Executive Director Lincoln Economic Development Authority
Facebook: Larry Stutler
By Jessica Chambers
Larry Stutler is a dreamer—the type of person who sees endless possibilities and strives to bring ideas to fruition for the benefit of others. As the executive director of the Lincoln Economic Development Authority, this drive to keep improving makes him an excellent director and an ideal advocate for his community.
Growing up in Ona, WV, he had an early start as an entrepreneur, gathering and selling fishing bait and mowing lawns. “I really enjoyed my little business ventures,” he recalls. “I learned to sell my services, fill the orders and keep a schedule.”
This childhood fascination with entrepreneurship led to a corporate career managing a retail gasoline facility, supervising an entire retail division and becoming vice president of a $25 million oil marketing company.
Although a successful employee in the petroleum marketing business, Stutler was unhappy with the era of consolidation and buy-outs, so he took a gamble on a job in the nonprofit management and community and organizational services sector. It was there he recognized how his strict financial background could serve the missions of nonprofit organizations, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Stutler’s passion for helping nonprofit organizations fulfill their mission reaches beyond his full-time position. He considers his role in founding Leadership Southern, a multi-county leadership program focused on making Southern West Virginia a better place to live and work by teaming up with emerging leaders in the area, one of his greatest accomplishments. He believes the organization has created a great opportunity to change the dialogue for the counties of southwestern West Virginia.
In addition to his work with Leadership Southern, Stutler also works with a number of state and local boards and is always looking for where his specialized skills can make an impact. He serves on the board of directors for the West Virginia Economic Development Council, and he is a member of the Corridor G Regional Development Authority and secretary of the Lincoln County Farmland Protection Board. In the past, he has served as a member of former Governor Joe Manchin’s Citizens Advisory Council for the Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Families, president of the Lincoln Economic Development Authority board of directors, vice president of the Tri-River Transit Authority board of directors and a member of the National Crime Victims’ Rights and Starting Points Advisory committees. While serving as the executive director of the Lincoln County Family Resource Network, he was elected vice president of the state Family Resource Network Association.
Stutler currently sits on the board of directors of Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA, an organization whose many programs are ones he strongly believes in. In the past, he served as the managing director of the Lincoln County Community Foundation and continues as an advisor to the foundation’s fund, which will provide a variety of Lincoln County groups and projects with important funding. He has served as a site supervisor and mentor for two America’s Promise Fellows, coached youth sports and for many years sat as the board president of Southwestern Community Action Council, Inc.
Stutler also takes great pride in his role as mentor. “Mentoring is where I get my greatest joy now,” he says. “I regularly work with younger people in economic development and support, challenge and encourage them every opportunity I get. I feel like I learn more from them than they do from me.”
Stutler’s love for West Virginia is clear by his service and desire to create new possibilities for his fellow West Virginians wherever possible. When deciding which projects and causes to donate his time and money to, Stutler chooses the ones that speak to him and have a clear impact. “Regardless of how much or little we may have, there is a joy in giving back that is like no other,” he says. “It really is more of a blessing to give.”
1984 – Began his career as a store manager at Ashland Oil, Inc.
1985 – Named manager of PAPCO’s Retail Division and served as a Special Olympics sponsor and volunteer
1988 – Received the Texaco SOAR and Star Challenge awards
1993 – Named manager of Regent Investments, Inc.’s petroleum division
1995 – Named retail division manager of Burlile Oil Company, Inc.
1996 – Graduated the Leadership Tri-State Program
1997 – Named vice president of Burlile Oil Company, Inc.
2001 – Named executive director of Lincoln County Family Resource Network
2001-2004 – Served as an America’s Promise Fellow host/mentor
2002 – Joined the National Crime Victims’ Rights Committee, Starting Points Advisory Board and Lincoln County School’s Strategic Plan Committee and served as founding member and director of the Lincoln County Community Foundation
2003 – Named vice president of the WV Family Resource Network Association
2004 – Named the Tri-River Transit board of directors’ vice president
2005 – Named to the Citizens’ Advisory Council for the Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Families and board president of the Southwestern Community Action Council
2006 – Named board president of the Lincoln Economic Development Authority
2009 – Named executive director of the Lincoln Economic Development Authority, ex-officio of the Corridor G Regional Development Authority and board secretary of the Lincoln County Farmland Protection Board and joined the Tri-County Route 10 Coalition and the Southern Economic Development Council
2012 – Elected to the WV Economic Development Council Board
2015 – Founded Leadership Southern
2016 – Joined the Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA’s board
