity brothers from the Reagan Era, planning to see the great museums of Madrid, explore Gaudí’s architectural genius in Barcelona and visit the chaos of Marrakesh during Ramadan. And then there was Pamplona. Like many 50-yearolds, I’ve been going through a bit of a mid-life crisis, but it’s been defined by frequent flyer miles and trips abroad, much cheaper than the sports car route, and it keeps my wife happier.

The year before, I’d visited Cambodia with my old Shepherd roommate, Terry Hall, and another fraternity brother, Lee Lucas, and as we sat sweating in the shadows of Angkor Wat, the reallife temple seen in “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” we wondered how we could top it. “Run with the bulls in Pamplona for my 50th,” I suggested over a coconut, and we instantly agreed.

The three of us began planning the trip on Facebook and soon had a dozen people signed up. Some of us met for the first time in Madrid while others were reunited after many years. We

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soon found that the Spanish institution of tapas, small meals or snacks that are traditional to Spanish culture, made it easy for us to become fast friends. Our group consisted of several small business owners, teachers, tax account planners, managers and personnel specialists. Over sangria and anchovies on crusty bread or fried calamari, we found that although life had taken us in many different directions­—some far from West Virginia—we were the same group we’d been in our college days, just a bit grayer.

In the past, whenever I’d read about someone in Pamplona being gored by a bull, I thought to myself, “Hooray for the bull!” A trip to a Mexico bullfight years ago turned me into a vegetarian for a year, so I was skeptical about the San Fermin Festival. There were some testosterone junkies there, but the more locals we met, the more we realized the central role the bull plays in the Spanish culture. While many in Pamplona were young and reckless, we met people who come back every year to run. There’s an unwritten set of rules about what not to do: don’t touch or grab the bulls as they pass; don’t make fun of the bulls and don’t run into the ring before the bulls approach the end of the run. These rules all have one thing in common: disrespecting the bulls is a major prohibition.

We survived our run with the bulls without a scratch, and afterward, we met Ernest Hemingway’s grandson, John, and his great-grandson, Michael. We’d been told that Michael was running with the bulls for the first time that year and would be celebrating the day’s run at Café Iruña in the Plaza del Castillo. Sure enough, both Hemingways were there, and they talked at length about the role Pamplona played in their family history. I can’t imagine how an English professor could more appropriately celebrate his 50th birthday.

Spain offered all the cultural riches we expected, from museums like the Prado and the Reina Sofía, to our rooftop terrace apartment in Barcelona, where we had spectacular views of Gaudí’s masterpiece, “La Pedrera.” What really surprised me about Spain, though, was the effect of the

A snake charmer in Jemaa el-Fna, the main marketplace in Marrakesh, Morocco.

economic crisis. We never felt unsafe, but nearly half of us were pickpocketed. Over late night drinks in a Barcelona bar, the owner told us that the thieves were part of the nearly 30 percent unemployed in the country, half of whom are under 25.

We journeyed on to Marrakesh, Morocco, where we rented a riad, or a four-story house, right in the Jemaa elFna, the main market. We didn’t know what to expect in this Islamic, Northern African country. Would a large group of Americans be readily accepted? Our place was in the shadow of the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque and a two-minute walk to the square where cobra handlers plied their trade and boiled sheep head could be bought for 50 cents. Whatever worries we had soon dissipated, as we were quickly embraced by the locals. By the second day, the old store owner at the end of our alley would recognize me by

touching his heart and bowing slightly as I passed. It was Ramadan when we visited, so the locals were braving the 100-degree heat without food or water from sunrise to sunset. Their devotion amazed us.

Our final excursion as a group took us out to the edges of the Sahara Desert, six hours from Marrakesh by van. The trip through the outskirts took us through ancient medinas, small villages and a co-op where women ground up nuts that had passed through a goat’s digestive system to make argan oil. At our destination, we climbed aboard camels and made the final two-hour trek to our campsite, where Berber tribesmen prepared a feast under the desert stars. They played traditional music for us and attempted to teach us how to play the instruments. Though we had individual canvas tents to sleep in, most of us fell asleep on the brightly colored rugs and pillows where we’d feasted, exhausted in the perfect desert silence.

More than anything, what this trip did was force me to confront my own preconceptions in the face of the reality of what I saw. The devotion and strong will of the Berber tribesman and Muslims working in the sweltering heat with neither food nor water touched me. In Pamplona, I expected to be disgusted by macho displays of violence but found a more complex tradition. Throughout it all, I found myself growing closer to friends I’d barely seen since the 1980s, West Virginians reunited under a hot Mediterranean sun.  Photography by Jim Read

Women in Morocco crack argan seeds with rocks.

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“Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of good cholesterol and protecting against artery damage.” —The Mayo Clinic

Raise a Glass to heart-healthy red wine

You’ll find the best selection of heart-healthy wine at Smoker Friendly. www.smokerfriendly.com Visit us on facebook: smokerfriendlywv Wine sold at select Smoker Friendly locations

Regional Focus Compiled by Amy Arnett Photo by Carlie hensley

Williams Lea Group Announces Expansion of its Wheeling Operations Center The Williams Lea Group has announced the expansion of its Stone Center operations in downtown Wheeling, WV. The expansion is driven by a 30 percent growth in new client activity for the operation over the past 18 months and the group’s interest in expanding their Tag brand operations to Wheeling.

Tag is the group’s brand services agency that manages and implements global communications campaigns. The newly renovated and expanded Stone Center office space will be used for the group’s training and development center and will support the delivery of new products and services, including Tag creative services.

“Wheeling has been a cornerstone of our operations platform for the past several years,” says John Paulson, CEO of Williams Lea Americas and Global CEO for Tag. “This expansion is testament to the capabilities of our Wheeling employees and the future opportunities for our business in the area.”

Myers-Smith Appointed to West Virginia Tourism Commission West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has appointed Peggy Myers-Smith to the West Virginia Tourism Commission. Myers-Smith, president and CEO of the Greater Morgantown Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), will represent all West Virginia CVBs on the commission. The private-public board serves as a board of directors for the West Virginia Division of Tourism.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be appointed by Governor Tomblin to the West Virginia Tourism Commission,” says Myers-Smith. “I have a good understanding of the fantastic tourism experiences West Virginia has to market, and I look forward to working with the commission and the tourism department in promoting what I have always believed to be the best state in the U.S.”

Pickering Associates Celebrates 25 Years of Successful Business in the Mid-Ohio Valley Pickering Associates celebrated 25 years in the business community in January.

Founded in 1988, the engineering firm has developed into an integrated architecture and engineering company that

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From left, WLU Professors Zac Loughman, Joe Horzempa, Doug Schwartz, Karen Kettler and Matt Zdilla discuss the TOPPER grant in the biology lab.

provides services to education, government, health care, industrial, oil and gas and private sector clients.

“We could not be more excited, honored or blessed to be able to reach our 25th anniversary,” says Pickering Associates President Ryan Taylor. “The best part is that our professionals are so dedicated, so focused and so driven; we can look back on the past 25 years and be proud of every moment, every project and every piece of our history. That is a rarity anymore, and it’s one of the many aspects that continues to make Pickering Associates special.”

Nutzman Named Partner at Dinsmore & Shohl Dinsmore & Shohl is pleased to announce that Jason Nutzman has been named partner.

Nutzman is a member of the Labor & Employment Department and Mine Safety & Health Practice Group. In his practice, he works with human resource managers and in-house counsel, providing employment advice and litigation support to employers. He is also experienced in representing clients regarding labor issues, including dealing with unions during labor campaigns and assisting management with a unionized work force.

Cabell-Huntington CVB and Trifecta Productions Win State Tourism Award The Cabell-Huntington Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), along with Trifecta Productions, was recently awarded a Stars of the Industry Award at the an-

nual Governor’s Conference on Tourism at Canaan Valley Resort.

The CVB was awarded Best Broadcast (Radio or TV) for their CVB-TV program.

CVB-TV is a channel in almost every hotel in Cabell County that features a loop of CVB videos produced by Trifecta Productions. A monitor at the Huntington TriState Airport also shows the videos on a continuous loop for visitors and travelers to provide information about all there is to see and do in the county.

“We are honored to receive this award and know that our efforts are being recognized by the state tourism industry,” says Cara Hedrick, the CVB’s marketing director. “We are so proud of our partnership with Trifecta Productions and providing a program for our visitors that they can’t get anywhere else in the state. We are continually adding new content to highlight the best of what Cabell County has to offer.”

West Liberty University College of Science Receives Grant to Fuel Research Scientific research at West Liberty University (WLU) received a meaningful endorsement through the acquisition of a grant that will provide more than $156,000 to support summer undergraduate research experience in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“We are excited to host a summer research program at West Liberty University,” says Dr. Joseph Horzempa, the principal investigator who worked along with other WLU faculty members to prepare the grant. “The College of Sciences has

an outstanding research infrastructure.

Through these facilities and with the support of the administration, we feel that our group of investigators can provide undergraduate students with a summer research experience that will solidify their future in a science field.”

The grant was awarded by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Division of Science and Research through the Research Challenge Fund.

Cori Santy

emony planned as part of this year’s “Spirit of the Coalfields” Miners’ Celebration on October 2nd at the Tamarack in Beckley.

According to event organizers, representatives of the state’s mining industry and community leaders will gather at the event to recognize miners, engineers, safety and environmental professionals, community members and innovators. Nominations for the awards are being accepted through June 1, 2014.

To nominate someone for the “Because of You” awards or for more information about the miners’ celebration, contact Teresa Buckland at (304) 696-3568 or at buckland@marshall.edu.

Jackson Kelly Elects Five New Members

Clear Mountain Bank Hires Santy as Branch Manager Clear Mountain Bank has hired Cori Santy as branch manager of its Suncrest office. In her position, Santy will be responsible for promoting the bank by servicing and developing relationships with existing customers and attracting new customers with both loan and deposit products.

Santy brings a wide range of experience in finance, sales and management to Clear Mountain Bank, including experience in public housing and the redevelopment industry. Santy is a native of Morgantown and is a graduate of Fairmont State University.

“Spirit of the Coalfields” Miners’ Celebration Awards Accepting Nominations Nominations are being accepted for the “Because of You” awards to honor people who have made significant contributions to West Virginia’s coal mining enterprise and the state’s mining heritage.

Awards in nearly a dozen categories will be presented at a gala dinner and awards cer-

Jackson Kelly PLLC recently promoted Christina Brumley, Alaina Crislip, Seth Hayes, Kevin Waldo and Arthur Wolfson to membership status.

Brumley’s practice focuses on acquisitions and divestitures, commercial transactions and mineral and property rights issues.

Crislip represents a variety of health care provider organizations, including hospitals and physicians, and routinely advises clients in matters involving health care regulations and litigation.

Hayes practices in the firm’s Industrial, Environmental and Complex Litigation Practice Group in the Morgantown office.

Waldo’s practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation matters in which he represents a number of ending institutions in so-called predatory lending and consumer protection cases.

Wolfson practices in the Occupational Safety and Health Practice Group and represents mining clients during fatal and non-fatal accident investigations conducted by MSHA and state agencies.

New River Students Begin Physical Therapist Program Nineteen students have enrolled in the first class in the Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant Program at New River Community and Technical College.

The physical therapist assistant (PTA) program is an intensive, five-semester program designed to provide the student with the technical education required to sit for the Physical Therapist Assistant National Physical Therapy Examination.

The PTA program is being developed

through a four-year, $3 million U.S. Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Program grant awarded to New River in 2012. Program Director Gina Brown says the program was awarded Candidate for Accreditation status in November 2013, making it possible to offer classes in January 2014.

New River is developing several other health care programs under the TAACCCT grant, including an associate degree program in registered nursing in Summersville and an occupational therapy assistant program in Beckley. A medical laboratory technician program is under development and will be based in Beckley as well.

Dixon Hughes Goodman Welcomes New Consulting Manager Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP is pleased to welcome Chad Hovis to the Charleston office. Hovis is lead consulting manager in the firm’s Healthcare Consulting Group and is experienced in many complex areas of Medicare reimbursement, including graduate medical education, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare bad debts, sole community and Medicare dependent designations and wage index.

“Chad’s experience in health care also includes hospitals, critical access hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and other facilities requiring audit by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services,” says Rick Slater, managing partner and firm executive committee member.

“Chad certainly is a great addition to the firm’s national practice of health care.”

Ohio County a Leader in State Graduation Rates Ohio County Schools and Wheeling Park High School are proving to be West Virginia leaders in terms of Mountain State graduation rates.

Wheeling Park High School’s graduation rate has increased 18 points over the course of the past four years. Ohio County Schools officials attribute the improvement to identifying and assisting academically at-risk students as they begin high school. The 92.99 percent graduation rate in Ohio County Schools compares to an 81.39 percent statewide graduation rate in West Virginia.

“There are several factors at play in improving the graduation rate,” says Amy Minch, Wheeling Park High School’s

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Ken Flippin, trainer

principal. “We pay close attention to attendance and behavior to determine which students are at risk, and we monitor that information closely. We want to make sure our students are attending school each day, and we help them avoid factors that prompt them to drop out of school.”

James Runyon

Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso Welcomes New Human Resources Director

Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC is pleased to announce that James Runyon has joined the firm as its human resources director and will work from the firm’s Charleston office.

Originally from Lenore, WV, Runyon graduated from the University of Charleston in 2001 with a Master’s of Business Administration. Prior to joining Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso, Runyon served in the West Virginia National Guard for more than 30 years.

Coal River Group’s New Five-Year Plan Includes Job Creation

With 12 years of experience as a professional dog trainer, my training is focused on building a relationship with your dog and teaching them based on their traits and abilities. Every dog is a little different when it comes to the type of communication they need. These subtle variations can be the difference between success and frustration.

Here at Shamrock Pet Lodge, I train each dog based on its individual capacity and learning traits with a focus on off-leash training.

BOARDING AND GROOMING ALSO AVAILABLE

Charleston, WV 94 (304) 744-1101 • (304) 410-5338 west virginia executive

The 10-year-old watershed restoration efforts by the Coal River Group are beginning to create new job opportunities for youth in the Southern Coal Fields.

The Coal River Group’s newly completed five-year plan focuses the group’s future efforts on creating entrepreneurial opportunities which, in turn, can create job opportunities for the youth in the region.

The new plan proposes that a series of similar HUBS be created in four separate locations in the Coal River Watershed.

Job opportunities would include river guides, fishing guides, sales associates, boat rental staff, food service providers and small business operators.

Shuman, McCuskey and Slicer PLLC Attorneys Obtain AV® Preeminent® Rating Shuman, McCuskey and Slicer PLLC is pleased to announce that attorneys Lou Ann Cyrus, Karen McElhinny and Natalie Schaefer have obtained the prestigious AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale Hubbell.

Cyrus’s practice is concentrated in general insurance defense and includes insurance coverage, medical negligence, public entity litigation and commercial general liability.

McElhinny practices in the field of medical malpractice and municipal law, representing hospitals, physicians and other service providers, as well as municipalities throughout West Virginia.

Schaefer practices in the field of general litigation with an emphasis on construction law, deliberate intention law and public entity defense.

Greater Morgantown CVB Receives CLIC Community Service Award The Greater Morgantown Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) has been presented with the 2013 Community Living Initiatives Corporation (CLIC) Community Service Award for its efforts to attract seniors and retired tourists to the Greater Morgantown area.

The GMCVB is charged with making Greater Morgantown the region’s prime destination for travelers through the recruitment of groups, events and activities that enhance the quality of life in the community. Its support of retiree attractions, part of the CLIC mission, has made Morgantown the state’s premier retirement destination.

West Virginia State University Expands STEM Research with Equipment Upgrades West Virginia State University has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the West Virginia Division of Science and Research Instrumentation Grants Program to expand science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research and teaching capacity. Funds will purchase a new gas chromatograph system for the university’s chemistry department.

The award is the latest in more than $600,000 in grant funds for the chemistry department over the past year and a half for equipment upgrades, including a new liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. Such upgrades put state-of-the-art equipment directly in the hands of students.

Chapman Technical Group Becomes Part of GRW Chapman Technical Group, a St. Albans, WV-based engineering and architectural firm, has been acquired by GRW, a full-service engineering, architectural and geospatial firm based in Lexington, KY. Chapman Technical Group is a West Virginia success story, having been founded by Nitro native and Marshall University graduate Harvey Chapman in 1984.

The company provides engineering, architectural, interior design, surveying and landscape architectural services for clients throughout West Virginia.

Chapman Technical Group will maintain its corporate identity but will be able to offer additional experience and a wider range of services, including the most technologically-current geospatial services.

Potter is leader of the firm’s White Collar Criminal Defense & Compliance Group.

Her law practice focuses on internal corporate investigation, white collar criminal defense and complex litigation. She is also a member of The Battle Group, a group of highly experienced Spilman trial lawyers.

J. Marlin Witt

Statewide Brownfields Conference Coming to Huntington

Witt Elected Newest Member at Arnett Foster Toothman Arnett Foster Toothman PLLC has announced the election of J. Marlin Witt as member. Witt’s broad tax experience includes business consulting and compliance with a particular focus in the area of estate planning and trusts. His background includes key positions within Wachovia Bank’s Trust Division and with a local CPA firm.

His numerous designations and certifications include certified public accountant, Certified Financial Planner ™ and chartered global management accountant.

He is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Organizers have announced that this year’s West Virginia Brownfields Conference will be held September 11-12 at Big Sandy Superstore Arena Convention Center in Huntington, WV. The event committee has issued a call for presentations to be made at the conference. Example presentation topics include finance and funding mechanisms, liability and risk mitigation, site redevelopment strategies and other redevelopment-related ideas, case studies and best practices. The deadline for proposals is March 3, 2014. More information about submitting a proposal is available at www. wvbrownfields.org. 

Fife Named Chief Operating Officer at GlenWood Matt Fife is the new chief operating officer at GlenWood Park Retirement Village, a continuing care retirement community established in Princeton, WV in 1968 by the West Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Fife’s experience in long-term care includes serving as administrator in training at Princeton Health Care Center, administrator at Springfield Center in Lindside, interim administrator at Salem Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and administrator at Laurel Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Ivy Dale.

Spilman Thomas & Battle Names New Member in Charge of Wheeling Office Spilman Thomas & Battle PLLC has announced that Sharon Potter has been named member in charge of the law firm’s Wheeling office.

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From fighting cancer to breeding the perfect tomato, students are finding their passion for research at West Virginia State University with hands-on learning and innovative, personalized instruction.

at wvstateu.edu/apply

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