In-House Counsel, Encova Insurance
Photo by Mike Powers/Marshall University.
By Emily Rice
As a self-proclaimed nontraditional law student, Toney Stroud, in-house counsel at Encova Insurance, enrolled in law school when he was 31 years old.
A Marshall University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business information systems, Stroud worked as a claim’s adjuster for several years until he made the decision to begin law school at the West Virginia University (WVU) College of Law in 1995. A first-generation college student, his parents, while loving and supportive, always instilled a work ethic in he and his brother that would propel his successful career in law. While it was challenging to return to study mode after his hiatus from higher education, Stroud treated his education like one would a job.
“I worked from 8 to 5 and tried to relax and do things that I enjoyed in the evening,” he says. “I have always enjoyed learning, and once I got into the groove, I loved my law school experience.”
After earning his Juris Doctor in 1998, Stroud’s first job in the field was as an associate with Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in Charleston, WV. He learned, among many lessons, the importance of hard work when he was named partner at Steptoe & Johnson one year ahead of schedule.
In 2006, a challenge would present itself in the form of an opportunity. Steptoe & Johnson asked Stroud to move to Columbus, Ohio, to open an office for the firm.
“I had only lived in West Virginia up to that point and the thought of moving to a city the size of West Virginia was intimidating,” he recalls. “However, from this experience I learned it is okay to take risks and get out of your comfort zone. Too many times I feel people get comfortable and miss opportunities because of the fear of the unknown. This experience gave me confidence and helped me develop leadership skills and confidence to continue to grow in my career.”
In 2013, Stroud left private practice and joined what is now known as Encova Insurance as in-house counsel.
“My wife, Cassie, and I were ecstatic when we got the opportunity to move back to West Virginia,” he says. “We had just adopted our two daughters and quickly decided West Virginia was the place to raise our children. This state is home, and I love the people and the chance to volunteer and get involved. I find West Virginia to be peaceful, and I love the outdoors. We have a beautiful state with good, hard-working people. The proximity to larger cities is also appealing to me. If the urge hits, it is only a three or four-hour drive to a larger area.”
In his role at Encova Insurance, Stroud manages outside counsel and oversees the company’s outside litigation. He mediates cases across the country and provides legal support to the claims and underwriting departments. He also personally litigates the state’s black lung cases.
“My current position is challenging because of the many different things that may come across my desk on any given day,” he explains. “I may be dealing with a life insurance matter in the morning, a contract right after lunch and preparing for hearings and mediations later in the day.”
Because he got a later start on his legal career than most, Stroud has always felt the need to work a little harder and faster in order to catch up. He is grateful for the mentors who helped him along his way.
“My mentor at Steptoe was a lawyer named Doug Lee,” he says. “Doug took me under his wing and really helped launch my career in the legal field. He instilled in me that in order to succeed, I must be a servant and put others ahead of myself. He taught me how to lead and build a successful team by working hard and being kind to others.”
Stroud was born in Logan, WV, but his parents moved to Huntington, WV, shortly thereafter, where Stroud continues to put the lessons of servant leadership into practice in his community to this day as a member of several boards and committees.
He conducts pro bono work for his co-workers and family members and believes he has an obligation to help others have access to the legal system. He currently serves on the boards of St. Mary’s Medical Center Foundation, Leadership West Virginia, the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences and the United Way of River Cities. He also serves as chairman of the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce and was appointed by Governor Jim Justice to the Marshall University board of governors in 2019, where he was recently voted vice chairman.
“As a first-generation college graduate, Marshall University started me on my path to success and has always been a very important part of my life,” Stroud says. “The people I met and lessons I learned at Marshall helped mold me into the person I am today. Being selected to serve on Marshall’s board of governors was a proud moment in my career, allowing me to give a little back to the institution that started me on my career path.”
In his spare time, Stroud also mentors others.
“One of the greatest compliments I ever received was from a summer intern who told me that I not only taught her how to be a good lawyer but that my greatest impact was teaching her how to be a good person,” he says. “That was more important to me that any award or recognition I have ever received.”
A large part of who Stroud is as a lawyer and a person are reflections of his home state of West Virginia.
“I love being a lawyer and love that I get to practice law in West Virginia,” he says. “I always strive to be the best at what I do, and it is an honor to me that I have been recognized as a leader in my chosen profession.”
Stroud focuses most of his volunteer efforts on making his community and the Mountain State better for future generations.
“I have two daughters, and it is my desire that they both want to stay in West Virginia,” he says. “Communities are very important to our society and unite us as a people. Communities allow us to connect with other people from all walks of life and provide support. For these reasons, I believe we all have a duty to be involved in our community. The stronger our communities, the stronger we are as a people.”
