Rotary learns about Leadership Randolph

Lisa Wood, executive director of the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, and the Leadership Randolph Committee Chair, Karen Jacobson, addressed the Rotary Club of Elkins recebtky.

Leadership Randolph seeks to develop and prepare leaders to move Randolph County forward. Initiated by the Elkins-Randolph Chamber of Commerce in 2022, organization participants will develop leadership skills and learn about education, health care, economic development, government and many other topics.

The 2023 inaugural Leadership Randolph class members are Tammy Rizzio (Youth Health Service), Angela Daniels (United Way), Samantha Peet, (Elkins Randolph County Tourism, Convention and Visitors Bureau), Adrianna Channell (Davis Trust Company), Erin Brown (Agency LMC), Chase Kyle (Luttner Financial Groupe), Heidi Bray (Mountain State Forest Festival), Brandy Wildman (Davis Health System), Jeremiah Jasper (Woodford Memorial United Methodist Church), Matt Osborne (Citizens Bank of West Virginia), Collin McFadden (Pegasus Real Estate) and Jordan Godwin (Valley Health Care).

"For years, the Chamber had been talking about establishing a Leadership Randolph program. We started making plans in 2019, but, when 2020 arrived, we had to put it on hold. However, we knew that we had to get it going as soon as we came out of the pandemic. I am very happy to say this inaugural class started last September and they are on their next to last session today. They will graduate on June 13," said Wood.

There are seventeen Leadership West Virginia graduates in Randolph County. These graduates are serving as Leadership Randolph Ambassadors and have stepped forward to ensure the success of the program. The program sponsors are the City of Elkins, Citizens Bank of West Virginia, Davis Trust Company, Mountaineer Insurance Services, the Randolph County Development Authority, Common Door, Davis & Elkins College, Davis Health System, Vandevender & Nypl, CPAs, the Randolph County Housing Authority and Woodland Development and Lending. "It was one of the easiest requests for sponsorship I've ever had. Within three days of my email blast, all of these stepped forward, and we had plenty of sponsorship funding to get the program started," concluded Wood.

Jacobson, who retired from the Randolph County Housing Authority in 2021, agreed to serve as the chair of the inaugural Leadership Randolph program. "If you're not familiar with Leadership Randolph, the idea is to take a deep dive into the topics of the day or the topics that are central to living here in Randolph County, In this way, emerging leaders can learn more about the place where they live and, while doing that, connect to people that they may not have met before as part of furthering their own leadership skills and taking more of an interest in what's going on here where we all live," said Jacobson.

Each month's meeting had a theme with last September's first session being focused on tourism. The Convention and Visitor's Bureau's Ann Beardslee coordinated this session. Beardslee met with the group and introduced them to the CVB, the Depot visitor's center and the train and the Beverly Heritage Center. The group also went to the Still Hollow Distillery in Job.

The Economic Development session was coordinated by Hoy Ferguson, with presentations by the Chamber of Commerce, Elkins Main Street, the Randolph County Development Authority. There was also a panel discussion with local bankers and business coached to discuss business financing as well as a presentation on the Railyard development and new convention center. There was also a tour of the downtown buildings that are in the process of being redeveloped.

There was a session dedicated to Housing and Community Development led by Karen Jacobson. The results of a recent market study on housing were presented followed by a panel discussion with the Home Ownership Center, the Randolph County Housing Authority and Woodlands discussing the different ownership options.

In January, Health Care was the focus of the group's session. Jennifer Griggs of the Randolph County Housing Authority and Mike Bell of the Davis Health System Foundation lead this session. The group learned about the health services available in Randolph County and emerging trends in medicine. The group also visited federally qualified health clinic Valley Health Care, Inc., the nursing department at Davis & Elkins College, and Elkins Rehabilitation and Care Center.

There was an education and youth session lead by Kate Reed of Wonder & Grow and retired educator, Bob Dunkerley. This session focused on the school system and all the pieces around the education system. There was a session on higher education presented by President Chris Wood of Davis & Elkins College and a discussion with students who are training to be teachers. There was a roundtable relating to various community-based learning opportunities including The Old Brick Playhouse, the Phil Gainer Center, and the Kump Center. A number of local school principals addressed the group regarding outside of school support services.

The March session focused on hardwood manufacturing and was lead by Robbie Morris and Kris Wilmoth of the Randolph County Development Authority. The group visited JC Lumber Company, AHF at Beverly, Greenfield Cabinetry, and Hamer Pellet & Fuel. Jack Tribble of the Monongahela Forest and Mark Haddix spoke during lunch.

The session on Government was coordinated by former Elkins City Clerk, Jessica Sutton. The group attended the Chamber's Legislative Luncheon and then toured the Elkins Wastewater Plant. A mock City Council meeting followed the tour; the day ended at the City Council Streetscape Plan discussion.

The most recent session for the group was aimed at local non-profit organizations - Catholic Charities, the Housing Authority, the Homeless Shelter, Youth Health Services, United Way, Rotary, the Tucker Community Foundation, Family Resources Network and the Randolph County Senior Center.

The final program on June 13 will focus on Workforce with the Leadership Randolph graduation ceremony to follow.

Applications for the Leadership Randolph Class of 2024 are being accepted through May 31. The session will run September 2023 through May 24. Class members are expected to attend every session with topics including tourism, economic development, housing and many others geared to the betterment of the community.

More information about Leadership Randolph can be found at the Chamber's website, www.erccc.com or by contacting Wood at chamber@ercc.com or 304.636.2717.

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club's Facebook page - Rotary Club of Elkins – or contact club president Kristie Vandevander at k_ware@yahoo.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.