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 [...]

Posted in Business, Economy, Media, West Virginia 6 Comments »

One tremendous aspect of making West Virginia better is leadership. We need more leaders from within that act as ambassadors for the state outside our jagged boundaries.
One such person is Brad Smith. He’s representing West Virginia extremely well as president and CEO of Intuit Corp. Perhaps you’ve heard of this software giant? If you are [...]

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West Virginia’s tourism sector has become a significant economic engine, given the state’s natural beauty, outdoor recreational opportunities, and proximity to major markets such as Washington D.C., Pittsburgh and Charlotte. Tourism-related industry employs 44,000 workers and contributes $532 million to state tax revenues, according to Tourism Commissioner Betty Carver, who presented at a recent West [...]

Posted in Business, Culture, Economy, Tourism, West Virginia 2 Comments »

Maple Creative’s Skip Lineberg and I will present “Business for Breakfast” at the Charleston Marriott’s Whitewater Grille, on April 25, from 7:30-8:30 a.m. The focus will be Web 2.0: Blogs, Pods and Twitters — How Emerging Internet Technologies Can Enhance Business Communications. We’ll consider the growing importance of blogs, podcasts, and social media sites like [...]

Posted in Business, Media, Tourism, West Virginia 4 Comments »

The West Virginia Young Leadership Conference is scheduled for April 23 in Morgantown. While retaining and attracting talented youth is a challenge for West Virginia, the movement to change such has been gaining momentum.
Young people across the state are coming together to expand business opportunities, build professional networks, and enhance the quality of life in [...]

Posted in Business, Culture, Economy, West Virginia 3 Comments »

Food is not usually discussed on this site, but today is an exception, as the story of Maggie’s Salsa demonstrates how an entrepreneurial spirit and the right opportunity can lead to business success in West Virginia.
Growing up in Mexico, Magdalena De La Cruz Cook-Garcia (a.k.a. “Maggie”) learned to prepare meals for a large family, but [...]

Posted in Business, Media, West Virginia 6 Comments »

It’s Entrepreneurship Week West Virginia, and from Feb. 23-29, numerous events will be taking place across the state, providing current and prospective business owners with several free training and networking opportunities. The schedule of events include the WVU Entrepreneurship Film Festival, Entrepreneurship Day at the Capitol, in addition to several marketing, finance, and business development [...]

Posted in Business, Economy, Government, West Virginia 2 Comments »