NRGRDA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Grants and Impact Manager
Allison Smith joined the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority as Grants and Impact Manager in May 2022. In this position, Allison will coordinate NRGRDA's annual impact reporting and manage grant proposals that advance NRGRDA's mission to grow economic opportunity in the New River Gorge Region.
Allison received her Master of Public Administration degree and B.A. in English from West Virginia University. She gained an appreciation for intentional and community-driven growth while working as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic.
Before joining the NRGRDA team, Allison worked as a Community & Economic Development Extension Agent with West Virginia State University, in conjunction with the Upper Kanawha Valley Strategic Initiatives Council. In that position, Allison fell in love with the recreational opportunities, welcoming communities, and spirit of innovation in the New River Gorge region.
In Allison's free time, you can find her paddling a local river or reading a book in her backyard. She lives in Ansted with her husband and their dog, Rio.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Gateway Community Initiatives
Andy Davis grew up in the Appalachian foothills of Georgia where he learned to combine a passion for outdoor adventures with his educational and social pursuits. After visiting West Virginia's Canaan Valley as a teenager with his church youth group he soon came back to the Mountain State in between college semesters to train as a whitewater rafting guide in the New River Gorge.
After graduating with a degree in Environmental Sciences, he began working in the nonprofit sector where the intersectional nature of community and economic development sparked his interest. Andy served as Active Southern West Virginia's Pedestrian, Bike, & Trail Coordinator for two years through the AmeriCorps VISTA program where he collaborated with elected leaders, civic groups, nonprofits, economic development professionals, university employees, local businesses, and volunteers to plan programs, projects, and special events aimed at improving people's health and experiences within their own communities.
His passion for civic engagement and collaborative planning led him to pursue a graduate degree in Municipal Sustainability at Indiana University and, ultimately, brought him back to West Virginia in 2019 to refocus his efforts. Having the chance to live and work in communities of the South, Appalachia, and the Midwest has afforded him the opportunity to learn the issues facing so many of America's cities in the 21st century and appreciate the unique challenges of its more rural places.
Andy currently lives in Charleston and loves to explore the wild and wonderful sights of West Virginia in his spare time. He is the youngest of three siblings. His parents retired from the public school system and now live in Florida, as do his brother, sister and their families.
Job Titles:
- Regional Business Advisor
Prior to moving to West Virginia in 2015, Anna Marie worked with small farmers and the Robeson County Farmers Market in North Carolina to grow their businesses through branding, marketing, customer outreach, and understanding regulations and trends in both the food and agricultural industries. As the owner of a small poultry farm and crafting business, she has had the unique opportunity to experience and overcome challenges small and growing businesses may encounter.
Anna Marie believes in helping businesses construct simple, maintainable business routines and develop their passion to better create a niche product or service customers identify with through branding and marketing. She has also worked with the NC Cooperative Extension to conduct workshops on marketing and food safety. While running her own business she developed and implemented unique ideas to increase sales and expand community presence. Anna Marie earned a Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from University of Phoenix.
Job Titles:
- Special Projects Coordinator
Chance was born and raised in Beaver, West Virginia where being surrounded by the natural landscapes of the Mountain State generated his passion for the outdoors. This eventually led to him pursuing a degree in Geography from Concord University where he volunteered as a research assistant on scientific projects related to the environmental history and climate impacts on forests in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. This research continued across greater Appalachia throughout his graduate work at Virginia Tech.
In 2018, Chance began working as an AmeriCorps member for the National Park Service at the New River Gorge National River (now Park & Preserve) as a forest health intern. From this position, he then obtained a seasonal park ranger position working in the Interpretation division for three seasons, where he developed public programs about the natural and cultural history of the New River Gorge and created multimedia content for the park's website and social media. He found that facilitating outdoor experiences through guided hikes and K-12 school programs for local residents and children who may not have always had too many experiences exploring the national park was the most rewarding aspect of the job.
In his spare time, Chance likes to hike, backpack, and search for old growth forests on public lands and spend time with his wife and their two dogs. Chance is passionate about the New River Gorge region and is excited to play a role in the myriad of projects related to sustainable economic development in the larger Gateway Community Initiative.
Job Titles:
- Nicholas County Commissioner / Board Member
Job Titles:
- Rogers Oil Company, Owner / Board Secretary / Treasurer
Job Titles:
- Summers County Commissioner
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Growing up in a multigenerational social enterprise, Jenna developed a passion for the principles of small business, manufacturing, and building a strong support network for community members through workforce development.
During the latter years of high-school, she began to take a more vested interest in her family's business, allowing her to further cement her belief in small-scale, local manufacturing. Through her travels up and down the east coast, Jenna fell in love with the rolling hills of Appalachia and the creative, resilient people who inhabit those hills. Having spent significant time observing small companies flourish in the wake of former industry giants, Jenna has found a passion for facilitating local industry for the benefit of surrounding communities.
Jenna studied at Ohio State University where she obtained a B.S. in Economic Development and Sustainability with a specialization in small business development. While pursuing her degree, Jenna worked as a research assistant at the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence where she focused on accessibility to resources for small business manufacturing and sustainable manufacturing projects.
In her free time, Jenna enjoys the company of her husband and two dogs - Clementine and Doug, spending time outside with friends, and volunteering in her community. She has worked as a ski patroller and as a river guide on the New River in West Virginia. The latter role helped to convince her to move to West Virginia after falling in love with the area and the community, returning to her family's West Virginia roots.
As a former AmeriCorps VISTA service member, Jenna passionately believes in volunteerism and that communities thrive at the intersection of economic and community development. Her passion for economic development, education, community, and the outdoors brought her to West Virginia and is what will be the continuation of her family's West Virginia roots for a long time to come.
Job Titles:
- DEPUTY DIRECTOR
- Director of Business Development
- Executive Director
Born and raised in Welch, WV, Jina was instilled with an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age. After starting her own business at 16 years old, Jina was the first student to receive the McKelvey Foundation Entrepreneurial Scholarship during their junior year of high school.
After graduating from Concord University in 2009 with a B.S. in Recreation and Tourism Management with an emphasis in Event Planning & Promotions, Jina returned home to assist her family in expanding the only non-profit food pantry in McDowell County. While there, Jina served as Trust Systems Administrator for 7 years at MCNB Bank and Trust Company.
In 2016, Jina followed the urge to leave the finance industry to fulfill her gut and help her community develop to its fullest potential. Working as Chief Business Officer with Coalfield Development, Jina worked closely with WV leaders and entrepreneurs to strengthen the substantiality of social enterprises across Appalachia. While there, Jina's work in capital access and small business development organically crossed paths with NRGRDA and their great work being done in Southern WV.
In February 2019, Jina officially joined the NRGRDA as Director of Business Development. Combining her previous community development skills with her background in finance and social enterprise will allow her to provide the New River Gorge region with resources and expertise needed to grow the thriving economy of Southern WV.
Job Titles:
- Fayette County Commissioner / Board Member
Job Titles:
- Director of the WV Hive
- Hive Director
Judy has been the director of the WV Hive since November 2017. As the Hive director, Judy focuses on establishing partnerships and alliances that provide increased access to resources for businesses and entrepreneurs. She works with her team of business advisors, support network, and funders to bring about more effective and efficient means through which regional entrepreneurs can operate successful establishments. Prior to her present position, Judy served as a WV Hive Regional Business Advisor. Before joining the WV Hive she was employed as an Assistant Director at West Virginia University's National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium. There, Judy's main roles and responsibilities included providing leadership in areas of creative direction, media relations, and management of the communications, marketing, and education and outreach efforts of the organization. Judy has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from American Intercontinental University and a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University.
Judy also served as the Principal Investigator/Project Coordinator of numerous projects and grants and assisted in the development of numerous workshop materials, authored and co-authored many articles for industry newsletters and publications, and spoke at numerous conferences and workshops.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives
Born and raised in historic Fayetteville WV, Lisa grew up in the woods and waters of the New River Gorge. As a teen, she was introduced to whitewater rafting and then, while attending college, worked for several outfitters. Seeing the positive impact tourism was making on her sleepy hometown encouraged her to stay in tourism - and in Southern West Virginia.
1997 found Lisa working in the rafting industry as an office manager but had discovered her true passion was for marketing. She then looked to the hotel industry and worked several years as a Sales & Marketing Director, and then Director of Convention Sales & Services where she honed her skills.
In 2001 she was lured back to the outdoor industry by becoming Marketing Director for a premier multi-sport outdoor adventure resort where she developed and led award winning marketing campaigns and extensive public / media relations initiatives for ten years. After a company merger and restructuring of the resort, Lisa became Marketing Director for an off-road adventure park and then transitioned to work for the landowner as a Residential & Business Lease Administrator.
In October 2019, Lisa joined the regional development team as the Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives. Her eclectic mix of skills in marketing and public relations combined with her background in tourism management and property leasing allows her to lend her skills and talents to communicate the NRGRDA region's successes, opportunities, and programs to stakeholders, media, and the general public.
Job Titles:
- Mayor, City of Beckley / Board Vice Chairman
Job Titles:
- Rogers Oil Company, Owner / Board Secretary / Treasurer
A California native, Sandy relocated to West Virginia in late 2018. Prior to moving to WV, she worked for the Emergency Management Department for her residential county. As an Analyst for the Emergency Management Department, Sandy was responsible for tracking all budgets and projects and developing procedures for internal procurement processes and tracking multiple grant budgets for the Preparedness Division exceeding over $8.5 million. Sandy has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California, Riverside and a Master of Business Administration from University of Phoenix.
Raised in Tennessee, Yana has relocated to West Virginia very recently to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the WV Hive Network. Prior to moving to West Virginia, she worked on two political campaigns. Yana worked as an intern for a Tennessee governor's race in the Summer of 2018 and as a Field Director in the Fall of 2018. While Yana worked, she was responsible for community outreach and marketing, event planning, and support for the campaign team. As Field Director, she was responsible for implementing a recruiting strategy for community outreach and daily management of office operations. Yana believes in supporting the success of small businesses in West Virginia and the impact this has on the Appalachian community. She graduated in May of 2018 from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and minors in Marketing and International Affairs.