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 Morgantown...

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 have money...

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 discuss how...

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 movies,...

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 United States,...

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 restaurant....

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 locally.

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. John found is...

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 sentiments...

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 about...

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 with...

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 located in...

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 clean and...

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 through...

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 plenty of...

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. MAJO:...

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 Nate's...

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 LLC....

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...

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...

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 devastation...

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...

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 to represent the state in...

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 Emporium: https://needfulthings-website.com/

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:...

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 version...

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. Hawley...

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 Hershey’s Ice Cream and does...

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...

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 Software...

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 that...

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 others that...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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 transitioning...

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 Science...

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 Huntington, West Virginia, in...

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 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...

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 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 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...

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...

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, primitive,...

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, and...

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...

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 son,...

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 truck,...

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 restaurant...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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.  Amanda...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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. After...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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 grown up...

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 Mountaineers,...

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...

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., where...

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 adventure....

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 others...

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, George S....

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 science...

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 vintage. Hoot...

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...

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 “South’s Best...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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?

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Are you a business owner in West Virginia looking to share your story? We feature well-known company success stories, as well as the hidden gems of our great state. Click here to contact us.

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Positively West Virginia is a 501 (c) 3 Not-for-profit organization dedicated to equipping small businesses and entrepreneurs with tools they need to succeed in West Virginia.