Leadership West Virginia Names Class of 2008

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

The Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advancing Manufacturing Technologies (RCBI) and Chesapeake Energy Corporation are co-sponsors and Title Partners for the 2008 Leadership West Virginia session year. The commitment from RCBI and Chesapeake over the next year will help provide Leadership West Virginia with the financial support needed to provide a top-notch program.

“Leadership West Virginia plays an important role in educating new leaders from across our state and in helping to forge a better West Virginia,” said RCBI Director and CEO Charlotte Weber. “The Robert C. Byrd Institute is pleased to be providing a leadership role in the program’s ongoing success and in helping as a major sponsor for the program in 2008.”

“Chesapeake Energy is excited about increasing its investment in Leadership West Virginia because we see tremendous potential for it to produce valuable leadership resources for our state,” said Scott Rotruck, Vice President for Chesapeake Energy’s eastern division. “Educating new leaders about our state’s issues and challenges and inspiring them to work toward solutions and new opportunities are critical for our state’s future.”

Each year, participants are selected from a list of top-quality applicants from around the state. Individuals are selected into the program because they demonstrate leadership skills and -- experiences in civic activities, public affairs and in their professional careers. “As in past years, class members have widely varied interests and occupations, but all share the single, essential criterion to participate in the program – each has an abiding interest in West Virginia and its future,” explained Pam Farris, Executive Director of Leadership West Virginia.

Throughout the year members of the class will travel to eight communities in West Virginia to receive broad-based education on critical topics and, at the same time, have opportunities to hone their leadership skills. The locations and topics for the upcoming training program for the Class of 2008 include: Huntington- RCBI & Chesapeake Manufacturing and Energy Session, Morgantown - The WV Roundtable Leadership Conference, Parkersburg – AEP Economic Development Session, Fayetteville – Chesapeake Tourism Session, Wheeling - Steptoe & Johnson Justice System Forum, Morgantown - West Virginia Hospital Association Health Care Session, White Sulphur Springs - Mythology Education and the Arts, and Charleston - Jackson Kelly Government/Commencement Session.

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

The 2008 Class of Leadership West Virginia includes:

Brian Allman, Allman Insurance Services Inc.(South Charleston)
Andrew Arbogast, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC (Charleston)
Scott Atkins, West Virginia Mutual Insurance Company (Charleston)
Sarah Bailey, WV Secretary of State's Office (Charleston)
Tom Bennett, WV House of Delegates (Charleston)
Rodney Blackstone, City of Charleston (Charleston)
Jacque Bland, The State Journal (Charleston)
Stephanie Bock, West Virginia University Hospitals (Morgantown)
Sharon Boyce, WesMar HR Consulting, LLC (Bridgeport)
Alan Bragg, AEP-Appalachian Power (Charleston)
Mark Browning, Shuman McCuskey & Slicer, PLLC (Charleston)
Jason Butcher, WV Office of the Insurance Commissioner (Charleston)
Thomas Conaty, WV Chamber of Commerce (Huntington)
David Cooper, Canaan Valley Resort (Davis)
Liza Cordeiro, WV Department of Education (Charleston)
James Crouse, Wells Fargo Insurance Services (Huntington)
Sherri Davis, Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield (Parkersburg)
Edward DeCosta, Catalyst Associates LLC (Morgantown)
George Farris, CAMC (Charleston)
Emily Fisher, WV Northern Community College (Wheeling)
Willie Gillard, Triana Energy (Charleston)
Gov Graney, Petroleum Products Inc. (Nitro)
Jessica Greathouse, West Virginia American Water (Charleston)
Mark Haddix, Farm Credit of the Virginias, ACA (Elkins)
Rodney Holbert, Burgess & Niple, Inc. (Charleston)
Joan Keith, North Central WV Airport (Bridgeport)
Terri Kittle, Freedom Bank, Inc. (Bellington)
Denise Klug, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP (Wheeling)
Diane Lilly, City National Bank (Cross Lanes)
Sheliah Lowe, Cecil I. Walker Machinery Co. (Charleston)
Breck Martin, Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP (Parkersburg)
LuAnn Moore, West Virginia University (Morgantown)
J. D. Morgan, Snowshoe Mountain, Inc. (Snowshoe)
Samuel Payne, Huntington National Bank (Charleston)
Patricia Proctor, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (Huntington)
Christopher Robertson, Jackson Kelly PLLC (Martinsburg)
Susie Salisbury, Charleston Area Alliance (Charleston)
Debra Scudiere, Kay Casto & Chaney PLLC (Morgantown)
Matthew Sheppard, Chesapeake Energy (Charleston)
Kelly Stadelman, Stadelman Publishing LLC (Parsons)
Susan Stalnaker-Ware, Calhoun Banks, Inc. (Grantsville)
Stephen Stockton, Robinson & McElwee, PLLC (Charleston)
Jeff Tabor, Century Aluminum of WV (Ravenswood)
Juliet Terry, Vision Shared, Inc. (Charleston)
Ronald Thacker, Northern WV Rural Health Education Center (Glenville)
Jared Tucker, Terradon Communications (Poca)
Kathleen Ward, Marriott (Charleston)
Andrew Weber, CAMC Women & Children's Hospital (Charleston)
Matthew Whitler, Martin & Seibert, L.C. (Martinsburg)

To date, more than 700 individuals have participated and have been graduated as part of the Leadership West Virginia program.