Skinner

BUCKHANNON — Buckhannon Mayor Robbie Skinner has been named the new executive director of Generation West Virginia.

GWV stated in a release that Skinner brings “a rare combination of municipal leadership, entrepreneurship and economic development experience to one of the state’s leading workforce organizations.”

The organization praised Skinners’ leadership as Mayor of Buckhannon, stating that Skinner has positioned Buckhannon as “one of Appalachia’s most forward-thinking small cities.” GWV also touted Skinner’s professional background in banking, insurance, real estate development and business consulting.

Kel Cecil, Board Chair of Generation West Virginia, said Skinner’s combination of private sector expertise and civic leadership made him the right choice “at a critical moment.”

“Robbie understands how West Virginia communities work from the inside out,” Cecil said in the release. “That kind of ground-level experience — combined with his ability to build partnerships across sectors — is exactly what this organization needs to move to the next level.”

As executive director, GWV says Skinner will lead its efforts to expand workforce development programs, deepen employer partnerships and connect talent to opportunity across the state.

“West Virginia’s greatest asset is its people,” Skinner said in the release from GWV. “Generation West Virginia has built a powerful platform for connecting talent with opportunity, and I’m honored to lead the next phase of that work. Our state is evolving fast — and so is the opportunity to ensure people can build meaningful careers here.”

GWV says its mission is to equip young West Virginians with key skills and career opportunities, “ensuring their ability to thrive in the Mountain State.”

The group connects young adults with resources, opportunities and other young adults through workforce development initiatives.

Under Skinner’s leadership, GWV says it will expand its key initiatives, including the annual Pathways to Progress Conference, which GWV says is widely recognized as West Virginia’s premier workforce development convening.

The group will also expand its Career Connector program, which helps employers across the state identify and retain emerging talent, the WV Connected Communities Network, which supports broadband access and digital infrastructure in local economies, and the Generation WV Fellowship, a leadership development initiative for the next generation of West Virginia leaders.

To learn more about Generation West Virginia, visit generationwv.org.