Brad Smith Comes Home for the 2008 Annual Celebration

The 2008 Annual Celebration is only a few weeks away, and the excitement over another great keynote speaker is growing.

Brad Smith is a success story coming out of West Virginia. The Kenova native is president and CEO of Intuit, Inc., a company that has heavily influenced and shaped how people file taxes and run businesses in the U.S.

Intuit manufactures TurboTax and QuickBooks, along with other notable software, and these programs have made accounting and tax filing easier, faster and less stressful (while dramatically cutting paper needs).

Smith is one more example of a West Virginian doing good work. John Chambers and Jennifer Garner are a couple of other names that come to mind.

Smith’s return to West Virginia May 6 fits well with Gov. Joe Manchin’s “Come Home to West Virginia” concept, discussed during this year’s State of the State Address. He wants former West Virginians to return to work in the state or expand their businesses into the state.

That West Virginians are talented is evident. How can that talent improve West Virginia and make it more attractive? Do some West Virginians have to leave their home to find success, and if so, how do we change the cycle?

Hopefully, Smith can provide some insight during his speech.

The Annual Celebration’s grand reception begins at 6 p.m. May 6 at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences. The main program follows at 7 p.m. Visit www.CharlestonAreaAlliance.org/events or call (304) 340-4253 to RSVP by April 30.

Join us to welcome home a proud West Virginian who is helping fight the negative clichés and stereotypes about the Mountain State.