Karen and Christian Higgins: Brownie House
Who doesn’t love brownies? Brownie House was initially founded in 2005 in Karen’s kitchen, but had to close down a few years later. 15 years later Brownie House was re-established and was an easy decision by both Christian and Karen, who left their...
Elizabeth Lynch: Miss West Virginia 2022
Elizabeth Lynch was the Miss West Virginia winner of 2022 and is currently a PhD student at WVU. She’s a champion and advocate for Agriculture and Farmers here in West Virginia, speaking at local FFA chapters, fairs, and more as she continues to inform others...
Highmark Health: Living Health Initiative
Today we’ve invited Linda Wigal and Lisa Marsh to join us over Zoom to talk about Highmark West Virginia and their Living Health initiative. Highmark Health are on mission to fix health care and solve our communities’ challenges – how to make people healthier,...
James Yoder: Auctioneer/Realtor
Today on Positively West Virginia we spoke with James Yoder, a licensed auctioneer and realtor doing work here in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. James has done a ton of work involving estate sales, from cataloging and auctioning items, to helping get the real estate...
Judd Walther & Andrew Morrison: Rebuilders Commercial Restoration
On today’s episode of Positively West Virginia we take the chance to talk with Judd Walther and Adrew Morrison, CEO and COO, of Rebuilders Commercial Restoration here in Morgantown, a restoration business focusing on getting companies back on their feet after a...
Brian McCommon: Mountain Ridge Realty
Today on Positively West Virginia we speak with Brian McCommon, a realtor with Mountain Ridge Realty. Brian puts on many different hats, from being a professional trombonist, to serving in the US Army and Army National Guard, he’s also the president of the...
Peyton Ballard: Ballard Consulting Group
Peyton Ballard is the owner and CEO of Ballard Consulting Group. After gaining experience in Human Resources, Peyton worked for the Country Roads Angel Network, serving as the Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives and the Managing Director. Then in 2023 Peyton...
Frank Vitale: Country Roads Angel Network
Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN) is recognized as the Mountain State’s first Angel investment network, and today we had the privilege to speak with Frank Vitale, the newly named President of CRAN about his personal experiences in Business and what CRAN can do for...
Jarrett Banks: Xclusive Movers
Located in Fairmont, West Virginia, Xclusive Movers provides a variety of moving services. From office relocation in Morgantown to moving your family to another state. We spoke with Jarrett Banks owner and founder about how he got his start in the moving industry and...
Jeremy Maddox: The Thrifty Mountaineer
On today’s Positively West Virginia, we chatted with Jeremy Maddox, owner of The Thrifty Mountaineer located in Westover Virginia. The Thrifty Mountaineer is a resale, and financial coaching company that’s focused on helping customers save money today, to...
Joshua Fowler: Black Cat MMA
On today’s episode of Positively West Virginia we spoke with Joshua Fowler, owner and founder of Black Cat MMA. With two locations located in Morgantown and Granville, Black Cat MMA is focused on providing a serious, but laid-back atmosphere and a place where...
Chin Orih: Corporate Cleaning Services
Chin Orih is the owner and founder of Corporate Cleaning Services LLC., a cleaning service that’s been around for 20 years! Chin saw a need for high quality cleaning services in the Morgantown area, and today he’s on the Positively West Virginia podcast to...
Travis Lemon: Wise Guys Media
Welcome to a new season of Positively West Virginia! To kick it off we’re sitting down with Travis Lemon of Wise Guys Media. Wise Guys Media helps bring the theater experience to your home, giving you the best experience when trying to watch your favorite...
Best of 2023: Village Caregiving – Appalachian Values
As we continue into 2024 we’re celebrating by airing the last Best of 2023 we have! This time it’s with Village Caregiving, LLC which has grown from a single location with one employee in Barboursville, WV to over 20 locations in the Midwest and Eastern...
Best of 2023: Monarca-Taqueria – Authentic Taste
Happy New Year! To celebrate a wonderful 2023 of Positively West Virginia, we’re bringing you a few of our most popular episodes that we’ve done! Earlier this year we sat down with the owner, Irlanda Huff, to talk about her journey of starting a...
Best of 2023: Chirag Desai – Inspiring Change
For the remainder of 2023, we’re bringing you a few of our most popular episodes that we’ve done! This week we’re going back to our conversation with Chirag Desai, owner and founder of Desai Law and how his law firm is helping inspire change...
Best of 2023: Coal Country Woodworking – An Unlikely Artist
For the remainder of 2023, we’re bringing you a few of our most popular episodes that we’ve done! This time we’re revisitng our conversation with John Verbosky of Coal Country Woodworking. John calls himself a most unlikely highly color blind artist....
Best of 2023: Rhetoric – Competitive Advantage
For the remainder of 2023 we’re bringing you a few of our most popular episodes that we’ve done! Please enjoy our interview with Luke Yingling, CEO of Rhetoric. Rhetoric is software as a service company that aims to quantify jurisprudence and measure judge...
Mackenzie Holmes: Kingdom Cleaning
Mackenzie Holmes, the owner of Kingdom Cleaning is from Bridgeport WV and joins us today on Positively West Virginia to talk about his journey as an entrepreneur. From being a High School athelete playing football and basketball, to getting a Business Administration...
Hattie Wright: Ingalls and Snyder
Hattie Wright is a Senior Vice President and portfolio manager for the Morgantown branch of Ingalls and Snyder, an investment advisory firm that helps manage around $7 billion in assets. Today on Positively West Virginia we talk to Hattie about getting started in the...
Emily Allred: Peace, Love and Little Donuts
Today we’re thankful that we got to speak with Emily Allred, owner of Peace, Love and Little Donuts of Morgantown, a donut and coffee shop in Suncrest Town Center. Emily was a worker at Peace, Love and Little Donuts and ended up buying the the business. We talk...
Kris Hershberger: Middletown Homes
Kris Hershberger is the president of Middletown Homes. Opened in 1986, Middletown Homes is West Virginia’s leading factory-built home builder with 4 locations throughout North Central West Virginia. Today on Positively West Virginia we got the chance to speak...
Mike Holliday: WELLSMART and ELM Transformation Ranch
Mike Holliday has served not only in the Army but also the Navy. Using the experiences, struggles, and growth he’s had since retiring from the military, Mike became a physical therapist, creating his own Rehab and Fitness center, Wellsmart Rehab and Fitness...
Randy Spellman & Dan Avolio: Paws Up
Have you ever taken your dog out and by the time you’ve gotten back inside their paws are muddy, wet, or just plain gross? Let us introduce you to Paws Up! We spoke with Randy Spellman and Dan Avolio about their product that’s designed to keep your hands...
Tara St. Clair: Ignite WV
On this episode of Positively West Virginia we spoke with Tara St. Clair, the Program Director of the Encova Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics to discuss Ignite WV, a competition open to all parties...
Carly Lemley & Heather Ayers: The Landing Dental Spa
Today on Positively West Virginia we’re speaking with Carly Lemley and Heather Ayers, Dentists and owners of The Landing Dental Spa located in Morgantown West Virginia. Wanting to create a spa-like, more welcoming dental experience, Carly and Heather walk us...
AJ Hammond & Matt Porter: Live2Lead
On this episode of Positively West Virginia we spoke with AJ Hammond and Matt Porter to talk about the Morgantown Area Partnership and their upcoming Live2Lead event. Live2Lead is a 1 Day Leadership Conference and Personal Growth Event and the Morgantown Area...
Logan Cuvo: Best Dam Tape
Today on Positively West Virginia we met with Logan Cuvo, a student at West Virginia University to talk about their hockey tape company titled Best Dam Tape. Best Dam Tape is focused on disrupting the hockey tape market and providing a great product to players all...
William Shahan: Edge Sports Inc.
Today, we’re joined by William Shahan, founder of Edge Sports Inc, a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on allowing kids to have a fun and safe place to learn, play, and exercise. Located in Belington, WV, Edge Sports has an indoor turf field, batting cages, and...
Mike Masterman: Extreme Endeavors
For this episode of Positively West Virginia we sat down with Mike Masterman, owner and president of Extreme Endeavors. Extreme Endeavors is a small business that started out in Antarctica that’s helping create innovative water solutions worldwide.
Zac Northup: Through the Fading Darkness
Zac Northup joins us today to discuss his new book, Through the Fading Darkness: An American novel. Through the Fading Darkness captures the hope and tragedy of life on the Appalachian frontier just before the American Revolution, and Zac provides insight into the...
Patrice Sterling: White House HBCU Scholar and Leader
Patrice Sterling, current Junior at Bluefield State University and 2023 White House Historically Black Colleges and University’s Scholar joins us on the show to talk about her background, what she’s most proud of while at Bluefield State, and more.
Highmark Health: Healthy Neighborhoods & Food as Medicine
On this episode of Positively West Virginia, we sat down with Cathy McAlister and Nebeyou Abebe from Highmark Health to talk about their Healthy Neighborhood initiative, an innovative and transformational food insecurity program.
MAJO: Creating Value One Project at a Time
This week we sat down with Mason Weese, Founder and Owner of MAJO LLC. Majo is based out of Charleston, WV that’s focused on revitalizing West Virginia one home at a time by generating cash for sellers, work for crew-members, and beautiful homes for buyers....
Nate’s Handcrafted Nets: Using Recreation as a Tool
This episode was recorded at Bridging Innovation 2023 from our remote Huntington National Bank studio. We spoke with Nate Arndt who was a Collegiate finalist in the Annual Business Plan Competition. Originally from Inwood, West Virginia, Nate is the founder of...
The Stable Boy: Rethinking Horse-Riding Saddles
This episode was recorded at Bridging Innovation 2023 from our remote Huntington National Bank studio. We sat down with Eva Toor, a Collegiate finalist in the Annual Business Plan Competition. Based in Charleston WV, she’s the founder and CEO of The Stable Boy...
CyberCups: A Smart Cup to Keep You Safe
This episode was recorded at Bridging Innovation 2023 from our remote Huntington National Bank studio. We sat down with Marshawn Kelly, Christian Ramsey, and Jonathan Williams, three Collegiate Team finalists in the Annual Business Plan Competition. Their business is...
LLET-MI Nutrition: Redefining Healthy Snacking
This episode was recorded at Bridging Innovation 2023 from our remote Huntington National Bank studio. We sat down with Akshit Mudigonda and Miguel Aguilar, two Community Team finalists in the Annual Business Plan Competition. Located in Martinsburg, West Virginia,...
Happy Hooves: Limitless Possibilities
This episode was recorded at Bridging Innovation 2023 from our remote Huntington National Bank studio. We sat down with Emma Looney & Lacy Mitchell, one of the High School finalists for the Annual Business Plan Competition. Their business is Happy Hooves, a...
Bikers Bros & Bo: In Memory of PFC Andrew “Bo” Harper
This week we are sitting down with Sandy Harper and Elizabeth Jones of Bikers, Bros & Bo, Inc., a non-profit in Morgantown, WV formed in memory of PFC Andrew “Bo” Harper. Bikers Bros & Bo Inc: https://bikersbrosandbo.com/
PuraVita Direct Primary Care: A New Approach to Care
Ashley Bainbridge, DO, owner of PuraVita Direct Primary Care joined us on the show to talk about what sets PuraVita apart from the typical primary care practice. PuraVita Primary Care: https://www.puravitacare.com
Ridge: Helping West Virginians
We sat down with one of the co-founders of Ridge Financial, PBC, Max Gottlieb. Ridge was founded out of Appalachia and is trying to change the narrative around banking and what’s possible for our region. Ridge: https://www.ridge.eco/
John Boyle: Appalachian Kid
John Boyle, well known entrepreneur and engineer, now author joins us on the show to introduce is new book Appalachian Kid. Appalachian Kid is memoire about John’s story. For Inquiries Contact: john@appalachiankid.com
Village Caregiving: Appalachian Values
In its seven years, Village Caregiving has grown from a single location with one employee in Barboursville, WV to over 20 locations in the Midwest and Eastern United States, and nearly 2,000 employees. We sat down with Jeff Stevens, one of the owners, to talk about...
Monarca-Taqueria: Authentic Taste
Monarca-Taqueria is an authentic taqueria located in Downtown Morgantown, West Virginia. We sat down with the owner, Irlanda Huff, to talk about her journey of starting a restaurant. Monarca-Taqueria: https://monarca.mymenus.store/#/
Trilogy Innovations: 2nd Annual TECH YEAH Conference
Brandon Downey and Randy Cottle of Trilogy Innovations join us this week to talk about the 2nd Annual TECH YEAH Conference. TECH YEAH highlights the innovative West Virginia-based companies forging a new future through technology. Join us for a highly interactive...
Omnis Building Technologies: A Revolution in Home Construction
Imagine building a more durable, high-tech, energy-efficient home in only one or two days at half the typical cost. That’s exactly what Omnis Building Technologies has done. This week we sat down with their Founder and CEO, Jonathan Hodson. Omnis Building...
Rhetoric: Competitive Advantage
Rhetoric is software as a service company that aims to quantify jurisprudence and measure judge sentiments to help litigators persuade judges and compare courts. Listen to this week’s episode as we sit down with Luke Yingling, CEO of Rhetoric. Rhetoric:...
Amber Ravenscroft: Entrepreneurial Development
This episode was recorded at Bridging Innovation 2023 from our remote Huntington National Bank studio. We sat down with Amber Ravenscroft, Manager of Innovation, The EdVenture Group, Inc. to talk about entrepreneurship and education in West Virginia.
Tara St. Clair: Entrepreneurial Opportunity
This episode was recorded at Bridging Innovation 2023 from our remote Huntington National Bank studio. We sat down with Tara St. Clair of the WVU John Chambers College of Business & Economics to talk about what took place at this year’s conference.
Chestnut Mountain Village and WV DHHR: Helping Children in Need
This week we are sitting down with Greg Clutter, Ministry Director at Chestnut Mountain Village and Jeffrey Pack, Commissioner of WV Bureau of Social Services. We discussed that the state and faith-based community both play a big role in solving foster care issues in...
Huntington National Bank: Having a Clear Vision
Featured this week is John Augustine, Chief Investment Officer at Huntington National Bank. Listen in as John talks about leadership guidance, and look into West Virginia’s economy.
Mon Hills Music Group: Hands On Experience
This week we are featuring Josh Swiger and Jared Sims of Mon Hills Music Group. Mon Hills Music Group is an initiative created by the West Virginia University – College Of Creative Arts.
West Virginia Virtual Academy: Personalized Approach to Education
This week we are featuring Doug Cipoletti, Executive Director of West Virginia Virtual Academy. West Virginia Virtual Academy (WVVA) is a tuition-free online public school serving grades K–11. They are dedicated to inspiring and empowering students through an...
Mountaineer Roasting Co: Becoming a Part of the Community
This week we are following up with a previous guest of the show, Rusty Isaacs, Owner of Mountaineer Roasting Co. in Morgantown. They are a roasting company with one goal in mind, to present you with the most exceptional coffees in the Mountain State. Mountaineer...
Enliven Wellness: Healing Naturally
This week we are featuring Dr. Jame Leonette D.C., Clinic Director of Enliven Wellness. Enliven Wellness is a holistic wellness clinic that has grown over the past ten years to include chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, occupational health, clinical...
SeyberTech: Enabling Business Growth Through Technology
This week we are featuring Justin Seybert, Owner of SeyberTech. SeyberTech is a locally and veteran-owned West Virginia based technology services company on a mission to optimize technology for businesses small to large from startups to enterprise-level companies. ...
Tucker Community Foundation: Filling Needs
For this week’s episode we are featuring David Cooper, Executive Director at Tucker Community Foundation. The Tucker Community Foundation stirs many pots. From its humble beginnings as a group of folks concerned about their community and spurred by the...
Davis Insurance Advisors: Providing Peace of Mind for 4 Generations
This week we are speaking with Tyler Davis, Principal Agent of Davis Insurance Advisors. Davis Insurance Advisors is a locally owned and operated insurance agency in Morgantown, WV. Davis Insurance is committed to providing quality insurance products for individuals...
WV BusinessLink: Empowering Entrepreneurs to Realize Their Dreams
This week we are sitting down with Mark Burdette, Program Coordinator at West Virginia BusinessLink. Learn more about how WV BusinessLink connects entrepreneurs to a network of resource partners statewide.
Desai Law: Inspiring Change
This week we are sitting down with Chirag Desai, Owner and Founder of Desai Law, PLLC.
Coal Country Woodworking: An Unlikely Artist
This week we are sitting down with John Verbosky of Coal Country Woodworking Country Woodworking.John calls himself a most unlikely highly color blind artist. John found is calling in woodworking and loves using West Virginia sourced hardwoods especially black walnut....
Devil’s Due Distillery: The Spirit of West Virginia
This week we spoke with Wylie McDade of Devil’s Due Distillery. Devil’s Due is an up and coming West Virginia Distillery focussing on West Virginia Bourbon, Whiskey and other distilled spirits. They are the ‘Spirit of West Virginia” and proud...
Needful Things Emporium: Facilitating Small Business in WV
This week we sat down with Melissa Glascock of Needful Things Emporium. Needful Things has 40+ vendor booths that showcase some of the coolest handcrafted items from many wonderful local artists. Needful Things...
Crossroads Property Rescue: Building Trust, Restoring Value
This week we speak with John Woods, Owner of Crossroads Property Rescue. Crossroads Property Rescue provides emergency property restoration and decontamination services to areas affected by water, fire, mold, and biohazard emergencies in Morgantown, West Virginia and...
Highmark Health: A Commitment to West Virginia
his week we invited Dr. Caesar A. DeLeo and Dr. Bradley Karlin from Highmark Health to talk about how Highmark has made a commitment toward addressing behavioral health and tackling the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) crisis taking place across the US and in the Mountain...
SaaS Factory: An Entrepreneurial Initiative
This week we are sitting down with Cary Landis, Founder of the Saas Factory. The Saas Factory is a low-code application platform (LCAP) with the purpose of helping entrepreneurs launch SaaS businesses on the cloud. SaaS Factory:...
High Mark West Virginia: Keeping Health the Priority | Positively WV Best of 2022
For the remainder of the year we’re bringing you a few of our most popular episodes from this past year. Please enjoy our previous interview with James L. Fawcett, president of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia.
Swilled Dog: Female Powered Brand | Positively WV Best of 2022
For the remainder of the year we’re bringing you a few of our most popular episodes from this past year. Please enjoy our previous interview with Brooke Glover is the CEO & Co-Founder of Swilled Dog, a distillery and cidery based out of Pendleton...
Huntington Bank: Making a Difference | Positively WV Best of 2022
For the remainder of the year we’re bringing you a few of our most popular episodes from this past year. Please enjoy our previous interview with Chad Prather is president of Huntington National Bank’s West Virginia Region. Watch the previously recorded...
Barnwood Builders: The Pioneer’s of Today | Positively WV Best of 2022
For the remainder of the year we’re bringing you a few of our most popular episodes from this past year. Please enjoy our previous interview with Mark Bowe, host of the nationally acclaimed Magnolia Network’s Barnwood Builders. Watch the previously recorded...
Freedom Kia: Morgantown’s Trusted Kia Dealership | Positively WV Best of 2022
For the remainder of the year we’re bringing you a few of our most popular episodes from this past year. Please enjoy our previous interview with Mike Lee, Dealer Principal of Freedom Kia of Morgantown. Watch or Listen to the previously recorded...
Horizon Medical Technologies: Assisting Employers Maintain a High Level of Integrity
This week we are speaking with Michael D. Adrian, President of Horizon Medical Technologies. Tune in to learn more about the important work Horizon Medical Technologies is doing in North Central West Virginia. For 21 years Horizon Medical Technologies has...
Volunteer West Virginia: Empowering Communities and Making a Difference
Hawley Carlson is the Executive Director of Volunteer West Virginia, the state’s commission on service and volunteerism. Volunteer West Virginia is a small state agency that promotes and supports AmeriCorps, disaster preparedness, and volunteerism....
Ray Glymph: Taking Your Business to the Next Level
Ray Glymph is a Business & Life coach who helps encourage not only new but veteran entrepreneurs to better their businesses. Mr. Glymph has inspired businesses of all sizes from mom and pop businesses to 8 figure corporations. His unique coaching style...
Umbrella Arts: Unlocking Creativity
Umbrella Arts is a performing and visual arts instruction facility based in dance, movement and somatic education. Angela Dennis has an extensive catalog of career experience. She has been a staff member and guest instructor at educational dance...
High Mark West Virginia: Keeping Health the Priority
James L. Fawcett is president of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia, which serves approximately 300,000 members through the company’s health care benefits business as well as a comparable number of additional members through the national BlueCard®...POP “The Soda Shop”: Soda With A Twist
POP “The Soda Shop” is a new business that Chris and his wife recently created. Taking Pepsi, Coke, and energy drinks – “The Soda Shop” adds flavoring, creams and purees to create unique drink combinations. POP also carries...The Rambling Root: Locally Curated
The Rambling Root is a brew pub located in Fairmont WV. They brew their own beer along with carrying a majority WV produced beers and a few fan favorites. They have 29 drafts and big bottle/can selection. Their knowledgeable staff will help you find the...The Hatter’s Bookshop: The Pursuit of Knowledge
Tammy was born and raised in the small town of Laeger, WV (pronounced yeager). Tammy grew up in a home where reading was encouraged from an early age. Furthering her education was important to her parents because they were never afforded the opportunity to...Stratagen: Turning Opportunities into Reality
Stratagen provides next generation capabilities to Federal clients through strategic management, analytical, and IT solutions. Our host spoke with Alex Guy, MBA, MSBA, PMP and Marc Krueger, MSSE, PMP both of which are partners of Stratagen. Stratagen:...Agile5 Technologies: Proactive Planning, Agile Execution
Lisa L. Fritsch, Co-founder, President and CEO of Agile5 Technologies, Inc., a woman owned and SBA certified Hubzone small business that specializes in all aspects of the software development life cycle for large enterprise systems. They target the local,...Hull & Knarr: Fueling Innovative Business
Hull & Knarr LLP help companies and accounting firms identify often-missed sources of non-diluted funding through an engineering-based approach to the Research Tax Credit. Our host sat down with John Berry, Business Development Manager of Hull &...Apis Creative: Communicating Effectively
Writing. Editing. Training. Project management. These are the primary skills Bethany Hornbeck of Apis Creative has developed over more than 25 years in the field of communications. Apis is a collective of freelance and small–business creatives working to...M&S Consutling: Concurring Challenges
Ashok Aggarwal is a co-founder and Managing Partner at M&S Consulting, he has been working with an amazing team building a world-class technology and strategy services organization dedicated to customer satisfaction with a highly talented and dedicated...Top Gun Handyman Services: Always Putting Others First
Tyler Jarrett of Top Gun Handyman Service. Top Gun Handyman Service Facebook: https://ms-my.facebook.com/Topgunhandyman304 Top Gun Handyman Service Website: https://www.techyeahconference.com/ Sponsored by:Episode 233 – Randy Cottle – Trilogy
Randy Cottle is the Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Trilogy Innovations Inc. Randy is a WV-native from Elkins, WV. Randy attended WVU where he earned his Bachelors’ in Business Administration and obtained a Masters’ in...Episode 232 – Emily Calandrelli – Emily’s Wonder Lab
Emily Calandrelli is the host and co-executive producer of the hit Netflix series, Emily’s Wonder Lab. Each episode features Emily and a group of kid-scientists as they learn about STEAM through experiments and fun activities. Emily is also an Executive...Episode 231 – Ron Wiles – Good News Mountaineer Garage
Ron is a 1998 graduate from Fairmont State College, now University, with a Business degree. He came to work for the Good News Mountaineer Garage in 2006. Good News started as a pilot project in 2001 and he was hired on to direct the Morgantown-office when it...Episode 230 – Micki Pauley – Warrior Body
Micki Pauley is a wellness coach who is advocating for your personal health. She is owner of Warrior Body, a group-fitness facility located here in Morgantown, WV – where community is one of the strongest components of her program; she will arguably say...Episode 229 – Brooke Glover – Swilled Dog
Brooke Glover is the CEO & Co-Founder of Swilled Dog, a distillery and cidery based out of Pendleton County, West Virginia. Brooke serves as the Vice President of the American Cider Association and was recently elected to another term on the ACA Board. She...Episode 228 – Chad Prather – Huntington National Bank
Chad Prather is president of Huntington National Bank’s West Virginia Region. Prather leads their diverse team of financial service professionals who are committed to serving consumers, businesses and communities across West Virginia. Prather joined Huntington...Episode 227 – Mary Remsburg – Mister Mae
Raised around trees and rolling hills in a tiny mountain town in West Virginia, Mary Remsburg grew up a classically trained pianist who, in neighboring cities, consistently received double superior ratings during piano competitions and was frequently selected...Episode 226 – Chris Egress – eSolutions
Chris Egress is President of E Solutions. Established in 2012, Chris started building an electrical contracting company based on a solid reputation of quality work. Staying true to his values is why eSolutions is a thriving, growing and successful company. High...Episode 225 – Kayla Mullin – Montani Mental Health
Mary Hunt is the Program Director for Community and Economic Development for the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation based in Pittsburgh serving all of West Virginia and parts of southwestern Pennsylvania. In her program areas Mary works with nonprofits,...Episode 224 – Mary Hunt – Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Mary Hunt is the Program Director for Community and Economic Development for the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation based in Pittsburgh serving all of West Virginia and parts of southwestern Pennsylvania. In her program areas Mary works with nonprofits,...Episode 223 – Mason Atkinson – M&M Baits
M&M Baits is a small-bait business run by a high school student – soon to be a graduate. M&M makes and sells custom soft-plastic fishing baits for different species of fish. They offer a variety of colors – some that you see on the market and...
Episode 222 – John Vash Jr. – Hearing Solutions
John Vash Jr. is a 16-year resident of West Virginia and is proud to call it his home. Another thing he’s proud to call his own—Hearing Solutions in Bridgeport and White Hall, West Virginia. Vash has worked in the hearing healthcare field for over 20 years. He...Recruitment Challenges
The workforce is the essential component of a thriving economy and economic experience—but finding the right candidates for your business and retaining them can be a challenge. Hosts, Jim Matuga and Laura Seybold, sat down with Patty Showers Ryan, President of Your...
Episode 221 – Terri Reed Cutright & Associates: The Revitalization of Morgantown
Established in 2008, Terri Reed Cutright & Associates has been on the cutting edge of grant writing and community development. Leading that charge in Morgantown is President and Founder, Terri Cutright. Over the last 30 years, Cutright has been recognized for...Navigating Economic Challenges in West Virginia
It’s estimated that upwards of 9.4 million businesses closed, either permanently or temporarily, during the COVID-19 pandemic. So what does it look like to navigate impending economic challenges in the current economic climate? Host, Jim Matuga, sat down with Jonathan...
Episode 220 – Mountaineer Military Museum: A Wartime Memorial
Childhood friends were drafted into their country’s service, but only one of them made it home. Ron McVaney, Founder and CEO of the museum, and his wife, Barb, are dedicated to telling their story. Mrs. McVaney is the Executive Director of the museum, and with her...
Summer Events
Tourism and recreation continue to be two of the largest industries in West Virginia and is responsible for nearly 46,000 jobs in the state every year. Host, Jim Matuga, sat down with Albert Hammond, President of Main Street Morgantown; Trevor Dolan, Sponsorship and...
Episode 219 – Justin Whitman – UMuseUs
A love of folk, song, and dance is embedded in the West Virginia psyche. With a growing interest in events, concerts, and music venues, Justin Whitman found a niche needing to be filled. Whitman is the Founder and CEO of UMuseUs, a tech startup located in...Small Business Week
Small business has been referred to as the backbone of America—rightfully so; small business entrepreneurship is one of the closest realities to the American Dream a person can experience. Host, Paige Malenock, sat down with Karen Friel, District Director of the SBA;...
Episode 218 – Mark Bowe – Barnwood Builders
Mark Bowe is a man’s man—he’s also the host of the nationally acclaimed Magnolia Network’s Barnwood Builders. After working his way through college as a coal miner, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Bowe also holds a master’s degree in...Manufacturing in West Virginia
What has manufacturing to do with West Virginia? In a word, a lot. Manufacturers in West Virginia account for 10.25% of the total output in the state and are responsible for almost 7% of the total workforce. Host, Jim Matuga, sat down with David Rosier, President of...
Episode 217 – Tony Onorato – APO Consulting
Tony Onorato has always been a go-getter. Licensed as a Professional Counselor, he functions as a Sports Performance Consultant out of his agency in Morgantown, West Virginia. APO Consulting was born almost 25 years ago and focuses on working anxiety, depression,...The Staffing Industry Business Mastermind
Coming down from the COVID-19 pandemic, a question swirling in the minds of most West Virginians surrounds the state of things in the small-town workforce. Are jobs readily available? How has the pandemic affected small businesses and corporations throughout the...
Episode 216 – Jason Specht – Mountain State Overland LLC
Creator and owner of Mountain State Overland (LLC), Jason Specht has always considered himself a mountain man. Mountain State Overland was founded in the “Mountain State” in 2013. Its team of explorers has enjoyed nearly 100,000 miles of vehicle-based...
Episode 215 – Jimmy Belknap – Belknap Dough Company
Jimmy Belknap has always known the value of a hard day’s work. Raised on a cattle farm, he spent some time in the electrical industry before ultimately transferring to oil and gas. Today, he continues this long legacy of hard work––only now with a brick oven and...
Financial Uncertainty Business MasterMind
Financial uncertainty. It’s something we all face at one point or another. With the COVID-19 crisis and small business shortages across West Virginia, instilling financial confidence in the hearts and minds of the state’s mountain communities has grown bleak. Host,...
Episode 214 – Brittany Fink – Brittany Anne’s Events
Originally from Charleston, West Virginia, Brittany Fink has called Morgantown home since graduating from the West Virginia University College of Law. Today, she is the proud owner of Brittany Anne’s Events. Fink practiced law for five years before...
Bridging Innovation MasterMind
This week we are speaking with Tara St. Clair, Director of Operations at Encova Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Bill Woodrum, Coordinator at WV Entrepreneurship Network at West Virginia Department of Economic Development about the Bridging Innocation...Episode 213 – Anthony Sellaro – Sellaro’s Overhead Door Service
West Virginia’s garage door expert, Anthony Sellaro, was destined for West Virginia glory. With the help of his two brothers, John and James, the three of them started Sellaro Overhead Door Service in 1986. Born in Morgantown, Sellaro holds a Bachelor of...Broadband Business MasterMind
A number of economic developers and business collaborators are seeking unprecedented change in broadband access across the state of West Virginia. Host, Jim Matuga, sat down with Derek Barr, Assistant GM of Hardy Telecommunications, Sean Sikora, County Commissioner...Fishing Business MasterMind
It’s one of West Virginia’s most supported recreations––Fishing. Mountaineers love to fish. Something about the serene landscape of escaping to the woods, and finding a quiet stream to cast a line for hours on end. With some of the best spots in the country, the...Education MasterMind
Education is a vital component of the growth of any society. In West Virginia, there is a growing interest in the public education system and its effects on the greater economic development of our statewide communities. Host, Jim Matuga, sat down with Scott Rotruck,...Veterans MasterMind
Opportunities for veterans can appear few and far between. Hoping to change the entrepreneurial, educational, and economic landscape for veterans in West Virginia are two decorated military servants. Host, Jim Matuga, sat down with Frank Vitale, President and CEO of...Energy Business MasterMind
One of several industries attempting to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic is the Natural Gas and Energy industry in West Virginia. Host, Jim Matuga, sat down with Charlie Burd, Executive Director at the Gas & Oil Association of West Virginia, and Frank...Omnis Building Technologies MasterMind
A California company has announced its plans to locate a permanent manufacturing plant in Bluefield, West Virginia to produce and distribute pre-fabricated home building blocks. Omnis Building Technologies announced its plans to invest $40 million into a 150,000...
Episode 212- Mike Lee – Freedom Kia
powered by Sounder In 1989, Mike Lee and his family immigrated from Taiwan –– he was only eight years old at the time. Today, he is the Dealer Principal (Owner) of Freedom Kia in Granville, West Virginia. Hailing from New Jersey for most of his life, Lee...
Episode 211 – Eleanor Reigel – Ronald McDonald House Charities
powered by Sounder Facilitating a difference in the lives of many, is Eleanor Reigel, Chief Executive Officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown. Reigel has worked with the charity for more than a decade, after previous employment...
Episode 210 – Brendan Fenn – Grindstone Coffeeology
powered by Sounder An architect by trade, Brendan Fenn, has been living out his ‘happy retirement’ owning and operating Grindstone Coffeeology. Fenn and his family are from a land “down under.” They relocated from Australia to...
Episode 209 – Jerill Vance – The Appalachian Heritage Woodshop
powered by Sounder Jerill Vance is a woodworker, educator, and owner of the Appalachian Heritage Woodshop. The purpose of the Appalachian Heritage Woodshop is to educate an audience about the form and function of utilitarian Appalachian furniture through a...
Episode 208 – Ashley Kwasniewski – Big Timber Brewing Company
powered by Sounder In the heart of Appalachia is everyone’s favorite brewery. Big Timber Brewing Company, located in Elkins, West Virginia, started as a dream ––but after seven years of reality, co-founder, Ashley Kwasniewski, is still as giddy as ever. After...
Episode 207 – Cassie Smith – West Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League
powered by Sounder Cassie Smith lives in Morgantown, West Virginia, and has been an avid mountain biker for almost three decades. As the West Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League Director, her passion has become her vocation. The West Virginia...
Episode 206 – Laura Seybold – Shine Consulting LLC
powered by Sounder Laura Seybold is on a mission to recover what makes West Virginia “shine.” In 2019, she founded Shine Consulting, LLC, which focuses on developing an organization’s best asset – its people. Fascinated by Economics, Seybold obtained a...Real Estate Business MasterMind
Opportunity exists in West Virginia, and some of the fastest-growing trends in the mountain state pertain to real estate. In 2021, national home sales increased more than 8% in total units sold from the previous year––the highest percentage increase since 2006. Host,...
Episode 205 – Kelsi Boyd – Silver market Company
powered by Sounder In 2015, Kelsi Boyd searched for locally sourced and cleaner alternatives to traditional Big Box soap and skincare products. Living in Mason County (WV) at the time, she either had to commute to find them or get creative. Choosing the latter,...
Episode 204 – Christopher Mullett – Burlington United Methodist Family Services
powered by Sounder “Christopher Mullett has served as President and CEO of Burlington United Methodist Family Services since April of 2020. His passion is simple––to make a difference. Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. was founded in...Sugar Bear’s Fun Shop: West Virginia Toy Store on Sugar
Nicole Bostic grew up the affectionate Army Brat of her father––traveling back and forth from one military station to the next. Upon his retirement, Bostic took it upon herself to spread her wings and make her mark on the world. Finally, after nearly 20 years in...
Episode 203 – Nicole Bostic – Sugar Bear’s Fun Shop
powered by Sounder Nicole Bostic grew up the affectionate Army Brat of her father––traveling back and forth from one military station to the next. Upon his retirement, Bostic took it upon herself to spread her wings and make her mark on the world. Finally,...
Episode 202 – Forest “Jack” Bowman – Jackson Kelly Professor of Law Emeritus at West Virginia University
powered by Sounder Forest “Jack” Bowman is the Jackson Kelly Professor of Law Emeritus at West Virginia University and a lifelong West Virginian. He taught law at WVU for twenty-three years, during which time he was named “Professor of the Year” by an...Forest ‘Jack’ Bowman: Lawyer, Writer, Renaissance Man
Lifelong West Virginian, Forest ‘Jack’ Bowman, is the Jackson Kelly Professor of Law Emeritus at West Virginia University. Lawyer by trade, Bowman, retired from law three years ago. Today, he spends his days authoring novels and tinkering in his workshop. ...
Episode 201 – Sean Frisbee – Vertx Partners
powered by Sounder Retired Air Force Colonel Sean Frisbee founded Vertx Partners in 2021 to solve problems for the U.S. Air Force, while bettering the economy of West Virginia. A former President & CEO of the WVU Alumni Association, and once the Systems...Vertx Partners: National Security and Intelligence in West Virginia
Retired Air Force Colonel, Sean Frisbee, was on a mission to help the U.S. Air Force and the economic state of West Virginia. Last year, he founded Vertx Partners, a collaborative effort alongside Parallax Advanced Research, to support the development of science and...
Episode 200 – Clay Elkins – Big Draft Brewing
powered by Sounder Clay Elkins is a quintessential food and wine guy who strives to deliver world-class dining and entertainment experiences. He earned a BS in Computer Information Systems from Appalachian State University but quickly learned that the cubicle...Big Draft Brewing: Restoring Small-Town Appalachia
Doing his part to restore small-town Appalachia, Clay Elkins is the co-owner of Cross Creek Hospitality in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The hospitality brand includes Cross Creek Cafe, Road Hog’s BBQ, Cross Creek on Main, and Big Draft Brewing. Elkins, a...
Episode 199 – Stephanie Bender – S&T’s Bees
powered by Sounder Stephanie Bender is the owner and operator of S&T’s Bees in downtown Elkins. S&T’s Bees sells all supplies needed for beekeeping, as well as honey, lip balm, lotions, soaps and other items made from honey. Wood, country,...S&T’s Bees: The Birds and Bees of Beekeeping
As the recipient of the 2020 Randolph County Business of the Year Award, Stephanie Bender knows a little something about bees. She is the owner and operator of S&T’s Bees, located in downtown Elkins, West Virginia, and is mainly responsible for the company’s...
Episode 198 – Patty Showers Ryan – Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, Inc.
powered by Sounder Patty Showers Ryan became President of Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, Inc. (YCF) in June 2016. Ms. Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Colorado State University and returned home to...Your Community Foundation: A Spirit of Philanthropy in West Virginia
Founded in 2011, the Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia (YCFWV) is a public charity created by and for the people of West Virginia. Patty Showers Ryan was inducted as President of the foundation in June 2016. Ms. Ryan is a Morgantown native who...
Episode 197 – Tommy Byrd – Byrd’s House of Donuts
powered by Sounder Byrd’s House of Donuts was started by Issac Thomas Byrd, Sr. (Tommy) and his son, Issac Thomas Byrd, Jr (Thomas). Mr. Byrd had a longstanding career of 25 years in the woodworking industry managing dimension mills, cabinet factories,...Byrd’s House of Donuts: The Best Donut You’ve Ever Tasted
Located in the heart of downtown Elkins, you’ll find a polka-dotted piano underneath a giant sprinkled donut and a set of old wooden doors. Inside are yellow-painted walls and a selection of donuts that the owner claims are “the best donuts you’ve ever tasted.” ...
Episode 196 – Ron & Matilda Fowler – French Creek Christmas Trees
powered by Sounder Married for 48 years (c. 1973), Ron and Matilda Fowler are owners of French Creek Christmas Trees. They have one son, two lovely grandchildren, and their number one farm greeter, Gus the Dog. Ron graduated from WVU with a degree in Forestry....French Creek Christmas Trees: A Tree Farm for the Whole Family
Nestled on 50 acres of land in French Creek is a Christmas tree farm. Owned by Ron and Matilda Fowler, French Creek Christmas Trees has been steadily growing, like their trees, for over 30 years. “We’re just a hilly, West Virginia farm,” said Mr. Fowler. The...Hashtag WV: A West Virginia Publication for West Virginians
Christina Entenmann-Edwards started Hashtag WV out of love for West Virginia. Like herself, a first-generation American, the campaign was launched as the first of its kind — a free, full-color tabloid of arts and culture throughout the Greenbrier Valley. ...
Episode 195 – Christina Entenmann – Edwards Hashtag WV
powered by Sounder Christina Entenmann-Edwards, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Hashtag WV City Paper, has been a Lewisburg, WV resident since September of 2008. She is a first-generation American, was born and raised in Fairfield County (Connecticut) and is no...
Episode 194 – Todd Cope – CentralApp
powered by Sounder As CEO of CentralApp, Todd Cope strives to connect companies in need of tech talent with qualified workers from throughout the Appalachian region. A native West Virginian with a coal-miner grandfather, Todd is deeply committed to promoting...CentralApp: From West Virginia to Silicon Valley and Back Again
A West Virginian by birth, Todd Cope moved away in search of greater entrepreneurial opportunities. And as a West Virginian at heart, he moved back to create them for others. Founded by West Virginians, CentralApp has a singular vision: To connect companies with...
Episode 193 – Rene Jorge – Sauté by René
powered by Sounder Rene Jorge is a professional Chef and owner of Sauté by Rene’. She is the mother of two teenage boys. Born in Asbury Park, NJ and moved to NYC after high school where she attended culinary school. After moving to MN, she had her first...Sauté by René: Diverse Flavors with Hometown Service
Born in Asbury Park, New Jersey, René Jorge is a professional Chef and owner of Sauté by René of Morgantown. Growing up in the diverse and Spanish-speaking community of Asbury Park, it was here that she fell in love with the art of cooking. After high school, Jorge...
Episode 192 – Ellen and Daniel Lubuguin – Phillipines Best
powered by Sounder Ellen and Daniel Lubuguin were both born in the Philippines. Daniel’s career started out working for Pepsi where he remained for 10 years, while Ellen worked as a hairdresser. The two of them decided to start Philippines Best as a food...Philippines Best Food: Parkersburg’s Hidden Gem
Born in the Philippines, Daniel and Ellen Lubuguin are the proud owners of Philippines Best Food in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Daniel’s stateside career began as an employee for PepsiCo. He remained with the company for ten years, during which time he met...
Episode 191 – Mike Goss – Sirianni’s Cafe
powered by Sounder General Manager of Sirianni’s Cafe in Davis, West Virginia, Mike Goss operates the in’s and out’s of the Italian Cafe. Siranni’s name originates from the family’s ancestral journey during the mass Italian immigration. Today, the...Sirianni’s Cafe: A Pizza Landmark in the Canaan Valley
Michael Goss is the co-owner of Sirianni’s Cafe, located in Davis, West Virginia, a landmark dining experience in the tourism capital of the state. Sirianni’s pizza has fed hundreds of thousands of hungry skiing and hiking families and enthusiasts over...
Episode 190 – Crystal Mersh – 1982 Foundation
powered by Sounder Born and raised in Calhoun County, Crystal graduated with a degree in Chemistry and was shortly after forced to leave her home state in order to find employment. Forty years later, Crystal has returned to WV in an effort to revitalize Calhoun...The 1982 Foundation: A Community Center for Calhoun County
Crystal Mersh, a Calhoun County native and founder of Quality Executive Partners (QXP), has returned home to start The 1982 Foundation. The foundation purchased the historic Calhoun County High School building with a vision to convert the grounds into a mixed-used...
Episode 189 – Megan Brown – The Pretty Pickle
powered by Sounder Megan Brown is the artist and owner of The Pretty Pickle in Fairmont, WV. Her work is primarily created using resin, pressed botanicals, wings/bugs, and other items from nature. Megan is self-taught, a Tamarack artisan, and began her business...The Pretty Pickle: ‘Resin’ating Natural Art
Owned and operated by Megan Brown, The Pretty Pickle’s pressed botanicals have become a household staple throughout the North Central Region of West Virginia. A longtime educator, Brown set her hand to the plow in 2010 after being named a Tamarack Artisan for...
Episode 188 – Samuel Bonasso – Quantum Bean Coffee
powered by Sounder Samuel Bonasso is the founder and head roaster of Quantum Bean Coffee in Morgantown, WV. He’s been married for 7 years and has 2 young children. Samuel has a vision for cultivating a specialty coffee culture in the state of West Virginia....Quantum Bean Coffee: The Treasure of South Park
Quantum Bean Coffee is from humble stock, beginning its life out of the back of Samuel Bonasso’s small apartment. Today, the small cafe and roastery is widely recognized as a member of Mountaineer Country’s upper echelon of specialty coffee shops. Bonasso...
Episode 187 – Matthew Byrd- Byrd’s and Bee’s
powered by Sounder Matthew Byrd grew up in Ritchie County, WV. Always having a fascination with wildlife, Matthew graduated from WVU with a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Resource Management. It was when a local extension office in Ritchie County offered a...Byrd’s and Bee’s Honey: The Bees Knees of Honey Production in West Virginia
Matthew Byrd, a native of West Virginia, has always held a fascination with wildlife, the outdoors and his home state. A graduate of WVU with a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Resource Management, Byrd now operates 15 beehives throughout Ritchie County. Byrd’s...
Episode 186 – Kathy Evans – Evans Knob Farm
powered by Sounder Evans Knob Farm is owned by Kathy and Reid Evans. Fourth generation operators of Reid’s family farm, they took over stewardship of the farm in 1994. In 2002, Reid lost his job with IBM, and Kathy knew it was time to get down to business and...Evans Knob Farm: Where Goodness Grows
Evans Knob Farm is owned and operated by Kathy and Reid Evans, fourth-generation farmers of the Evans’ family farm, who took ownership of the property in 1994. After employment cuts made by IBM in 2002, Reid was let go by the company. It was then that Kathy...
Episode 185 – Liz Riffle – Riffle Farms
powered by Sounder Liz Riffle is the owner of Riffle Farms: American Bison, the first commercial bison operation in the state of West Virginia. A Registered Nurse by trade, Liz has now gone from bedside to barnside! But health is still always at the forefront...Riffle Farms: Where the Buffalo Roam
Remember that old song Home, Home On The Range? Now, you, and Neil Young, can visit a home where the buffalo roam right here in West Virginia. Liz Riffle, owner of Riffle Farms: American Bison, located in Preston County, began her foray into bison cattle farming...
Episode 184 – Amanda Stevens – A&K Clothing
powered by Sounder A&K Clothing is a locally owned business based out of the mountain state of West Virginia. The business opened up in February 2021 & has grown exponentially. The name of the store originated from them & their kids’ names. ...A&K Clothing: An Original West Virginia Brand
A&K Clothing is a locally owned business and manufacturer operating out of Enterprise, West Virginia. Amanda Stevens, the one-man band and owner of the company, is a Fairmont State University graduate and a proud native of the Mountain State. Since opening shop...Shenandoah Planing Mill: A Jefferson County Woodworking Community
Amanda McDaniel and her father, John, set out three years ago to restore a lost trade. As a retirement project combined with an entrepreneurial dream, the two of them opened Shenandoah Planing Mill, a full-service lumber mill offering dimensional hardwoods, flooring,...
Episode 183 – Amanda McDaniel – Shenandoah Planing Mill
powered by Sounder Amanda McDaniel is a stay-at-home mom turned Lumber Lady! She and her father have built their business together as a combined retirement project and entrepreneurial dream. Shenandoah Planing Mill is a full-service lumber mill offering...
Episode 182 – Jonathan Napier – Nail City Record
powered by Sounder Jon was born and raised in Wheeling, WV. He graduated from West Liberty University with a degree in Business Administration. After his graduation, he moved to Fort Collins, CO where he lived for 2 years. While living in the Denver metro area...Nail City Record: The Heartbeat of Downtown Wheeling
Jon Napier began collecting vinyl records early in college. After what grew into a profound love for music, the arts and live entertainment, he and his partner opened Nail City Record in the heart of downtown Wheeling, West Virginia. Napier, a Wheeling native,...
Episode 181 – Stephen Mann – MannCave Distillery
powered by Sounder Stephen Mann, born in Takoma Park Maryland, commuted regularly to Weston, WV where his parents purchased and maintained a 450-acre farm, spending almost all of his summers there. The summer prior to entering 6th grade, his parents moved to WV...The Man of MannCave Distillery
Stephen Mann of MannCave Distillery is the most decorated distiller you’ve never heard of. Yet, in his more than three years in the small town of Weston, West Virginia, Mann says, “Some people still don’t know who we are.” A lack of communal...
Episode 180 – Samantha Haddix – Haddix Liquidations
powered by Sounder Samantha Haddix co-owns Haddix Liquidations alongside her husband, Jason. Haddix Liquidations sells pallets of merchandise from all types of major retailers. The liquidation merchandise can be overstocked items, customer returns, discontinued...Haddix Liquidations: Pallets of Treasure
Samantha Haddix bargained her way to what she considers a treasure trove. Fourteen months ago, Haddix began purchasing pallets of miscellaneous items to sell online as a hobby. But after several trips to Ohio to pick up her inventory, she began to notice a trend. Her...
Episode 179 – Max Hammer – Hammer Cycles
powered by Sounder Max Hammer has been on a bike since he was a toddler. He came of age on the trails surrounding Phoenix, Arizona, in the 1980s just as mountain biking was sweeping the western United States. Max raced several disciplines through the late 80s...Hammer Cycles: The Phoenix of White Sulphur Springs
Max Hammer, founder and owner of Hammer Cycles, operates a full-service bicycle shop in downtown White Sulphur Springs. Proud to call Greenbrier Valley his home, he offers a lifetime of expertise, honed on backcountry trails and racecourses, to the community he...
Episode 178 – Frank & Elizabeth Dix – Kirkwood Winery and Isaiah Morgan Distillery
powered by Sounder Frank and Elizabeth are co-owners of Kirkwood Winery and Isaiah Morgan Distillery. Kirkwood has been in business for 30 years, and the distillery has been in production since 2004. They purchased the winery and distillery four years ago....Kirkwood Winery and Isaiah Morgan Distillery: Small Town Winery With Big Time Flavor
Hailing from the backcountry roads of Summersville, West Virginia, this small town winery is making inroads to major corporations across the country. Once the smallest licensed winery in the United States, Kirkwood Winery distributes to a total of 41 states. Last year...
Episode 177 – Dean Six – Blenko Glass Company
powered by Sounder Dean Six graduated from WVU several times and has written numerous books, articles and scholarly monographs. Published materials and recognized work include WVU Published Guide to Art and completed architecture on WVU Campuses. In addition,...Blenko Glass: 100 Year Old Glass Company Looks Toward 100 More
Growing up in the small town of Cairo, West Virginia, Dean Six has been on the search for a story — his own story. As a child finding and selling glass bottles for cents on the dollar, Six stumbled upon a discovery: An antique bottle worth $15. With fresh...
Episode 176 – Ahmed Abdelrehim – Cairo2Go
powered by Sounder Ahmed Abdelrehim graduated from the school of Pharmacy and Biotechnology in 2008 at the German University in Cairo, Egypt, and started his first business, a retail pharmacy, in 2009. He spent eight years running the pharmacy. During the last...Cairo 2 Go: Proud Owner Opens Egyptian Restaurant in Morgantown
Abdelrehim is a proud Egyptian turned proud Mountaineer. He and his family moved to Morgantown nearly five years ago and never looked back. Abdelrehim began his professional career after graduating from the School of Pharmacy and Biotechnology in 2008 at the German...
Episode 175 – Steven Webb – Dias Floral Company
powered by Sounder Steven L. Webb, born in 1957 in Beckley, West Virginia, attended local schools until graduation. Steve attended West Virginia University and finished his degree in History and English at the University of Charleston. After graduation, Steve mainly...Dias Floral Company: Beckley Florist Makes West Virginia a More Beautiful Home for Many
Steven Webb, a native son of West Virginia, has always considered West Virginia home. Born and raised in Beckley, he now operates two floral companies dedicated to preserving the longevity of his hometown. Webb is a graduate of West Virginia University and the...Blackbear Capital and Intellispect: WV Native Returns to Find Opportunity in The Mountain State
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Max Knapp, is one of the many young West Virginians who felt forced to leave to find opportunity. However, after leaving, Max found that he could make his own opportunity right here at home. After graduating from West Virginia...
Episode 174 – Max Knapp – Intellispect & Black Bear Capital
powered by Sounder Max Knapp grew up in Jackson County, West Virginia, where he graduated from Ravenswood High School. Upon graduation, he attended West Virginia Wesleyan College on a golf scholarship and obtained his bachelor’s degree in accounting....Legacy Business Makes Appalachian Spices Available World Wide
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Brody Prudnick, decided that losing his father meant it was time to carry on the family legacy with Ray’s Rub. This healthy, fresh blend of herbs and spices is now making its way to a global market through Amazon. When Brody...
Episode 173 – Brody Prudnick – Ray’s Seasonings
powered by Sounder Brody Prudnick is the owner of Ray’s Seasonings, LLC based out of Morgantown, West Virginia. Ray’s Seasonings is a small business that specializes in wholesale/retail distribution of their widely recognized product, Ray’s Rub. The company is...
Episode 172 – Ashton Critchley – Bessie’s Floral Designs
powered by Sounder Ashton Critchley is the founder of Wolverstone Development Company and is the owner of Bessie’s Floral Designs in Oak Hill, WV. She is a 2009 graduate of Concord University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a 2020 graduate of WVU with...Recent Graduate Revitalizes Business and Strengthens Local Economy
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Ashton Critchley, uses her skills and background to bring new life to Fayette County, West Virginia. Instead of working for someone else, the pandemic inspired Ashton to go out and find her own entrepreneurial journey. Ashton’s...
Episode 171 – Phil Mauser – Daniel’s of Morgantown
powered by Sounder Phil Mauser is the owner of Daniel’s of Morgantown. Daniel’s is a high quality men’s clothing store in Morgantown, West Virginia. Phil has been with Daniel’s for 14 years. Starting out in a part-time position for the store, he loved his job....West Virginia Native Leaves Dental Path to Own Family Fashion Business
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Phil Mauser, graduated from college with a chemistry and biology degree. However, his original idea of pursuing dental school was quickly derailed by his passion for working with the community in the family business. Daniel’s is...
Episode 170 – Andrew Rice – Sky Forge Metal Works
powered by Sounder Sky Forge Metalworks has brought an element of creativity to homes and businesses of the DMV area since 2014. Andrew Rice, the owner, knew the moment he took his first class in Blacksmithing, that it brought something to his life that was...Local Artist Revives Lost Art through Small Business
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Andrew Rice, has dedicated his career to bringing the art of blacksmithing back into the mainstream design world. As the owner of Sky Forge Metalworks, located in Preston County, West Virginia, Andrew believes in pursuing the...
Episode 169 – Justin Byers – RealX
powered by Sounder Justin Byers is an experienced entrepreneur with a track record of success across a wide variety of industries and geographic markets. Building on the expertise gained from earning both a B.S. in Accounting and a J.D. in Law from West...West Virginia Business Owner is Disrupting Global Industries For the Future
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Justin Byers, is a collector of West Virginia businesses. In the last few years, he’s switched gears and is now embarking on the technology industry with a plan to change it all. Justin is the chief operating officer of RealX, a...
Episode 168 – Johnny McFadden – Mountaineer Integrated Care
powered by Sounder Johnny McFadden co-founded Mountaineer Integrated Care (MIC) which won permits to grow, process and dispense medical cannabis in West Virginia. He serves as their community outreach coordinator as the company prepares to open its...WVU Graduate Pioneers Medical Cannabis Industry to Help West Virginians
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Johnny McFadden, is leading the medical cannabis industry for West Virginia. When Johnny heard that West Virginia would be legalizing medical cannabis as a student at WVU, he knew he had to jump on the opportunity. The policies...
Episode 167 – Mike Roberts – Roberts Corrosion Services
powered by Sounder Roberts Corrosion Services, LLC provides corrosion support and remediation for natural gas piping with a primary focus in the Appalachian Basin area. Since their inception in 2011, they have grown steadily and offer a wide range of services...Two Friends Turn a Joke into a Thriving Business
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Mike Roberts, described his journey from contracting to starting his own business with his cofounder, Kevin. Together, Mike and Kevin built their business from the ground up to provide quality prevention and safety services to...5th Career Entrepreneur Says a Degree Doesn’t Have to Dictate Your Path
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Dick Bonnet, is on his fifth long-term career. Dick is a leading representative for TorcUP wrenches. Each job he has had has been different from the last, but this one is a real challenge. Since 1996, TorcUP has grown to become...Young Entrepreneur Exceeds Her Expectations As She Expands Company
Recent Positively West Virginia guest Caitlin Furbee has created her own market for windows and blinds through understanding the needs and demands of the area. Caitlin Furbee, a WVU graduate, now owns her own company, Remarkable Windows and Blinds, located in...Childhood Project Becomes Successful Lifelong Career
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Bradley Frankhouser, describes his first taste of architecture as gathering the entire neighborhood together to build a cabin from scraps with their own design. Little did he know that this would be his first introduction into...West Virginia Woman Goes From Chronic Illness to CEO
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Sharon Travis, CEO of Serenity Hills Life Center, went from suffering from chronic illness in and out of wheelchairs to owning her recovery retreat for women suffering from addiction. Sharon said, “I went from volunteering at a...WV Family Uses Business to Bring Families Closer
Recent Positively West Virginia guests Joseph and Gina Starett have turned entrepreneurship into a way to keep families close. When Gina and Joe, owners of Mountaineer RV & Outdoor Center, LLC, were finally ready to graduate from tent camping into a hard-sided...Garage Start-Up Becomes West Virginia’s Most Impressive Recording Studio
Recent Positively West Virginia guest Joshua Swiger is helping artists all over the state get their start with a quality record through his company, Blues Alley Studios. He loves being a West Virginia native and hopes that his work with local artists can help keep the...West Virginia Spirits Distillery Takes Off
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, John Little, is the founder of Smooth Ambler Spirits. What began as a garage project has now become a leading brand in fine spirits. When John started looking for a business to start, he wasn’t envisioning the title of CEO...Local West Virginian Says You Don’t Have to Come From a Farm to Grow One
Recent Positively West Virginia guest Jocelyn Sheppard founded and owns Appalachian Botanical Co., a lavender farm in Boone County, West Virginia. Jocelyn has a background in several different industries, including libraries and nonprofits. Although, she never...West Virginia Gets Its First Mushroom Farm
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, George Patterson, is a lover of all things mushrooms. George is about two and a half years into his mushroom farm, Hernshaw Farms, located in Hernshaw, West Virginia. George is happier than ever to be making the world a better...Crisis Becomes New Growth in White Sulfur Springs
The latest guest on Positively West Virginia, Tom Crabtree, shared his story of rebuilding a town from ruins using barrels. We all remember the floods of 2016 that left behind catastrophic amounts of damage and thousands of people without homes or jobs in West...WV Family Ice Cream Store Growing Despite Pandemic
Recent Positively West Virginia guests Taylor Strickland and Timothy Ruff never thought they would end up scooping ice cream for a living in the same place they grew up. Tim and Taylor grew up helping their grandmother run her homemade ice cream business,...Bridgeport’s Specialty Coffee Roasters Settle into New Home
This week on Positively West Virginia, Jonathan Gladysz talked about how he started Bridgeport’s only specialty coffee cafe without any business experience or background. “We put passion into our product. We’re not just doing it for money; we’re not doing it to build...Solo Entrepreneur Digs People Out of Debt One Credit Card at a Time
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Karen Ford, is a wizard at helping people get out of debt. Whether you have one or 86 credit cards, Karen can help you find your stability and peace of mind. It’s hard to believe that as a registered nurse, financial coach,...West Virginia Family Product Starts in a Basement and Goes National
Recent Positively West Virginia guest, Mark Oliverio, owner of Oliverio’s Peppers, keeps his grandmother’s passion alive through her recipes by selling their products all over the United States. You’ve probably seen the Oliverio label at your local grocery store and...West Virginia Farmer Find’s His Passion While Pursuing “Dream Job”
Brad Gritt is part of the Gritt family, which has been farming in Buffalo, West Virginia, since 1927. In this time, Gritt’s Farm has become a household name within the state, and for a good reason. This family-friendly farm began as a small operation but has grown to...Wheeling Pottery Studio Expands Despite Pandemic
Despite the rise of COVID-19 and its effects on their everyday business structure, a local couple has sustained their homemade business. They are now expanding their space to triple the studio footprint’s size and increasing production even more. Beth and Adam...WV Business Owner Leaves Corporate World For Small Town Charm
This week on Positively West Virginia, Amy McLaughlin shared her story of returning home to share her passion for the mountain state through the southern hospitality we all know and love. Deep in the heart of Fayetteville, West Virginia, you can find a gorgeous...West Virginia Transplants Work to Change Stereotypes and Build WV Business
Paul Yandura and Donald Hitchcock, owners of The Lost River Trading Post, in Wardensville, love West Virginia and believe they can help change the perceptions and stereotypes about the state through their business – one customer at a time. In 2008, while living...Growing Honey and Success In West Virginia
Terri Giles, former Economic Development Director for Senator Rockefeller, is now taking a look at West Virginia’s communities from the perspective of a honey bee. Terri has watched small communities in the state lose their industry, small businesses and economic...Former Oil and Gas Professional Becomes Local Cheese & Charcuterie Artist
Recent guest Carly Baker on Positively West Virginia describes why she left the white-collar world to build cheese boards. Carly said, “I always felt like there was more to me than sitting at a desk.” For years, the hunger to create led Carly to believe that she...Forbes 30 Under 30 Recipients Land Contract With the Airforce at 23 and 27
James Carnes and his co-founder recently received the honor of being named on the Forbes 30 under 30 list for their company Iconic Air. These young men began their entrepreneurial journey in 2018 as they won several business and technology competitions during their...Chestnut Mountain Ranch: Building Hope for the Next Generation
Steve Finn didn’t always know that he would end up in West Virginia. He began his youth service passion during his 11-year term as a police officer in Atlanta, Georgia. During this time, he watched countless young people make decisions that would either end or...Ziebart: Veteran Brings Customer Care to Morgantown
Eight-year veteran, Nick Lambie, owns and operates Ziebart in Morgantown, West Virginia. After a brief shut down due to the pandemic and some brainstorming, Nick and the Ziebart team decided to move their services to suit the need of the time and offer disinfectant...Creating Memories at The WOW! Factory
Since the pandemic began, The WOW! Factory has been working hard to keep up with the demand to continue offering fun to the community. The WOW! Factory traditionally offers in-house painting of ceramics, mosaic making, tile work, and other creative projects that you...From the Ground Up: How an Attorney Became a Firm
John Funkhouser of Funkhouser and Smith PLC, located in Fairmont, West Virginia, just welcomed their 4th lawyer into the firm and won’t be stopping there. John’s love for law began in his childhood as he watched legal shows with his dad. He continued into this passion...Throw Your Stress Away at Mountain Man Axe Throwing
Mountain Man Axe Throwing is excited to be opening two new locations, one in Bridgeport, WV, and another in the St. Clairsville, OH area. They have also created some new and exciting features at their existing building, located in Star City, WV. Mountain Man Axe...Interested In Music or Behind The Scenes of The Music Industry? Visit The WV Music Hall of Fame
The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame’s 8th induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 14th, from 7 pm to 9 pm and will be broadcasted statewide. “The best way for people to tune in and see this year’s inductees is by watching West Virginia Public...Almost Heaven Desserts Is Expanding To Morgantown
Almost Heaven Desserts is excited to expand and open their second retail location in Cheat Lake, West Virginia, towards the end of 2020. Almost Heaven Desserts (AHD) is a successful, family-owned bakery and coffee shop located in Bridgeport, West Virginia. Patti and...Rocket Chassis: Passionate About Race Cars
Rocket Chassis builds late model, dirt track race cars. They take pride in providing their customers with everything they need to be successful, including access to an expansive network of over 30 dealers across the United States and Australia, a large inventory of...Same Books and Codes, But Passionate Designs – Arrow Engineering
Mike Howell is the owner of Arrow Engineering in Morgantown, West Virginia. His structural engineering business focuses on commercial, industrial and residential projects. Arrow Engineering is a new and upcoming business here in the mountain state as it has only been...2020 West Virginia SBA Award Winners – Part 2
Jim Matuga, the host of Positively West Virginia, hosted a special edition highlighting the West Virginia Small Business Administration’s 2020 award winners. Karen Friel, SBA District Director, and Steve Bulger, SBA Mid- Atlantic Regional Director, joined Jim for the...2020 West Virginia SBA Award Winners – Part 1
Jim Matuga, the host of Positively West Virginia, hosted a special edition highlighting the West Virginia Small Business Administration’s 2020 award winners. Karen Friel, SBA District Director, and Steve Bulger, SBA Mid- Atlantic Regional Director, joined Jim for the...In Need of a Relaxing Break? Visit The Tea Shoppe For Some Afternoon Tea – The Tea Shoppe
The Tea Shoppe, located in Morgantown, West Virginia, carries over 180 teas, teaware, accessories and giftware. The Tea Shoppe serves afternoon tea, gourmet sandwiches and paninis, fresh salads, quiche, scones and freshly baked sweets. The Tea Shoppe provides...A-Plus Engineering Experience – Ascent Consulting and Engineering
In 2018, Ascent Consulting and Engineering started in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Ascent has a diverse staff who brings expertise in nearly every facet of civil engineering. They’re committed to providing quality services, building long-lasting relationships and...Reducing One Cloth At A Time – Gina’s Soft Cloth Shop
Gina Jordan and Victoria Kesner are co-owners of Gina’s Soft Cloth Shop in Romney, WV. All of their products are cut, sewn, finished, packed and shipped directly from their shop. They make reusable products such as paperless towels and baby wipes that they sell in...Recommending Wine to Your Preference, Not Ours – WineJug
John Obrist is the owner of WineJug in Weirton, West Virginia. WineJug is a wine specialty retail store and online company designed to offer incredible wine across a spectrum of price ranges. Since John and his team try to taste many of the wines they sell personally,...Destiny Consultants – Providing a Medical Service That is Making a Difference
Tony Watson, the Vice President of Sales at Destiny Consultants, is woman-owned and a 100 percent Service-Disabled Veteran Small Business. This business provides medical equipment and services to the federal government. Watson talked with Jim Matuga, host of the...HMS ,LLC – COVID-19 Series with Leah Heimbach
President and Owner of Healthcare Management Solutions, LLC, Leah Heimbach, talked with Jim Matuga, host of the Positively West Virginia Podcast, about her business during COVID-19, her growth in the past few months and her advice to young entrepreneurs. What is your...Fun Fitness Kids Club – Curving the Obesity Rate in West Virginia
Traci Phillips is the CEO and owner of Fun Fitness Kids Club, where she focuses on bringing fun to her customers in Charleston,Huntington and Beckley areas. Traci’s spouse, Justin Phillips, is the COO of the business. They provide rental fitness equipment for any age...Huntington Steel – Many Generations Providing Steel Globally
Mike Emerson was born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 1978. Emerson sold life insurance for Northwestern Mutual for two years before going to work for...The Alonso Group – Small Business, Big Projects
Robert A. Alonso II (Tony) served in the United States Air Force from January of 85 till April of 98. After he separated from the United States Airforce, he relocated back home to West Virginia. He began working with his father, Bob, his brother, Todd, and his sister,...ITrend Technology – Loving West Virginia On And Off The Field
ITrend Technology was founded by Edward Green, a federally contracted IT professional turned businessman, who has a mission to simplify the world of Information Technology for individuals and businesses. Having worked in the Information Technology field since 1998,...Curtright Law – The Big Move
In Morgantown, West Virginia, Andrew Cutright is a managing member of Cutright Law located in the Suncrest Towne Centre. His father, Roger Cutright, is also a member of Cutright Law. Together, they have over 30 years of experience. Andrew is a graduate of Dickinson...Level 1 Fasteners – Supplying America in Many Ways
Andrea Bourdelais is the president and majority owner of Level 1 Fasteners, Inc., founded in 1959 by John E. Bourdelais and Jack Bourdelais in a garage in Huntington Park, California, now located in Huntington, West Virginia. Since its inception in 1959, Level 1...Industrial Bolting Technologies, Inc.: Small Business Exporter Of The Year Thrives in International Market
Mike McCown, owner of Industrial Bolting Technologies, Inc., talked with Jim Matuga, host of the Positively West Virginia Podcast, about his business, what he is excited about with his business, and his business plans and his advice for new business owners. ...Greenbrier Dairy: WV Young Entrepreneur of the Year Builds a Thriving West Virginia Business
Trey Yates, Owner of Greenbrier Dairy, LLC, located in Rainelle, West Virginia, has just been named 2020 Young Entrepreneur Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) West Virginia. Yates believes that West Virginia youth must stay...The Fighter Store: Building an eCommerce Platform for Professional Fighters to Increase Their Revenue
Eric Watkins is the owner of The Fighter Store, located in Morgantown, West Virginia – in Monongalia County. Watkins was raised in Morgantown since the age of four years old. At the age of 24, he decided to go to college at West Virginia University as an...Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company (GVBC): Consistency is Key in Craft Beer Brewing
Originally from Elkins, West Virginia, Bill Heckle moved to Greenbrier County in 2018 to take the helm at Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company (GVBC). Heckle has breathed new life into GVBC, launching a series of successful expansions that have seen both production and...Modern Homestead: Building a Thriving Lifestyle Business in Preston County
A journey that began four decades ago as a roadside fruit tree stand in Kingwood has continued to evolve and grow as one of Preston County’s oldest family-owned and operated businesses. Lucas Tatham, second-generation and Trellis Smith, are at the helm of Modern...Power Sonix: Working with Speech Projection Across the Globe
Patrick Grady is an owner and the VP of Sales and Marketing of Power Sonix, headquartered initially in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Power Sonix was formed in 1997 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, from the remnants of a predecessor company. Since then, they have carried...Solar Holler: You Can Become Solar Anywhere
Dan Conant is the Founder and CEO of Solar Holler headquartered in Huntington, West Virginia, in Cabell County. Conant is an eight-year veteran of the solar industry. Conant previously helped start-up the largest solar installer in Vermont and served as a technical...Whippoorwill Woods and Waters: Bringing Life Back to the Seneca Center
Sandy Giuliani is the owner of Whippoorwill Woods and Waters, located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Whippoorwill is an artisan gift shop and teaching studio located in the historic Seneca Center. Displayed in their fantastic space are more than 70 artisans, many from...West Virginia Department of Agriculture: Agriculture is Growing in West Virginia
Kent Leonhardt is the Commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. He was elected in November of 2016 and took office in January of 2017. Leonhardt is also a farmer operating a 380-acre farm near Fairview in Monongalia County, West Virginia. He raises...Bullock Properties: Restoring Buildings in Historic West Virginia Towns
Tighe Bullock, the owner of Bullock Properties, grew up in the ghost town of Thurmond, West Virginia. He was inspired to reverse the dilapidation of buildings in historic towns. With dual degrees in Accounting and Business Management – Magna Cum Laude, a Juris...Mountaineer Roasting: Brewing Up Something Good in the Mountain State
Rusty Isaacs is the Owner of Mountaineer Roasting located in Morgantown, West Virginia – in Monongalia County. Isaacs was born in Charleston, West Virginia, and lived there his entire life until he came to West Virginia University in 2011, where he graduated...Mountain Leverage: Leveraging What the Mountain State Has to Offer
Alex Reneman is the CEO and Owner of Mountain Leverage, a software company, located in Grafton, West Virginia – in Taylor County. Reneman is an entrepreneur, a veteran, a community leader, a husband and a father. Reneman is a lifelong West Virginian, having...Legacy Woodworking: A Passion for Woodworking Passed Down Through A Generation
Keith Uphold was born and raised in Kingwood, West Virginia (Preston County) and still lives in Kingwood with his wife, Hope, where they own and operate Legacy Woodworking & CNC, LLC. With over 20 years in the manufacturing industry, Uphold believes in the...Whistle Punk Grill and Taphouse: Richwood Business Thriving in 2020
Stacy and Lance Raffo are the owners of Whistle Punk Grill and Taphouse located in Richwood, West Virginia – in Nicholas County. Whistle Punk Grill and Taphouse is a casual dining restaurant located in downtown Richwood. The owners love Richwood, the...EPIC Mission: Maintaining a Growth Mindset in the Mountain State
Jeremy Turner is the Founder and Managing Director of EPIC Mission located in Huntington, West Virginia – in Cabell County. Turner is a native of Huntington, WV, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Marshall University and an MBA with a focus on...Mountaineer Technology Consultants: Fostering Technology With Friends
Booker Walton is the Majority Owner of Mountaineer Technology Consultants located in Morgantown, West Virginia – in Monongalia County. Walton is a technology entrepreneur, from Morgantown, West Virginia. Mountaineer Technology Consultants, also known as MTC...TMC Technologies: Benefits of a Technology Company in West Virginia
Wade Linger is the President and CEO of TMC Technologies of West Virginia, located in Fairmont, West Virginia – in Marion County. After serving as a computer programmer in the Air Force, he began working as a defense contractor for ManTech International Corp.,...Bridge Walk: Eight Hundred and Fifty One Feet Above The New River
Benjy Simpson is the Managing Member for Bridge Walk LLC, located in Lansing, West Virginia – in Fayette County. Bridge Walk is a one-of-a-kind bridge walk where you cross the catwalk under the world-famous New River Gorge Bridge on a panoramic three-hour...Coco and June: Finding Positivity in the Mountain State
Emily Kurth is the Owner of Coco and June located in Morgantown, West Virginia. After a life-altering diagnosis, Kurth found ways to reduce her stress. She picked up a paintbrush, then Coco & June was born. Coco & June’s creates uplifting art, inspiring...Orr’s Farm Market: Keeping Martinsburg Food Local
Katy Orr-Dove is a third-generation farmer and entrepreneur at George Orr & Sons, Inc., also doing business as Orr’s Farm Market. This 550-acre farm is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia and has been in operation since 1954. Orr-Dove’s grandfather,...Arrowhead Bike Farm: Adventure, Biking, Beer and Camping
Adam Stephens and Rich Ireland are the Owners of Arrowhead Bike Farm located in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Arrowhead Bike Farm is a New River Gorge gathering point for adventurers of all kinds. At Arrowhead Bike Farm, customers can rent a bike, camp and enjoy...
Spark the Imagination at SPARK! Imagination and Science Center
Julie Bryan is the Executive Director of SPARK! Imagination and Science Center located in Morgantown, West Virginia. SPARK! Imagination and Science Center is a non-profit hands-on children’s museum and science center that inspires people of all ages to explore...The Cupcakerie: Serving Delicious Gourmet Cupcakes in Downtown Morgantown
Anna Carrier is the Owner of The Cupcakerie located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The Cupcakerie is the first and ONLY exclusively cupcake bakery in Morgantown. The Cupcakerie provides its customers with the best gourmet cupcakes made with the finest ingredients. As...Hoot and Howl: A Women-Owned Vintage Shop in Downtown Morgantown
Stephanie Swaim is the Owner of Hoot and Howl located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The shop carries the works of more than 90 artisans – 75 percent of them hail from West Virginia, and all of the products are made in the USA, one Fair Trade and a little...
Real Estate Central: A Passion Started At A Young Age
Josh McGrath is a life-long resident of West Virginia and as of this month, a 20-year realtor. Starting in real estate at just 18 years old, McGrath has worked tirelessly at growing a successful business. In 2005, McGrath opened Real Estate Central, which has grown to...Nardelli Audiology: Helping Patients Hear and Live Better
Melissa Rose is the Owner of Nardelli Audiology, an established audiology practice that provides quality audiology and hearing aid services to help patients hear better and live better. Nardelli Audiology has three locations in North-Central West Virginia. Rose, a...MarisaMade: Marisa Jackson – Doing What She Loves
Marisa Jackson is the Owner of MarisaMade located in St. Albans, West Virginia. Jackson is a mother of three boys – one who has special needs, she’s a wife, calligrapher, wedding and event stationery designer, watercolor artist and owner of MarisaMade LLC. MarisaMade...Creating a Strong and Brilliant Generation to Help West Virginia Poverty
Zac Northup is the Owner and founder of StandWatch Academy and StandWatch.org located in Scott Depot, West Virginia – in Putnam County. StandWatch Academy’s mission is to teach young people how to conceptualize, launch and lead their own nonprofits, social...The Spread of Higher Education
Dr. Mirta Martin is the president of Fairmont State University located in Fairmont West Virginia. Born in Havana, Cuba, and an immigrant to the United States, Dr. Martin uses her interpersonal and cultural expertise to work diligently to promote access to affordable...Short Story Brewing: Brewing With The Family
Aaron Rote, the co-owner of Short Story Brewing, located in Rivesville, West Virginia, talked with The Positively West Virginia Podcast host, Jim Matuga, about his business, his vision and his advice to young entrepreneurs. How many gallons of beer are you brewing?...Goods Served Worldwide
Dan Davis, the co-owner of Kin Ship Goods, which is located in Charleston, West Virginia, talked with Jim Matuga about his business, the market he serves and how he attracts new customers. Kin Ship Goods is a lifestyle brand, retail shop and print studio. Kin Ship...Allegheny Treenware: Creating Wooden Kitchen Utensils
Allegheny Treenware, owned by Stanley and Sue Jennings, and located in Thornton, West Virginia, is a company focused on the production of handmade, West Virginia hardwood wooden kitchen utensils. Each item is shaped by hand, and every spoon has been hand...Bringing Ease To Farmers With The Hay Baby
Lonnie Fast is the President of Fast Hay Movers located in Fairmont, West Virginia. Fast is the inventor of the famous “Hay Baby” hay transporter. Their unique, patented hay machines attach to most all ATVs, side-by-side UTVs and three-point hitches on compact...Destination Cafe Cimino
Melody Urbanic is the Owner of Cafe’ Cimino located in Sutton, West Virginia. Urbanic and Chef Tim Urbanic have, over the past 20 years, lovingly created one of this state’s most popular and celebrated Inns. Cafe Cimino Country Inn, named as one of the...Helping People Live a Pain Free Life
Andrew Goldbaugh is the Owner of Goldbaugh Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation. Goldbaugh was born and raised in Wheeling, West Virginia and is a 2007 graduate of Wheeling Park High School. Following high school, he attended West Virginia University where he...Cheese Melt Truck: Too Gouda to be True
Thomas Gilson, the owner of The Cheese Melt, a gourmet grilled cheese food truck based in Wheeling, West Virginia, started his business in 2014. Originally, Gilson started his business with a small hot dog cart and then converted into a grilled cheese cart. Finally,...Solar Power in West Virginia
Doyle Tenney is the Owner of DT Solar, based in French Creek, West Virginia. DT Solar delivers solar power systems to meet the unique needs of residential or business customers. Tenney began DT Solar to bring solar technology to the people in French Creek, West...Stone Road Vineyard Brings Innovative, Handcrafted Wine to the Mountain State
Dave Stone is the Owner of Stone Road Vineyard, based in Elizabeth, West Virginia. Stone Road Vineyard represents the union of quality grapes with traditional, natural venting techniques. Stone Road Vineyard offers a history-honored touch to their varietals and...Across the World and Back to The Vagabond Kitchen
Matt Welsch is the owner of The Vagabond Kitchen, based in Wheeling, West Virginia. In 2013, Welsch, The Vagabond Kitchen Chef, traversed the country by motorcycle discovering and exploring the culinary renaissance in the United States. At the end of the year, he...ZMM Architects & Engineers: Creating a beautiful state one building at a time
Robert Doeffinger is the President of ZMM Architects & Engineers, based in Charleston, West Virginia. ZMM is an integrated, award-winning design firm providing professional services throughout the Mountain State. Doeffinger is a professional engineer and a native...Paddle Boarding Her Way To Antarctica
Meghan Fisher from Fayetteville, West Virginia, took her passion for the outdoors and watersports and turned it into her career. Fisher is an ACA Level 1 and 2 Stand Up Paddle Instructor and Instructor Trainer Candidate. She decided to start her own business, Mountain...Chris Bailey: From Master Woodworker to Custom Home Builder and Renovator
Rising Sun Construction, owned by Chris Bailey and located in Morgantown, West Virginia, is a full-service design/build construction company with a crew of full-time employees. Bailey, originally from the Charleston, West Virginia area, is an experienced master...Providing Mascots Throughout the World
Dale Morton is the founder of DMS Mascot Costumes located in Hurricane, West Virginia. He crafts professional, custom-made mascot character costumes for schools and corporations nationwide. Some of Morton’s past customers have included Intelos, Procter & Gamble,...Bright Futures: Brightening Up Every Child’s Future in the Mountain State
Jill Scarbro-McLaury, owner of Bright Futures Learning Services, was recently named Small Business Administration – Woman Owned Small Business of the Year for 2019. Bright Futures, headquartered in Winfield, West Virginia, is a team of committed people who...Racing Through the Mountain State
Davey Coombs is the owner of Racer X, located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Racer X Illustrated, which got its start as an underground newspaper in 1988, is now the largest and most influential magazine in motocross and off-road industry. Every month, Coombs and his...Bringing Quality Design to the United States
Blake Stewart is the owner of Stewart Design, located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Stewart Design is an award-winning graphic design and print firm specializing in logo design, brand identity and the design and production of high-quality marketing materials. Since...Supplying the Mountain State with Cleaning Supplies
Julie Zuercher is the owner of Sparkle Janitorial Supply, located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Zuercher, a graduate of Shepherd College, served as the executive assistant for Senator Jay Rockefeller in Washington D.C. and owned a residential and commercial fuel...Steering the Mountain State
Chad Koury is the owner of Koury Geosteering, an oil and gas consultant company, located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Koury Geosteering provides geological services that support horizontal drilling. Koury Geosteering is in their fifth year of business and ninth year...ProTex: Providing Security to the Mountain State
Justin Dalton is the owner of ProTex, a turn-key residential and commercial security company located in Morgantown, West Virginia. ProTex was founded in 2008 by Dalton who has been in the electronic industry and life safety industry for more than 20 years. ProTex was...Get Fit Juices & Shakes Brings Fresh and Nutritional Options to Morgantown
Ray Glymph is the owner of Get Fit Juices & Shakes, headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia. Get Fit Juices & Shakes is a health and wellness brand that started in 2018, featuring fresh pressed juices, smoothies, shakes and nutritional substances. All food...Cleaning Up the Mountain State
Mountain State Waste, headquartered in Weston, West Virginia, provides residential and commercial waste management services to the mountain state and beyond. Mountain State Waste Vice President, J.P. Phillips, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West...Agile5 Technologies: Encouraging Economic Development in West Virginia
Lisa Fritsch is the CEO of Agile5 Technologies, a woman-owned small business, located in Fairmont, West Virginia. Agile5 Technologies specializes in information services of design, development, testing, integration and the O&M of enterprise software systems for...Veteran-Owned Technology Consulting Firm in West Virginia
Jeremy Harris is the CEO of IT Mindshare, a technology consulting firm located in Morgantown, West Virginia. IT Mindshare started as a small firm and has grown into one of the most trusted and recognized technology firms in West Virginia and surrounding states. IT...Building Solid Wood Furniture in the Mountain State
Gat Caperton, president of Gat Creek, located in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, is a West Virginia manufacturer of solid wood home furniture. Gat Creek, originally named Tom Seely Furniture, employs more than 150 artisans in Berkeley Springs and sells its branded...Networking: Advantages of a West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA) Membership
Rebecca McPhail, president of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA), talked with Jim Matgua, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about what she’s most excited about for manufacturing in West Virginia, the advantages of joining WVMA and her...Geotees: An Experience Tee for Travelers
David Miller is the founder of geotees, located in Charleston, West Virginia. The brand concept of geotees was inspired by what Miller calls the “experience tee”. As Miller was traveling around California in 2018, he wanted a high-quality t-shirt without a loud...Batch Pro Solutions: Fulfilling a Need in West Virginia
Heather Henderson, owner of Batch Pro Solutions, located in Bridgeport, West Virginia, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast about how she got started in the business and her advice to young entrepreneurs. Batch Pro Solutions has spent...Starting the Fire: Appalachia Glass Finds Success in 40 States
Todd Turner, a third generation glass blower at Appalachian Glass, located in Weston, West Virginia, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about how he got started with glass blowing and his advice to young entrepreneurs. Back in 1982,...Shake It Out Owner, Jesica Temple, is shaking things up in West Virginia
Jesica Temple is the CEO of Innovation Abounds and her brand of products called SHAKE It OUT located in Meadow Bridge, West Virginia in Greenbrier County. Temple’s goal is to empower and inspire men and women to embrace a healthy lifestyle and to reform the way people...CrossFit Morgantown is Dedicated to Building a Community Through Fitness
Jeff Giosi and his wife, Sarah, are the owners of CrossFit Morgantown, located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Their mission is using fitness as a catalyst to support their community, not only in Morgantown but North Central West Virginia, and help others recognize...Parween Mascari: Representing West Virginia Businesses
Parween Mascari, a native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, is an entrepreneur, attorney, adjunct professor at West Virginia University and is an administrative law judge for the state of West Virginia board of review for unemployment compensation appeals. During her...Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers: Bringing Physical Therapy to the Mountain State
Lincoln Kinkade, physical therapist, consummate entrepreneur and founding owner of Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers, formerly known as Dynamic Physical Therapy, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about his business, his worst...Screech Owl Brewing: Brewing in the Mountains of West Virginia
Screech Owl Brewing and Spent Grain Cafe, founded by Roger and Crista Johnson, is located in Cuzart in Preston County, West Virginia. Roger was a truck driver for 21 years before him and his wife opened the brewery on their farm so that he could stay home. The...West Virginia Growth Investment Fund: Growing the Mountain State
Mike Green, chairman of the West Virginia Growth Investment Fund and managing director of Mountain State Capital, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about the connection between education and the business community, the importance of...Ridge Roasters: Bring Coffee to the Mountain State
Ryan Lemley, owner of Ridge Roasters Coffee, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about Ridge Roasters, the differences between the coffee roasts, his worst business moment and his advice to entrepreneurs. Ridge Roasters Coffee is a...Appalachian MoonShine, Bourbon and Whiskey Distilled in the Mountain State
Dwayne Freeman, owner of Appalachian Distillery, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about his business, his best business moment so far, the biggest challenge he is facing and his advice for new business owners. Appalachian...Progressing in the Mountain State
Heather Cyphert, managing director of Precision Tool, Performance Hydraulics, Progressive Industries and Phoenix Trucking, which are all based in Westover, West Virginia, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about her and her husband’s...Proactive Tax Advice from Premier Tax Consulting, LLC.
Danny Fink, president of Premier Tax Consulting, LLC., talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia, about how he got into the accounting business, his challenging business moments and his advice to young entrepreneurs. Premier Tax Consulting...Jobs for Life Video Recently Produced For Christian Help With Robinette Legal Group Donation
InnerAction Media (IAM) recently produced a Jobs for Life (JFL) video for Christian Help with a philanthropic donation from Robinette Law Group. A Faith Based Job Skills Program that is Changing Lives from InnerAction Media on Vimeo. JFL is an international,...Recipe to success: Figaretti Manufacturing and Distribution Incorporated
Tony Figaretti, owner of Figaretti Manufacturing and Distribution Incorporated, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about his business, the challenges the business faces and his advice to young entrepreneurs. Figaretti’s was founded...Bringing California Love to West Virginia: Wonder Valley Farm
Wonder Valley Farm, co-owned by Sierra Cox, is a veteran-owned agritourism business in Gandeeville, West Virginia, that concentrates on lavender, bees and forest botanicals. Cox and her business partner traded in their uniforms for overalls when they separated from...Barbour County Based Company GLOwing up West Virginia with LED Basketball Rims
Ruston Seaman, managing partner of New Vision Renewable Energy and founder of GLOgames Basketball, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about his non-profit social enterprise, his LED basketball rims and his advice to young...Technology Opportunities Encourage Graduates to Stay in State
James Estep, president and chief executive officer of the High Technology Foundation in Fairmont, West Virginia, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about how Estep got started in the technology business, his advice to young...Commercial Research Company Located Off of I-70 Leads Technology Industry in Innovation
Touchstone Research Laboratories, located in Triadelphia, West Virginia, was founded by Brian Joseph in the 1980s. This company develops patents, products, research and development, failure analysis, materials testing, spin out technologies and is one of the most...International Business Headquartered in Wheeling Helps Other Businesses
Chad Remp, chair of the West Virginia District Export Council and operations manager of Wheeling Truck Center, Inc., a family owned business in Wheeling, West Virginia, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about how he got started in...Warwood Tool Company: 100 Percent American Made Tools
Logan Hartle, president of Warwood Tool Company, located in Wheeling, West Virginia, talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about his company that makes American made tools, his worst business mistake and Hartle’s piece of advice to any...Farm to Table Culture in West Virginia
Daniel Vineyards, founded in 1990, is a family owned and operated conservation grape farm and estate winery. Their 192 acre property, which is a former golf course, boasts 30 acres of perfectly manicured West Virginia grown grapes. Daniel Vineyards grows 15 grape...Mountain State Wellness Brings Natural, Vitalistic Healthcare to West Virginia
Drs. Lucas and Amy Watterson co-founded Mountain State Wellness in Morgantown, West Virginia, in 2002. Since then, their practice has continued to grow every year and has helped more than 5,000 people from ten different states. Drs. Lucas and Amy Watterson share a...Arria Hines: Leading a Company Through Mentorship
Leading a company through mentorship can be highly successful. Arria Hines, CEO and President of Allegheny Science & Technology (AST), gave her top advice to us.
Entrepreneurship Opportunities: The Future of West Virginia
Are there entrepreneuship opportunities in West Virginia? John Deskins talked with Jim Matuga about his research into the West Virginia business outlook.
Forge Business Solutions Provides Empowerment to West Virginia Businesses
Forge Business Solutions, founded by Frank Vitale, makes it their missions to provide empowerment to West Virginia businesses.
Happiness is a State of Mine Initiative
The Happiness is a State of Mine Initiative was founded by Margie Carson. Learn why she started this initiative, and how to get involved.
West Virginia Workforce: Advice from CEO and Founder of KeyLogic
The West Virginia workforce is one of the reasons Jon Hammock, CEO and Founder of KeyLogic, loves being in business here. See his advice for entrepreneurs.
Business Expansion Tips from Co-Founder of West Virginia Eye Consultants
Is your business expanding? Before you go all out, read this blog. Co-Founder of WV Eye Consultants, Chris Stansbury, gives his business expansion tips.
Business Retirement Plan: What Happens to Your Business After?
Most business owners have a business retirement plan. But what happens if you don’t? Sunbelt Business Brokers of Morgantown can help you.
Your Most Valuable Asset: Your Employees
What is the most valuable asset at your company? At Mountain View Solar (mtvSolar), it’s their employees. Learn why, and more insights.
Advice to New Entrepreneurs in Agriculture
John Hyre, executive director of Hickory Ridge Farm and Preston County Workshop, gave us great advice to new entrepreneurs who listen to our podcast.
Are You Ready to Open a Business?
Before starting a business, you need to assess if you’re even ready to open a business of your own. Doing a self-assessment can help you define your strengths and weaknesses.
What Does it Take to Be a Successful Business Owner
Are you a successful business owner? Do you want to be? Doug Leech, owner of Ascension Recovery Services, talked with Jim Matuga about what he thinks makes a business owner thrive.
West Virginia Resources That Can Help Your Business
When you are starting out in developing your business, you should use all of the resources around you. West Virginia resources such as the Small Business Association (SBA) and the Department of Agriculture could benefit you.
Choosing a Business Partner: Advice from Mountain State Software Solutions (MS3) owner, Aaron Weikle
When choosing a business partner, it isn’t just about bringing on someone that is a friend. It can also come down to how this person matches the company’s core values.
Having a Small Business Plan: Advice from Luke Diserio
Small business preparedness is no joke. As a business owner, you should always be thinking about the “what if.” Luke Diserio, owner of American Muscle Docks and Fabrication, talked with us about this concept and his advice to young and old business owners.
The Balancing Act: Advice from Executive Coach for Leadership, Ed DeCosta
Executive Coach for Leadership and global speaker, Ed DeCosta, gave The Positively West Virginia Podcast listeners great advice on how to balance work and life.
Waco Oil & Gas Founder, Ike Morris, Receives The State Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Ike Morris, founder of Waco Oil & Gas and West Virginia philanthropist, received the State Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of Lorenelle White, former owner and publisher of The State Journal.
Managing Human Resources Benefits: Align HR
Managing human resources benefits can be tough. Zac Abraham, co-founder of Align HR, gave The Positively West Virginia Podcast great advice on this subject!
Family Business Advice from Kreinik Manufacturing, a Family Owned and Operated Business
Owning a family business can be tough. Doug Kreinik, owner of Kreinik Manufacturing, a family owned and operated business, gave us great family business advice.
Understand the Margin of Error You Have When Starting a New Business
When starting a new business, do your homework. Taking risks that aren’t calculated could hurt you in the long run. Think smart.
Leading Staff Provider: Sharing Company Culture with Employees
Leading staff provider, Express Employment Professionals, wants to change the hiring process landscape. Owner, Chad Drainer, talked with host, Jim Matuga, about his plans.
Engaging with Your Customers: #Chiliyourmeal
Engaging with your customers is important. For The Custard Stand, visual engagement is most important. Learn what their campaign #chiliyourmeal is about.
Allegheny Genesis: Networking to Build Your Business
When starting a new business, sometimes, it can be about who you know, instead of what you know (networking to build your business). Jordon Masters, CEO and founder of Allegheny Genesis Holdings LLC and Micro Produce, knows this to be true.
Micro Produce was founded under the shared principles of its parent company Allegheny Genesis LLC to promote seasonal sustainability by encompassing the beauty of the Allegheny Mountains and their importance to the lives of those who live here.
Micro Produce promotes sustainable agriculture by devoting time and resources to further research in sustainable greenhouse operations. The management and operational team behind Micro Produce consists of both professional chefs and horticulturists, working together to expand culinary arts and scientific research by stretching the limits of agricultural productivity.
Masters was a guest on The Positively West Virginia Podcast where he shared advice about taking a chance for your business and taking advantage of the network around you.
Starting a New Business: What You Need to Know
When starting a new business, it’s understandable that you may not want to scrap ideas; however, it’s important to understand the delicate balance between seeing an idea out and booting it.
Meredith Young, COO of Mountaineer Brand, talked with Jim Matuga, host of the Positively West Virginia Podcast, about the balance that they went through with their business.
Realty Business: During a Tragedy, You Have to Keep Going for Your Business
Kim Landis, owner and broker of the successful West Virginia realty business, Landis Realty, talked with Jim Matuga, host of the Positively West Virginia Podcast, about how in the face of tragedy, she kept her business going.
Healthcare Management Solutions: Improving Healthcare Feedback
The healthcare industry is a revolving door, or at least sometimes it seems that way. With new presidents coming in and making policies, to the rules and regulations that get set by insurance companies–you have to know how to navigate that field and still pay attention to your patients. Leah Heimbach, president of Healthcare Management Solutions, a company that provides integration of clinical expertise with information technology (IT) solutions, was a guest on the Positively West Virginia Podcast. She shared some of her experiences.
Sponsoring Community Development: Natural Capital Investment Fund
For small businesses to grow, they need to be invested in. Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIF), located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, finances and advises small to mid-sized enterprises, primarily in rural and underserved communities across a nine-state region, to build locally-owned companies that create lasting jobs and community development. NCIF borrowers build local food systems, conserve energy and water, support ecotourism and find creative outlets for recycled materials and provide essential community services.
Marten Jenkins, President and CEO of NCIF, talked with Positively West Virginia Podcast host, Jim Matuga, about the importance of funding small businesses and what owners can be doing to build their success.
Brother & Sister Duo Start Successful Salt Works Business
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Well, when life gives you an ancient ocean trapped below the Appalachian Mountains of Kanawha Valley in West Virginia, you start a salt works business. That’s exactly what brother and sister, Nancy Bruns and Lewis Payne, seventh generation salt-makers, did.
J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works salt is naturally derived and completely organic. Bruns was a guest on the Positively West Virginia Podcast and shared a few pieces of advice she’s lived by since starting the business with her brother.
River Riders Family Adventure Resort: The Guest Experience
How do you keep your customers coming back? This is the ultimate question every business owner should be asking themselves. River Riders Family Adventure Resort owner, Matthew Knott, a guest on the Positively West Virginia Podcast, talks about focusing on improving the guest experience all around.
Woman-Owned West Virginia Business: Positive and Negatives of Building a Business
Don’t be afraid to open your women-owned West Virginia business. Elizabeth Yeager discusses her positive and negatives for her own business.
Business Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
Ten year old business owner, Zeb Helmick, and his father, Steven, talked with us about their business advice they would give young entrepreneurs.
Every Business Opportunity is Not Good
How do you know when a business opportunity is good or bad? Stephen Woerner, a senior at West Virginia University and co-founder 3WM software, tells us how to decide.
Importance of Customer Engagement
When you work in the craft beer industry, listening to your customers and knowing the importance of customer engagement is key. Learn two other business tips from the Parkersburg Brewing Co. team.
How to Run a Small Business: Tips from Coalfield Development Owner, Brandon Dennison
When you own a company, there are many hard things you have to do including firing employees.
Brandon Dennison, owner of Coalfield Development, a community-based non-profit that gives individuals the ability to learn and grow while improving their communities (even during economic decline), talked with Positively West Virginia host, Jim Matuga, about the decisions an owner has to make for the sake of the business. Learn a few tips on how to run a small business below.
Building Employee Loyalty
Lisa Allen, president and CEO of Ziegenfelder Company in Wheeling, West Virginia, has made a career of making people smile and helping them find their happy place.
Ziegenfelder Company manufactures and sells Budget $aver® twin pops and other frozen treats worldwide.
Allen talked with Jim Matuga, host of Positively West Virginia, about her company and why she is so proud of the vision, value and culture behind it.
Tips for Young West Virginia Entrepreneurs from Catch Cam Business
For young entrepreneurs, it can be difficult to know where to focus your energy. You have three or four projects you’re working on, a friend has a business idea, and you just heard about this cool new trend you want to try out. We know how that feels.
Beau Robinson, owner of Catch Cam Nets, sat down with Positively West Virginia podcast host, Jim Matuga, and talked with him about his tips for young West Virginia entrepreneurs.
Advice from Gurkee’s Owner: How To Do Business in West Virginia
Through trials and triumphs, Ray Sickles, owner of Gurkee’s Rope Sandals, brought the company to West Virginia and has continued to succeed in this industry.
Through his experience, Sickles has four pieces of advice that he thinks will help entrepreneurs who want to learn how to do business in West Virginia.
Federal Management Consulting Company Helps U.S. Government
Jeannette King, a Navy Veteran from Martinsburg, West Virginia, has had the ability to provide jobs to 40 employees, many of whom are veterans and/or military spouses, in over five states, including West Virginia, through her leadership in Strategic Resolution Experts, Inc. (SRE). SRE is a federal management consulting and IT service management contractor for the United States Department of Defense and Homeland Security.
In this week’s Positively West Virginia podcast interview, King describes what steps she took to make sure she was effectively using her leadership skills to the best of her ability.
Achieve Success in the Agriculture Business with West Virginia Resources
Family Roots Farm owner, Britney Hervey Farris, worked hard to achieve success in the agriculture business by engaging with a local West Liberty mentor and WVU Extension services.
The four elements below helped her on her business journey.
Welcome to Positively West Virginia!
For far too long, we have heard our fair share of negative news concerning our great state of West Virginia.
It seems to me that we’re continually at the bottom of all of the “good” lists and at the top of all of the “bad” lists.
As I started thinking back in the spring of 2017 about our situation in West Virginia, I kept thinking: What should be? What could be? How can I make a difference?