Meet West Virginia’s ‘Generation Next’ Recipients
Written by Jason Keeling on May 2, 2008
Traditionally, much of West Virginia’s youth has emigrated to neighboring states in search of greater economic opportunities. However, an increasing number of young professionals and entrepreneurs are bucking that trend, instead choosing to build careers and futures in West Virginia.
The State Journal, a premier business and government publication in West Virginia, recently announced its 2008 Generation Next class, recognizing 40 professionals under age 40 from across the state. These individuals represent various industries and professions, and each person uniquely contributes to the state’s betterment. Some assist communities and schools, while others expand business capacity, market our destinations, govern our cities, and even sell us frozen lemonade. Congratulations to each of the Generation Next designees, and a sincere thanks for your efforts!
Recipients are encouraged to share their thoughts via comment. Why did you stay or move to West Virginia? How do you envision West Virginia 10 years from now? General thoughts are also welcome. Other readers, now is your chance to commend these people, as a colleague, friend, relative or simply an admirer. Now let’s start a discussion.
GENERATION NEXT 2008
- Roslyn Artis, Mountain State University, Beckley
- Matt Ballard, Charleston Area Alliance, Charleston
- Mark Bowe, Antique Cabins and Barns, Lewisburg
- Jeremy Bumgardner, Tri-County YMCA, Scott Depot
- Brian Canterbury, Mountaineer Packaging, Dunbar
- John Casey, Pray Construction Company, Scott Depot
- Julian Chipley, Chipley Chiropractic PLLC, Beckley
- Tammie Clark Alexander, Centra Bank Inc., Morgantown
- Thomas Cogar, Thomas Cogar Lumber Co., Webster Springs
- Kevin Craig, Natural Resources Partners L.P., Huntington
- Susan Llewellyn Deniker, Steptoe & Johnson, Clarksburg
- David Felinton, City of Huntington, Huntington
- John Forester, Mountainview Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, Morgantown
- J. Scott Freshwater, Reserve Oil & Gas Inc., Spencer
- Eric Goff, Hedgesville High School, Hedgesville
- Michael Haid, Maple Creative, Charleston
- Chris Hall, TSG Consulting, Beckley
- Ashley Paige Hardesty, Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love, Morgantown
- James “Mac” Heslep, Steptoe & Johnson, Clarksburg
- Larry Lambert, Lambert Excavating Inc., Matheny
- Juddson Lindley, M.D., Access Health, Beckley
- Chad Linton, W.Va. Department of Agriculture, Guthrie
- Kenneth “Tripp” Lowe III, The Federal Group, Shepherdstown
- Sherry Lucero, Raleigh County Commission on Aging, Beckley
- Gina Martino Dahlia, WVU Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism, Morgantown
- Michael Massinople, Mabscott Supply Co., Charleston
- Sean Mayberry, Lanham, O’Dell & Co., Hurricane
- Kevin Miller, Enervest-Eastern Division, Charleston
- Matthew Otto, Bayer MaterialScience LLC, New Martinsville
- Amy Pearson, St. George Medical Clinic, Parsons
- Joshua Pearson, Mountaineer Packaging, Dunbar
- Alex Reneman, Mountain Leverage, Grafton
- Chris Stadelman, The Parsons Advocate, Parsons
- Erikka Storch, Ohio Valley Steel, Wheeling
- James Brian Swiger, WYK Associates Inc., Clarksburg
- Jefferson Lee Triplett, Triplett & Triplett, Elkins
- Angela Walker, Young Chapel African Methodist Church, Huntington
- Annette Lynn Wallace, Orchard Park Child Care, Wheeling
- Chip E. Williams, Pullin Fowler Flanagan Brown & Poe, Beckley
- Robert Zuliani, Zul’s Frozen Lemonade, Buckhannon
Posted in Business, Economy, Media, West Virginia
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May 4th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
West Virginian By Choice
Kudos to the recipients of this honor, but after reading the list I have a questioning thought. As a native of Bluefield, I have often wondered why it seems that the state line ends at Beckley? I love WV, but chose to move away due to economic conditions of my hometown. I have friends that in their quiet ways have stayed in the Mercer, McDowell, & Wyoming Co. areas trying to share their talents with the area’s young. Surely there are others like them that come from the state’s coalfields? I will never forget when my history professor at Concord University commented that he, being from Massachusetts, was West Virginian by choice, not by birth. There ARE those individuals in the southern counties that bring their love of home to the up and coming each day. Let us not forget.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
As someone who tries to tell stories of growth and creativity across the state, I have to report how difficult it is to get people to respond outside of Charleston. Often these stories don’t get told because few people in other regions of the state make it a priority to share them.
Perhaps people have been conditioned to not share because there has been a history of ignoring Southern or rural counties? Not sure what the root cause is, but I encourage anyone and everyone to share what’s going on in their part of the state! People DO want to know.
May 15th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Jeff and AS - you’re both right. Everyone area outside the center of the state has a bit of a 2-way antagonistic relationship with Charleston. That certainly holds true in the Northern Panhandle where I live. We’re very fragmented and people tend to hole up in our own areas.
This is very real, but I’m also glad to say that it seems not quite as bad with younger generations, at least in my experience. The Generation West Virginia member groups have been very supportive in an open environment. Sure we all probably care about our groups (for me, it’s OVConnect #1, but the others aren’t far behind. They’ve been incredibly helpful to us and I hope we have to them as well.
I just can’t tell you how refreshing it is to speak with people with an ‘abundance’ mentality when so many others operate out of a ’scarcity’ paradigm. And you’re a prime example, Jason!
June 4th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Congrats to Sherry Lucero who works at Raleigh County Commission on Aging and all the other recipients. As I looked at the list of names I was proud to see one of our “WV SHIP” (State Health Insurance Assistance Program)counselors honored. Keep up the good work!
June 19th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Wow. Reads like a who’s who of WV corpo-fascism. . . yea, yea, ya got the token social service workers, etc., but overall. . . defense firms, energy companies, etc.
Hmmm, wonder where your funding comes from?