A publication of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love l l p Spring 2008 Opportunity and Prosperity in the Mid-Ohio Valley In this issue ... Spring 2008

Thomas A. Heywood Mark Savan Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP Simonton Windows Welcoming a New Wave of Growth and Development Mid-Ohio Valley Still Home to Simonton After 60 Years 26 in the Mid-Ohio Valley 3 Cecil Childress Judith W. Sjostedt Blennerhassett Hotel Parkersburg Area Community Foundation Connecting the Past to the Future 28 Consider the Possibilities 4 Dominique Holl Denny Harton Holl’s Chocolates GasSearch Corporation Culinary Changes Lead to Sweet Success 30 Oil and Gas Industry Deeply Rooted in Mid-Ohio Valley 6 Robert Kirkbride Karen L. Facemyer Ohio Valley Land Company Polymer Alliance Zone The Fertile Environment of the Mid-Ohio Valley 32 Mission Possible: Polymer Alliance Zone Seeks to Increase Jobs and Investment in West Virginia 8 Michael A. King Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital Joseph P. Chronley Pursuing Happiness in the Workplace 34 Hino Motors Manufacturing USA, Inc. Take Me Home, Country Roads, in a Hino Truck! 10 Robert L. Bays Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP Keith Burdette The River, The Law and Your Lawyer: The Value of Being Licensed Parkersburg Area Roundtable in Both West Virginia and Ohio 36 Location and Workforce are Key Assets for Mid-Ohio Valley 12 Dr. Robert W. Stephens, Jr. Gerard El Chaar Bernard McDonough Foundation, Inc. Coldwater Creek Parkersburg, Doorway to the Past 38 Company Culture Values Customers, Associates and Communities 14 Roger Sheppard WTAP-TV Dr. Marie Foster Gnage Local Media Face Challenges and Opportunities 40 West Virginia University at Parkersburg The Community’s College, A Regional Advantage 16 Richard A. Hudson J. Breckenridge Martin Steven W. Nicely Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau Like Kind Exchanges: If You Can’t Beat ’em, Defer ’em! 42 Tourism: It’s Everybody’s Business 18

Richard M. Adams, Jr. United Bank, Inc. Sense of Community Drives Success 20

Dr. Jean A. Scott Marietta College Leadership for a Global Society 22

David Blair Couch Wood County Commission Transparency in Local Government: Technology is the Answer 24 Cover photo courtesy of the Parkersburg Area Roundtable. Welcoming a New Wave of Growth and Development FROM OUR in the Mid-Ohio Valley MANAGING Thomas A. Heywood PARTNER Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love llp

Tom Heywood is Managing Several years ago the late Senator Martha Wehrle Today, the opportunity and value of the Mid-Ohio Partner of Bowles Rice and loaned me a copy of The Frontiersman. This work Valley are being rediscovered and leveraged once a former chief of staff to the Honorable Gaston Caperton, of historical fiction by Allan Eckart captured my again. Governor of the State of West mind and imagination as few books have, and gave Virginia. He has significant me a new appreciation of the rich heritage I enjoy For those of us in West Virginia, property experience in health care, as a native West Virginian. For this book and many along the Ohio River affords some of the corporate, finance and other acts of leadership, mentorship and friendship, most developable land we have. Ready commercial law, and is recognized as one of the I will be forever indebted to Martha. transportation and attractive sites are among the Best Lawyers in America by many competitive advantages that this region publishers Woodward & White. The Frontiersman tells the story of the first white offers. Automobile and truck manufacturers, settlers in our region – then western Virginia distribution centers, and industry and commerce Mr. Heywood is active in the – including the story of Simon Kenton, a true of all sorts are now rediscovering the competitive community and in various West pioneer who helped settle what is now Charleston, advantages offered by the Mid-Ohio Valley and Virginia business and trade associations. He serves on and who opened up the Ohio River Valley at a the greater Parkersburg area. the boards of many charitable time when Ohio was Native American homeland, organizations, including and Kentucky was shared hunting ground for the In this edition of Views & Visions, we at Bowles Vision Shared, Imagine West settlers and Native Americans. Rice are proud to share the story of the Mid-Ohio Virginia, the West Virginia Valley as we enter the 21st century. We have a Venture Connection, the West Like many Americans, I have a fairly informed Virginia Entrepreneurs Forum, large office in Parkersburg, from which we serve Discover the Real West Virginia understanding of how the West was won. clients up and down the Ohio River in Ohio Foundation, Thomas Memorial However, I had given very little thought to how and West Virginia. We participate actively in Hospital, West Virginia University the Midwest was settled and developed until the life of communities on the Ohio River, and Hospitals, the Clay Center and reading The Frontiersman. are excited to be a part of the area’s new wave of the Kanawha County Library growth and development. Foundation. In the 1700s, Fort Pitt was a western outpost in our young nation. Settlement and development I wish to thank the many authors in this edition of much of West Virginia and the Midwest of Views & Visions for sharing their insights and occurred as pioneers and settlers came down the observations about this region, talking about Ohio River and up its tributaries from what are the advantages the Ohio Valley offers them and today Pittsburgh and Wheeling. For decades, sharing their excitement and enthusiasm about Wheeling and Parkersburg became important the future. I also wish to thank each of our centers for provisioning those who explored and authors for the work they and their organizations then settled the Midwest, first by boat, and later do, day in and day out, to create a brighter future by wagon, rail and road. in the Mid-Ohio Valley. A new day is dawning up and down the river, thanks to you. The Ohio River is a remarkable engine of commerce and opportunity. From the days I hope that you enjoy this edition of Views & that Simon Kenton and a few other intrepid Visions as much as I have. We look forward to adventurers first explored the Ohio; through the working with you in the years ahead to help years of development and growth of American bring opportunity and prosperity to the area, industrial enterprise led by men like Rockefeller, continuing the tradition begun years ago by Carnegie, Mellon and others; to today’s reality Simon Kenton and many other hardy and of containerized shipping and global commerce, committed souls. the Ohio River Valley has offered incredible opportunity and advantage to those who have made it their home.

Spring 2008 3 Consider the Possibilities Judith W. Sjostedt, Executive Director Parkersburg Area Community Foundation

Judy Sjostedt is executive In the 1000 block of Avery Street in Parkersburg, director of “Our Community’s there are 175 steps leading up to a small park and Foundation,” the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation overlook at the top of Quincy Hill. A few years and Regional Affiliates of ago the existing stone stairs were crumbling and Doddridge, Jackson, Little treacherous to climb. I was surprised when the city Kanawha Area (Calhoun and opted to restore these steps, as I wondered at the Wirt), Mason and Ritchie time whether the expense would be worthwhile. counties. Joining the Foundation in 1999, Ms. Sjostedt leads After all, when these stairs were rebuilt, who would an organization that is use them? Since the reconstruction of the staircase, experiencing rapid growth in I’ve watched athletes test their endurance, sprinting service, tripling its assets and up and down it. I’ve seen couples climb it together regional grant-making over the and small children chase up the steps, outrunning past eight years. their parents. It’s become a badge of honor to share Ms. Sjostedt serves on the with someone that you’ve scaled it. Occasionally After years of anticipation, the new arch bridge on boards of directors of Mountain now, I, too, use those steps and gain bragging Corridor D-Route 50 appears nearly complete on State Blue Cross Blue Shield rights. and West Virginia Grantmakers the distant horizon. It’s heartening to see so many Association. She is a faculty promising signs of growth and strong evidence member of the National For those who make the climb on a blue sky of significant investments of both human and Council on Foundations’ Center morning, after catching their breath at the top, financial capital. for Community Foundation the reward is a marvelous vista of communities Excellence. on both sides of the Ohio River below. In early Climbing a long, steep stairway is an apt metaphor Her career has spanned all spring, before the trees gain their leaves, the sight is for the nature of progress in our region. While economic sectors, as she well worth the effort. Looking across Parkersburg sometimes it seems that we take two steps up and previously served as the into Belpre, one first notices a bright white church one back down, our goal remains constant and business partnerships program steeple; it pierces the sky and sets a reflective mood. resolve steadfast, that each successive generation manager for the Education From this angle, the present Mountain State Alliance; president of Key will see further and stand higher on that staircase Consultants, providing technical Blue Cross Blue Shield headquarters looms large, than where we are right now. Just as one can’t leap writing services to the chemical blocking one’s view of the flurry of construction 175 steps at once, the pace of change here has industry in West Virginia, Ohio activity on its new facility. One can see the rooftops been incremental as well. We’ve kept the faith and and New Jersey; international of homes in the Julia-Ann Square Historic District, continued climbing even when the view has been employee coordinator at beckoning visitors to come and see the new arches DuPont; and EEO program unclear, coping with plant closings and waiting manager with the Internal marking the boundaries of this attractive, friendly for bridges and highways that took years to arrive. Revenue Service. neighborhood. We’ve learned not to expect major improvements overnight. We’ve anted up our own labor and She has a bachelor’s degree Some of Parkersburg’s best assets aren’t clearly resources and worked hard for our community’s from Assumption College and visible. One’s view of the Actor’s Guild, a master’s degree in Public betterment. These lessons have taught us to Administration from West Parkersburg Art Center, Smoot Theatre and the continuously put our best efforts forward and Virginia University. Oil and Gas and Blennerhassett Museums is to keep climbing, and over time we have gained obscured, but these organizations contribute such strength and become more resilient and self- vitality to the community that one instinctively sufficient. seeks their buildings. Both fine hospitals are evident, and Camden-Clark Memorial’s new From this high vantage point, it’s possible to South Tower really sparkles. The green bridge envision many things. Boston College researchers connecting Parkersburg and Belpre stands out. Paul Schervish, Ph.D. and John Havens predict

4 Spring 2008 The 175-step staircase to the park and overlook at the top of Quincy Hill. that in less than 50 years time, by 2055, transferred remains here, invested into the as places of assets more so than needs, then some $41 trillion nationally will be passed communities from which it was earned. generously step up to invest their own time, from one generation to the next. It’s Among the best investments that any one energy and resources for the common good. estimated that a little under seven percent, of us ever can make are those that deliver a about $6 trillion, will be sent directly to tangible, measurable return for the people Consider the possibilities. In fact, make an charities. No one has projected the impact of we care about most, right here at home. I investment in them. Join us. Come climb this transfer locally, but there are clear signs have cause for hope; I see leadership and these stairs and see a place where we are that it is already underway. We’ve witnessed action on many fronts: a new manufacturing giving back and looking forward to a more the sale of several businesses and, with one site, riverfront park plans and a potential promising future in the Mid-Ohio Valley. of them, the wonderful creation of a new farmers’ market, strong civic involvement philanthropic resource for charitable good. and philanthropy on the rise. Volunteerism Photo courtesy of the Parkersburg Area Community and philanthropy create a “tipping point” for Foundation. Consider the possibilities for our shared communities, helping to shift perspectives as future if more of the wealth that is people become able to see their communities

Spring 2008 5 Oil and Gas Industry Deeply Rooted in Mid-Ohio Valley Denny Harton, President GasSearch Corporation

Denny Harton is President The Mid-Ohio Valley is rich with tradition, is the key to successful efforts to keep energy cost of GasSearch Corporation, a heritage and culture that is deeply rooted in the under control. producer/operator, and GasSearch Drilling Services Corporation, a development of oil and gas underlying most of drilling and service contractor, the land in West Virginia. While much of the Our region – and the rest of West Virginia – will both based in Parkersburg, West traditional evidence of its existence is not as play a significant role in our nation’s energy Virginia. The company also has visible as the bygone years, there is significant future. While there appears to be a substantial a regional office and shop facility development occurring throughout the state and effort to move the nation to alternative fuels, it in Hurricane, West Virginia and plans are underway to create a in the Mid-Ohio Valley. will be natural gas and coal that bridges the gap. facility in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. The fact that the Oil and Gas Museum is The most recent energy commodity prices make located in Wood County is no accident. Not far Mr. Harton began his career in the it possible for developers and producers to work oil and gas industry in the mid- from here, in Burning Springs, the first known harder than ever to develop the mineral resources 1970s in southwestern Virginia, well was drilled and produced. The folks in necessary to meet the growing demand. Natural working during the summers Pennsylvania would argue that the first well was gas and coal are abundant in the Mountain State, on a drilling rig for Union Drilling drilled by Colonel Drake himself, but we do not and technology will enhance the ability to access Company of Buckhannon, West Virginia. Following service in the believe that is correct. more reserves. US Navy, he returned to work in the industry and formed a consulting Dating back to before the Civil War, oil and There have been and will be efforts to change firm, Harton & Associates, before gas helped build the Mid-Ohio Valley area into laws that govern the relationship between ultimately establishing GasSearch one of the largest economic regions in the state. mineral owners and surface owners when the Corporation. The company grew from one well to hundreds, and in The industry continues to have a significant two tracts have been severed. Surface owners will 2006 Mr. Harton formed GasSearch economic impact on the overall economy of the need to recognize that they were able to purchase Drilling Services Corporation to state and the valley. Today, some 15,000 West their land at a significant discount because the provide rig, dozer, truck and other Virginians are directly employed in the industry, value of the land was reduced by the value of the associated services. with an aggregate payroll estimated to exceed mineral tract beneath it. When mineral tracts Governor Cecil Underwood $1 billion. are owned, maintained and taxed to a separate appointed Mr. Harton to the mineral owner, then we all have to recognize Oil and Gas Conservation The industry is expected to pay in excess of the rights of the mineral owner to develop his Commission, where he served $100 million in severance and other production- property. from 1999 to 2005. related taxes to the state and counties, monies He has been a member of that help budget-constrained school systems all Because mineral interests are so capital intensive, the Independent Oil and Gas over the Mountain State. most mineral development is performed in Association of West Virginia (IOGA) a commercial environment, while surface since 1988 and has served as the organization’s vice president and Once there were oil derricks and refineries up development often is completed by individual president. He has been elected and down the Ohio River. Today there continues surface owners. Because of this difference, some to its board of directors three to be an abundance of factories that depend on have come to believe the commercial enterprises times and held various leadership the energy resources so abundant from beneath should bear an unfair burden to the surface positions on the IOGA commerce West Virginia. owner. Not much consideration is given to committee.. the mineral owner when surface development He was honored with IOGA’s 2003 Producing energy resources in West Virginia is impedes or curtails mineral development. Gunslinger Award for distinguished challenging. While the mountains and valleys There is a tremendous amount of mineral service. In 2006 he was chosen as the industry’s Oil & Gas Man of the are beautiful, they present significant difficulty acreage sterilized by surface development Year. He is a member of the board of in accessing the mineral resources on which without compensation to the mineral owner. directors of the Oil & Gas Museum we all so vitally depend. Balancing our energy Surface owners who want more control over in Parkersburg. requirements with sound environmental practice how minerals are developed may also have to

6 Spring 2008 The outside exhibit area of the Parkersburg Oil and Gas Museum features a Parkersburg pump jack (in operation) in the foreground and, in back, a Spencer Machine pump jack. recognize that mineral owners may be entitled to more control over how the surface is developed if there is risk to the mineral estate.

The future will depend a great deal on how the political, judicial and environmental cultures evolve over time. The oil and gas industry, like all others in the state, is concerned about all of these things and is working hard to create efficiencies where they do not currently exist, while developing new techniques to enhance recovery in the most environmentally friendly way possible. The future from my perspective is bright, and to maintain the glow we must participate in the system and help ensure that those who regulate, legislate or judge what we do are fully informed and understand the industry’s perspective to the fullest extent possible. GDS Rig #10, drilling for Cabot Oil & Gas. Photos courtesy of GasSearch Corporation and the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Spring 2008 7 Mission Possible: Polymer Alliance Zone Seeks to Increase Jobs and Investment in West Virginia Karen L. Facemyer, President Polymer Alliance Zone®

Senator Karen Facemyer was hired Living the American dream in West Virginia… efforts of our stakeholders in PAZ, we envision as executive vice president of the where else can a country girl from the Outback the expansion of our industrial base by adding Polymer Alliance Zone, Inc. (PAZ) in July 2006, and named president (Australia has nothing on us) become a West multiple values to polymer businesses and related three months later. Her initial Virginia State Senator and president of the service companies, thus increasing quality job duties concentrate on building PAZ Polymer Alliance Zone? opportunities for West Virginians. through its unique partnerships among businesses, education and In the northern part of Mason County, five miles Nationally, as well as locally, the media regularly government. inland from the Ohio River, is some of the most report on new milestones as they are reached by the She was elected in 2000 as a beautiful countryside you would ever want to baby boomer generation. Currently that milestone member of the West Virginia State see…It is West Virginia’s Outback….Outback is retirement. Thoughts immediately go to rest, Senate, representing Jackson, of New Haven, Outback of West Columbia, relaxation, vacationing, hobbies and visiting with Mason, Putnam and Roane Outback of Mason….you get the picture. It is the grandchildren. Not so if you are managing counties. Her responsibilities in the Senate include addressing rural living at its best. Family, church, work and a plant in the manufacturing business. Polymer constituents’ interests, legal community are the basics of life and teach the companies, both large and small, are starting research and analysis of foundation by which we live and work today. I was to feel the pinch of replacing that baby boomer issues including tax structure, very active growing up – church youth group, 4-H, generation. PAZ, through meetings with company infrastructure, business friendly Wahama Band, basketball and softball – along representatives, education and training groups is environment and insurance. She serves on finance; transportation; with my sisters, brother and a mom whom was just making sure we are ready to provide the training agriculture; banking and insurance; as active. and teach the skills needed to work in our industry. and economic development committees. Through participating and being involved with “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when In 2002 she was chosen as one my family then and now, organizations, my you take your eyes off your goal.” That’s how of 40 emerging state leaders from education and work ethic helped me achieve the Henry Ford summed it up and that’s the approach across the nation to participate in privilege of becoming president of a nationally we are taking at PAZ. Our goal is to make sure the Henry Toll Fellowship leadership known non-profit corporation. The Polymer that we have an ample supply of skilled workers program, sponsored by the Council Alliance Zone (PAZ) originated in 1996 under an utilizing our educational partners. The days of of State Governments. She was appointed as co-chair of the executive order of Governor Gaston Caperton, companies hiring workers and providing in-house Agricultural & Rural Development with the mission to increase jobs and investment training are over. Companies want to choose Committee - Council of State in the state. Governor Caperton targeted specific from applicants that have a good work ethic, are Government in 2005, and named segments of our economy primed for growth and educated and skilled for a specific craft and are Legislator of the Year for the expansion with PAZ being the first of what would drug-free, to name just a few of the important Vocational Technical Association in both West Virginia and the 13-state soon be several zones to follow. Jackson, Mason qualifications. Southern District. and Wood Counties make up the zone, recognized as one of the world’s largest concentrations of We know our mission. We will continue to look Ms. Facemeyer previously served high-value polymers production with both land and listen, to achieve the goals that PAZ originally as a member of the West Virginia and demographics to support further proliferation outlined in 1996, and in this global economy House of Delegates and taught school in Jackson and Mason of the industry. Opportunities to promote West – with technology at our fingertips – we will counties in West Virginia and Virginia and PAZ have been abundant in just my continue to learn, set and reach for new goals. Meigs County, Ohio. She obtained short tenure as president, with new and expanding Living the American dream in the Mid-Ohio her master’s degree in vocational companies announced each year. Valley has a very promising future for current and education administration from future generations of Mountaineers. Marshall University and her undergraduate degree from Polymer companies have been located in the Mid- Glenville State College. Ohio Valley for the abundant natural resources needed for production. Through the collective Photos courtesy of the Polymer Alliance Zone.

8 Spring 2008 The Polymer Alliance Zone’s trade show booth and staff travel the world to promote the organization’s capabilities. In the photo below, taken at the K Plastic Trade Show in Düsseldorf, Germany, Karen Facemyer (second from left) is joined by William R. Timken, Jr., US Ambassador to Germany (third from right), West Virginia Commerce Secretary Kelley Goes, (third from left), Sven Gerzer of the Development Office and members of the Ambassador’s staff.

Spring 2008 9 Take Me Home, Country Roads, In a Hino Truck! Joseph P. Chronley Hino Motors Manufacturing USA, Inc.

Joseph Chronley is the general Hino Motors Manufacturing USA, Inc. (HMM) But this is just where our story begins. manager for the new Hino final landed in Williamstown, West Virginia, less assembly plant in Williamstown, West Virginia. Mr. Chronley than one year ago, and it already feels like a We have found in the Mid-Ohio Valley a great previously was part of the generations-old family home. We have been workforce, work ethic, sense of community, and senior management team so fortunate to have the deep commitment of pride. Indeed, many tenets of our goals and responsible for the start-up of Governor Manchin, Senator Rockefeller, values as a company are reflected in our team of a manufacturing facility Representative Mollohan, the West Virginia members and the local communities from which supporting a Toyota Tundra plant in San Antonio, Texas, as Development Office, the Wood County they came. well as a member of two other Development Authority and, most importantly, start-up teams, in Indiana and the citizens of the greater Williamstown, Vienna, California. Parkersburg and Marietta area. As our colleagues We are proud of our Corporate Mission: from Japan would say, “Domo Arigato!” He has more than 20 years of To make the world a better place to live by experience in manufacturing, helping people and goods get where they and holds a bachelor’s degree As some readers may not be aware, HMM is in business administration from a Toyota Group Company, engaged in two need to go – safely and economically – while Indiana Wesleyan University. An primary lines of business in the United States: focusing on sustainable development. avid outdoorsman, he is excited value added production and precision assembly about the opportunities offered And our Core Principles, in support of by his new Mountain State of Class 4 through 7 commercial trucks; and home. a Tier One supplier to Toyota of axle and the Corporate Mission include, among suspension components for the Tundra, Tacoma others: and Sequoia. • Develop and maintain innovative The HMM facility in Williamstown is one of technologies that enable us to provide just two Hino commercial truck facilities in the customers with useful products and U.S., and the only one that is wholly owned and services. operated by Hino. Perhaps more interesting, the HMM Williamstown plant is the ONLY • Integrate sustainability, social concern and transportation equipment assembly facility in all a keen awareness of change into our plans of West Virginia. for growth.

So, how does Japan’s largest commercial truck • Respect the diversity of our employees, and bus company end up in the Mid-Ohio and build a vibrant corporate culture. Valley – taking over the vacant plant once occupied by Walker Systems? Well, it certainly does not hurt that Toyota has had a successful This mission and these principles are embodied engine manufacturing facility in Buffalo, West by our team members both in the work they Virginia, for more than a decade. And, we were do for Hino and, we believe, in their personal persuaded by a host of elected and economic ethics outside of Hino. As a company, our development officials, including Senator team members in Williamstown produce a Rockefeller, Governor Manchin, the West wonderfully safe and impressively economical Virginia Development Office and Wood County commercial truck. In fact, with regard to the officials, to locate our manufacturing facility in latter, certain studies indicate that Hino Trucks Williamstown. achieve fuel economy rates up to 15 percent higher than our competitor’s similar models

10 Spring 2008 While we appreciate our team members’ adherence to and belief in our Corporate Mission while they are “on the job”, we are more proud that they have adopted and embraced this same spirit in their everyday lives. Our team members have involved themselves in a host of community improvement projects, including:

• Partners in Education with the Williamstown Elementary School

> 15 team members have volunteered to provide afternoon tutoring to students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades

> 13 team members volunteered for the annual PTA Fundraising Carnival

> Many team members and their Tomofumi Suenaga, plant manager, and Joseph Chronley, general manager, with finished commercial trucks families collected box tops and outside the Hino West Virginia plant in Williamstown. provided baked goods for fund raising.

• The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life

> Team members are raising money by selling raffle tickets, participating in bake sales, etc. Team members will participate in the Relay itself as well.

• American Red Cross Blood Drive

> About 50 percent of the Williamstown plant participated

> Many team members donated for the first time.

It is pretty clear . . . Hino has assembled a strong team with a give-back attitude in Williamstown, just as we did at our sister facilities in Marion, Arkansas, Inspections throughout the assembly process ensure quality and customer satisfaction. Ontario, California, and Farmington Hills, Michigan. All of us are committed to Hino Japan’s admirable and stringent Our team members in all our facilities goals for Corporate Social Responsibility, are rigorously trained in methods and including environmental responsibility. processes deemed to be environmentally responsible and sustainable. Indeed, On behalf of HMM’s President, Yasuo Hino’s facility in Ontario, California, Tanigawa, and all of our colleagues at the recently achieved ISO 14001 Certification Hino West Virginia plant, we look – the international standard for forward to continued growth, success, environmental management systems. We and good corporate citizenship in the expect the Williamstown plant will achieve Mid-Ohio Valley. this impressive milestone in the not too far off future. Photos courtesy of Hino Motors Manufacturing USA, Inc.

Spring 2008 11 Location and Workforce are Key Assets for Mid-Ohio Valley Keith Burdette, President Parkersburg Area Roundtable

Keith Burdette is the president When Hino Motors decided to locate its first Yes, it was about quality of life, but it was also of the Parkersburg Area commercial truck assembly plant in the United about the willingness of a community to embrace Roundtable, the economic development group for the States in Williamstown, West Virginia, last June, it a company from a different culture and with Parkersburg-Wood County was safe to say that those of us who live in the Mid- sometimes unique expectations. area, and the managing Ohio Valley had learned more about ourselves than partner of the Burdette Group, we had taught Hino about us. Time after time, two components set us apart: a Parkersburg-based company location and workforce. that specializes in government relations and development The Mid-Ohio Valley discovered that it could strategic planning. compete for major economic development projects With two-thirds of the population of the United if simply given a fair opportunity to compete. States within overnight delivery of a site in Wood Prior to forming the Burdette However, competing required us to identify those County, our location is very attractive. Interstate Group in 2003, Keith was a unique resources that set us apart from other 77 and the new U.S. Route 50 give ground member of Governor Bob Wise’s senior staff, serving as locations rather than those we had in common. transportation ideal north-south and east-west his senior assistant for policy corridors. The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport and legislative affairs. Keith Yes, it was about location, but it was also about the provides a direct link to Dulles International served two terms in the West ease of using that location to move a product across Airport in Washington, D.C. and one-stop access Virginia House of Delegates and to cities across the globe. CSX provides rail service three terms in the West Virginia the country. State Senate. From 1989 to and the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers provide 1995, he served as the State Yes, it was about the available workforce, but it was barge access for companies doing business in the Senate President. He serves also about the work ethic of that workforce and its area. Clearly, while we are ideally located, what as a member of the board ability to respond to specific training. was more important was that our transportation of directors of the Polymer Alliance Zone, the Mid-Ohio system provided accessible market access from our Valley Regional Council and the location. Erickson All-Sports Complex.

The Parkersburg Area Roundtable was created to organize and foster economic growth in Wood County. Comprised of three different but inter- related organizations that play a vital role in the retention and creation of jobs, the Area Roundtable promotes investments in the Mid-Ohio Valley community.

12 Spring 2008 Early construction of the $120 million, tied-arch Blennerhassett Island Bridge, The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport provides a direct link to Dulles International which is expected to open to traffic this summer. Airport in Washington, D.C. and one-stop access to cities across the globe.

The Coldwater Creek distribution center, located in Mineral Wells, West Virginia. Interstate 77 and the new U.S. Route 50 give ground transportation ideal north- south and east-west corridors. When Hino began recruiting for the first question, the Williamstown start-up was the new investment in our community. This 80 jobs, over 4,000 people applied within most successful because of our workforce. welcoming environment provided the final two weeks. While that is significant in and of People who live in the Mid-Ohio Valley stamp of approval for company executives itself, more important is the fact that 3,700 typically love it here and are proud of their that sealed the deal. of those applicants were pre-qualified to be community. It shows in many ways. While considered for jobs which required solid we were quick to show off our schools, The Mid-Ohio Valley is blessed with many hand-eye coordination and skills adaptable hospitals, parks and neighborhoods, it was unique assets. How we use those assets is to a detail-driven assembly operation. our willingness to embrace a company the key to our growth and ability to attract from a different country with a different new investment to the area. If the lessons So, while we certainly have an available culture that became most important. We we learned during the recruitment of Hino workforce, the real selling point for our area had given little thought to how receptive the are illustrative, we are definitely poised to was our ability to provide employers with community would be to its first Japanese compete and future opportunities for our a dependable workforce that is trained or company, but it was clearly an issue on the region are great. trainable, who could produce a superior minds of Hino’s executives. Within hours of product. Joe Chronley, the general manager the announcement, however, officials from Photos courtesy of the Parkersburg Area Roundtable. of Hino’s Williamstown plant, said that he Hino were being greeted on city streets and had been involved in four different plant in local restaurants by people who expressed start-ups across the country and, without their excitement and appreciation for this

Spring 2008 13 Company Culture Values Customers, Associates and Communities Gerard El Chaar, Senior Vice President, Operations Coldwater Creek

Gerard El Chaar was promoted to senior vice president of operations for Coldwater Creek in January 2005, where he is responsible for operations at the company’s West Virginia Distribution Center, as well as call centers in West Virginia and North Idaho and the company’s retail outlet stores. He served as vice president of operations starting in 2002 and, prior to that, as director, and then divisional vice president, of distribution since October 2000. Prior to joining Coldwater Creek, he was senior director Coldwater Creek began in 1984 as a home business store, catering to the baby boomer population that of international operations for eToys Inc., where he was with only one phone, an extra-long cord, a closet spent summers in this northwestern vacation spot. responsible for customer filled with merchandise and a fierce determination Coldwater Creek now has over 300 retail stores service and distribution in the to set new standards for mail order service. As the across the country, including one in the Charleston United Kingdom and Belgium. orders started flowing in, it wasn’t long until the Town Center Mall in Charleston, West Virginia, small operation needed to expand. The company employing about 15 associates. Coldwater Creek He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and moved to a 20-acre campus in Sandpoint, Idaho, also serves customers through its e-commerce a master’s degree in industrial surrounded by broad mountain vistas. Specializing website at www.coldwatercreek.com. engineering, both from Lehigh in women’s apparel, jewelry and gifts, Coldwater University. He is a member of Creek has grown tremendously in the past 24 years! With over 13,000 employees across the country the Business School Advisory and about 800 of those at the West Virginia Board at WVU Parkersburg and a member and executive In the late 1990s, founder and then chief executive Operations facility, retaining the best talent is officer of the Area Roundtable/ officer, Dennis Pence, started the search for a essential. Contact Center specialists, receiving, Parkersburg Wood County distribution and customer contact center location pick, pack, returns and shipping associates make up Development Corporation. on the East Coast. Several states were considered, the majority of the West Virginia staff. In addition, but West Virginia, with its beautiful landscapes information technology, supply chain, inventory and willingness to do business, prevailed over the control, human resources and operations support other states vying for the growing business. The staff diligently work to exceed our customers’ East Coast Operations Center in Mineral Wells, expectations, while caring for the teams that make it just outside Parkersburg, West Virginia, started all possible. production in 1998 at a temporary location and moved into the current facility during the summer Coldwater Creek is more than just a place to work. of 1999. The Contact and Distribution Centers It’s a place of belonging. Engaged, contributing focused on the customer from the beginning, employees express genuine care for the customers making the experience feel like shopping with a and each other. How does Coldwater Creek good friend. take such good care of its employees? First, each employee is given the opportunity to train and For customers, shopping with the company became advance within the company. This is accomplished even more personal as retail stores were added by cross-training all employees in several different into the mix in the late 1990s. The Cedar Street areas of the business. Eventually each person finds Bridge in Sandpoint, Idaho was the inaugural a home that fits and gains a greater understanding

14 Spring 2008 Clockwise from upper left: Employees respond immediately to customer requests in the call center; Recent Coldwater Creek catalogs; sorting bins in the order fullfillment section of the distribution warehouse; Coldwater Creek employees have access to both cardio and strength training equipment in the fitness center. of the overall process – how each individual Employees with a sense of purpose make world, and everyone at the Creek is proud of part affects the whole. great contributors to the communities this contribution. in which they live. Coldwater Creek Coldwater Creek offers its employees an enthusiastically supports the Susan G. Additionally, the leadership team at the West attractive benefits package, including paid Komen Race for the Cure® as a national Virginia Operations facility remains active on health premiums for each full-time associate, series sponsor. Nearly every person has been state and local boards, including Workforce vision and dental plans, 401K, flex spending, touched by a family member, friend or co- Investment Board, WVU at Parkersburg, life insurance, employee stock purchase plan, worker with breast cancer, and employees are Boys and Girls Club, Area Roundtable and employee assistance program and a benefit passionate about helping to find a cure. the Local School Improvement Council for package for part-time associates. Meeting Mineral Wells Elementary, our Partner in each associate’s needs doesn’t stop there. The Coldwater Creek is giving back in another Education. on-site wellness program includes healthy way by offsetting 100 percent of its energy choices in the café, an on-site employee consumption with renewable energy The Coldwater Creek culture of Respect fitness center and programs organized by the certificates. In 2006, Coldwater Creek for the Customer, Respect for Each Other full-time on-site nurse, Susi Gilmore, MS, converted to wind-generated electricity and Respect for The Brand is beautifully RN, to screen blood pressure, blood sugar, to power the Sandpoint headquarters, the illustrated by the daily interactions with cholesterol and body mass index. The fitness West Virginia Operations facility, contact customers, the care shown to each associate center offers cardio and weight training centers, and retail stores across the nation. and the overall responsibility to the equipment, as well as instructor-led classes Through this commitment, support for communities which Coldwater Creek at various times of the day and evening to the burgeoning renewable energy market serves. accommodate all schedules. The employee is provided, encouraging its growth and fitness center is free of charge to employees helping to lessen our country’s dependence and their significant other. on fossil fuels. This decision affects communities across the country and the

Spring 2008 15 The Community’s College, A Regional Advantage Dr. Marie Foster Gnage, President West Virginia University at Parkersburg

Marie Foster Gnage became the There is no doubt that a college makes a major Mid-Ohio Valley, as seen in the enrollment of sixth president of West Virginia contribution to the local economy. By addressing almost 4,000 students in the academic/technical University at Parkersburg in July 2004. In addition to serving as the community’s educational and training programs and over 2,000 in noncredit workforce president of the Parkersburg needs, a college advances the citizens’ skills and development programs. In addition, West Virginia campus, she also is a regional thus improves the overall standard of living for University offers master’s degree programs in vice president of West Virginia the community. When the college is a regional business administration and communications on University. Prior to assuming institution, a community and technical college, the WVUP campus. the presidency, she served in and a regional campus with ties to a premier a number of key administrative roles at colleges in Florida, university, the economic contribution is even Students of any age can achieve their goals and Arizona and New Jersey. broader. More individuals within the service dreams at West Virginia University at Parkersburg area are able to earn associate, baccalaureate and (Parkersburg Campus and Jackson County Currently, she serves as a master’s degrees, thus increasing their skills and Center). The Caperton Center for Applied member of the St. Joseph’s competencies, and business and industry is assured Technology, a partnership with Wood County Hospital Board of Trustees, the Parkersburg Art Center Board workforce development for incumbent and Public Schools, makes it possible for college of Trustees, the Workforce prospective workers. and high school students to share the same Investment Board, the American building, and quite often classrooms, as they are Association of Community West Virginia University at Parkersburg (WVUP) prepared in technical fields requiring the use of Colleges Commission on is uniquely poised to address the educational and computer technology. More young people are Academic, Student and training needs of the seven West Virginia counties choosing to come to their regional college right Community Development and the Presidents Academy in the Mid-Ohio Valley assigned as its service out of high school. These recent graduates and Executive Committee, the region, as well as those of its extended service area– their parents see the advantage of remaining at Black Diamond Girl Scout five bordering counties included in the reciprocity home, attending WVUP with many of the same Council Board, the Economic agreement with the Ohio Board of Regents. choices of programs to be found at two- and Roundtable of Ohio Valley four-year colleges elsewhere, and avoiding major Directors and The Huntington What makes this regional college important expenditures and/or loans for a college education. National Bank West Virginia Board of Directors. Her academically and economically to the Mid-Ohio The reciprocity agreement with the Ohio Board of most recent publication is Valley? WVUP is a comprehensive community Regents expands those options. “Reconfiguring Self: A Matter of and technical college with offerings that include Place in Selected Novels by Paul certificates, two-year degrees and noncredit Efforts with adults are continuously reviewed Marshall,” in Middle Passages courses/programs for workforce development and because of the number of target groups for and the Healing Place of History: Migration and Identity in enrichment, and it offers four-year degrees. West enrollment – including veterans, retention and Black Women’s Literature, The Virginia legislation labels it a higher education workforce preparation. The Board of Governors’ Ohio University Press (2006). center. Perhaps it is the strong community college Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Applied mission in action that makes those it serves label Science (Technical Studies, Occupational Studies), She received the it as an “opportunity for higher education.” Bachelor of Applied Technology, and the Regents’ Empowerment Inspiration WVUP is the community’s college. Because the Bachelor of Arts are all adult-friendly degree Award given by the West Virginia Minority Business Development college is here and offers the variety of educational programs because apprenticeships, credentials Center and the Women of experiences – liberal arts and technical – the chance and documented experience can be combined Excellence Award for Trail for a more educated citizenry in the Mid-Ohio with college course work for the achievement of Blazing awarded by Altrusa Valley and in the State of West Virginia increases, the degrees. Adults can continue working while International, Inc. and impacts the socio-economic status of those pursuing the degree, whether onsite – which is served. within reasonable driving distance – or online. They also find the opportunity to upgrade and It is the combination of educational opportunities, learn new skills in a noncredit environment quite quality programs, accessibility and affordable price to their liking. that makes it the regional college of choice in the

16 Spring 2008 The College Activities Center at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. Partnership with business and industry and with organizations that support workforce development is an essential component of being the community’s college. Certainly, the college’s goal as it focuses on recruitment and enrollment of high school and adult students alike is to help to ensure that employers in the region have an educated workforce. WVUP also provides customized training for business and industry as needed and requested. Workforce development and technical program grants from the West Virginia Community and Technical College system office enable the college to offer both just-in- time training and educational programs to meet needs identified by employers. Ninety- day fast track training programs allow individuals seeking more profitable entry level positions to prepare for work quickly. The Caperton Center for Applied Technology offers the best the region has to offer in instruction and training for The Mid-Ohio Valley is fortunate to those interested in the challenges of sophisticated technology careers. have four higher education institutions: WVUP and Washington State Community program to a select number of its students; As a regional college/higher education College (OH) share the West Virginia/ and students from WVUP may take center, WVUP is uniquely positioned to Ohio education reciprocity agreement; advantage of scholarship and program meet the credit and non-credit workforce Ohio Valley University (WV) is able to articulation opportunities at Marietta development needs of the region served. College (OH). offer participation in the WVUP Nursing Photos courtesy of West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

Spring 2008 17 Tourism: It’s Everybody’s Business Steven W. Nicely, President & CEO Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau

Steven W. Nicely is President A flourishing tourism industry is and CEO of the Greater important to everyone, even those not Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, an directly involved. It means a better independent, nonprofit quality of life, a better place to live and corporation dedicated to work and a better place to do business. strengthening the region’s economy by marketing Greater When people in West Virginia think Parkersburg as a destination for leisure travel, group tours, of industries, they generally think of meetings and conventions. manufacturing, mining, agriculture, etc. Few think of tourism. Yet millions Mr. Nicely has served as the of individuals across the nation – and President and CEO of the more than 80,000 people right here Greater Parkersburg CVB since its inception in 1985. Prior in West Virginia – are employed, either full- or part-time, by tourism to that, he was the executive Fenton Art Glass Company, Williamstown, West Virginia. director of the Country Roads businesses. Travel Council and a teacher within the Wood County School Tourism in Wood County accounts system. for 5,571 jobs and $294.3 million in A graduate of Marshall direct/indirect revenues. Studies by University, Mr. Nicely is an active the West Virginia Division of Tourism member of the community, consistently rank Wood County as serving as treasurer for the West Virginia Association of one of the highest in the state in terms Convention & Visitors Bureaus of expenditures by visitors. and a member of the Fort Boreman Historical Park Everyone benefits from tourism, since Commission. In the past, he dollars spent by visitors eventually has served on the board of directors for the West Virginia reach all segments of the community Hospitality & Travel Association, – through salaries, supplies, services Mountain State Art and Craft and other purchases by tourism Fair, West Virginia Interstate Fair businesses and their employees. and Exposition, Parkersburg Furthermore, attractions, recreational Homecoming Festival and Blennerhassett Historical facilities and other tourism businesses Third Street Deli & Catering, Downtown Parkersburg. Foundation. built for visitors can also be enjoyed by local residents. Parkersburg area. In 2007 Parkersburg celebrated the long-awaited opening of Fort Boreman For nearly 25 years, the Greater Parkersburg Historical Park and a new 86-room Holiday Inn Convention & Visitors Bureau has partnered with Express Inn & Suites in Mineral Wells. In addition, regional tourism and non-tourism businesses, national retailer Coldwater Creek opened its organizations and events to promote and further only Clearance Center in the country in Mineral enhance regional attractions, sites, shops, Wells. The center is a tremendous draw and offers restaurants, lodging and outdoor recreational shoppers up to 70 percent off brand-name women’s opportunities. apparel, jewelry, accessories and home furnishings.

New attractions and businesses are opening and On the horizon, the Corridor D project, under development throughout the Greater connecting West Virginia and Ohio with a new

18 Spring 2008 View from Fort Boreman Historic Park. Route 50 bridge, will be completed this year – opening up travel routes through each TOURISM TRIVIA state. Work also will begin this summer on the new Point Park riverfront project in Did You Know that travel Did You Know that Did You Know that dining downtown Parkersburg. Once complete, the and tourism is a $1.6 the travel and tourism is the most popular park will serve as a unique outdoor venue for trillion industry in the industry is one of domestic trip activity and a variety of activities. United States? the country’s largest is included in 31 percent employers, with 7.5 of all domestic trips? Finally, area businesses and organizations Did You Know that million direct travel- Shopping is the number will partner on September 20 for the travel and tourism generated jobs? one leisure/recreational third annual Taste of Parkersburg event in generates $110 billion activity for overseas downtown Parkersburg. More than 3,000 in tax revenue for Did You Know that direct visitors. people savored the flavor of Parkersburg with local, state and federal travel-generated payroll food, wine, entertainment and artisans last governments? totals $178 billion and Did You Know that year and the crowd is expected to double in that one out of every approximately 2.8 million 2008. Did You Know that each eight U.S. non-farm hotel room nights are U.S. household would jobs is created directly, sold every day in the Through a strong and effective team of pay $995 more in taxes indirectly or is induced by United States? leaders, Greater Parkersburg continues to be without the tax revenue travel and tourism? a destination of choice for leisure travelers, generated by the travel Source: TIA.org tour groups, meetings, conventions and and tourism industry? sporting events.

Photos courtesy of the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Spring 2008 19 Sense of Community Drives Success Richard M. Adams, Jr., President United Bank, Inc.

Richard M. (Rick) Adams, Jr. is I don’t need to pore over data or review reports to president of United Bank, Inc., know that good things are happening here in the the lead banking franchise of United Bankshares, Inc. (UBSI), Mid-Ohio Valley. All I have to do is look out the and executive vice president of window. An office on the top floor of Parkersburg’s United Bankshares, Inc. UBSI tallest building affords a unique perspective from is a multi-state bank holding which to view the area and all that is happening. company doing business in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC. UBSI is From a quick look to the left out of my window, currently the 59th largest banking I see in the foreground the Blennerhassett Hotel, company in the nation and is which has benefited from a significant investment West Virginia’s largest publicly from a local entrepreneur and which has been traded company. United Bank, extensively remodeled. Beyond the hotel, it’s Inc. is located in West Virginia and Ohio, with 55 locations and impossible not to notice the newly constructed more than 1,000 employees. building that houses employees from the Bureau of Public Debt. Public Debt now occupies three Rick also is responsible for buildings downtown and employs nearly two wealth management activities for thousand individuals, including large numbers of all UBSI subsidiary banks. Wealth management lines of business finance and accounting jobs. include asset management, trust (personal, corporate, and Out past the Public Debt buildings is the employee benefit), brokerage (his convergence of the Little Kanawha and Ohio licenses include 7, 24, and 65) and investment advisory services. Rivers, which is the site of a new $10 million In addition, he oversees all UBSI riverfront park that is scheduled to see construction litigation matters. begin this summer (see artist’s rendering on page 21). As I lift my gaze slightly, I notice the busy Rick is the chair-elect of the West traffic on the new Route 50 section of Corridor D, Virginia Bankers Association, a board member of Vision Shared, which I follow out in the distance to the nearly Inc., and a past chairman of completed $120 million bridge spanning the Ohio the West Virginia Bankers Trust River and connecting West Virginia and Ohio. Division. He is a member of Young Presidents’ Organization and a member of the WV State Bar Association. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor at West Virginia University-Parkersburg, where he teaches Business Law and serves on several local charitable and community development boards in his hometown of Parkersburg.

He received his undergraduate degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and his law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia.

20 Spring 2008 Our success here can be attributed to many factors, including our location, our workforce, our infrastructure and our schools and community resources. We have the processes in place to provide necessary information to potential investors, and there is a high level of coordination between the various stakeholders interested in economic development.

While all of these factors are integral components of success, there is a special sense of community here in the Mid-Ohio Valley that is the “X factor” which brings everything together. This special sense of community manifests itself in greater commitment, stronger leadership and better cooperation among the parties responsible for the future of the area. Government at the city, county, state and federal levels, along with area development groups, local corporations and individual business leaders all work hard for the common good of the area.

At our company, we recognize, appreciate and embrace the responsibility for the futures of the communities we serve. We lend our expertise to Artist’s rendering of the entrance and overlook of Riverfront Park in Parkersburg, West Virginia. creatively structure deals. We make significant financial Scanning back to my right I see the $56 So there are lots of positive things underway contributions. We allocate the million Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital here – and those are just the ones I can see time and effort of our employees, expansion and, next door to the bank, cranes without getting out of my chair. We have and we leverage our many signal that work has begun on the new $27 contributions from both the private and relationships to help facilitate million headquarters for Mountain State the public sector, and we benefit from a transactions. We share and foster Blue Cross Blue Shield. Further up the river, good mix of investment in business and job this special sense of community I see the city’s new $50 million wastewater creation, as well as necessary infrastructure. that drives success and binds treatment plant. Past that in the distance is Each of these projects is an individual success us together with our neighbors the hustle and bustle of the Grand Central story, and collectively they represent the here in the Mid-Ohio Valley and Avenue area in Vienna, which seems to positive direction of the Mid-Ohio Valley. across West Virginia. continuously sprout new restaurants, hotels and businesses.

Spring 2008 21 Leadership for a Global Society Dr. Jean A. Scott, President Marietta College

Before arriving at Marietta Higher education in the United States has three We need to do more. In creating Vision 2020, College, Dr. Jean Scott was the distinct and related purposes. First, it prepares the College’s conceptual framework for planning President of Bradford College in Haverhill, Massachusetts. students for personal and professional success. for the next decade and a half, Marietta College She is an historian by training. Parents who sacrifice to pay for higher education faculty, administrators and trustees committed A graduate of the University take comfort in the knowledge that it is the the College to an increased focus on globalization, of Richmond, President Scott best investment they can make in their son’s or one of the issues that will challenge our students earned a master of arts and daughter’s future professional success and earning for decades to come. That is consistent with the Ph.D. in history at Harvard University. She began her power. College’s history and with best practice throughout career as assistant professor of higher education. While we will continue to history at Duke, then became Second, higher education has a responsibility to nurture our relationships with universities in many the Director of Undergraduate prepare informed citizens who will be leaders in other countries, including Brazil, Thailand and Admission there. their communities. That is the reason federal Korea, and provide broad opportunities for our She continued her work in and state governments provide billions of dollars students, we will expand our focus on our China admission and enrollment in financial aid for students. Thomas Jefferson program. management, serving as dean eloquently articulated the connection between of admission at Case Western education and our democracy, writing “that nation The commitment of a small college in the Mid- Reserve University and the College of William and Mary. that expects to be ignorant and free, wants what Ohio Valley to invest time and resources to She gained experience in never was and never will be.” deepen our connections with a country that is planning, affirmative action, both an economic rival and a representative of academic administration and A third purpose is to prepare graduates to live very different political and cultural ideals may student affairs as associate and work in a global society. The publication of seem disrespectful of the concerns of our region, provost at William and Mary, vice president for enrollment Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat in 2005 but we see it as just the opposite. To visit China, and student services at SUNY intensified our national conversation about the understand the demographic and economic Potsdam and president of need to prepare students to interact successfully realities there, and observe the work patterns of our Bradford College. with emerging economic giants such as China Chinese alumni is to understand that we owe it She was appointed the 17th and India as technology changes the competitive to our students to help them build the knowledge president of Marietta College on landscape, making time and place largely irrelevant and the relationships that will prepare them both July 15, 2000. Her experience to the production of many goods and services. to compete and cooperate with their Chinese as an enrollment manager and These new realities of the early twenty-first century counterparts. Their personal futures and the her research on the admission demand both a continuation of longstanding long-term success of our region and our country process has been the focus of her publications and programs in higher education and initiatives to demand no less. presentations. She received change the ways in which students view their world. the Duke Endowment Teaching Over the past two decades, Marietta College Award (1979) and the Duke An international focus in higher education is not has developed a focus on China. United States Alumni Distinguished Teaching new. Most colleges, including Marietta College, Department of Education grants have made Award (1978). have created curricula that prepare students for it possible to hire Chinese faculty members life in a global society and environments in which in political science and Chinese language and students from different backgrounds, religions, to provide summer workshops for our faculty races and nationalities learn from each other. We members in Marietta, then in China, to prepare have developed exchange agreements that bring them to infuse material about China into the faculty members and students from many countries curriculum. We expect, over the next decade or to the United States, and we have sent students so, to enhance our academic offerings in Chinese abroad for life-changing academic experiences. and Asian studies to attract more American students interested in learning about China,

22 Spring 2008 benefiting from contacts with Chinese Choir’s visit to China in 2006, as well Marietta College has made a conscious nationals here, and ultimately studying in as the individual students who enroll at decision to move strongly in a direction China. These enhancements will ensure Chinese universities, strengthen those that our history, dating back to the hiring that all of our students are affected by our connections. The College annually hosts of a Chinese economics professor in 1948, global, specifically Chinese, connections and visiting faculty members from the University makes possible. We act today to fulfill the perspectives. of International Relations in Beijing. promise of higher education in the Mid- Under the aegis of the Marietta College Ohio Valley. We understand that the stakes The China connection also involves China Institute and with the support of the are high for our students and for our society outreach, beginning with the work of Chinese government, groups of Chinese as we produce leaders to meet the challenges full-time Marietta College faculty and staff officials as diverse as economics translators of tomorrow’s global society. members in China who recruited the 84 and college administrators have come to Chinese students enrolled at the College Marietta for training programs. Partners Photos courtesy of Marietta College. this year. Marietta College is one of the within the greater Marietta community few colleges in the United States to enroll serve as mentor families to students and significant numbers of undergraduate advisors to the Institute’s visitors. In the Chinese students, and we have succeeded process, they develop contacts halfway across because we have built connections with the world, building a basis for international families, government officials and schools understanding and partnerships that may over the years. The Marietta College last for a lifetime.

Spring 2008 23 Transparency in Local Government: Technology is the Answer David Blair Couch, Commissioner Wood County Commission

David Blair Couch is the The process of finding information from the County commissioners that came before me, president of A.W. Couch, Inc., Wood County Commission can be as simple as cannot be understated. a Hertz rental licensee with locations in Parkersburg, taking the time during normal business hours Bluefield and Lewisburg, West to come to the Wood County Courthouse and There are still miles to go in adding to the Virginia, and Marietta, Ohio. The request documents. If you wish to make copies, number of documents available online. company was founded in 1948. the fee is one dollar per page. Mr. Couch was elected to a six- Technology is the answer. There are numerous year term on the Wood County If you wish to find information not easily parts of the puzzle that can be fit together to Commission in 2007. He is accessible, you can file a Freedom of Information make government more transparent. A robust president of the Mid-Ohio Valley request – commonly called an FOIA request. website that is easy for anyone to use and find Regional Airport and a member The information will be compiled and sent to the information they need or desire is the of the board of directors for several organizations, including you for a fee of one dollar per page. keystone. The equipment to store the mountains the Wood County Airport of documents and media to serve the website Authority, the Local Emergency Why do people request this information? They is necessary. There also must be the will to Planning Committee, the Wood might believe there is wasteful spending or purchase such equipment and hire the necessary County Extension Office, Wood staff to make the systems simple enough to find County Community Corrections wrongdoing by their elected officials, or they and WVCorp, County Liability might wish to know what the Wood County the information desired. Risk Pool. He is a commissioner Commission and its subdivisions are doing. of the Wood County Parks and The real issue is transparency. Not all those who With download speeds increasing, the cost of Recreation Commission and a a personal computer at less than $500 and the committee member of the David question the workings of their local government A. Couch ALS Golf Tournament, can afford one dollar a page. Not all those who ability to go to any library in the state and access named in honor of his late seek information can afford the time to sit in the the Internet, the trust in local elected officials father. He serves as chair of Wood County Courthouse and search for the will only increase because of transparency. Those both the PAC Wood County right page, the right document or the right order counties and municipalities that choose not to School Levy and School Bond. during business hours. utilize these inexpensive measures will, at best, He attended West Virginia be behind the times and, at worst, present the Wesleyan College and is The questions I asked myself, “How do appearance of hiding from public scrutiny. currently enrolled at WVU-P we present the most transparent form of under the Regents’ Bachelor of The first hard drive to have a 1 Gigabyte (GB) Arts program. government possible? How do we increase the average citizen’s access to information?” With capacity was the IBM 3380, built in 1980. It transparency comes trust from the public in their was the size of a refrigerator and weighed 550 elected officials. Transparency is a requirement pounds. The cost ranged from $81,000 to of good government. $142,400. Today, a 1 Terabyte (TB) hard drive – equal to 1,000 GB – can be purchased for under Wood County has embraced the Internet age $300 and fit in the palm of your hand! The cost that surrounds us. At the county’s website for memory and the ability to store reams of data (www.woodcountywv.com/commission/index.html) is minuscule. The repayment is the ability to you can research your tax tickets, as well as those quickly find relevant information. The Wood of your neighbors. You can easily find mapping County Commission records many meetings, of the county to determine ownership of certain and within the next few weeks these recordings parcels and plats. You also can find the salaries of will be done digitally and posted on a media server. The cost of the server to host this media, the county employees. The work done by Jamie the memory to store it (1 TB) and the equipment Six, Wood County Clerk, and Steve Grimm, the to record it, is less than $4,000. assessor of Wood County, as well as the Wood

24 Spring 2008 Parkersburg, West Virginia.

We have recognized that a governmental do it themselves. This is true transparency. website must be maintained and designed The final issue is legislative. The state of to make information quickly searchable. West Virginia must embrace technology Over the next few months, our website will as well. The West Virginia legislature go through a massive change. Gone are the must enact rules and regulations to ensure days of nice pictures and a couple of links the integrity of existing records, while to the Chamber of Commerce and the allowing for electronic storage of historical Convention & Visitors Bureau. Now is the records. Wood County could save tens of time for making the county website a tool thousands of dollars in brick and mortar of the public. New technology has made storage if the legislature would enact laws it possible to scan a document and have it to allow electronic storage. The amount searchable by text recognition software. A of paper documents that are housed in the typical FOIA request may want to look county is immense. When these items into expenditures by an elected official. A are scanned, image searchable and posted well-designed website would allow anyone online, the need for hard copies diminishes to click on Wood County Commission and the citizens are better served by their – Expenditures – Choose Date Range, and elected officials. they would be directed to actual scanned receipts for those dates. Even without an With transparency will come further FOIA request, anyone with a computer scrutiny of the policies and procedures and and an Internet connection can search the inner workings of government. “Sunlight county’s records 24 hours a day, 365 days is said to be the best of disinfectants…” a year. – Justice Louis Brandeis.

If anyone doubts the significance of I would be bold to add, “and electricity these innovations and the direction of lights the shadows.” technology, just think: there was one website in 1990, and today there are 162 Photo courtesy of The State Journal. million registered sites. The scale of the Internet is overwhelming. The public will have access to information never thought possible. If they want to check a fact, verify a news story or debunk a rumor, they can

Spring 2008 25 Mid-Ohio Valley Still Home to Simonton After 60 Years Mark Savan, President and COO Simonton Windows

Mark Savan is President and COO Simonton Windows has called the of Simonton Windows, a Fortune Brands company. Savan joined Mid-Ohio Valley home for more Simonton Windows in 2006 after than 60 years. In 1946 our company serving as vice president and was founded in Pennsboro, general manager – accessories & West Virginia, by Fred and Sybil commercial for Moen, Inc., a sister company within Fortune Brands. Simonton. Originally called Pen Vent Awning, we’ve gone through that, the company pushed westward by adding Savan is a seven-year veteran of many transformations in six decades. Yet still, our manufacturing facilities in Illinois, California and Fortune Brands Home & Hardware. Oklahoma. In 2000 Simonton opened its own Prior to his role at Moen, he served company calls Parkersburg and the Mid-Ohio as vice president of strategic Valley our home. dedicated vinyl extrusion facility, SimEx™ which planning and new business operates in St. Marys, West Virginia. The addition development for Fortune Brands Our History of SimEx helped Simonton grow into one of the Home & Hardware. largest and most respected vinyl window and door Prior to joining Fortune Brands, Several key milestones have made Simonton manufacturers in the country. Savan was with a management consultant for six years in the Windows into the industry-leading vinyl window consumer and engineered and door manufacturer it is today. In 1989 a The successful growth of Simonton caught the products industry. He holds a B.S. privately-owned company called SBR, Inc. attention of leading consumer brands company, and M.S. in optical engineering from acquired Simonton. Under the leadership of Fortune Brands. As a result, in 2006 Simonton the University of Rochester and an Windows was purchased by Fortune Brands and MBA from Case Western Reserve entrepreneur Sam Ross, Simonton introduced a University. seven-day delivery guarantee for custom-made has become part of the company’s impressive home windows that still sets us apart today from our and hardware category. With a foundation of During Savan’s tenure, Simonton powerful and trusted consumer brands like Moen Windows has been honored to competition. receive: and Therma-Tru, and a strategy focused on driving • The highest ranking in the From 1990 to 2006 Simonton spread its wings. growth and enhancing returns, Fortune Brands J.D. Power and Associates aims for superior results in every aspect of our McGraw-Hill Construction Several manufacturing plants were established and 2006 Residential Window and running in Ritchie County, West Virginia. After business. Patio Door Builder and Remodeler Satisfaction Study.

• The #1 Brand Leader in Quality ranking in the 2007 Brand Use Study for the category of vinyl windows.

• The second consecutive Best in Class Award for being ranked Overall Top Rated Vinyl Window Brand in an industry performance study.

• The Medal for Exceptional Public Service by the Office of the Secretary of Defense in recognition of the company’s support of Homes for Our Troops (2007).

Savan serves as a member of the Simonton casement windows in a Kosmer Solar House. board of directors for the non-profit organization, Homes for Our Troops.

26 Spring 2008 Our Products

From our early beginnings in the heart of West Virginia to our nationwide coverage today, our goal has remained the same – to always exceed the customers’ expectations with the highest quality products available to the marketplace. Pair that with unbeatable service, and you have our recipe for success at Simonton.

We manufacture new construction and replacement windows and doors in a wide variety of styles, shapes and configurations. Our advanced, state-of-the- art manufacturing processes make it possible for us to maintain quality control and stay at the forefront of the industry.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our employees nationwide, we have excelled at product production and service. The results of their efforts have been rewarded over the years with multiple industry awards and recognition. Simonton’s ProFinish Brickmold Awning Windows create a wall of light in this room. Our Future

Despite the current environment, the future for Simonton is bright. The sustained downturn in the housing market has impacted virtually every company connected with the industry. During this challenging time, we are using our experience, innovation and talents to fine- tune our operations and products.

The expertise we’ve developed over the years is evident in each window and door we produce. Our manufacturing and testing facilities – and our dedicated people – are committed to long-term product excellence and customer satisfaction. We believe that, with the proud history backing our company as a foundation, Simonton Windows will remain a strong leader in the vinyl window and door industry for the next sixty years.

Photos courtesy of Simonton Windows.

Mark Savan (l), president of Simonton Windows, with John Gonsalves, president of Homes for Our Troops.

Spring 2008 27 Connecting the Past to the Future Cecil Childress, General Manager Blennerhassett Hotel

Cecil Childress is the general manager of the Blennerhassett Hotel in downtown Parkersburg. Since 2004, he has overseen much of the restoration and renovation of the historic hotel, originally built in 1889.

Raised in far West Texas, he attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene and soon after began his 30-year hospitality career that has taken him to hotels in Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta, as well as state and national parks’ resorts in Ohio and Nebraska.

The Blennerhassett Hotel, Parkersburg, West Virginia.

There is an old adage that owning a historic hotel is became the first oil “boom town” and greeted much like owning a minor league baseball team. A visitors from all over the country. The Hotel’s deep love for the game should strongly override the lobby originally housed the First National Bank of desire for financial return. Another saying is that Parkersburg (now known as United Bank). the difference between old and historic is several million dollars. Somewhere beyond these proverbs While Parkersburg’s history is well documented, lies a more factual axiom. When an integral piece the story of its declining downtown has largely of a community’s past can be saved, its present and been unwritten. Like thousands of U.S. cities, future opportunity may well be brought to focus. the community outgrew its need for a waterfront trade center. This created a disconnection in Opened in 1889, the Blennerhassett Hotel Parkersburg’s cultural identity. Through a process has been involved in much of Parkersburg’s of inner-city renovation, suburban mall flight history. The property was named after Harman and misguided “urban renewal,” downtown Blennerhassett, friend (and possibly co- Parkersburg further victimized itself by tearing conspirator) to former Vice President Aaron Burr. down its landmark buildings. It soon became The hotel was built by William Chancellor, a local a sterile, homogenous central business district oil and gas businessman. Parkersburg quickly without a plan.

28 Spring 2008 The Blennerhassett offers Executive Suites – one and two-story suites with spacious Located on the second floor, the Alexander Parker Boardroom is equipped with living room and separate bedroom areas. state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, unique push pin walls and comfortable ergonomically correct boardroom chairs

Now the Blennerhassett Hotel reenters the picture. With the help of a local bank and the vision of a local business family, the hotel has been transformed into a premier boutique facility. From the curious yet grateful traveler comes the obvious question, “Why is this here?” But from the clued-up local comes the knowledgeable response, “Why not?”

Since the cultural incubator has sprouted, downtown Parkersburg has grown in workplace population by an estimated 30 percent. The expansion of federal and county government buildings and personnel, the major growth of two hospitals, the groundbreaking of a major insurance company building, the beginning of a city/federal waterfront park construction and the completion of a historic public park are all new additions to a revitalized downtown. There is even an upscale downtown housing project underway.

Is all this growth simply because of the renovation of a small historic hotel? Even the local professional recruiters who utilize the hotel would not claim that. But they will The Blennerhassett Hotel offers a diverse selection of dining options. Enjoy fine dining in Spats Restaurant, the tell you they love to put the community’s casual atmosphere of Spats Lounge or the relaxed, outdoor setting of Spats Patio & Courtyard. best foot forward by making sure their The Parkersburg natives also know the Hotel and even joke about the difference prospective recruits experience the difference difference between a colorful past and a they notice between old and historic. They between small town and picturesque bright future. They are proud of their culture say it’s about fifty bucks a night. community. and proud of the past that still exists. They enjoy the changes in the Blennerhassett Photos courtesy of the Blennerhassett Hotel.

Spring 2008 29 Culinary Changes Lead to Sweet Success Dominique Holl, President Holl’s Chocolates

Dominique Holl, a third- Undoubtedly, the physical landscape of the and later as the supervisor of a chain of ice cream generation chocolatier, is the Mid-Ohio Valley has changed greatly in the last stores. During all those years, he continued to President of Holl’s Chocolates, Inc., a small, family-owned 50 years. Being in the food business, we also have practice his craft by making chocolates every producer of premium, noticed great changes in the culinary landscape Christmas and Easter for friends and neighbors. handcrafted Swiss chocolates, of the Valley. The advent of the Food Network, founded in 1986 by his parents, websites devoted to every type of cuisine Nearly 30 years later, in 1986, my father – then Fritz and Elisabeth Holl. In imaginable and an increased willingness to pay retired from Broughton’s – decided to return addition to their main shop and production kitchen in Vienna, for higher quality food experiences have all led to to his original training and make and sell Swiss West Virginia, Holl’s Chocolates greater awareness and availability of gourmet and chocolates as a retirement “hobby.” He started out has two shops in Charleston ethnic foods in the area. These changes are vividly cooking and dipping truffles in our home kitchen and a growing mail order and illustrated by the experiences of my father, Fritz and after a few successful months, decided to corporate gift business. Holl, a Swiss-trained Master Chocolatier and take a chance and rent a small storefront in A West Virginia University pastry chef and the founder of Holl’s Chocolates. Parkersburg. Foundation Scholar, Mr. Holl graduated from West Virginia My father first came to the Mid-Ohio Valley Positive word of mouth led to a steady increase University in 1992 with a degree 50 years ago at the behest of Carl Broughton in customers and within a couple of years in international studies. Before of Broughton’s Dairy, with the intention of his “hobby” had turned into a thriving small taking over the management of the family business in 1994, making Swiss-style chocolates and pastries to business. My mother, Elisabeth, joined him he spent two years learning the be sold at the Broughton Ice Cream stores. Mr. to run the store while my father made the art of chocolate making from Broughton wanted to introduce his customers chocolates. They soon outgrew the little his father, who had learned it to fine European chocolates and pastries, but in storefront and moved to a larger space in from his uncle in the 1940s, in Switzerland. 1958 this endeavor proved unsuccessful. Perhaps Vienna. At the new store, fine coffee and wines peoples’ tastes weren’t accustomed to the more – two other gourmet foods whose quality Mr. Holl is a 1999 graduate of intense flavors of European chocolates, or perhaps and importance to everyday life have grown Leadership West Virginia. people just didn’t have the disposable income that considerably – were added to the offerings. would allow them to splurge on more expensive Over the next 10 years, there occurred another indulgences. expansion, a complete remodel of the shop and steady growth as my father trained me to take My father went on to work for Broughton’s in over the business and ultimately “retired” from his several other capacities, first in its research kitchen retirement hobby.

30 Spring 2008 From top to bottom: Classic dark chocolate truffle, mocha truffle, milk chocolate cherry cordial.

Today, 50 years after my father first arrived in the Mid-Ohio Valley, Holl’s These questions would have been indulge in some of the finest chocolates this Chocolates continues to thrive. Much like surprising just 10 years ago, much less 50. side of the Swiss Alps. the increased awareness and education about coffee that has occurred in the last Much also has changed in the culinary Photos courtesy of Charleston Magazine, Holl’s landscape of the Mid-Ohio Valley. These Chocolates and the Greater Parkersburg Convention 10 years, there is now much greater interest and Visitors Bureau. in and appreciation of the intricacies and changes mirror those in the country at variations in fine chocolate. large, as people are exposed to ever more diverse and exotic foods through the media Nowadays, our customers ask questions and their personal travels. Now, without like “What is the cocoa percentage of your leaving the area, you can enjoy authentic chocolate?” “What chocolate would pair Mexican, Lebanese and Chinese food, well with this wine?” and “What are the sample wines from all over the world, drink countries of origin of your chocolate?” an expertly prepared espresso and of course,

Spring 2008 31 The Fertile Environment of the Mid-Ohio Valley Robert Kirkbride, President Ohio Valley Land Company

Bob Kirkbride presently serves as president of Ohio Valley Land Company in Vienna, West Virginia and also is currently active in the Parkersburg- Marietta area with several companies which are engaged in business pursuits ranging from real estate development to construction contracting to oil and gas production. His other current business activities include service as a director of WesBanco, Inc., as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the WesMark Family of Mutual Funds and as one of nine commissioners on the Marietta, Ohio. State of Ohio’s Third Frontier Commission. During the years that I served as the financial Governor of Oklahoma and later served as a U.S. officer at Marietta College, Forbes magazine Senator from that state. Prior to entering the private published a list of the 200 most influential business business sector in 1981, Bob leaders in the United States. Of the 200, three And what about today? Is the environment of served as an officer in the United States Air Force, as were natives of Marietta, Ohio. They were Ed the Mid-Ohio Valley as fertile as ever? Sadly, cashier of the University of Harness, Chairman of Proctor & Gamble; John G. in my opinion, it is not – at least not as fertile Houston and as vice president McCoy, Chairman of Banc One; and Zane Barnes, as environments that have developed in highly for administration and finance Chairman of Southeastern Bell. competitive states, such as Texas and Virginia. One at Marietta College. measure of the impact of differing environments is The accomplishments of “Astonishing” may not be a sufficiently strong demonstrated in the comparative populations of which he is most proud are his word to explain how a southeastern Ohio city of Ohio and Texas. When I moved from Houston to participation in the nation’s some 15,000 people could produce three of the return to my boyhood home of Marietta in 1974, early space programs at the nation’s top business leaders, while the more than both states had fewer than 11 million citizens. NASA Manned Spacecraft 200 million people (at that time) in the rest of the By current estimates of the U.S. Census Bureau, Center in Houston, Texas, and at the Air Force’s Space and United States produced the other 197 business Ohio’s population recently rose above 11,500,000, Missile Systems Organization leaders on the Forbes list. while Texas’s population now exceeds 23,500,000. in Los Angeles, California, and One can only imagine the differences for the his 2004 selection as Small The explanation lies in the fertile environment of economies of the states of Ohio and West Virginia Business Champion for the the Mid-Ohio Valley, particularly the educational if there were twice as many people in Ohio today. State of Ohio, by the National Federation of Independent environment. All three of these leaders were Business. graduates of Marietta’s public schools and The changes that are necessary to improve the graduates of Marietta College. environments of Ohio and West Virginia are A native and current resident neither simple nor can they occur instantly. of Marietta, Ohio, Bob earned a The fertile environment of the Mid-Ohio West Virginia has a current advantage because bachelor’s degree in economics from The College of Wooster Valley has produced extraordinary results in the of the recent publication of Dr. Russell S. Sobel’s and a master’s degree in government sectors, as well as in business. Marietta Unleashing Capitalism, which provides an excellent business administration from counts among its native citizens Charles Gates blueprint for changes in government policy that California State at Long Beach. Dawes, who became Vice President of the United would produce improved economic conditions in States and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; the state. Dewey Bartlett, another Marietta native, became

32 Spring 2008 Clockwise from upper left: American Flag at Ohio River, tourists in downtown Marietta and a sternwheeler at Marietta’s Ohio River levee.

With the combined burdens of federal, My vision is that the tension between the per hour. Closer to home, Texas has no state state and local taxes at the highest levels needs of government for more revenue and income tax and is a right-to-work state that since World War II, what is clear is that the resistance of voteholders to increased has been handily adding tens of thousands governments’ usual practice of solving tax burdens will result in steadily increasing of jobs. budget shortfalls by increasing taxes is activism among voteholders. One can approaching the brick wall of taxpayer observe these trends as thousands of Can the politicians at all levels of resistance. In my working lifetime, the employees lose or leave their jobs with large government that affect the fertile improvements in efficiency and productivity corporations and become entrepreneurs environment of the Mid-Ohio Valley find in the private sector of our economy have with employees of their own. Once they face the political courage to improve the policies, been significant. Similar improvements the myriad laws and regulations, ranging efficiency and productivity of government? in governmental activities have been less from safety to handicapped accessibility I hope so. My vision indicates that they obvious. Because of the leadership of states to unemployment compensation to can and will. Otherwise, in the next like Texas and Virginia, I have a vision that withholding taxes to health insurance, generation, Marietta, Ohio, won’t produce the governing class at all levels of government with the related costs thereof, these once- the successors to Ed Harness, John G. will be more open to change and will pampered corporate employees will view McCoy, Zane Barnes, Charles Gates Dawes rediscover the political courage that led to governments in a different perspective. or Dewey Bartlett. They could instead events like the American Revolution and the be produced in Victoria, Texas, or even in formation of West Virginia. Both sides of the Ohio River in the Mid- Yangzhong, China. Ohio Valley are lined with smokestacks Change in the private sector is often driven that provide testimony to the industrial Photos courtesy of Marietta/Washington County by pressure from a company’s shareholders. might that still resides here. And yet, some Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority. The system for the owners of government voteholders in the Mid-Ohio Valley are very (the citizen shareholders that I prefer to much aware that tens of thousands of young call voteholders) is presently not nearly so Chinese continue to leave their farms to responsive nor as timely in its responses. work in their nation’s factories for 25 cents

Spring 2008 33 Pursuing Happiness in the Workplace Michael A. King, President and CEO Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital

Mike King is the President Recently a study was released and Chief Executive Officer on a topic important to all of us: of Camden Clark Memorial Hospital in Parkersburg. He is happiness. Scientists from the a native West Virginian from United States and the United Clarksburg, a West Virginia Kingdom conducted research in University graduate and more than 80 countries in an effort received his Master’s in Health to gain an understanding of what Administration from Virginia all adults and make life choices every day that Commonwealth University/ makes people happy. For many of Medical College of Virginia in us, particularly in the U.S., happiness is linked to contribute or tear down our happiness. However, 1978. our jobs, and studies conducted on job happiness I know that we all like to be appreciated, no matter and well-being usually reveal some surprising what level in the business world we obtain. It He has 28 years of experience results. gives us a sense that we’re not just doing our job, at a senior executive level of but doing it well. Moreover, it’s important for management, ranging from the CEO at a 30 bed rural While money and security are major factors for a business to formally celebrate and recognize community hospital to Senior employee satisfaction, most people would be the efforts of its employees. Job appreciation Vice President for Operations surprised to learn that it takes more than that for contributes to a positive work environment and, at the Charleston Area Medical most of us to feel happy at our jobs. One such thus, to an individual’s own happiness. Center to his current position today. He is also currently a business study indicates that more than 60 percent Fellow in the American College cite “recognition” as a major factor in their job Not long ago, Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital of Healthcare Executives. He’s happiness. In another study, employees were showed its appreciation to employees during been married 32 years and has asked to list the things needed most to be happy at an annual employee recognition dinner. It was three children. work...number one on the list was appreciation. a very nice evening, full of recognition and pride. It reminded me that one of the proudest Now, I firmly believe that we as individuals moments of my life was the day I received my are responsible for our own happiness. We are Eagle Scout award. To this day, I maintain that

Mike King recognizes two Camden-Clark volunteers for their service.

34 Spring 2008 Mike King discusses patient satisfaction goals to members of his nursing staff. reference on my resume and have placed Every employee performs a vital role in the Recognizing our peers, then, is really a the award in a wooden frame under glass, health and well-being of an organization. cause for all of us to share in the sense along with my other scouting merit badges. Each has a unique contribution to make. of appreciation. It is also tremendously I told the group gathered at the recognition We know that there will always be factors important in improving the work dinner about the sense of pride that I held for in the business environment that try to environment. If we improve the work a low cost piece of ribbon with a metal eagle undermine our mission or tear down environment, we will make gains on our hanging from it. Why? Because I knew the the principles and beliefs that we hold business indicators. Bottom line, it is always hard work, commitment and sense of pride central to what we do. Taking the time best to worry less and “be happy.” to accomplish something that seemed to recognize each other and celebrate the almost impossible to me. It was the same good things takes time and is often glossed Photos courtesy of Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital. for the young Cub Scouts that were in over for lack of time. Formal recognition is my son’s Cub Scout Pack…they relished important and the “small stuff” – the time in the recognition of obtaining badges we take to recognize individuals in the day- and pins. Those simple recognitions to-day business operations – is essential, drove them to accomplish more, to re- both to our employees’ satisfaction and to dedicate themselves to the principles of our own, as leaders. the Scouting organization and to form a greater sense of self-esteem.

Spring 2008 35 The River, The Law and Your Lawyer: The Value of Being Licensed in Both West Virginia and Ohio Robert L. Bays Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love llp

Robert L. Bays is a partner in the Every day residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley See Weaver v. Ritchie, 197 W. Va. 690, and Reddy v. Parkersburg office of Bowles Rice cross the Ohio River and likely give no thought Community Health, 171 W. Va. 368 (1982). and concentrates his practice in civil trial litigation and commercial whatsoever to the effect the laws of the different work. His trial work and general states can have on their lives or businesses. The Ohio law provides that a non-competition commercial practice in both Ohio Parkersburg office of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff agreement is reasonable and enforceable where the and West Virginia has included an & Love has a number of lawyers licensed in both agreement: array of different experiences from states and is committed to dual licensure to better commercial litigation, personal injury litigation, construction serve our clients. “(1) is no greater than is required for the employer’s litigation, products liability, legal and protection; (2) does not impose hardship on the medical malpractice, employment Knowing the law in both states is helpful in a employee; and (3) Is not harmful to the public.” issues, partnership litigation, estate number of situations. For example, oftentimes and trust litigation and oil and gas in employment contracts for key personnel, See Rogers v. Runfola & Associates, Inc., litigation. Bob most often appears in defense of insurance carriers and restrictive covenants are used to protect the 57 OH St. 3d 5. employers, but has also frequently employer from future competition by a key prosecuted injunctions, business employee. These provisions are commonly called It is readily apparent that there is no significant disputes and insurance coverage non-compete covenants. The law of both states is difference in the law of either Ohio or West disputes. remarkably similar with respect to non-compete Virginia when it comes to determining the validity Bob is a charter member of the West contracts. In West Virginia, the law, with respect to of a non-compete clause. However, the difference Virginia Defense Trial Counsel, a such covenants, is as follows: between the two states is significant when you look member of the Ohio Association of at how non-compete covenants are dealt with by Civil Trial Attorneys and the Defense “a covenant not to compete is reasonable the courts of each state. Traditionally, the West Research Institute. From 1983 to 1986, he served as Parkersburg only if it (1) is no greater than is required Virginia courts have reviewed a non-compete Municipal Judge and from 1986 to for the protection of the employer, (2) does covenant based on the entirety of the covenant. 1989 he served as a member of not impose an undue hardship upon the That is to say, if any portion of the covenant is the West Virginia State Bar Board of employer, and (3) is not injurious to the deemed to be unreasonable, then West Virginia Governors. Bob is former chairman public.” courts will generally strike the entire non-compete of the West Virginia Continuing Legal Education Committee. covenant as unenforceable.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Miami University, Bob received his undergraduate degree in 1973, cum laude. He earned his law degree, cum laude, from The Ohio State University College of Law.

In 2005, Bob received the McDonough Award for Outstanding Community Service in Parkersburg. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Parkersburg YMCA for over 20 years. Bob serves as counsel for the Parkersburg- Wood County Area Development Corporation and Wood County Development Authority.

36 Spring 2008 However, Ohio courts have taken just either Ohio or West Virginia. On the other setting are of extreme importance when the opposite approach. Under Ohio law, hand, a provision that limits an employee drafting agreements for the employment where a non-compete covenant is deemed for competing for five or more years is likely of key personnel. Along the Ohio River, unreasonable, the trial court has the to be determined unreasonable. A West the party seeking to enforce a non-compete authority to modify it to achieve a reasonable Virginia court, when confronted with a five- covenant or to defeat such a covenant often result. See Rogers v. Runfola, supra. Ohio year ban on competition by an employee, has options as to where to file suit. The right courts will most likely “blue line” the would likely determine that the entire decision on choice of the forum state can covenant and interpret it to be enforceable non-compete covenant is unreasonable and make all the difference for the client. Having by revising any portions of the non-compete unenforceable. An Ohio court, faced with a lawyer who practices law in both Ohio covenant that it finds to be unreasonable. a similar covenant, would likely determine and West Virginia can help you get the best that the five-year ban on competition is result. For example, a standard non-compete unreasonable but would then proceed to covenant for an employee oftentimes modify the covenant to a reasonable term of Parkersburg, West Virginia photo courtesy of Stephen contains a provision that limits non- one or two years. Shaluta, Jr., West Virginia Department of Commerce Communications. competition for a period of years. Generally, a non-compete covenant for a period of These differences in how the courts of one year or two years has a good likelihood Ohio and West Virginia would deal with of being determined to be reasonable in a non-compete provision in a business

Spring 2008 37 Parkersburg, Doorway to the Past Dr. Robert W. Stephens, Jr., President Bernard McDonough Foundation, Inc.

In 2006 Dr. Robert W. Stephens, A compelling reason for living in the Greater The Blennerhassetts were ruined by the events Jr. was elected president of the Parkersburg area is the wonderful quality of life surrounding the arrest, and their palatial home was Bernard McDonough Foundation, Inc, one of West Virginia’s largest that so many of us who are lifelong residents burned to the ground. Fortunately, a replica of their independent foundations. Prior to may take for granted. Among the highly prized mansion has been reconstructed on Blennerhassett coming to the Foundation he served attributes that contribute to our quality of life is Island and is operated as a state park. for 29 years in various administrative the rich historical significance of this area. Let me positions at Ohio Valley University, culminating in the presidency in share with you just a few of our “claims to fame” in Blennerhassett Island has become home to the 1998. the annals of American history. Putnam-Houser house, constructed in 1802 by Aaron Putnam, son of famous Revolutionary Dr. Stephens is a native of The Burr Conspiracy War hero, Israel Putnam. This home has been Parkersburg, West Virginia, and an and Blennerhassett Island meticulously restored and is an excellent example alumnus of Ohio Valley University. He earned a bachelor’s degree Aaron Burr, who served as Vice President of of construction in the late 1700s and early 1800s. from Morehead State University, a the United States from 1801 to 1805, ended Visitors are transported to and from the island by a master of arts degree from Harding his promising political career in 1804 by killing majestic sternwheeler reminiscent of a bygone era University Graduate School, a Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Traveling westward, of river transportation. doctorate from West Virginia University and holds an honorary Burr encountered Harman Blennerhassett and doctorate from Alderson Broaddus his charming wife, Margaret, who lived on an The Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History, College. Ohio River island just south of Parkersburg. He located on Second Street, is a wonderful source of persuaded Blennerhassett to assist with the financing regional history with exhibits dating from early He has served as chair of the of a military expedition to the Southwest Territory. prehistoric Indians. Many of the Blennerhassetts’ board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio relics are included in the displays. Valley; two terms as president of Blennerhassett’s estate, located on his expansive the Community Service Council of and somewhat secluded island, became their Henderson Hall Greater Parkersburg; two terms on operational base. This suspicious undertaking was One of the most historic sites of the area is the executive board of the Mid-Ohio halted with the arrest of Burr and Blennerhassett in Henderson Hall, located north of Parkersburg on Valley Red Cross; treasurer of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic 1806 on the grounds of treason against the United Route 14. This 17-room, Victorian-styled home Conference; academic vice-chair States. has remained nearly unchanged since its completion for the executive committee of the West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities; and on many other boards and associations.

He currently serves on the Mid- Ohio Valley Regional Airport Authority; the Economic Round Table of the Mid-Ohio Valley; the Downtown Task Force for the City of Parkersburg; the board of directors of the regional Economic Round Table; the Downtown Rotary Club of Parkersburg; the McDonough Center at Marietta College; and numerous other boards.

Although the original Blennerhassett mansion burned to the ground in an accidental 1811 fire, it has been recreated on the home’s original footers and is a popular site for visitors to Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park.

38 Spring 2008 Henderson Hall, in a photo taken in the 1880s. The meticulously restored Putnam-Houser house, originally constructed in 1802. in 1859. Fortunately, the Hendersons saved The Birth of the Oil and Gas Industry The Oil and Gas Museum, located on Third not only furnishings acquired through the Parkersburg and the surrounding area played Street in Parkersburg, brings these early oil years, but letters, legal documents and diaries a significant role in the earliest commercial boom days to life through fascinating exhibits, dating back to the 1700s. The Hendersons’ development of the oil and gas industry, videos and historical documents. The slave plantation consisted of 2,600 acres. The dating back to the late 1700s and early 1800s. museum has built parks at two of these early Oil and Gas Museum in Parkersburg now Most notable was Burning Spring Run, a oil fields, Burning Springs and California. operates this wonderful and unique heritage boiling spring that would ignite when fire was The museum’s Civil War collection is one of asset. applied. One of the most famous of the early the finest in the area. oil barons was J. C. Rathbone, who drilled Included in the artifacts are an original land a 140-foot deep well at Burning Springs in The preceding is just a sampling of significant grant signed by Patrick Henry, ballots for 1860 that produced 100 barrels a day. Within historical events that took place in this area. the 1860 Lincoln vs. Douglas presidential a year there also was a pumping station linking There are numerous Civil War sites, including election, a letter written by Robert E. Lee and 14 wells east of Parkersburg, at Petroleum. the recently completed Fort Boreman family diaries describing in detail life in the Park, overlooking downtown Parkersburg. 1800s. The overland journal kept by John G. Henderson in 1798 on his journey from “Oil fever” hit soon after, and boom days Parkersburg played a key role in West Virginia Virginia, down the Ohio River and up the arrived that drew national attention to statehood, producing the state’s first governor, Little Kanawha River, is of special historic Parkersburg and the surrounding area. senator and congressman. The beautifully significance. Parkersburg became a major oil refining and restored Julia-Ann Square Historic District, distribution center that brought commerce, with its stately Victorian homes, many built Recent findings indicate that Alexander wealth and growth to the entire area. by the early oil barons and politicians, is a Henderson, John’s brother, was the person However, the Civil War interrupted this must-see. And the list goes on. responsible for informing President Thomas exciting boom. Jefferson of the military expedition, with Once you have exhausted the historical sites in treasonous intentions, planned by Aaron During the war, the first oil field targeted the Parkersburg area, you have yet to discover Burr and Harman Blennerhassett. It was for destruction was located at Burning the historic jewels of Belpre and Marietta, this warning that brought the plot to light Springs. In May 1863, Confederate General Ohio, with their numerous museums, old and led to Burr’s and Blennerhassett’s arrest. William E. “Grumble” Jones initiated a cemeteries and countless stories surrounding Alexander’s original notes for these events are raid that destroyed the oilfield in an attempt the settling and shaping of the Northwest stored at Henderson Hall. to disrupt the Union Army’s use of this Territory. valuable resource. Also of significance are Alexander also was a combatant in the only the key roles played by oil people from So get off the couch and travel back to a time recorded duel to have taken place in this area, Parkersburg in building Standard Oil with when life may not have been as simple as we which was conducted on a bluff overlooking J. D. Rockefeller, from 1875 to the 1960s, might have thought. Belpre, Ohio. Henderson was seriously when Jack Rathbone, descendant of J. C., wounded in the duel and was lame for the became president and chairman of the board Photos courtesy of the Bernard McDonough remainder of his life. of Exxon. Foundation, Inc. and the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Spring 2008 39 Local Media Face Challenges and Opportunities Roger Sheppard, Vice President and General Manager WTAP-TV

Roger Sheppard is the vice president and general manager of WTAP-TV in Parkersburg. In addition to its NBC affiliate, which has been in operation since 1953, the station also How can a mass communicator receive, process WTAP is one of the smallest TV stations in operates two other stations, and share two-way communication and become a America. It operates in one of the smallest cities to FOX Parkersburg and My5, an community conduit for all sorts of information in be the home of an NBC affiliate. Nonetheless, we affiliate of MyNetwork. a way that is meaningful? still do nearly 24 hours of newscasting each week Mr. Sheppard has worked in – the equivalent of one non-stop day out of every print, cable and broadcast That is the challenge facing West Virginia seven. We also operate a FOX affiliate with its own media for more than 30 television stations and other media in an age local newscasts each weeknight, and a MyNetwork years, in positions as diverse where immediate access, instant gratification as reporter, anchor, political station that is also a Mountaineer Sports Network cartoonist, news director and and validation are as important as the who, what, station. We operate a website – or “webchannel,” as local sales manager. Among his when, where and why. we call it – that attracts more than 120,000 unique former places of employment visitors, viewing more than 1.2 million page views, are The Charleston Daily Mail, Mass media – which, by their very definition, each month. The Parkersburg News, KDKA- have been involved in collecting, packaging and TV (Pittsburgh) and WOWK-TV (Huntington). disseminating news for the past few hundred years But even this is not enough. – have always offered readers, viewers and listeners He is currently the chairman a way of giving them feedback. The most powerful The media must find more and better ways to of the board of the Chamber is when folks “vote with their feet” and choose not of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio bring people together. This was the vision of Valley and is on the WVU- to subscribe or watch or listen to various media. Yes, there are letters to the editor and call-in shows folks like Marshall McLuhan when he spoke of Parkersburg Foundation board the “global village.” When one watches TV or the of trustees. and polls, but today that is not enough. Internet these days, one gets the sinking feeling that A graduate of West Virginia People are looking for ways to connect. Some he was right, and that all the world wants to talk University, he has done work on might say they’re looking for vicarious ways to about is the trials and tribulations of Hollywood his master’s degree in political starlets. science at the University of connect – creating personae for social websites that Pittsburgh. allow them to filter what they share and who they are – with other similarly guarded persons on-line. While the lives of the rich and famous will always What this prevents (and perhaps this is its hold an allure for many people, the Internet allure) is people having to deal with other people is changing people’s lives in very fundamental in an instantaneous, human way – reading body ways – for good and for bad. Our children may language, making incorrect judgments based be learning how to be good keyboard operators on appearance, perhaps even sorting out the and computer programmers, but they may be subliminals of scent! losing the human ability to interact with one another face-to-face. They may be getting more Where does this leave today’s media? Scrambling information at their fingertips in one hour than for ways to maintain relevance, that’s where. their predecessors could have gotten in a month of visits to their local library. But they are also being It’s not enough to be a newspaper with thousands bombarded with information many parents would of inches of information each week. It’s not enough prefer they not see until they are older and can put to be a radio station that carries local sporting it into better context. events and local news. It’s also not enough to be a television station that offers local news.

40 Spring 2008 WTAP’s master control room, where the station operates its NBC, FOX and MyNetwork stations in High Definition and Standard Definition. Master Control Operators Tom Boggs (left) and supervisor Bill McClure (right) are shown on the job. It also is forcing the media to change. What is a “fact” in the age of Wikipedia? Too often, a fact is whatever gets repeated enough on the Internet, whether it’s an “accurate fact” (what other kind is there?) or not.

Local media are facing challenging times, but there are tons of opportunities remaining, and they all have to do with one key word: local. Local media have the resources to give people what no other media can give them, IF they seize the opportunity. But merely being local will not be enough. Local media must engage their readers and viewers in ways they have never imagined. Instead of crossword puzzles and funny pages, on-line gaming and humorous local video may be the answer. Instead of letters to the editor, a more vital and real-time interaction between reporters and consumers is required. Rather than merely reporting the news, helping to put it into clearer focus and more context are what is key. And the media have to give their consumers a way to feel they are a part of and a contributor to what is going on.

It’s a great time to be in the information business. Things are changing fast and consumers are wanting more every day. The successful communicators will be the ones WTAP Broadcast Engineer Kevin Buskirk (left) and Production/Informational Technologies coordinator Larry White (right) work in the central equipment room where most of the equipment to operate the three television who are able to find the parade… stations, is located. They are wearing jackets because the room is kept at cool temperatures so the equipment will and lead it! operate more efficiently.

Photos by Dean Hart, courtesy of WTAP-TV.

Spring 2008 41 Like Kind Exchanges: If You Can’t Beat ’em, Defer ’em! Richard A. Hudson J. Breckenridge Martin Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love llp

Richard A. Hudson is a partner in J. Breckenridge Martin is a Businesses and individuals selling assets for a profit certainly face the Parkersburg office of Bowles partner in the Parkersburg income tax consequences. However, while they may not be able Rice and a member of the firm’s office of Bowles Rice and tax group. He concentrates his concentrates his law practice to escape paying the tax, it may be possible to defer it. One way to practice in corporate, health care in the areas of business and accomplish this is through a Like Kind Exchange under § 1031 of and estate planning law. Rick, also tax planning, commercial the Internal Revenue Code. a Certified Public Accountant, has a transactions, health care and multifaceted practice, which allows real estate. In a simple Like Kind Exchange, a taxpayer exchanges one piece of him to serve a variety of clients, from physicians and hospitals to Breck assists clients with business or investment property for another. Seldom does such a individuals and corporations. creation, operation and straightforward opportunity present itself. Much more commonly, dissolution of corporations, the taxpayer sells the property and uses the proceeds to buy another Rick specializes in the partnerships and limited liability similar piece of business or investment property, postponing the negotiation of purchase and sale companies. He represents recognition of any gain from the first sale until the sale of the transactions involving hospitals buyers and sellers in the and hospital-related entities and transfer of business interests, second, which may be years or even decades later. Of course, such the representation of physician and he assists physicians favorable tax treatment does not come without responsibilities. groups and management services and health care providers § 1031 and the supporting regulations have a variety of organizations. He is also skilled with respect to Medicare and requirements and hoops to jump through to ensure that a taxpayer to assist with mergers and Medicaid fraud and abuse, adheres to two overriding rules: (1) the taxpayer must exchange acquisitions, compliance plans, self-referral limitations and HIPAA, physician contracts, stark other health care issues. property of “like kind,” and (2) the taxpayer must not receive cash and anti-kickback analysis and He represents clients in or other benefits from the sale of the first property. certificate of need and licensing the acquisition, sale and issues. development of commercial real estate and construction Rick’s estate planning practice projects and also assists banks includes the preparation of tax and borrowers with commercial sensitive wills, revocable living loan structuring, documentation trusts, irrevocable family trusts and collateral issues. and charitable trusts. He handles complex corporate transactions, as A native of Wood County, Breck well as the general representation received his bachelor’s degree of business entities. Rick in business administration from represents businesses before the the University of Georgia and Internal Revenue Service, the West earned his law degree from Virginia Department of Tax and the West Virginia University Revenue, the West Virginia Office of College of Law. He is admitted Tax Appeals and the United States to practice in West Virginia, the Tax Court. United States District Courts for the Southern and Northern Rick received his bachelor of arts Districts of West Virginia, the degree, summa cum laude, from United States Court of Appeals Bethany College and earned his for the Fourth Circuit and the law degree from Georgetown United States Tax Court. He University. He is admitted to is a member of the board of practice before the U.S. Supreme directors of the Blennerhassett Court, the West Virginia Supreme Historical Foundation and the Court of Appeals, the U.S. Tax Court West Virginia Land Trust, and and the U.S. District Courts for the he is the current vice-president Northern and Southern Districts of of the Mid-Ohio Valley Estate West Virginia. He is active in many Planning Council. professional organizations.

42 Spring 2008 Exchange Of Like Kind Property. holds the proceeds from the first sale in an In a Like Kind Exchange, both the property account under the Qualified Intermediary sold and the property purchased must be Agreement until the funds are used to held for productive use in a trade or business purchase the second property. Additionally, or for investment. Good examples are office the taxpayer’s contracts for the sale and buildings, apartment complexes, warehouses subsequent purchase must be assigned to and business equipment or machinery. the Qualified Intermediary to ensure the Both properties must be of a like kind. money is not deemed to have been actually They do not have to be identical, as long as or constructively received by the taxpayer. they are similar in nature or character. For example, a taxpayer can exchange real estate Once the transaction is properly structured for other real estate, or machinery for other and documented, the taxpayer can sell the similar machinery, but real estate cannot be first property and wait up to six months to exchanged for machinery. Moreover, certain purchase the second property, as long as types of property cannot be used in a Like two requirements are met: (1) the second Kind Exchange at all. For instance, § 1031 property (or several likely prospects) must does not apply to exchanges of stocks, bonds be chosen and identified to the Qualified or partnership interests, even if they are used Intermediary no later than 45 days after the in a trade or business or held for investment. sale of the first property, and (2) the second property must be purchased no later than Receipt of Cash or Benefits. the earlier of (i) 180 days after the sale of Generally, if the taxpayer receives cash the first property or (ii) the due date of the or other non-qualified property from taxpayer’s return for the year of the first sale. the sale of the first property, gain will be If either of these conditions is not satisfied, the rules to ensure that you get the full recognized gain for the amount of cash or the Like Kind Exchange will fail and the benefit of the tax laws. You may not be able non-qualified property received. To avoid taxpayer will likely have immediate income to avoid your or your business’s income “receipt” of the cash in a forward Like tax consequences. taxes, but with careful planning, good tax Kind Exchange, the taxpayer enters into a advice and cautious documentation, a Like Qualified Intermediary Agreement with As with most transactions involving income Kind Exchange may help you defer those a qualified third party, who receives and tax consequences, it is important to follow taxes for many years to come.

Spring 2008 43 Opportunity and Prosperity in the Mid-Ohio Valley

Spring 2008 A publication of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love l l p

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