President, Highmark West Virginia By Samantha Cart James Fawcett’s family legacy of service initially inspired him to pursue a career with the U.S. Air Force. His father was a physician in the Army, and two of his second cousins served as Air Force pilots. “I was always mesmerized by hearing about their service,” he says.…
Partner, Suttle & Stalnaker, PLLC By Lori Kersey Chris Deweese, a partner at Suttle & Stalnaker, PLLC, is an accountant with the heart of an entrepreneur. Before the Chelyan native could even drive, he had already started his own business. “I started a small lawn mowing company and was mowing as many neighbors’ yards as…
Play-by-Play Announcer, Mountaineer Sports Network, and Manager, Pikewood Creative By Samantha Cart Perhaps best known as the iconic voice that helps bring the Mountaineers to life on the radio, Tony Caridi has had a knack for broadcasting from a young age. He started by delivering the morning announcements at school and working as a deejay…
President & CEO, Barnes Agency By Maggie Hatfield Jeff Barnes, president and CEO of the Barnes Agency, credits his career success to integrity, honesty and respect. “I have tried to navigate my professional career by doing the rights things for the right reasons even when nobody is looking,” he says. It was under his father’s…
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Putnam County is the only county in its region that has recorded population growth on every census since 1970. The burgeoning area is a tapestry of charming small towns nestled between West Virginia’s two largest cities. Community leaders are embracing this strategic location and sustained growth to create an intergenerational place that appeals to everyone from college graduates looking for their first jobs to families to retirees. Putnam County is more than a bedroom community for Charleston and Huntington—it is a unique and vibrant place that is home to a variety of small businesses, industries, restaurants, recreational opportunities and developable land.
Business is at the forefront of the current national dialogue. In West Virginia and across the U.S., small businesses are the heart and soul of numerous communities, creating jobs, rebuilding downtowns and attracting tourists. In spite of the international impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy, many businesses are staying the course, and with the important role exporting is playing in the Mountain State, hope for a brighter future remains.