Executive Director, Randolph County Development Authority
and West Virginia Wood Technology Center
Facebook: robbiemorrisWV
LinkedIn: Robbie Morris
Written by Jennifer Jett Prezkop
“Many people believe you have to, by chance, be in the right place at the right time for good things to happen. I believe you have to put yourself in the right place so when the right time comes along, you can seize the opportunity.”
From an early age, Robbie Morris has adhered to this philosophy. Growing up, he had dreams of becoming a lawyer, and he embraced opportunities that would help him realize that dream. From the ages of 16-24, he went to work at a law firm in his hometown of Elkins as a legal assistant so he could learn the business. When his LSAT score wasn’t high enough for law school admittance, he watched his long-time dream crumble before him, but this change in direction didn’t break him. In fact, this hiccup was the necessary trigger he needed to reset his plan. His change in paths led him to where he is today as the executive director of the Randolph County Development Authority (RCDA) and West Virginia Wood Technology Center.
Morris’ father had a tremendous effect on the successful professional he is today. “I always say, the older I get, the smarter my father becomes,” says Morris. “I never understood why my dad did things a certain way or made some of the decisions he did, but I do now. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to implement or appreciate all that he taught me before he passed away. I work every day to make him proud.”
A graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Morris holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and history and an MBA. When he realized law school was not in the cards, he decided to join his father in the family business, Elkins Business Consultants, a human resources consulting firm. His father passed away in 2006, leaving big shoes for his young son to fill. “Even though I had seen the work it took to run a small business, it was a totally different ballgame when I was doing it myself,” he says. “As a business owner, you can have the feeling of success, failure, stress, happiness, anxiety and accomplishment all in the same day.”
Being in the right place at the right time has served Morris well. In 2009, as a member of the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce board of directors, he stepped up to temporarily fill the executive director position. He fell in love with the job and took on the position full-time. Two years later, he was encouraged by his chamber peers to apply for the executive director position with the RCDA, where he remains today.
Morris inherited a strong sense of community service from his parents, and his wife, Susan, encourages him to act on it. “I am incredibly blessed to have a wife that supports my career and understands my passion to improve the community and state we both love,” he says.
Morris is president of the United Way of Randolph County, assistant director of the Mountain State Forest Festival, chairman of the Robert C. Byrd Corridor H Highway Authority and vice president of the West Virginia Economic Development Council and West Virginia Hardwood Alliance Zone. He sits on boards for the Highland Trails Foundation, West Virginia for Better Transportation, Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, Randolph County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Leadership West Virginia and the West Virginia Wesleyan College Alumni Council. He is also treasurer of Elkins Main Street and a member of the Beverly Elementary School PTO. “I give back because this community and this state have afforded me so many opportunities, and it would be selfish not to,” he says.
For Morris, being in the right place for opportunity means being here in West Virginia. His love for the Mountain State is where he finds motivation to succeed. “West Virginia is called Almost Heaven for a good reason,” he says. “It truly is as close as you can get to Heaven this side of the pearly gates. That’s why I want my children, and my neighbor’s children, to stay in West Virginia. I want them to raise their families here, open a business here and contribute to the overall well-being of the state. That is what motivates me each and every day.”
What is your favorite . . . ?
Color – Blue
Food – Steak
Cartoon Character – Bugs Bunny
Ice Cream – Cookies and cream
Animal – Hammerhead shark
Book – Bible
App – ESPN
Midnight Snack – Chips
Super Hero – Woody Williams
Video Game – Tecmo Bowl
Comic Book – “Superman”
TV Show – Any American history documentary
Movie – “The Sandlot”
Smell – Autumn in West Virginia
Sport Team – West Virginia University Mountaineers
Car – Range Rover
Pet – My dog, Louie
Place – West Virginia in Autumn
Small Local Restaurant – Duke’s Steakhouse
Season – Autumn
Era – 90s
West Virginia Location – Home
West Virginia Activity – Ride the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, walk under the New River Gorge Bridge, hunt, fish, drive U.S. Route 250 between Elkins, WV, and Staunton, VA, and watch WVU sports live
