A publication of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love l l p Winter 2008 Leadership in Times of Change In this issue ... Winter 2008

Thomas A. Heywood David L. Rader Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP West Mutual Insurance Company Leadership in Times of Change 3 ’s Physicians and Political Leaders Create a Working Solution 24 Jerry West West Virginia Native, WVU Basketball All-American Bray Cary and former NBA Player, Coach and Executive West Virginia Media Leadership in the Spotlight 4 Leaders in West Virginia Face Special Challenges 26

W. James Host Pamela A. Farris 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Leadership West Virginia Lessons in Leadership 6 Leadership West Virginia: Successes and Plans for the Future 28

Earl Ray Tomblin Robert R. Simpson, Jr. West Virginia State Senate Dixon Hughes PLLC The Ebb and Flow of Change in American Government 8 The Two Indispensable Qualities of Leaders 30

Michael S. Garrison Juliet A. Terry Vision Shared Inc. Generational Change Creates Demand for Leadership Vision Shared Is Working for a Better West Virginia 32 Experiences on Campus 10 Paul D. A. Daugherty Dr. Larry Cote Generation West Virginia West Virginia University Leadership Studies Generation West Virginia: Combating the Brain Drain The Leadership Studies Program at WVU 11 to Ensure West Virginia’s Future is Bright 34

Governor Matthew G. Ballard The College Board Charleston Area Alliance Four Building Blocks of Effective Leadership 12 Leadership in the Global Market for West Virginia Businesses 36

Peter B. Lilly Margaret Cogswell CONSOL Energy, Inc. Hospice of the Panhandle, Inc. Coal Mine Safety – The New Industry Predicate 14 Leadership and Non-Profit Organizations – Special Missions and Rich Rewards 38 Jerry E. Abramson Mayor, Louisville Metro Bernard F. Lovely, Jr. Partnerships and Perseverance Create New Possibilities in Louisville 16 Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP Begot of Tragedy 40 J. Thomas Lane Charleston City Council Dr. Brian Noland Leadership Through Planning – Charleston: A Case Study 18 West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Charting the Future for Higher Education in West Virginia 42 Gregory K. Smith Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield Dr. James Phares Helping Others Deal with Change 20 Marion County Schools Leadership in the Public Schools During Times of Change: Gregory A. Burton The Art and Science of the New “3Rs” 44 BrickStreet BrickStreet: The Product of Change 22 Leadership in Times of Change FROM OUR Thomas A. Heywood MANAGING Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love llp PARTNER

Tom Heywood is Managing I have been blessed with the opportunity to work vividly captured in Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock, Partner of Bowles Rice and with and learn from many remarkable leaders in one of the first popular texts to document this a former chief of staff to the Honorable Gaston Caperton, my life. phenomenon and aspect of the industrial and Governor of the State of West information ages. The pace of change will only Virginia. He has significant My parents, my teachers, my coaches, my quicken in the years ahead. experience in health care, colleagues, my friends, civic leaders in Advantage corporate, finance and Valley and across the State, and many others have Within change there are opportunities for commercial law, and is recognized as one of the “Best all served as sources of example and inspiration each of us to create a future that is different Lawyers in America.” for me. These leaders also have been exceedingly from the past. Leadership is the essential skill generous in creating opportunity for me and that determines how effectively we seize those Mr. Heywood is active in the countless others. opportunities. community and in various West Virginia business and trade associations. He serves on Among the many outstanding leaders I have There are many ways to lead effectively in the boards of many charitable had the privilege of working with in recent times of change. In this issue of Views & organizations, including years is my partner and close friend, Tom Graff. Visions, we are pleased to include a selection of Vision Shared, Imagine West Tom brings an infectious enthusiasm and outstanding articles from some of our region’s Virginia, the West Virginia Venture Connection, the West entrepreneurial spirit to all that he does. most experienced and successful leaders. We Virginia Entrepreneurs Forum, I have always marveled at his uncanny ability thank the leaders featured in this edition for Discover the Real West Virginia to energize a team, move forward and seize their contributions, which reveal the many faces Foundation, Thomas Memorial opportunity in every situation. of leadership and offer insights into how each Hospital, West Virginia University of us can become a more effective leader in the Hospitals, the Clay Center and the Kanawha County Library Recently, Tom Graff has led our law firm years ahead. I hope that you find these articles Foundation. through a smooth transition in leadership, as educational and informative as I have, and in which I and many others in our law firm helpful to you as you exercise leadership in your have been given the chance to build on our life and work. firm’s past successes and lead our firm into the future. I extend my most sincere gratitude and Let us learn from and follow the example of each appreciation to Tom Graff and all of my law of the authors of this edition of Views & Visions. partners for this opportunity. If we do, there is no limit to what we together can achieve. We have learned a lot about leadership in the last few decades. For most of human history, leadership was viewed as a position conferred upon or possessed only by a privileged few. In recent times, we have come to a much richer understanding. Today we know that leadership is an activity and not a position; that leadership can be nurtured and developed in all of us; and that leadership is not about the exercise of authority, but about serving others.

As citizens of the 21st century, we live in times of profound and rapid change. The rapidly accelerating pace of change in human affairs was

Winter 2008 3 Leadership in the Spotlight Jerry West West Virginia Native, WVU Basketball All-American and former NBA Player, Coach and Executive

For Jerry West, recently retired As an athlete, I was the leader of a team. as President of Basketball When my athletic career ended, I was given the Operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, building a team into a opportunity to lead young men and women in winner is not a new task. As a the business field, a place in which I had zero player, coach and finally as an experience. It was a time fueled with tremendous executive, Mr. West’s record with doubt – doubting that I could translate my the Los Angeles Lakers includes eight NBA championships; leadership responsibilities as an athlete to the Executive of the Year; 14-time business side of sports. It was going to take NBA All-Star; 10-time All-NBA a great deal of thought in terms of my ability First Team; member of the to assemble a team and to establish goals for Basketball Hall of Fame; and being named as one of the 50 an entire organization of highly competitive Greatest Players in NBA History. employees. I knew that my personal goals had driven me to achieve; goals that were Mr. West, dubbed “Mr. Clutch” reachable were paramount to both personal and during his 14-year career as a player with the Lakers, led the organizational success. team in scoring seven times and when he retired after Planning goals and achieving them creates the 1973-74 season, he had energy and enthusiasm, reaffirms your self-worth become only the third player in league history to surpass the and gives a new meaning to your life. Winners 25,000-point plateau, finishing have a plan and a purpose to life. Simply stated, with a career-scoring average people with goals achieve more than those who of 27.0, which still ranks fifth- have no goals. best in NBA history. During his 19-year stint as both general An athlete with goals develops a winning manager and Executive Vice all types of personalities, the leaders that possess President of the Lakers, he attitude. He is willing to sacrifice whatever it humility and caring are the ones that would best was responsible for adding takes to reach the team’s and his or her personal motivate me. superstars Shaquille O’Neal and objectives. Most great success is produced by Kobe Bryant to the team’s roster. some failure. Difficulties and obstacles are part These types of leaders do not want all of the Mr. West attended West Virginia of the process of goal achievement and are key attention focused on themselves. They realize University (1956-60), where he elements to success. was a two-time All-American. that without a strong team and without the right He became the Lakers’ first- game plan in place, they would be leaders in The answer to achieving goals is about personal round draft pick in the 1960 name only. I have always felt that the spotlight motivation. Leaders steer their respective NBA Draft, after serving as should be on those led, not on the leader. co-captain of the gold medal- teams to success. Through a leader’s beliefs and winning US Basketball Team experience they possess the following: at the 1960 Olympic Games in I feel that the greatest skill of a leader comes from Rome. the quality of the employees he hires. Great • An inner strength based upon past experiences leaders tend to hire the right people for the right Born in 1938 in Cheylan, West Virginia, Mr. West garnered • A willpower that says no to failure job and give them the necessary tools to succeed. national attention as a high • Overwhelming desire school star at East Bank High Since my early days as an executive, I have School, leading his team to the • Great personal determination learned many lessons that have profoundly state title and becoming the first prep player in the state’s history affected my personal performance and that to register over 900 points in a I have read many books on leadership, and have also made me a more competitive and single season. although leaders that have excelled encompass compassionate leader.

4 Winter 2008 Clockwise from top left: Jerry West led East Bank High School to the West Virginia state title in 1956; at West Virginia University, he was twice named All-American; he was an All-Star each of his 14 seasons playing with the Los Angeles Lakers, leading his team to the NBA finals nine times; as the Lakers’ general manager and front office executive, his accomplishments included adding Shaquille O’Neal as a free agent; he also served three years as the Lakers’ coach. My number one lesson learned is that in an ordinary frame of mind will do only • Hire the right person for the right job. regardless of a person’s stature within an ordinary things. In the proper emotional • You must have communication and organization, you must learn to know them state, a team will do extraordinary things. team work. Gather information and to recognize their dedication to their To reach this state, a team must have a and ideas from everyone in your position. You can learn an abundant amount motive that has an extraordinary appeal to organization. of information about an organization by them.” seeing through your employees’ eyes, from the • Strive for balance; understand the uppermost personnel to those with seemingly Lastly, I believe that a leader must possess strengths and weaknesses of your menial job assignments. Each employee the following attributes to achieve the best team and organization. should have pride in their position, and a true results for his team and his organization: leader will recognize every employee’s worth. Thank you for the opportunity to share My policy has always been to have an open • You must take risks; the best risk my personal views on leadership. I wish door and a compassionate ear for all. takers achieve the most. everyone great success in building, growing and maintaining leadership in this ever- • In hiring front office talent, hire people One of the greatest quotes that I ever read changing business climate. for substance, not for style. is by Knute Rockne, the legendary football coach. He said what both established and • Employees must be a huge part of upcoming leaders should learn: “A team your game plan.

Winter 2008 5 Lessons in Leadership in Times of Change W. James Host, former Chairman and CEO Host Communications, Inc. Chairman, 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

James Host served as John Steinbeck wrote “It is the Secretary of Commerce for the nature of a man as he grows older Commonwealth of Kentucky from 2003 to 2005. He is the … to protest against change, former Chairman and CEO of particularly change for the better.” Host Communications Inc., which he founded in Lexington, Leadership can hurt, be exhausting Kentucky, in 1972. In 1999 Host Communications became and frustrating, but still be a subsidiary, first of Bull Run worth it. Leaders both exhibit Corp., and later, Triple Crown and expect results, not excuses. Media. Mr. Host stepped down Leaders follow great examples and as CEO in 2001. they remove the causes of failure. A University of Kentucky Leaders are also guaranteed to have graduate, Mr. Host played opposition. No one may become professional baseball after a real leader in any walk of life receiving one of UK’s first baseball scholarships. At without practicing the habit of doing more work and better work age 29, he became the Famous football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant said, youngest member of former than for which he is paid. Governor Louie B. Nunn’s “I don’t know how to define a leader, but I sure cabinet, as Commissioner know one when I see one.” of the Department of Public How good are our political leaders and are they Information and then real leaders? And if not, why not? How good are A real leader … as Commissioner of the our education leaders and are they real leaders? Department of Parks. And if not, why not? • Puts the other person on a pedestal so that Jim Host & Associates, which person has to pull the leader up with him or Who dictates who our political leaders are? Is he opened in 1972, negotiated her in order to succeed. a basketball and football radio there real leadership in mentoring or preparing agreement with the University our political leadership … or is it just happening? • Understands that it is either black or white of Kentucky and an executive when making a decision. If it is gray, the management relationship with the National Collegiate How do partners in a law firm become leaders decision is in the other person’s favor. within a firm, or does it just happen? Athletic Association. Mr. Host • Never takes credit for an idea or direction is personally credited with when other people are involved. implementing the first collegiate How do some businesses succeed and grow or corporate marketing program with the NCAA in 1985. does it just happen? • Is always ready to be the first person to take a shovel and shovel the snow when it is obvious He is the recipient of several How do great athletic teams succeed? Do all it needs to be done. Lifetime Achievement Awards coaches coach the same or are some better leaders and received the Kentuckian • Lives his or her life like you would hope all than others? of the Year Award in 2000. would want to live it. He currently serves on the executive committee of the Most of us are followers and not leaders because • Does not accept mediocre efforts from anyone. International Basketball Hall of we don’t want to pay the price of being a leader. • Has vision of where things should go with Fame and is Chairman of the How many times have we been critical of the Louisville Arena Authority. his or her company and can sell the vision to President, the Governor, the Mayor, or even the others. He is the founding Chairman of managing partner of a law firm because we don’t the Alltech FEI World Equestrian want to pay the price of being a leader ourselves? • Does not expect others to do anything Games, to be held in Lexington, that he or she would not do. Kentucky, in 2010.

6 Winter 2008 Jim Host’s leadership skills are at work in his new role as Chairman of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, to be held in Lexington in 2010. Photograph by Doug Prather, www.dougprather.com. Jeffrey Mayer said that the five things In times of change, these qualities defined you’ll find in every successful leader are: The most successful people leadership 50 years ago and define it again I have ever known who are today. • They have a dream.

great leaders have two There is no reason with the geographic • They have a plan. overriding qualities above location of Kentucky and West Virginia • They have a specific knowledge or all else: they are not afraid that these two states can’t be better. training. to make decisions and they Perhaps we should consider a leadership • They are willing to work hard. are enthusiastic. academy, shared by the two states, which • They don’t take no for an answer. could bring to it the best of our young people for lessons in leadership taught by Most of us have many experiences that Who do we want to follow? some of our best leaders with a focus on have helped shape our lives. Mine centered • Someone who has ambition what it takes to not be afraid to lead and around understanding what it took from not be afraid to fail at the same time. high school and college coaches. Both • Someone focused George Conley of Ashland and Harry • Someone who gets things done Lancaster at UK taught me: • Someone who takes responsibility for • Work ethic beats the competition their actions • Character and integrity above all else • Someone who looks for solutions to problems • Someone who is self-reliant

Winter 2008 7 The Ebb and Flow of Change in American Government , President West Virginia State Senate

Earl Ray Tomblin was elected As far back as I can remember, politicians have order to prepare both the electorate and the to the West Virginia House of been intoning the idea of change. I cannot government for the coming change, even in the Delegates for three consecutive terms beginning in 1974, and imagine any candidate running for any political face of criticism. Another historic example is seven consecutive terms in office on a platform of “let’s keep things the way President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s conviction the State Senate, beginning in they are.” Maybe the closest we came to that that the United States would be unable to avoid 1980. Mr. Tomblin served as was the re-election cry of Woodrow Wilson World War II, which resulted in his decision to chairman of the Committee on Confirmations, Senate Majority supporters during the 1916 election, who urged prepare the country for it through the Lend- Whip, chairman of the Energy, “vote for Wilson, he kept us out of war.” Of Lease Act. Roosevelt saw change coming in Industry and Mining Committee course, not long after winning his second term, the winds of war, and he took decisive and and Finance chairman before the United States was in the middle of World controversial action, even while isolationist being elected the 48th President of the Senate in War I. The development of the country, its social detractors scathed him for his intervention. As January 1995. He is the longest order and politics have been changing since. history records, his instincts were correct and serving Senate President in the isolationists were wrong. He was able to West Virginia’s history. Change occurs on all levels of government and anticipate the dramatic change in world events Mr. Tomblin was born in Logan in every one of life’s arenas. It is important to which he believed ultimately would bring the County, West Virginia, and recognize its ebb and flow and be prepared for war to the United States, and his preemptive received his undergraduate whatever the change brings. Strong leadership work helped stave off defeat of Great Britain and degree from West Virginia is often a necessity in addressing the effects of the Soviet Union until the United States became University and an MBA from . change – or the prospect of changes to come. a full-fledged ally. Dealing with change may require tough In 2004 he was elected decisions from those who lead. Sometimes these vice-president of the National decisions are so complicated, earth shaking and Council of State Governments unpopular that the public does not understand (CSG), the umbrella organization for the Southern Governors the reasoning behind the actions taken. Association and became chairman in December 2005. Individuals also can challenge all of us to be Mr. Tomblin is the first West willing to take a chance on change. Such was the Virginian ever selected on this leadership track. case in the 1960 presidential primary election campaign in West Virginia, when Senator John F. Kennedy asked voters to set aside their Protestant leanings and support a Roman Catholic for the White House. Kennedy won because he convinced voters that under his leadership the climate of our nation’s government would be much different than the Eisenhower-Nixon years and that it was time to lay aside old fears. In a stunning victory, West Virginians led the movement of change by tearing down the barriers of prejudice and demonstrating a Catholic could win the White House.

Winston Churchill said history, or hindsight, is 20/20, and a great leader must be a visionary – able to look beyond the political horizon in

8 Winter 2008 While the world war is an example of now out of date in today’s politics and leadership. Case-in-point is the statement, drastic national change, the changes in government, with the growing influence “read my lips, no new taxes,” made by economics, in social, cultural and moral and election of women to public office. It is Republican nominee George H. W. Bush values and attitudes also have impacted one of the most profound political changes during the 1988 presidential campaign. West Virginia’s politics since the war of modern times, since women have only Later he had to eat those words and sign ended. State priorities and the wants and had the right to vote nationally for a little into law a major increase in taxes. Many wishes of the electorate continue to have a less than a century. As a result, for the first believe this led to his defeat at the hands of profound effect on all aspects of state and time in our nation’s history, a woman is Bill Clinton. local politics and government. Today’s a serious candidate for president. The headlines, trumpeting the latest earth nation also has several female governors Change requires action and challenges shattering event, are often soon replaced and legislators, and the congress has a large leaders to embrace it. It is an essential by another story or issue. These issues and growing number of female members, quality of leadership that change be used and priorities can change as quickly as including the Speaker of the U.S. House of and directed for the public’s good and that winter weather. A leader has to be ready for Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. history – and the public – view the results anything, sometimes on a daily basis. as positive. The challenge for leadership is Sometimes, once hardened views have to accomplish that often elusive goal. For years it has been debated whether been announced, the necessity for change “events shape the man,” a question can result in changes in leaders and

Winter 2008 9 Generational Change Creates Demand for Leadership Experiences on Campus Michael S. Garrison, President West Virginia University

Mike Garrison, a respected Ashley Riley wanted to hone her public servant and immediate leadership skills and ended up past chair of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy creating an organization of student Commission, became the ambassadors to serve as liaisons 22nd president of WVU between West Virginia University and At WVU, students get that opportunity. on September 1, 2007. As its guests at special events. president, he is committed to Ashley, a marketing major from Morgantown, West Virginia University’s key Jillian Joseph wanted to make her mark on the found her chance through WVU’s Leadership missions: changing lives and Studies minor, a program that combines providing opportunities to all fashion world, so she immersed herself in design through education; building projects while still in college, winning awards in coursework with hands-on leadership knowledge through research; state design competitions. experiences (see related story on page 11). and serving the people of West Virginia through economic Working with mentors in the WVU development and health care. Adam Pellillo started out leading fellow students through the West Virginia wilderness – and then administration, Ashley helped to create the Mr. Garrison previously was took his leadership skills across the Atlantic to Gold and Blue Student Ambassador Program managing member of the Morocco. to represent the University at special events Morgantown law office of such as Commencement. In the process, she Spilman Thomas & Battle PLLC. Ashley, Jillian and Adam are students who started found an internship with University Events and Prior to joining the firm in 2003, Ceremonies and an interest in event planning as he served as former Governor leading and accumulating real-world experience ’s chief of staff and as at West Virginia University. Through a variety a possible career. cabinet secretary in the state of programs — from study-abroad and service- Department of Tax and Revenue. learning activities to undergraduate research Ashley says she is impressed with the programs to a leadership studies minor — WVU support WVU student leaders receive from He is a member of the WVU administrators and faculty members. Alumni Association National is giving students opportunities to challenge Board of Directors and has themselves. served as an adjunct professor “It’s a large University, but it’s so easy to make of political science in the WVU More and more, our students come to connections here with faculty and staff and to find Eberly College of Arts and mentors who want to see you succeed,” she said. Sciences for the past several Morgantown with a desire to pursue not only years. academic achievements, but also to build their leadership skills. Biochemistry student Zach Gouzd found his A West Virginia native, Mr. opportunity to lead in WVU’s Honors College, an Garrison earned a bachelor’s academic enrichment program for high-achieving degree in political science Preparing this generation to lead is, in fact, important to all of us. The median age of the students. Zach is serving as WVU’s Honors and English from WVU in 1992 Community Ambassador, coordinating cultural and a doctor of jurisprudence U.S. work force is rising, and as members of the from the WVU College of Law baby boom generation enter their 60s and start and social activities for the more than 1,500 in 1996. He also studied for to retire, the current generation of students will students. Working with these motivated students, a year at Oxford on a Rotary be called upon to take on substantial leadership Zach has seen how many leadership roles exist International Scholarship. for students, especially within WVU’s more than During his undergraduate responsibilities at relatively early ages. career at WVU, he was elected 300 student organizations. He has also seen many student body president. He was Research has shown that many members of this Honors students start their own organizations and also a member of Mountain generation are civic-minded, team-oriented projects to reflect unique interests. Honorary and captain of the Men’s Rowing Team. and adept at multitasking. And they are eager to make an impact on society. “If you want to get involved, there’s a way to do it here,” he said. “If you want to lead, there’s some capacity to fill.”

10 Winter 2008 Leadership Studies Program at WVU Dr. Larry Cote, Extension Professor and Director, WVU Leadership Studies Program

There are many definitions of leadership. Most battle- tested leaders and those who study leadership agree on one thing: leadership is all about creating necessary and positive change. Most also agree: the success of change initiatives requires the enthusiastic involvement of every employee and strategic stakeholder.

Leadership is both an art and a science that has been practiced and studied throughout human history. However, there remains a critical need for and a seemingly limited supply of innovative, courageous and well-prepared leaders. This is the case across all facets of society. It is felt acutely in our state in organizations and agencies of all sizes and across the public, private and non-profit sectors.

The State of West Virginia and its leading university are not alone in Adam Pellillo, who served as a cross Pellillo, a political science and economics recognizing this need, evidenced between “a field commander and a major, said his recent study-abroad trip to by the proliferation of leadership professor” while serving as a guide Morocco and his Adventure West Virginia programs emerging at universities for WVU’s Adventure West Virginia experiences have been as important to his across the nation. Surprisingly, this wilderness orientation program, agrees. education as his classroom learning. trend of introducing organized, cross-disciplinary curricula as “With the array of groups, teams and “While studying in Morocco, I was part of an undergraduate degree organizations on campus, it’s easy to take able to immerse myself in a completely is quite a new phenomenon. The on some sort of leadership position at different culture, political and economic demand is already mounting for the university,” he said. “Likewise, there environment and academic setting. I came graduate leadership courses here are a lot of research opportunities and away with a different perspective towards and elsewhere. Those pursuing internships available for those wanting the world,” he said. “With Adventure advanced degrees are all feeling hands-on experience in their fields.” West Virginia, I believe I improved my the pressure from within their leadership abilities by dealing with diverse professions to be more deeply Study abroad has become a particularly and sometimes unpredictable situations.” trained in leadership skills and concepts. popular real-world experience for students preparing to lead in a global economy. (continued on p. 46) (continued on p. 46)

Winter 2008 11 Four Building Blocks of Effective Leadership Governor Gaston Caperton, President The College Board

Gaston Caperton, a former During my career, I have been fortunate to be Taking Risks two-term governor of West Virginia, is the eighth president the leader of a for-profit business (McDonough of the College Board, a not-for- Caperton Insurance), a state government (West The second element is taking risks. Not wild, profit membership association Virginia) and a nonprofit organization (The irrational risks, but risks chosen based on a founded in 1900 that consists College Board). Given this variety of different careful calculation of the ratio between risk and of 5,000 of the nation’s leading schools, colleges leadership roles and experiences, some might reward – the greater the risk, the greater the and universities. Among its expect me to say that effective leadership depends reward. A leader doing this calculation must also best-known programs are the on the organization, and that the characteristics take into account the relevance of the risk and Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) and the SAT®. of a good leader change in different settings. My reward to the organization’s fundamental values. observation, however, is exactly the opposite. I Any risk taken (and any reward anticipated) Governor Caperton initiated a believe that effective leadership is the same across should be consistent with the vision and mission sound financial approach that led Financial World magazine to call all areas, and that greatness is consistent among of the organization. A few years ago at the West Virginia the most improved the leaders I have seen and worked with over College Board, we took a risk by adding a new state in the nation. Under his the years. For this article, I describe what I have writing section to the SAT. Some critics said leadership, the state, which had learned about the elements I think are necessary it would make the test too long, others were been $500 million in debt, was able to generate a $100 million for success across all types of leadership. concerned about the cost, still others wondered surplus, and the unemployment if colleges would use it. But the reward was to rate dropped from 9.8 percent All organizations must have a clearly articulated elevate the status of writing as an essential skill to a low of 6.2 percent. This was accomplished by creating more vision, mission, strategy and a set of shared that every student should have. than 86,000 jobs. values. These are absolutely fundamental, and they are part of every definition of After leaving the statehouse, Governor Caperton spent the leadership. Critical to the execution of spring of 1997 teaching as a these things, however, are four elements fellow at the John F. Kennedy that are not included or discussed as often. Institute of Politics at . He then taught at , where People he founded and managed the Institute on Education and The first of these critical elements is Government. people. Specifically, a leader must ensure He began his career as a that the organization is recruiting, training businessman in his home and retaining the best people. Highly state. After graduating from the University of North Carolina, he qualified and very competent people are the went to work for a small insurance lifeblood of any company or organization. agency in Charleston, West As president of McDonough Caperton, Virginia. He soon became the I increased the size of the company from company’s principal owner. Under his leadership, the company grew 15 employees to more than 600, and I into the tenth-largest privately appreciated that each person contributed to owned insurance brokerage firm our success and growth into the nation’s tenth in the nation. largest insurance brokerage company. This He was chair of the Democratic focus on people is especially true today in our Governors’ Association and has knowledge-driven economy that thrives on received numerous state and national awards and special human and intellectual capital. And, thanks recognition, including eight to the power of technology, the best people honorary doctoral degrees. can be found anywhere in the world.

12 Winter 2008 Money connect all students to college success, Christ, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther which is the mission of our organization. King, Jr. – who have charisma born of I learned about the third critical element powerful ideas and great moral authority the hard way when someone asked me Good Partnerships that empower them to be leaders of social early in my career, “Where’s the money?” movements and change the world. I Every organization, from families to the The fourth and final element is good admire these leaders and this type of Fortune 500, has to have more income partnerships. Understanding the leadership tremendously. History has than expenses. For a business, the importance of partners is important also produced great military leaders – importance of money is obvious: business to political leadership. As Governor, I Alexander the Great, Napoleon, George is clearly about making money and earning had a very good relationship with the Patton – who had special skills as strategists a profit. Legislature. In passing a budget and a and tacticians that enabled them to wage legislative agenda, I always needed to war and build empires. For the leader of a nonprofit, being aware understand where legislators stood on of money is even more important because issues. I needed to understand their Most of us, however, are not changing nonprofits cannot raise capital – they pressures and their priorities. Without the world or building empires. We are operate on the margins they generate and good partnerships, government quickly working in smaller, more established contributions they receive. Without these turns to gridlock and the public suffers. organizations where leadership is a margins and contributions, nonprofits more practical (but no less important) cannot reinvest into programs that While I believe these four elements are exercise. In my experience, the formula produce returns in terms of positive social critical to the success of leaders in the for- for successful leadership has consistently change and community benefits. For profit, nonprofit and government arenas, involved those four key building blocks: example, at the College Board we invest I also believe history has shown that there people, risks, money and partnerships. our margins back into programs that are certain exceptional individuals – Jesus

Winter 2008 13 Coal Mine Safety – The New Industry Predicate Peter B. Lilly, President – Coal Group CONSOL Energy, Inc.

Peter B. Lilly was named President- The accident last summer at the Crandall You may be skeptical that we can actually eliminate Coal Group for CONSOL Energy Canyon Mine in Utah was one of several high- accidents. But consider this: Last year, 97% of Inc. in February 2007. Mr. Lilly is responsible for all aspects of profile coal mine accidents in the past two years CONSOL Energy employees worked accident- the company’s coal production, that convinced many people that not much has free the entire year. Zero is within our grasp. marketing, sales and safety. changed in our industry in the last 100 years. Eliminating accidents requires a three-pronged He also serves on the board of But substantial progress has been made! approach. directors of Waterways Council, Inc., and is a delegate to the World Coal Institute. Prior to From 1975 through 2005, annual U.S. coal The Safety Triad joining CONSOL Energy as Chief mine fatalities were reduced from 1,068 to 22. Operating Officer in October 2002, Total injury rates for U.S. coal mining are as low First, there is the law. Compliance with the Mr. Lilly had been President and as they have ever been, even as we produce record law is an obligation. However, complying with Chief Executive Officer of Triton Coal Company LLC and Vulcan amounts of coal. The coal industry has a better the law alone will not eliminate accidents. We Coal Holdings, LLC in St. Louis, overall safety record than many other industries have numerous laws regarding speed limits and Missouri. He previously held a or sectors of the U.S. economy, and we are far driving behavior, yet highway accidents occur number of senior positions with ahead of countries such as China, where the coal every day. Laws, by themselves, are not enough to Peabody Holding Company Inc., mine fatality rate is 13 PER DAY. guarantee safety. The law is only one element in including President and Chief Operating Officer. He also was the safety triad. president of Eastern Associated Despite the effort that we have expended and the Coal Corporation in Charleston, progress we have made in mine safety, we must A second is the technology/safety interface. West Virginia and president of admit to ourselves we have fallen short. People Effective technology, properly applied, can be Kerr-McGee Coal Corporation in Oklahoma City. are still getting hurt. an important component of an overall effort to eliminate accidents. New technologies have A native of Beckley, West Virginia, It is not that our intentions are bad. Rather, resulted in important mine safety advances, and Mr. Lilly is a graduate of the U.S. I suspect it is because we have operated from industry and government alike must work to Military Academy at West Point. an unspoken, and possibly unrecognized, continue to advance technology. He obtained his master of business administration degree assumption that a certain number of accidents in industrial marketing and are simply inherent in our business. Yet even with the best crafted statutes and operations management from regulations, and even with well-engineered mines Harvard University in 1977. In CONSOL Energy’s current statistical safety that deploy the best technologies, mine accidents addition, he completed the record is nearly three times better than the will continue to occur unless we address the third advanced executive program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg industry incidence rate for underground mines. and most important element of the safety triad: School in 1988. We are very proud of our performance. But the human element. At CONSOL, we refer to in human terms, more than 230 CONSOL it as the culture of safety. Mr. Lilly has served on the board employees had recordable injuries in 2006. Even of directors of the National Coal if our safety performance improved by 50%, Association and the American The Culture of Safety Mining Congress. He has chaired 115 of our people still will be injured. That is the National Mining Association’s unacceptable. safety committee, is a former Individual work safety is a condition of chairman of the West Virginia And we plan to change that! We plan to employment at CONSOL Energy. We hold Coal Association and has been a change it for CONSOL Energy and we hope every employee – salaried and hourly alike – member of the Young Presidents’ Organization. the industry will follow our lead. The only responsible for working safely. The culture of acceptable safety statistic will be zero. safety requires each employee to make safety a core value in his or her life.

14 Winter 2008 As part of our ZERO accidents program, conversation about safety. And it is not It takes a constant effort to convince we ask employees to identify the primary a one-way conversation. There is no employees that they have the right, reason why they are personally committed monopoly on good ideas when it comes to without suffering a consequence, to to being at ZERO. Not surprisingly, many eliminating accidents. Everyone should be interrupt work in the name of safety and a say, “so I can come home to my family” engaged in the conversation. As we like to steadfastness of commitment to convince or “so I will be around to teach my son to say, safety has no rank. managers that subordinate employees fish.” By asking each employee to identify, should be empowered in this way. articulate and visualize that reason, we It is a culture that requires constant hope to create a constant reminder on observation and analysis of job procedures But we can do this. What is required is a a deep, personal level of why safety is and processes and requires that we submit re-examination of old assumptions and the important. ourselves to the discipline of continuous resolve to do things differently. training and evaluation, rather than just Our safety culture requires us to the periodic training required by law. In the final analysis, if coal is to retain its understand the impact of the signals we historic role as a cornerstone fuel for our send every day by the manner in which we At the individual level, we reward those country, I am convinced that eliminating run the business. Does production trump who work at ZERO accidents. Every mine accidents will be the new predicate safety, or does safety trump production? At employee, even those who work in office for the industry. CONSOL Energy, our commitment is to settings, has the opportunity to enhance a culture where safety trumps production, his or her pay by working safely as an where it trumps profits, where it trumps all individual. But it is important to note that other rules, policies or procedures. the requirement is ZERO. Nothing else will meet the “reward” standard. We are committed to a culture of safety that empowers every employee, whether We don’t view this as “paying” for safety. hourly or salaried, to stop the normal We view it as one of several ways in which course of operation if he or she believes we acknowledge, reward and encourage that safety is being compromised. safe work.

Creating the culture of safety comes, There are, of course, some challenges in in part, from engaging in a constant living in such a culture.

Winter 2008 15 Partnerships and Perseverance Create New Possibilities in Louisville Jerry E. Abramson, Mayor Louisville Metro, Kentucky

Mayor Jerry Abramson is the A few years ago, a national consultant came vision of a small group of local developers and longest serving mayor in the to Louisville as we were about to embark on a investors – coupled with local and state support history of Louisville, Kentucky. He served three terms as Mayor of major change – the merger of a city and county – has created a project that has been called one of the City of Louisville and is in his government. He told me: “What you are doing is the world’s most distinctive new skyscrapers. second term as Mayor of the new like changing the tires on a car when it’s speeding consolidated city of Louisville down a highway at 60 miles per hour.” The second and third “Ps” are perspective and Metro. Mayor Abramson was patience. Most big dreams come with timelines. named the best civic leader for the fifth time by Kentucky Monthly The comment stuck with me, because so much It takes years to acquire land, to develop a plan, magazine in 2005; named a of the way we navigate requires us to do our basic to arrange funding. They also often involve Public Official of the Year in jobs well at the same time as we reorganize and difficult choices. 2003 by Governing magazine; plan for new projects and initiatives. named one of the Top 20 Mayors That was certainly the case in the late 1980s in America, U.S. News & World Report, 1987 and one of the In our case, the continuing changes include job when we made the strategic decision to expand Top 25 most dynamic Mayors in growth, educational attainment, continuing the our airport, which unlike many other cities, is America, Newsweek, 1986. renaissance of our downtown core, new parkland located in the heart of our community. It seemed and planning and development issues that will like an almost impossible task – relocate 4,000 In 1993, Mayor Abramson was position our community for greater success people, 150 businesses and 16 churches. elected to serve as the President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, decades from now. the only Louisville Mayor to so But that decision, which government, civic serve. He also received the In my judgment, the formula that has guided and business leaders rallied around, has had a Conference’s Distinguished Public our community through two decades of progress profound economic impact on Kentucky that Service Award, which has been and change includes what I call the “5 Ps:” still resonates today. given to just 13 others in 50 years. passion, perspective, patience, perseverance and Mayor Abramson received a partnership. In addition to facilitating improved air service, bachelor of science degree in the airport expansion allowed United Parcel business economics from Indiana By passion, I mean enthusiasm, a sense of Service to build its WorldPort global package University and a law degree mission, a vision that captures imaginations. sorting hub at Louisville International Airport. from Georgetown University in One example is our City of Parks initiative, set UPS is now Louisville’s – and Kentucky’s – Washington, D.C. He served two years in the U.S. Army, then in motion by a local civic leader with vision and largest private employer, with 20,000 workers, went on to serve two terms on supported by public and private donations. The and the company is in the midst of its second $1 Louisville’s Board of Aldermen project – one of the largest parks expansions in billion expansion. and General Counsel to Kentucky the nation – will add 4,000 new acres of green Governor John Y. Brown. space in our rapidly developing suburbs and a More than 110 companies, employing more After he reached the three-term walking, hiking and biking trail encircling the than 8,700 people – from the Geek Squad limit as Louisville’s Mayor in 1998, city. The new parks and 100-mile Louisville computer repair company to Zappos.com he formed The Abramson Group, Loop will connect to our city’s historic urban shoes to Johnson & Johnson – have located specializing in urban and regional park network, designed in the late 1800s by in Louisville and surrounding areas to be near economic development and Frederick Law Olmsted, the architect of New UPS. Louisville International now ranks third business strategies. In 2000, he was one of the primary leaders York City’s Central Park. in North America – and ninth in the world – in of the successful campaign total amount of cargo handled. to merge the governments of Another example is a project that will change Louisville and Jefferson County. He the face of our downtown and its skyline: the Perspective means developing 20/20 vision in won office as the community’s first 62-story Museum Plaza skyscraper, which will community leadership – dreaming about the city Metro Mayor in 2002 with nearly 74 percent of the vote. include a contemporary art museum, hotel, you want in 20 years and beyond. condominiums and shops. The passion and

16 Winter 2008 Louisville’s skyline and riverfront, already the beneficiaries of a $1.5 billion investment since 2003, will soon add a 22,000 seat arena and a 62-story, $465 million skyscraper project, Museum Plaza. The fourth “P” is perseverance – and Louisville’s local government merger is a great example. Three times voters here said “no” to merging our city and county governments and creating one Louisville Metro government. We made adjustments along the way, consolidated some functions and still nursed the dream of coming together as one united community.

In 2000, we came up with a new plan that addressed many public concerns. With business community funding and the endorsement of every living mayor and county judge – Republican and Democratic political leadership – we took it to the voters, and this time they said “yes.” Louisville became the first larger city in 30 years to consolidate its city and county. Merger has allowed us to streamline government, improve basic services and set our course on some clear and ambitious goals – from raising UPS is investing another $1 billion in its global air hub at Louisville International Airport, ranked as the ninth largest cargo airport in the world. educational attainment to thinking regionally, not just locally, when we Working with UPS, the state, University now sharing this description with the work on issues like jobs and air quality, of Louisville and our local community world through our Greater Louisville waterfront planning and housing. college, we created a program for college Community Branding Project, a unique students who would work the night shift long-term partnership between Louisville The final “P” is partnership. There are at UPS in exchange for free tuition, room Metro Government, Greater Louisville those things government or the private and board and special class schedules. The Inc., the Metro Chamber of Commerce sector can do alone. In my experience, typical worker had left UPS after only 8 and the Greater Louisville Convention & however, it is partnerships that create the weeks. Now it’s 100 weeks. And 8,000 Visitor’s Bureau. most exciting changes, building on a wider students have gone to college for free. It’s base of resources and expertise. an amazing success story! For more on Louisville, our progress, partnerships and possibilities, visit our web A prime example is Metropolitan College Partnerships are also at the heart of one site: www.louisvilleky.gov – a collaboration born in crisis when UPS additional “P” – that is “Possibility City,” faced serious turnover problems with a description we believe captures the true its overnight workforce nine years ago. “personality” of our community. We are

Winter 2008 17 Leadership Through Planning – Charleston: A Case Study J. Thomas Lane Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP

Tom Lane is a partner in the In the summer of 2003, the newly elected • Improving and strengthening Bowles Rice Charleston office mayor and 27 members of Charleston City and is the leader of the firm’s neighborhoods Council convened as a planning committee. coal, oil and gas practice group. • Improving city infrastructure He practices primarily in the Meeting on the stage of the as-yet unopened areas of natural resources, Clay Center, the venue demonstrated the • Making government efficient coal, oil and gas, commercial ability to take an impossible dream and make real estate, zoning and land • Enhancing and creating recreation and it reality. In this unusual setting for a legislative development, as well as special events litigation cases involving body, the members set about to establish a these areas. He also engages collective vision for the city. Tom Heywood, • Attracting business and creating jobs in lobbying and government the meeting facilitator, offered the suggestion relations, particularly on issues affecting the mineral industry. that great leaders identify ultimate goals, then Implementation of the plan began with task set reasonable action plans to accomplish them. forces in each focus area and Council teams As the former Robert T. Donley With that sense of focus, these city leaders began charged with accomplishing goals. Halfway Adjunct Professor of Law at the West Virginia University to offer their ideas. through the ten-year vision plan, the results are College of Law, Mr. Lane taught remarkable. a course in coal, oil and gas Visions were expressed in terms of headlines that law. He compiled a teaching members would like to read in the Charleston Charleston could already be described as “the text on coal, oil and gas and has published numerous articles. Gazette in the year 2013. Those headlines Boulder of the East.” New activities have ranged from “Boulder, Colorado, Known as the been established, including a week-long arts Mr. Lane is president of the Charleston of the West,” and “Demand Creates festival, “FestivALL,” activity-filled 4th of July Charleston City Council, where he has been an elected New 500-Room Hotel” to “Young People festivities, and a weekly summer concert series, member since 1987. Coming Home to Charleston.” appropriately named “Live on the Levee.” Existing activities, including “Wine and All Mr. Lane is trustee and past Two years later, in 2005, City Council continued That Jazz,” a Chili Cook-Off and the Sternwheel president of the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation and its planning efforts with a retreat facilitated by Regatta have been enhanced, and virtually every past president and chairman Becky Ceperley of the Greater Kanawha Valley week from late spring until the new “Hot Rod of the Executive Council of The Foundation. This meeting, held in the outfield and Do-Wop” weekend in early fall, a significant West Virginia Bar Association. of the newly completed Appalachian Power activity takes place in Charleston. “Kids On He is also the chairman of the Charleston Land Trust. Park, resulted in the identification of five focus Court,” a tennis program for inner city youth, areas to elevate Charleston to higher levels. was initiated with enthusiastic support of Mr. Lane received his bachelor Most recently, in 2007, another newly elected volunteers. In five short years, an already-active of arts degree in 1968 from Council met at the recently opened, state-of- city has been enriched with lively and vibrant Washington & Jefferson College and his law degree in 1973 from the-art Robert C. Byrd Pharmacy School at the activities taking place on a consistent basis. West Virginia University. University of Charleston. In the same relatively short span, the city In 2006 Mr. Lane was awarded Each meeting venue demonstrated that planning code was re-written to encourage new the annual McClaugherty Award by the Energy and Mineral Law seemingly impossible dreams can come true, and building, the redevelopment of deteriorating Foundation for distinguished in each instance the Charleston City Council neighborhoods and the creation of green spaces service to the natural resource refined the ways in which improvements could in commercial areas. The clutter of commercial profession. be made in the five focus areas, all of which pole signs will be reduced under these new rules, centered on the theme of making Charleston a as a uniform system of tasteful and low-impact great place to live and to work: signs is put in place. The Charleston Land Trust was created, and it now holds valuable property for new parks and recreation opportunities.

18 Winter 2008 Clockwise from upper left: Appalachian Power Park, home of the West Virginia Power; Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences, the 240,000 square foot home of the Avampato Discovery Museum and the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra; boats docked at Haddad Riverfront Park during a free “Live at the Levee” summer concert; the logo for Charleston’s week-long FestivALL.

A user tax was imposed to support the open dialogue exists which will open the before Council are often viewed in light of hiring of new police officers whose door for collaboration with the county and clearly articulated goals. Second, the mere presence today is recognized in headlines other governments. existence of a plan has led to focused efforts which report: “Crime Has Dramatically to accomplish articulated goals and the Dropped.” Strong neighborhoods are safe A drive through downtown Charleston results today are evident. neighborhoods and with a greater sense today reveals a clean and robust city. New of safety in our neighborhoods, a subpart headlines read: “Charleston is Driving the A common theme expressed at each of the plan to improve neighborhoods has State’s Economy,” “Charleston, a Great planning meeting was the concept that certainly been accomplished. Home for Seniors” and “Charleston, Charleston should be a leader. In this Thriving on the Creative Class of Young expression and in the readiness to plan, The not-very-sexy subject of infrastructure Professionals.” leadership was actually practiced. The improvement also has been addressed, value of planning, and the value of with new storm water controls, GPS Planning in government is unfortunately leadership which executes a plan, are seen mapping of the city, a multi-million a rare occurrence, and planning by a today in very tangible improvements in dollar renovation of the Sanitary Board legislative body is, perhaps, even more Charleston. plant, maintenance plans on all city- rare. The lessons from Charleston’s effort owned property and again, the user fee to are, therefore, noteworthy. First, the As with any plan, Charleston’s is not fully maintain city streets in excellent condition. mere effort to plan, to think together and realized. Work is incomplete, but that is as City and county 911 services and housing to seek common goals has resulted in an it should be. authorities have been merged in an effort unusual congeniality among members to obtain more efficient government. An and common purpose. Issues coming

Winter 2008 19 Helping Others Deal with Change Gregory K. Smith, President and CEO Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield

Gregory K. Smith has been the Everyone has heard the statement, President and Chief Executive “The only thing constant in today’s Officer of Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield since 1995. business world is change.” Because He has been with the company everyone operates in a global economy since 1984, and previously held and has immediate and real-time company and that must be emphasized to the positions of executive vice access to data and information, input is received employees every day. president, vice president for on a daily, if not hourly, basis that can impact external operations and director of public relations. operations. This is especially true in the health The term “Leadership” encompasses a broad insurance business. In healthcare, accessibility spectrum of meanings, with thousands of books A graduate of West Virginia and affordability are top concerns for individuals written on the subject. There are also as many University, he also completed and businesses across the nation. Consequently, a different styles as there are leaders. However, the Harvard Business School’s myriad of initiatives are occurring in an effort to Executive Education Program. there are a few identifiable characteristics of great He is a member of West Virginia resolve these problems. Unlike other businesses, leadership which allow company growth even University at Parkersburg’s almost everyone is either a customer, supplier, in times of change. These characteristics are: Board of Advisors. or regulator of Mountain State Blue Cross Blue honesty, integrity, openness, trust, loyalty and Shield, and sometimes they are all three at the fairness. The effective leader also emphasizes Mr. Smith is a former member same time. of the West Virginia Legislature goals, recognition of high performance and (1980-86), where he served as clarity in communicating goals and expectations. Assistant Majority Leader and The health insurance industry has been If these are practiced daily, employees will Democratic Caucus Chairman categorized in many different ways: financial always be able to deal with change. If practiced from 1985 to 1986. He was institution, risk management company, only when needed or during a crisis, they will appointed by former Governor Bob Wise to the West Virginia third-party administrator, preferred provider be recognized for what they are – attempts to Economic Development organization, etc. But mostly, it is a service manipulate! Consider the following: Authority from 2002 to 2004 and is a past chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

20 Winter 2008 Artist’s rendering of Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield’s new corporate headquarters in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Always Emphasize That Employees are Tell It All ... And Often model. In many cases this model only Number 1 works until criticism or bad news begins Employees have a right and obligation to to flow up the line. For successful How many companies have used the know what is going on in their company. communication to occur, it must be two- slogan “The Customer Is Always Right?” With very few exceptions, employees way and based on honesty, integrity and It is a slogan primarily designed to should have access to every piece of fairness. The successful leader, especially emphasize to the employees that they need information management has. This is during times of change: to be respectful of a customer and fully even more important during times of meet the customer’s needs. A better way change. While they may not like all the • never promises anything until it can be of accomplishing the same concept is to information, overall stress and speculation delivered; ensure that if employees are treated fairly, is reduced with this “tell it all” philosophy. • promotes loyalty to the company and its they will take care of the customer. This employees; is one of the tenets of the Great Place To Respect Must be Earned, not Demanded Work Foundation’s mission, to which • recognizes that mistakes occur but does Mountain State Blue® Cross Blue Shield Employees understand the need to respect not tolerate poor service; subscribes. authority, but personal respect does not • actively demonstrates that the company automatically come along with a new job cares about employees; and most Show Your Appreciation title. It is earned over time. One must first importantly respect employees as individuals before Everyone likes to feel they are appreciated respect is returned. A supervisor who has • develops trust as part of the environment and are making a contribution to the to remind an employee “who’s the boss” is and culture. company’s goals and objectives. There are ineffective as a leader. Great leaders know many “Best Practices” to show employees to leave power on the shelf. The question should be: Are these theories they are appreciated and most are not or practices used by the company? The monetary rewards. Here it is paramount that Practice Integrity, Fairness and Openness answer can only be verified by its employees. the leadership not delegate, but participate They are the only ones who can determine with a willingness and desire to do so. All leaders profess to promote and practice whether this is the way a company should an open and two-way communication run or it is the way the company is run.

Winter 2008 21 BrickStreet: The Product of Change Gregory A. Burton, President and CEO BrickStreet

Gregory A. Burton is President The first sentence of BrickStreet’s and Chief Executive Officer of BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Corporate Culture Statement Company. He oversees policy reads, “BrickStreet Insurance is the direction, leadership, strategic product of change, and embraces plan implementation and the opportunities and energies that budget development for BrickStreet. He also serves change presents.” This statement, on the Board of Directors for developed by our employees during the West Virginia Chamber our privatization from state agency of Commerce and the West Virginia Roundtable. to corporate citizen, is an accurate reflection of BrickStreet’s feelings Mr. Burton earned a about change. master’s degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky and a Leadership is situational. The bachelor of science degree demands a leader faces change as the in marketing/management organization he leads evolves and finance from the University of Charleston. He was appointed grows; as the organization evolves, acting commissioner of a successful leader must evolve with the Bureau of Employment it. In many ways, that has been easy Programs and Executive Director at BrickStreet. Making the change of Workers’ Compensation by then Governor Bob Wise in April from government agency to successful 2003. private company has allowed us to Mutual. Additionally, we hired other individuals grow and evolve together. Within our company, experienced at the local and regional insurance Previously, he served as Cabinet agent level. Secretary of Administration; a major part of that growth has been the City Manager of Charleston; development of our leadership team. chairman of the West Virginia Just as you cannot have teachers without Health Care Authority; assistant We made a commitment early in the students, you cannot have successful leaders vice president, Investment without good employees, and BrickStreet has a Banking with Ferris, Baker, development of BrickStreet that, whenever Watts; and vice president, head possible, we would fill our leadership positions commitment to employee development. Two of corporate trust with Bank from within. If that was not possible, and time of BrickStreet’s fundamental building blocks One. allowed, we would provide additional resources are good employee communications and a to employees to help them qualify for leadership willingness to provide training opportunities to positions. our employees.

We also recognized that some leadership Our primary tool for employee communication positions would require hiring from the outside. is a Daily Message which is published each day on There were some specialized skill sets, such as our intranet site, called Street Talk. Sometimes the successful experience working in private sector Daily Message comes from me, sometimes from mutual insurance companies or experience various senior managers and at times from others working with insurance agencies and agents, within the company. Topics range from serious which we did not have and could not develop. management concerns, such as computer usage Because of those needs, we filled leadership policies and building security, to more routine positions at several levels with individuals hired topics, such as meeting notices, training schedules, from Colorado-based Pinnacol Assurance, staffing and organizational changes. Mutual Insurance and Kentucky Employers

22 Winter 2008 There also is an untraceable feedback system doing things right; leadership is doing the We live and work in an uncertain world. in which employees can comment on the right things.” Everyday events change the environment Daily Message or any other BrickStreet- in which we work, and we adjust to those related topic. These employee comments are The other is from Reverend Theodore changes. Individuals are successful leaders distributed among senior management, who Hesburgh, president emeritus of the when they do what is right and do so with respond as appropriate. While some of these University of Notre Dame, who said about the certainty of their vision. comments may require a personal answer, leadership, “The very essence of leadership many are comments relating to events or is that you have to have vision. You can’t circumstances which can be addressed blow an uncertain trumpet.” universally.

Periodically we survey our employees on their attitudes and opinions on specific work-related issues. Sometimes this survey work is done by internal staff, while at other times, depending on the topics and nature of the questions, we contract the survey work out.

Terms like employment empowerment and participatory management are too often overused and incorrectly understood. At BrickStreet we use these concepts, but not these terms, because we believe in an educated and informed workforce which has input in many areas of decision-making. Sometimes that input is formalized, at times informal, but always listened to and considered.

Definitions of leadership usually explain what the leader does, but often fail to identify that leader. Does a company have only one leader? Two leaders? Several? We realize that no one person is the only leader in a company; leadership occurs at all levels of the company.

For example, two or three employees notice a problem with a process or a workflow and report that problem to management. Clearly, those employees saw something that others missed. More than that, they not only saw it, they reported it in such a way that company leadership could act upon it. In cases like this, it is easy to say that the leaders were the employees who identified and reported the problem and that senior management, even when making the required decisions, was simply following the lead of the employees.

Two quotes come to mind to summarize leadership and change. The first is from Peter Drucker, who said, “Management is

Winter 2008 23 West Virginia’s Physicians and Political Leaders Create a Working Solution David L. Rader, President and CEO West Virginia Mutual Insurance Company

David L. Rader is President and Do you ever wonder why you are not seeing critical. Both houses of the Legislature fully CEO of the West Virginia Mutual news stories about the “Malpractice Crisis” in supported the idea of tort reforms combined Insurance Company, a non- profit mutual insurer owned by West Virginia anymore? Or reading headlines with a new, not-for-profit malpractice insurance its policyholders and serving that “Doctors are leaving West Virginia?” Or carrier. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin and the physicians of West Virginia. hearing about the “Malpractice Issue” when you former Speaker Robert Kiss provided the classic He has significant experience visit your doctor? Maybe it’s because there is no legislative leadership needed for the adoption of in the formation and operation longer a crisis in West Virginia. Maybe, through innovative solutions. of medical professional liability insurance companies, having practical leadership and political stewardship, been a key figure in the start-up this issue has become manageable, and a solution Insurance Commissioner Jane Cline and her of eight such companies prior found to a very vexing problem. staff have been strong partners in helping West to coming to West Virginia. Virginia’s physicians find insurance with a In order to solve a statewide problem like strong financial basis. They provided insurance Mr. Rader has been CEO of the Mutual since its inception medical malpractice, there must be change. expertise and guidance at every step in the in 2004. He has held similar And to have meaningful, positive change, there creation and operation of the new insurance positions in Ohio, Florida and must be leadership. In fact, when things change entity. They were truly strategic partners in the Illinois. He is also a founding for the worse it is often because of a vacuum of success of the Mutual. member of the Physician leadership. In West Virginia, malpractice change Insurers Association of America (PIAA). came as a result of a large team of varied players all going in the same direction at the same time. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Mr. Rader and his An important part of the solution was to create wife have family roots in West Virginia and Southern Ohio. He a not-for-profit, non-governmental insurer is active within the community, owned by the doctors which could provide serving on the Board of the Girl insurance for the doctors. The state provided Scouts in West Virginia and on seed money and, through legislative reforms, the West Virginia Round Table. created a climate for growth. The doctors took But the strongest, most effective leadership it from there, and the West Virginia Mutual – the greatest engine for change – has come Insurance Company was born. from West Virginia’s physicians themselves. There are six physician leaders on the West Leadership comes in a variety of shapes and sizes: Virginia Mutual Insurance Company Board: vision, building consensus, placing community Robert L. Ghiz, M.D., Charleston, is the interests above personal concerns, and hard Chairman of the Board. The other physician work. A review of the key players in helping to Board members are R. Austin Wallace, M.D., resolve malpractice concerns in West Virginia Charleston, Vice-Chair; MaryAnn Cater, D.O., demonstrates some of the many flavors of Wheeling, Secretary; Michael A. Stewart, M.D., leadership. Clarksburg, Treasurer; Jeffrey L. Neely, M.D., Morgantown; and Steven L. Sebert, M.D., Executive governmental leadership came from Huntington. These doctors, together with the vision of former Governor Bob Wise and five insurance professionals also on the Board, current Governor . Through their provide the leadership needed in this important stewardship, the state has been a large part of the time of change for West Virginia’s doctors solution – and not a part of the problem. and their patients. These physicians gave up personal time and career interests in order to help Building consensus in the Legislature was also restore stability to the state’s insurance climate.

24 Winter 2008 Part of the Mutual’s leadership team, left to right: Robert L. Ghiz, M.D.; Gary J. Schultz; Tamara D. Lively; David L. Rader; and R. Austin Wallace, M.D. Their personal sacrifices led the way to several innovative risk management worry about the issue of fault. They are preserve access to medical care for all West programs have been designed to help West encouraged to appreciate the impact such Virginians. Virginia’s doctors protect and assist their events have on patients and their families patients. Risk managers from the Mutual and to take actions that are ethically and Dr. Ghiz and the other physicians on the provide on-site services in doctors’ offices humanly right for their patients. Mutual’s Board of Directors have used to reduce the possibility that improper the tools they were given to effectively record-keeping will result in an adverse Dr. Ghiz and the other five physicians manage a bad situation into a true success outcome. These same risk managers on the Mutual Board have provided story. Thanks to legislative initiatives and also work through specialty and regional leadership through a time of change. New patient safety programs, the number of medical societies to educate practicing physicians are coming into West Virginia malpractice lawsuits in West Virginia has physicians on new drug protocols or every week. And, thanks to the synergy of been dramatically reduced. And this has current medical issues that will affect political and professional leaders, change led to a reduction in the average premiums patient care. means a better way of life for all West paid by our doctors. Virginians. Another Mutual project is called the But that wasn’t enough. At the same C.A.R.E. Program. This program (the Work still remains to be done. Leadership time, these physicians have created name means Communicate And Respond in all its forms will continue to be major new risk management programs Effectively) is designed to help physicians needed. History shows us that medical designed to help physicians protect deal effectively with patients and families malpractice crises are cyclical. They come their patients. In addition to ensuring when unexpected adverse outcomes around every seven to ten years. West a high quality of patient care, the risk occur. Led by Dr. Ghiz, instructors from Virginia physicians cannot take their management programs help promote the Mutual have traveled throughout accomplishments for granted and fail to better communication and trust between West Virginia to conduct seminars for prepare for the future. Because of good the doctor and the patient. A positive physicians. Policyholders get assistance physician leadership, however, West patient/doctor relationship is a win-win from the Mutual in understanding the Virginia should be well positioned to situation for all. need for openness and transparency with withstand any negative forces that may be disclosure. They learn steps to consider coming. The shared commitment of this Through the efforts of Dr. Ghiz and Dr. before, during and after an unanticipated newly formed alliance of leaders in West Sebert, who serves as Chairman of the outcome, including the need to say “I’m Virginia will be ready. Mutual’s Risk Management Committee, sorry” when it is appropriate – and not

Winter 2008 25 Leaders in West Virginia Face Special Challenges Bray Cary, President and CEO West Virginia Media

Bray Cary is President and As West Virginia struggles with CEO of West Virginia Media, a little or no growth, our leaders are multi-media communications company that reaches all of challenged not only to see beyond West Virginia. In 2001 Mr. the horizon but also to convince Cary assembled a group of others that change can create greater predominately West Virginia opportunity. They must convince We need political leaders who can see what a investors and began acquiring others that the pursuit of change is worthwhile. great state this could be if we embraced laws media businesses that today include four network television that reflect the values of the rest of America, stations and The State Journal, The lack of growth in West Virginia takes away and especially our neighboring states. Those a statewide business and any margin of error when leaders assess their leaders should abandon the protectionist polices leadership publication. opportunities. Leaders normally can hedge that hold us back. They must be confident that their bets when local and regional economies their actions and policies – rather than political Mr. Cary lived his early years in West Virginia and is a 1966 realize the sort of growth the rest of the nation patronage and the distribution of public funds graduate of Hinton High School. experiences. Such growth would create some – will keep them in office. Even better, those Working in WVU’s Office of positive results even if the changes are slow to same leaders could view politics as the path to Intercollegiate Athletics as take hold. honorable public service and regional growth a student, he developed an rather than a means to preserve our stale and understanding of college sports and the media and after But in a no- to low-growth economy, such failed policies and their personal power. leaving WVU, worked for the as the one we have in West Virginia, our Sun Belt Conference, where he leaders perceive change not only to be risky developed and operated the but also something that many citizens cannot Sun Belt Conference Television Network until 1984. visualize. That makes leadership in West Virginia particularly difficult because, in many cases, we Mr. Cary then founded Creative are faced with hitting a home run – or striking Sports in Charlotte, North out altogether. Carolina, specializing in the syndication of televised college football and basketball games. Perhaps West Virginia leaders have taken the He sold his company in 1994, “hunker-down” approach because they perceive and for the next four years that keeping what they have is easier than was an ESPN consultant and convincing others that, through change, we all can negotiator for college and find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. motor sports. In 1998, he joined NASCAR as vice president of Surely our political leaders realize that West Virginia broadcasting and technology, is losing ground every day and that the majority helping to consolidate all of our citizens are hurt daily in a multitude of television rights to NASCAR ways. Our taxes are too high. Our government races. has evolved into a care agency for far too many citizens who, unfortunately, have been victims of government policies that perpetuate the status quo rather than open the state to the competitive marketplace. These same policies have undermined our families and torn them apart, forcing too many of our educated and talented young adults to leave West Virginia to pursue opportunities in more economically-friendly environs.

26 Winter 2008 Our business leaders also are challenged. In middle class and created an electorate opportunities close to home. They see West Virginia, many business managers that depends on the government for jobs just how much potential exists in these are afraid to speak up for fear of and income. They naturally fear change mountains and in our people. Their retaliation. Unfortunately and unnaturally, to their status. We must convince the confidence in our potential and love for most, if not all, businesses in West Virginia people that West Virginia can participate our state mean we can succeed. depend on some form of government in the American dream if they demand payments for their existence. But we all changes that result in smaller government Our challenge, therefore, is to redouble could do so much better if we would speak and a reduction of taxes – not just a our efforts in presenting our case for out and suggest that what is happening redistribution of taxes. We then could change to the people of West Virginia. is not acceptable. If we developed a level compete and flourish in America. Until we We must explain its worth and potential playing field through the adoption of accept that fact, we always shall be headed to every citizen. We must define a path to public policies that are consistent with down the road to poverty rather than the economic success. Leaders who believe in those in economically vibrant states, we highway to prosperity. our people and our potential to embrace all could grow and succeed. That is the change can and must deliver that message challenge at hand. Over time, through conversations with in a convincing way. Most important of all, citizens across the state, I have learned that we must never give up on our belief that Finally, true leadership must come from our people are our strength. They want West Virginia can be a full partner in the the governed. That normally occurs a West Virginia that offers opportunity American dream. through the election process, but our and hope for the future. They want state unintentionally has chased out the their children and grandchildren to find

Winter 2008 27 Leadership West Virginia – Successes and Plans for the Future Pamela A. Farris, Executive Director Leadership West Virginia

Pam Farris is the executive The cultivation of new leadership is of utmost • Imparting a knowledge of significant director of Leadership West importance to West Virginia’s future prosperity state issues on a level and to a degree that Virginia, a not-for-profit affiliate of the West Virginia and progress. Leadership West Virginia, a participants would not otherwise obtain. not-for-profit affiliate of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. She • Heightening awareness and sensitivity through is responsible for leading the Chamber of Commerce, is entering its 18th year fresh insight and broadened perspectives. statewide program, recruiting of developing and motivating a cross-section for the selection of qualified of leaders. These leaders will, in turn, use their • Developing a core of knowledgeable, dedicated participants, fundraising activities and building an talents and abilities to inspire others by their and motivated individuals who will undertake alumni network of leaders. Pam example of service and to foster a new spirit of a variety of leadership responsibilities. brought 22 years of professional energy, enthusiasm and vitality across the state. experience to the Leadership • Building a statewide network of graduates who will contribute to improved program, as she previously This statewide leadership development program worked at Wells Fargo Disability communication and a greater understanding meets several objectives: Management. of, and involvement in, critical issues. Ms. Farris is active in the • Bringing together emerging leaders who • Stressing the responsibility to actively community. She currently represent a broad spectrum of professional, participate in finding solutions that will serves on the Parent Volunteer personal, political, philosophical and enhance West Virginia’s future growth and Association Board of Charleston Catholic High School, where geographic diversity. prosperity. she co-chairs “Focus WV,” a mini program for the students to learn more about the wonders of West Virginia. She is a member of the Vandalia Rotary Club of Charleston and the West Virginia Society of Association Executives. She is a graduate of West Virginia University’s School of Business and Economics and completed the Leadership West Virginia program in 1998.

Leadership West Virginia’s 2008 Meeting Schedule

28 Winter 2008 Each year, as many as 50 leaders are selected to participate in Leadership West Virginia through a nomination process. Those selected must have demonstrated skills and experience in public affairs and professional careers. Although the participants are from different regions of the state, have varying backgrounds and viewpoints and possess diverse talents, they all share one common characteristic – an interest in West Virginia and its future.

This year, Leadership West Virginia will meet in eight communities throughout the The class of 2007 kicked off the program visiting the Eastern Panhandle and touring various historic sites with state (see map with session locations and members of the Army War College. meeting dates). Each of the eight monthly meetings involves a two-day educational session that typically runs from Thursday morning through Friday afternoon. The sessions deal with key subjects and critical issues facing West Virginia.

At each of the leadership sessions, recognized authorities, practitioners, business people, teachers, professionals and analysts provide information and insight regarding program topics such as health care, economic development, tourism, government, the legal system and education. Varieties of views are presented on each topic and visits are made to local sites that reinforce or expand understanding of subject matter through Attorneys from the class, Courtney Kirtley and Bob Beatty, prepare their case at the Justice System Forum in the United observation and practical experience. States District Court Northern District of West Virginia before Senior U. S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr.

A secondary aspect of the program, which was added in recent years, is leadership development training. Each year the curriculum committee focuses on identifying the most current training issues of importance to the class. Some recent topics have included honing your leadership skills (in which class members explored their personality traits and interaction with others), strategic planning, meeting facilitation, leadership in a changing world, managing chaos in the workplace and media training.

Lastly, the students spend time in each community where the session is held. For some members of the class, these visits to different communities around our state The class stopped to visit Holl’s Chocolates during the Economic Development session in Parkersburg.

(continued on p. 47)

Winter 2008 29 The Two Indispensable Qualities of Leaders Robert R. Simpson, Jr., Member Dixon Hughes PLLC

Robert Simpson co-founded I have long been fascinated with the certified public accounting leadership. It has been my good firm of Simpson & Osborne, CPAs, A.C., which joined forces fortune to know many outstanding with Dixon Hughes in February leaders and to see leadership in 2007. He serves tax clients in a action, all of which has further variety of industries and focuses whetted my appetite for the topic. on succession planning and This interest led to my involvement compensation. in the creation of the West Virginia He frequently speaks Leadership Conference, a project of to community and civic the West Virginia Roundtable. I have organizations on a variety of had the pleasure of co-chairing the Leadership Somehow, I think this statement resonates with tax, financial and management Conference with David Hardesty, now the topics, and has served as a most of us at some level. We know that sooner or discussion leader at numerous immediate past president of West Virginia later the old ways won’t work anymore and that continuing professional University, and a great leader himself. a new approach and new solutions are needed. education seminars. He has Furthermore, those most vested in the old ways been an instructor at West I have encountered leaders in all shapes, sizes, are least likely to change, citing the mantra “if it Virginia State University. A colors and philosophies. Indeed, they seem to be as CPA since 1969, he also ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” holds the Certified Financial varied as any cross-section of the population. While Planner (CFP) designation. He they tend to have certain qualities in common, it While change is necessary, what is much less clear earned a master’s of business is my observation that there are only two which is what the appropriate change is, and when it administration from The I would consider indispensable. The first calls to should be introduced. This brings me to the first Ohio State University and his bachelor’s degree from Miami mind a quote I recently happened upon: indispensable leadership quality, what is now University. popularly called “vision.” Essentially it is this: “The history of the world can be summarized in Leaders are those who have a vision of the future Mr. Simpson is actively involved one sentence. Nothing fails like success.” that they find compelling. They seem to see a in a number of professional and civic organizations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, is a past president of the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, a past president of the Rotary Club of Charleston and is the chairman of the West Virginia Roundtable.

He was the recipient of “Who’s Who in West Virginia” in 1997 and a Distinguished Service Award from the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.

30 Winter 2008 bigger picture, see it more clearly and hold Perhaps these observations seem to be are not only doing well for themselves, but it with considerable passion. They believe not a very fine screen. In other words, lots for us all, in that they are the ones who are this vision of the future offers solutions to of people would qualify as leaders under catalysts for a positive future. situations that perplex us today. this test of qualities, and that is my point. Leadership is far more ubiquitous than The door of leadership is open, not just This leads me to my second observation we commonly think. When we mention to a chosen few with special gifts, but to regarding indispensable qualities of leaders: leadership, those who spring to mind all who choose to make the journey. It is a they have followers. This is stating the are people such as presidents and prime challenging journey with many highs and obvious, I suppose, but it merits further ministers, popes and princes. And indeed, lows, but it is one for which the human consideration. many fine leaders occupy such positions. spirit is well suited and from which both But not all leaders have high position, those who take it and those with whom What I find particularly interesting are and we often find that the qualities of they interact can benefit. the myriad ways in which leaders seem leadership emerge well before the position to attract followers. Some have powerful is occupied. Editor’s Note: The sixth annual Leadership personalities and make their presence in Conference will be held on April 22-23 a crowd immediately known. Others are I am convinced that there is a greater need at the Waterfront Place in Morgantown. extraordinarily humble and quiet. My for leadership in our world today than ever For more information or to register for the point is, while the leaders can be quite before, and that the more we have of it, the Leadership Conference, visit their website different, they share this characteristic: better. Those who can compose a positive at www.wvleadershipconference.org. they have followers, and this derives from vision which propels them forward, and the fact that those followers find the who are willing to learn other skills which leader’s vision compelling. will assist in making them effective leaders,

Winter 2008 31 Vision Shared Is Working for a Better West Virginia Juliet A. Terry, President Vision Shared Inc.

Juliet A. Terry was named I have had the precious gift of knowing president of Vision Shared amazing, incredible, inspiring leaders at Inc. in 2007. Vision Shared is a statewide nonprofit various points in my life – people who economic development helped to shape the person I am today. organization dedicated to They have been family, friends, coworkers, bringing diverse groups teammates or bosses, and each one of them together to address issues has taught me something different about that will improve the quality of life for West Virginians. As leadership – what to do and, sometimes, president, Terry is responsible what not to do. for supporting the work of at least 30 different committees As the new president of Vision Shared Inc., I and nearly 1,000 volunteers, have the equally good fortune of knowing a in addition to serving as the principal spokeswoman for the veritable battalion of volunteers who are eager to organization. help West Virginia make changes for the better. It’s axiomatic – leaders need followers, and vice Terry, a Wheeling native, was versa. One cannot exist without the other. a nationally award-winning journalist who began her career reporting for the In times of change, trust is what binds followers Wheeling News-Register and to their leaders, and the importance of this basic The Intelligencer. She later concept cannot be underscored. It’s something moved to The State Journal and I learned long ago from my first leaders in West Virginia Media television stations, where she was both life, my parents. By watching their example, I a print and on-air reporter. learned that trust is far from one-dimensional. Her reporting on issues, such It is an amalgam of compassion, respect, honor, as medical liability, workers’ integrity, inspiration, hard work and myriad compensation and other other qualities that effective leaders need to government and legal affairs, earned her top honors from the have. Association of Capital Reporters and Editors, the Alliance of Area Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter once said, Business Publications and the “A leader takes people where they want to go. West Virginia Press Association. A great leader takes people where they don’t Terry has a bachelor of arts necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” degree in English with a minor in biology from Allegheny West Virginia is at a crossroads. Many realize College in Meadville, the state needs to make some real, substantive Pennsylvania. She also holds a changes if we ever are going to climb out of last master of legal studies degree from West Virginia University. place economically, but change is scary. It’s the unknown. The status quo may not be working for much of West Virginia, but it is a known enemy. Taking risks and making changes begets fear, and fear can be the greatest enemy of progress.

32 Winter 2008 As Carter said, it takes a great leader to Ultimately, it is my goal that West where it needs to improve. What we still convince people to risk the unknown Virginians begin to trust that a different need is for the people of this state to step and trust that a new direction is correct. future is possible for West Virginia. Vision up and realize that in a way, everyone Believe it or not, West Virginia has a Shared is working to make that happen, is a leader and a follower – everyone plethora of leaders. They graduate from but it takes a lot more than just one great has a responsibility to take action. A leadership development programs every leader or one motivated organization great leader, in turn, listens to what year. They are on boards of directors, to steer the Mountain State in a new the supporters have to say and lets that they donate to charities and they direction. It takes the will of the people. message guide his or her actions. volunteer in their communities. But West Virginians have to want a more how many of them would Carter consider vibrant economy and be willing to work at Vision Shared is here. We are listening, great? That’s not for me to measure – it’s achieving that reality. and we are working hard for a better West for the followers to decide. Who will Virginia. Anyone who wants to join the they follow? Who do they trust? Who is We have much of the information we need effort need only step up and ask, “How inspiring them to make a difference? And to make the changes that are necessary. can I help?” most importantly, what kind of life do We have tax studies and economic they want? These are questions each development projections that are telling For more information about Vision Shared, West Virginian needs to ask. us where West Virginia can succeed and please visit our website at www.visionshared.com.

Winter 2008 33 Generation West Virginia: Combating the Brain Drain to Ensure West Virginia’s Future is Bright Paul D. A. Daugherty, Co-Founder Generation West Virginia

Paul Daugherty is Director of What is the relevance of the figure 650,000 to Other communities and regions of the state Development, Major Gifts for the the future of West Virginia? are encouraged to join the movement. WVU Eye Institute, the state’s premier center for vision care, research, education and outreach. 650,000 represents the number of people This growing movement of young leaders is He joined the WVU Eye Institute’s between 18 to 44 years of age in the Mountain unique because each local group started out Leadership Team in February 2006. State, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. independently, yet shared a focus and dealt with Mr. Daugherty is a proud West This demographic is our state’s greatest natural the same issue of the “Brain Drain” on their local Virginia native who grew up in resource, as it represents the present and level. It is evident, by the energy, enthusiasm, Doddridge County. He received a future base of workers, intellectual capital and drive and proactive focus of the most recent bachelor of arts degree from West leadership. meeting of Generation West Virginia in August Virginia Wesleyan College with a double major in communication 2007, that these young leaders are putting into studies and political science and a It is no secret that for decades West Virginia has action the words of Ghandi: “Be the change that minor in physics. been battling the “Brain Drain,” as some of our you see in the world.” best and brightest young people left the state for As a volunteer leader, he is spokesperson, co-founder, and other opportunities. This “Brain Drain” has As the Baby Boomer generation ages and steering committee member of been a long-debated and identified problem, moves into retirement, West Virginia is going Generation West Virginia. On the but not until recently had anyone stepped up to to experience a decline of its workforce and local level, he serves as a member combat this trend. leadership base, leading to an increased demand of the Generation Morgantown Advisory Board in Morgantown, for young talent, intellectual capital and leaders West Virginia and co-founder Generation West Virginia, a group of young across the state. and co-chair of Young Emerging leaders ages 21 to 45 from across the state, Leaders of the Mid-Ohio Valley in was formed in February 2007 to combat this On the national level, it is forecast that two Parkersburg, West Virginia. ongoing problem. Generation West Virginia is workers will leave the workforce for every Mr. Daugherty is the former a statewide consortium of young professional/ one entering, as those reaching the age of 65 executive director of the WVU leadership groups from several communities outpace those reaching the age of 18. By 2008 at Parkersburg Foundation and which have come together to combat the trend it is predicted that there will be a shortage of 10 director of development for West Virginia University at Parkersburg, and make West Virginia a place that retains, million workers across all employment categories and was the regional foundation attracts and advances young talent. nationwide. services representative for the Parkersburg Area Community Generation West Virginia presently includes For West Virginia, these projections mean not Foundation and Regional Affiliates of Ritchie and Doddridge counties. young leaders from Charleston (Generation only a reduction in workforce, but a vacuum Charleston), Huntington (Young Professional of leaders. The competition for young talent is Active in many local, regional Committee of the Huntington Chamber of tightening and will become even tighter for West and statewide initiatives, his Commerce), Martinsburg (Young Professionals Virginia. involvement includes vice- president of Leave A Legacy® of of the Eastern Panhandle), Morgantown Greater West Virginia, advisory (Generation Morgantown), Parkersburg (Young How do we prepare and respond to the board member of the West Virginia Emerging Leaders of the Mid-Ohio Valley), transition and change of leadership and the Campaign Political Archives Center, impending vacuum of intellectual capital in board member of Nazareth Farm, and Wheeling (OV Connect). These volunteer Inc. and co-founder and advisory groups were established locally with their West Virginia now and throughout the future? board member of the Doddridge respective Chambers of Commerce to make County Education Foundation. He communities attractive to young adults and The founding of Generation West Virginia, was recognized in Who’s Who in and its growing involvement of a broad America 2005 and graduated with ensure that the future generations of leaders step the 2005 Class of Leadership West up and serve their community and the state. representation of young leaders and professionals Virginia. from across West Virginia, could not have come

34 Winter 2008 Representatives of Generation West Virginia’s six young professional/leadership groups posed with Governor Joe Manchin following a January event at the Capitol. at a more critical time in our State’s history. and action to identify strategies and committee representing groups across This group of dynamic young volunteer initiatives to combat the “Brain Drain.” West Virginia. The committee includes leaders, who come from a multitude of In addition, the involvement of each Ashley Hardesty (Morgantown), Joseph professions and communities, are taking local regional group brings the input of Randolph (Huntington), Kristin West action by creating social, professional, civic hundreds, if not thousands, of young (Martinsburg), Brad Rowe (Charleston), and cultural experiences and networks professionals and leaders from across the Justin Seibert (Wheeling) and me, which allow young people to become a Mountain State. Paul Daugherty (Parkersburg). It is part of their local communities. On the important to note that the “speed of light” state level, Generation West Virginia While it is only in its first year of existence, progression of Generation West Virginia has recently outlined five key issue areas Generation West Virginia, through its from an idea to a reality has been made on which to focus, and created working steering committee and many volunteer possible through the generous support committees to put thoughts into action: committee members, is taking action by of the Claude Worthington Benedum establishing plans for a Spring 2008 Young Foundation, the Charleston Area Alliance, • Best Practices/Outreach Leadership Conference that will bring Vision Shared and individuals such as together West Virginia’s best and brightest. Mary Hunt-Lieving and Tom Heywood. • Economic Development In addition, Generation West Virginia • Statewide Image and Marketing will be outlining plans of action for each It is our commitment that Generation of the working committees in the areas of West Virginia becomes a strong and active • Legislative and Policy Issues Economic Development, Legislative and voice for the 650,000 young individuals • The creation of a West Virginia Young Policy Issues and Statewide Image and between the ages of 21 and 45 years living Leadership Conference Marketing at the Spring 2008 Conference. and working in the state, and be the change that we need in West Virginia. Generation West Virginia’s strong As Generation West Virginia moves volunteer base provides input, guidance forward, it is led by a strong steering

Winter 2008 35 Leadership in the Global Market for West Virginia Businesses Matthew G. Ballard, President and CEO Charleston Area Alliance

Matthew G. Ballard was named The most pressing question President of the Charleston Area today for West Virginia’s small- Alliance in December 2006, after serving as the executive and medium-sized businesses vice president. The Charleston is how to compete in a global Area Alliance is a multi-faceted economy. If West Virginia’s economic and community small businesses begin to development organization, capitalize on the international as well as the largest regional Chamber of Commerce in West marketplace in our “flat world,” Virginia. they can benefit themselves by international markets or have contacts with local creating new revenue streams and enhance the businesses that have an international presence. Before joining the Alliance, Mr. state by creating a more vibrant community and This can serve as an important entrée into Ballard served as the executive the international market. Call on your local director of the Hatfield-McCoy prosperous economy. After all, increased profit Trails, a 500-mile multi-use leads to more jobs and lower unemployment, economic development organization to give trail system. Prior to his work in supports local businesses through the purchase you these leads and assist with making the right tourism, Ballard served for two of raw materials and services, and increases introduction for your business. years as the special assistant spending by the gainfully employed. But how for project management and A second helpful resource is the International policy analysis in the state can small businesses, without on-staff expertise Department of Revenue. There, in exportation or international relations, make Division of the West Virginia Development Mr. Ballard managed two the move to international sales? Office (WVDO), which provides consulting initiatives: economic recovery services and helps build international from devastating floods in Generating New Revenues through business relationships. International division southern West Virginia and the representatives help businesses find market statewide “Amendment One” International Commerce ballot initiative, which gave information, assess their product’s viability the state the option of creating The first step a business must take is to determine in potential markets and locate prospective economic development with if its service or product is marketable outside of international business partners. The WVDO “tax increment financing.” the United States. Researching new markets isn’t also maintains international offices in Japan Mr. Ballard has an as difficult as one might think. Technology has and Germany, and the staff of those offices undergraduate degree from made our world smaller. No longer is it such a can be particularly helpful in making contacts Alderson-Broaddus College daunting project to research, explore and execute within those regions if you think this might be a and a master’s degree in Public an international sales plan. Sure, researching profitable market for your products or services. Administration from West Virginia University. tariffs, business culture and related issues may cause a little anxiety, but we’re in the information Another source of help is the U.S. Export age. Much of the initial research can be done Assistance Center of West Virginia, which has right from your desk! Of course, you don’t have two offices in West Virginia: Charleston (which to go it alone. There are several organizations to covers the export needs of 31 counties in West assist West Virginia businesses in their quest to Virginia) and Wheeling (which covers the export go global. needs of the state’s remaining 24 counties). These offices provide technical expertise, Resources Available to Assist research on overseas markets and industries, assistance in the promotion of your product and Your local economic development authority is service in overseas markets, as well as help in a good place to start. Each county or region in identifying potential international partners for West Virginia has an economic development distribution, joint ventures or other partnerships. organization; most have experience in Along with the WVDO, the Commerce office

36 Winter 2008 organizes a number of international trade missions each year in which local businesses can participate. Contact the U.S. Commerce offices in Charleston or Wheeling to find out more about the 2008 trade mission schedule. More information can be found at www.buyusa. gov/westvirginia.

International Leadership from the Charleston Area Alliance

As a regional economic development organization, a central role of the Charleston Area Alliance is to promote growth for our region’s businesses and communities. A key strategy in fulfilling this mandate is attracting new businesses to the area – an increasing This map, provided by the West Virginia Development Office (WVDO), shows the investment locations of 22 countries in West Virginia. number of which are commerce with which we frequently work We at the Charleston Area Alliance are internationally based. Not only does this on mutually beneficial projects. Whether passionate about our mission to build a contribute to the growth and vitality of it is a West Virginia business desiring to more vibrant community and prosperous our region, but it directly strengthens export or establish an international office economy, and welcome the opportunity to and bolsters existing businesses. These or an international company seeking a U.S. assist you or your business. new businesses purchase or lease office operation or partner, the Charleston Area and warehouse space and buy office Alliance is making the right connections In The Taming Of The Shrew, Act 1, Scene supplies and computer equipment; they that can translate into profitability for local 1, William Shakspeare wrote, “No profit hire construction contractors to build or businesses. grows where is no pleasure ta’en: In brief, outfit their offices or facilities; and they sir, study what you most affect.” At the require legal, banking, accounting and Countries that have adopted the euro are Alliance, we’re heeding Mr. Shakespeare’s insurance services. Their employees boost a special focus of Charleston Area Alliance advice as we endeavor to turn this passion local businesses through their purchases international economic development for our mission into profits that benefit us of homes, goods and services. Everyone in activity. The current strength of the euro all. Please let us know how we can the area benefits from the injection of new versus the U.S. dollar means U.S. goods help you. capital into our economy. are more affordable than their European counterparts. It makes economic sense, For more information, contact the In addition to attracting new international therefore, for these countries to import Charleston Area Alliance at 304/340-4253 businesses to our area, the Alliance is product and goods from the United States or [email protected]. forging strong relationships abroad that and, hopefully, West Virginia. Exporting can benefit local businesses. The Alliance has a greater economic impact than has established particularly strong contacts domestic commerce, so not only will in Italy, France, the United Kingdom and taking advantage of world economies help the Netherlands. Many of these are local your business, but it will help our entire manufacturers’ associations or chambers of state as well.

Winter 2008 37 Leadership and Non-Profit Organizations – Special Missions and Rich Rewards Margaret Cogswell, Executive Director Hospice of the Panhandle, Martinsburg, West Virginia

Margaret Cogswell is the Non-profit organizations are born from the Executive Director of Hospice of growing dissatisfaction with society’s treatment the Panhandle in Martinsburg, West Virginia. She has served of a population or problem. The hospice in that position since 1987, movement is no different. Hospices developed leading an organization that in response to ineffective pain management has provided compassionate and poor communication in the care of those hospice care in the Eastern facing serious illness. Early founders recognized Panhandle since 1980. She is the current president of that individuals are whole people encompassing the Hospice Council of West body, mind and spirit – and effective programs Virginia. of care must respond to suffering at every level. As a movement, hospice care has changed Ms. Cogswell has served as a Board member for the Bank and evolved under the leadership of many of Charles Town since 2003. individuals, resulting in more formalized She was named a Woman of programs of care. Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Shawnee Council in 2005. Many hospice leaders have transitioned from hands-on directors to visionaries; a transition that is difficult for many and impossible for others. It is a transition that requires building new skills and grieving the past, while also maintaining a future-focused drive. A Hospice of the Panhandle volunteer provides comfort to a patient. Over 20 years ago, I joined a small organization of fewer than 30 volunteers who shared these a volunteer from whom I was requesting help; struggles and desires. We shared the belief he told me I need not apologize, he wanted to that we could make a difference in the way do this. He was teaching me about the joy and people lived at the end of life. A few years later, reward that comes with volunteering. I learned I was offered the position of the first full-time that relying only on myself limited what the executive director. organization could accomplish.

In retrospect, that first transition from volunteer I was fortunate to have been able to surround to paid employee laid the groundwork for the myself with skilled individuals, both staff constant changes that would characterize my and volunteers. I looked for people who role as the organization grew and expanded. complemented my skills, not duplicated them. My education and experience as a nurse did Talking to others in the industry kept the not prepare me to write policy, train and assign vision moving forward, and participating in the volunteers, or complete the multitude of tasks Hospice Council of West Virginia provided new that are required as the sole employee of an ideas and opportunities. But I had to resist my organization. Personal drive, the desire to try urge to be comfortable and satisfied with “good,” new challenges and a willingness to learn were and listen to those who wanted Hospice of the the qualities necessary for success. Panhandle to be “better.”

As the organization grew, I would learn lessons So, I have spent much time outside my comfort I never imagined. I remember apologizing to zone. It was harder to stay there when doing so

38 Winter 2008 them go – honoring what they have given and appreciating the gifts they have left that have shaped the organization.

The grief process for me was necessary but fast; I have spent little time looking back, choosing instead to be future-focused. The excitement about reaching the next goal always outweighed the fear and anxiety about the risk involved.

Since those early days of one employee and a handful of volunteers, Hospice of the Panhandle has grown to an organization that now employs over 100 staff members and is blessed with more than 150 volunteers.

This transition was unimaginable when I became the executive director in 1987. Even more impressive: in 2006 Hospice of the Panhandle served 42 percent of all Hospice of the Panhandle employs more than 100 staff members. deaths in the four counties of the Eastern Panhandle, and two of those counties benefited from a 50 percent service ratio. The average daily patient census was projected at 138 patients for 2007, but currently there are close to 200 patients a day receiving care. The budget has grown from under $50,000 in 1987 to a projected $12 million in 2008.

And the work is still not done. An inpatient facility is on the horizon, allowing Hospice to directly provide intense pain and symptom management with specifically trained staff and volunteers.

The same qualities that were needed in the beginning of my career are necessary now: personal drive, the desire to learn from others and the willingness to work outside my comfort zone. With those qualities and an incredible team of volunteers and Nearly 200 patients receive care each day from Hospice of the Panhandle. staff members, Hospice of the Panhandle meant people in our community would Grief, whether for a person or a way of life, has earned a reputation for providing not have the services they deserved. I is a process. Just as we grieve for someone truly compassionate care and being a pushed myself, and accepted being pushed we love, we also can grieve a change in the positive and desirable workplace. The by others who shared this vision of better way we work, and as a result move at a willingness and ability to navigate change care for those at the end of life. But different rate than our coworkers. In the is essential for any leader. The challenge moving forward also meant leaving work workplace, some individuals cannot let go for non-profit leaders is to never lose sight processes, relationships and many other of the past and can hold back the process. of the mission through the ever-changing things behind. When that conflicts with the mission of environment in which we work. the organization, there comes a time to let

Winter 2008 39 Begot of Tragedy Bernard F. Lovely, Jr. Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP

Bernard F. Lovely, Jr. is a August 27, 2006. 6:51 a.m. EDT. Telephone Looking back, I see each individual death partner in the Lexington office call: “Incident at Airport, 49 of 50 lost.” of Bowles Rice. His primary mourned by a family, a city, a state, a nation. areas of practice are equine Juxtaposed against the quiet horror of the law, business transactions, real A date, a time, words indelibly etched in my debris-strewn site and the loneliness of the lifeless estate and insurance defense. mind and eternally marking the beginning of the bodies, some still sitting in their seats, are the He also serves as a mediator for first day of the rest of my life. On that day, at that equine disputes. meetings of all the families at a local hotel where, time, with those words, I learned of the horrible in individual, family and group counseling Mr. Lovely has taught equine disaster and the fates of the victims of Flight sessions, they voiced their anger, shed their tears law courses at the University 5191, a Comair flight from Lexington, Kentucky and commonly sought answers to “their” “why of Kentucky College of Law and Midway College. He also to Atlanta, . Friends, colleagues, me” that was so obviously “why us;” the lines has taught legal writing at the acquaintances lost; a community in shock; an of mourners, some of whom knew a victim University of Kentucky and airport in turmoil. but most of whom just hurt for the surviving spoken at numerous seminars families, laying their flowers, on equine law, mediation, A mere volunteer public business associations and “…to create out of leaving their notes and municipal law. Before he servant, who happened saying their prayers at the site became an attorney, he taught to be the Chairman of the human spirit memorial; the community- modern British and American the Bluegrass Airport wide memorial service where literature at the University of Kentucky, Centre College, Weber Board of Directors, I something which did we joined hands, voices and College and Warner Southern found myself sucked into hearts in memory of the College. a whirlpool of site tours, not exist before.” lost and in support of the press conferences, National He is actively involved in the families. As a community we Lexington community, serving Transportation Safety Board William Faulkner became aware of the fragility as chairman of the Bluegrass (NTSB) investigation, of human existence, and as Airport Board of Directors and lawsuits, endless questions a community we joined to as a member of the Commerce seeking satisfaction of the insatiable thirst for Lexington Board of Directors lament their deaths and celebrate their lives, as and Board of Trustees. He also understanding from government officials to we each became aware of who these people had is neighborhood association airport employees to my next-door neighbors. been. Together we faced our own ultimate and president, a member of various Days became weeks, weeks became months, all always untimely fates. civic and charitable committees and an owner of AZUR, one of an eternal present. No opportunity to review Lexington’s finest restaurants. the past or contemplate the future. How do you I see leadership arise from the services of mourn? How do you serve? How do you lead? legions of volunteers who provided food, Mr. Lovely received his bachelor water, transportation, clothing, toiletries, of arts and master of arts degree from Morehead State These questions, of course, were not for that one lodging and support for the victim’s families; University, and completed day and are only now, some 18 months later, the NTSB investigators; the local fire and all but his dissertation at the becoming the questions I ask of that day. Long police departments; the press; the airport staff; University of Kentucky. He after the mourning, after the service, after the and all of the hundreds of people who had earned a law degree in 1983 from the University of Kentucky. leadership, I recognize that one mourns, serves unanticipated demands placed upon them in He is admitted to practice and leads with a heart compassionate and aware the days and weeks immediately following the before the U.S. District Court, of the vagaries of human existence and a mind accident. Whether it was the work of the Red Eastern District of Kentucky and that, while focused on the present, reviews the the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Cross, the lunches from the local restaurants, Sixth Circuit. He is a member past and contemplates the future. Mourning, dinner brought in by the neighbor, time off with of the Fayette County, Kentucky service and leadership, while individual, are pay for the volunteers who served, the service and American Bar Associations. ultimately communal, and in times of tragedy was from the heart and, more particularly, of the are only exercised by the community. community.

40 Winter 2008 The memorial banner, posted near the airport terminal shortly after the crash, allowed hundreds of people to post their thoughts and express their condolences. The banner currently is housed at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, which hopes to preserve the original and create a duplicate for display. Finally, I see leadership having arisen out each relied on his or her past training and survey and account for their needs, and of and on the strength of the community experience – none of which expressly just as one will not follow if the leader in which the leaders resided. The first prepared them for that which they faced – does not appear to be taking her where responders’ rescue of the sole survivor, with a vision of where they wanted to go as she wants to go, one cannot lead without the coroner’s efforts to expeditiously and they acted in the present. More particularly, recognizing and understanding the needs compassionately identify the bodies and their review of the past, whether occurring and dreams of others. As Robert Kennedy return them to the families, the NTSB’s instantaneously as with the first responders, said, “Each time a man stands up for an methodical and humane investigation or over a long period of time, as with the ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, and reporting to the families, and even NTSB investigator and the Board chair, or strikes out against an injustice, he sends my quiet efforts to support the families showed that their present was defined by the forth a ripple of hope, and crossing each of the victims, to answer the public’s people with whom they interacted and the other from a million different centers of questions and to restore the community’s experiences they shared. Families needed energy and daring, those ripples build a confidence in its airport are all examples of to mourn; they wanted answers to their current that can sweep down the mightiest leadership that arose out of tragedy. This “whys.” The community needed to serve walls of oppression and resistance.” leadership, however, was starkly different these families because somehow in their from the captain leading the baseball team giving each servant could help answer the As I have learned from that day, that in its warm-ups, or the President calling whys, or at least aid in the endurance of the hour, those words, we lead with a heart the Rotary Club to order. Rather, this experience that will ultimately be his or hers. mourning the fate of another that we leadership sprang from the soul, spirits In other words, pasts are not experienced in realize is our own as well, a desire to serve capable of what Faulkner, in his Nobel a vacuum, they are our communal activities. and attend to those besieged, and a mind acceptance speech, called “compassion and Accordingly, our futures are built on the that sees those needs and envisions a better sacrifice and endurance.” While acting needs and visions of the members of our way. Man, as Faulkner said, “is immortal, in the present, each leader had to review communities. As we review the rights, not because he alone among creatures has the past and contemplate the future, for wrongs and shortcomings of the past and an inexhaustible voice, but because he has it was only in the convergence of these their impact upon the present, we create a a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and manifestations of time that leadership vision of what we need to do and where we sacrifice and endurance.” Alone we simply was born. need to go. go; together we lead.

The first responders, the coroner, the Just as one cannot create a vision and lead NTSB investigator and the Board chair his children to their future if he does not

Winter 2008 41 Charting the Future for Higher Education in West Virginia Dr. Brian Noland, Chancellor West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

Dr. Brian Noland was appointed The coming decade for higher education is The college access challenge is further chancellor of the West Virginia one of unprecedented opportunity coupled confounded by rising college costs for students Higher Education Policy Commission in May 2006. with significant leadership, policy and fiscal and parents. One of the unfortunate trends challenges. The academe faces pressures to in American higher education is the shifting Dr. Noland’s professional career expand access, remain accountable to internal/ funding responsibility to support the academe has been primarily focused in external stakeholders, promote research and from the state to the student. This dynamic higher education and higher education policy. Prior to development to support economic growth is exaggerated by the restricted ability of West joining the Commission’s staff, and diversification, while concurrently being Virginia families to afford rising college costs. As he served as the associate ever mindful to minimize costs and maximize noted in Measuring Up 2006, after accounting executive director for the affordability. The ability of higher education to for financial aid, 29 percent of a family’s annual Tennessee Higher Education Commission and was a faculty rise to these challenges will directly impact the income is needed to pay for educational expenses member in the Peabody College future of countless generations of students. at our public colleges and universities. While the of Education at Vanderbilt state has made pronounced investments in the University. Public higher education in West Virginia is PROMISE scholarship, significant investments Dr. Noland received his B.A. a vast and diverse enterprise, comprised of a must also be made in our need-based programs and M.A in political science rich complement of institutions that provide a so that all West Virginians can afford and realize from West Virginia University, comprehensive range of academic, research and the dream of receiving a college degree. and holds a Ph.D. in Political public service programs. The primary goal of Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. our postsecondary system is to expand access Charting the Future: A Master Plan for West opportunities for all West Virginians, thereby Virginia Higher Education opening the door for broader life opportunities and enhancing the human capital potential of The Higher Education Policy Commission our workforce. Over the past decade, higher recently completed a year-long master planning education faithfully executed this mission, with effort aimed at articulating the challenges and enrollments increasing by almost 15 percent. opportunities facing our postsecondary system. However, much work remains to be done, for At its core, this plan, Charting the Future, not enough West Virginians are pursuing and recognizes that in an economic era which completing postsecondary education. This not demands technical expertise, West Virginia only limits individuals’ personal and professional must improve the depth, breadth and quality of opportunities, but places the state at a the educational product that it provides to its competitive disadvantage in terms of economic/ citizens. The plan provides a strategic reframing community development. of policy issues, focusing on “how can our institutions serve the needs of the state?” rather According to the 2005 American Community than the traditional lens of “how can the state Survey, only 16.9 percent of West Virginia’s adult serve the needs of our institutions?” population holds a college education. At a more local level, less than 10 percent of adults have a The plan recognizes that the linchpin to college education in 19 of the state’s 55 counties. addressing the educational challenges facing In order to reach the educational attainment West Virginia is the imperative to elevate the level of the southern states (23.8 percent), West relative position of higher education on the Virginia will need to increase its college-educated public agenda. More West Virginians must population by more than 101,000 individuals. understand the importance of postsecondary education as a vehicle to improving their

42 Winter 2008 A full-text version of Charting the Future is available online at www.hepc.wvnet.edu individual earnings power. We also must raise the collective expectations of our educational system to meet the needs of the state’s economy, thereby becoming full partners in economic/community development. To achieve this end, business and industry must insist upon a better educated and flexible workforce that holds the skills required to compete in the 21st century economy. In order to address these myriad challenges, students, parents and community groups must demand more from our institutions and elected officials. Such a collective effort requires that certain aspects of our educational enterprise be critically examined and efforts intensified. The following provides examples of such efforts to address these challenges:

• Policymakers must place a greater accent on proven initiatives to improve college-going rates and college completion. Concurrently, secondary and postsecondary leaders must work cooperatively to develop a seamless • Institutions must enhance the on sustaining access, affordability and educational system that promotes application of research and technology academic excellence. This effort will academic readiness for college. to economic growth, job creation and require a dedicated commitment and improved quality of life. vision on the part of educational leaders, • Given limited resources, institutional elected officials and civic/community efforts to sharpen and accentuate To ensure that all West Virginians have the groups. In the end, we must all dream mission distinctiveness must be opportunity to realize their dreams and bigger dreams, dreams that all West supported, with new academic potential, Charting the Future outlines Virginians share for themselves and their programming clearly linked to regional an aggressive agenda for higher education, children of economic prosperity and well- and state-wide economic priorities. one that places immovable emphasis being.

Winter 2008 43 Leadership in the Public Schools during Times of Change: The Art and Science of the New “3 Rs” Dr. James B. Phares, Superintendent Marion County Schools

Dr. James Phares grew up in Elkins, West Virginia, attended West Virginia University and graduated with an Elementary Education degree in 1974. He received his master of education degree from Lynchburg College in 1991 and Doctorate in Education in 1995.

After a teaching and administrative career of 25 years in Virginia, Dr. Phares became Superintendent of Pocohontas County Schools in West Virginia in 1998. In 2003, he was appointed Superintendent of Marion County, West Virginia schools.

In July of 2007 he was named West Virginia Superintendent of the Year and in December 2007 he was named one of four semi-finalists for the National Superintendent Award. Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, that instruction should tell learners how their observed, “When the rate of change on the existing skills will assist them in the new task to outside of an organization exceeds the rate of be learned. Students will have an opportunity change on the inside of the organization, the end to use prior knowledge in order to of the organization is in sight.” The challenge for comprehend the new skill(s). public school leaders is to understand that the • As opposed to stressing its value in the future, change to the fundamental “3 Rs” in schooling the second relevance strategy suggests that have transformed into a new set of parameters. instruction clearly states the current value of To avoid the end of public schooling, a new set instruction. of “3 Rs” must become the understanding of every teacher, school leader and school system • The third relevance strategy suggests explicitly leader. The new “3 Rs” – relevance, rigor linking instructional goals to the learners’ and relationships – provide the solution for future activities and having students invigorating schools to move forward in a time of participate in activities in which they relate the complex change in the world around us. instruction to their own future goals.

Relevance • The fourth relevance strategy is called needs matching. This may be accomplished by There are six relevance strategies that influence capitalizing on the dynamics of achievement, how the learning task is portrayed to the learner, risk taking, power and affiliation. rather than impacting directly on the content itself. • The fifth relevance strategy is modeling. Some activities that implement this strategy include • The first strategy to assist in relevance suggests use of alumni as guest speakers and allowing

44 Winter 2008 students who finish self-paced work first understanding and relating to the parents departmentalized and compartmentalized, to serve as tutors. In both cases, the of our students their potential and their and traditional assessments are organized learners model their instructors’ beliefs areas of weakness; understanding the for snapshot looks into a distinct setting or techniques. most important thing that we teach to within a very confined portal of time. students is what we model for students; Assessments for student learning rarely • The sixth strategy that enhances understanding the most enduring thing look at achievement as a progression of relevance is choice. Choice may be our students will remember is how much attaining or strengthening skills over implemented by allowing learners to use we cared for them; and understanding that longer periods of time. different methods to pursue their work caring for the student comes in the way we or allowing learners a choice in how they conduct ourselves as professionals. The revolution needed to transform organize it. schools into the 21st century will not It is rather simple to explain the science occur overnight. Logistical and strategic Rigor of this transformation and understanding planning, implementation and training the domains of each new “R.” The art should probably have begun a decade The future working definition of rigor in is leading all of the vested stakeholders ago. Resource determination for what schools will include: into a new way of thought and a new way is needed to enhance student learning of processing learning opportunities for in the 21st century within a synergistic • teaching all students a challenging students. The most important dynamic model is mind numbing, as public school academic core; of relevance, rigor, and relationships is officials try to use atypical funding • improving the math curriculum; that they are not composed of separate processes for providing needed tools and unrelated parts. Each part is integrated materials. Quite honestly, there is no • improving the science curriculum; into a sum that is greater than the whole. way public education will keep pace with • incorporating problem solving activities Each cannot or should not stand alone the advance of technology and be able to into the writing curriculum; without the others, and all are pivotal for provide the current training tools needed. meeting the complex changes taking place The extrapolation of that curve is well • using long-range unit mapping to ensure all around us. beyond the means of most or all public all students are taught identical concepts institutions. School leaders must be able at the same high level; This level of synergy in performance to reach out to non-traditional groups • emphasizing reading and math across is not a common practice in our for resource assistance. The new breed of the curriculum; schools. Teachers and principals are leader will be a collaborative worker and a not accustomed or trained to operate consensus builder with both the academic • emphasizing project-based learning; within a synergistic organization. This world and the economic world. This • providing support systems for assessing is readily apparent in how classrooms leadership challenge has to be met in order student growth (summative and and schools are physically arranged for to transform schools into a more global formative assessment); separation; curriculum and instruction are world of learning and producing. • providing quality physical, practical, technical and fine arts education for balance in learning; and • escalating the use of technology as a learning tool rather than a production tool.

Relationships

Education is a uniquely human experience that is dependent upon the quality of the relationship between the student and the teacher. In order to build quality relationships in the classroom, at the building level and at the county level, schools must try to build understanding and practice in the following five areas: understanding and relating to students their potential and their areas of weakness;

Winter 2008 45 Generational Change Creates importance of real-world opportunities. such a solid foundation to pursue my dreams Demand for Leadership “My entire college career was hands and goals as a designer.” Experiences on Campus on, and because of that teaching style, I flourished and really started my design career WVU is committed to giving all of its (continued from p. 11) at WVU,” she said. “I was always taking on students that kind of solid foundation, so Jillian Joseph graduated from WVU’s as much as I could possibly handle. Design they can start to build successful careers textiles, apparel and merchandising competitions, participating in the Fashion and become our nation’s next generation of program in 2005 and has already Business Association, internships and leaders even before they graduate. founded a burgeoning business, Haute partnerships within the community made Metal handbags. She agrees about the me the designer I am today, and gave me

Leadership Studies Program of Public Administration in Eberly national Cooperative Extension System, (continued from p. 11) College of Arts and Sciences’ School of where he served as chair of its 15-person Applied Social Sciences at West Virginia governing board in 2006. At West Virginia University, we believe University. We believe this program will that there is leadership ability and produce hundreds of graduates who, in Prior to coming to West Virginia, potential in many more of our students addition to major field expertise, will he spent 14 years as CEO of Penn than had been previously assumed. also understand and embrace positive State University’s regional campus for Secondly, we believe that most of our change, and can help their employers graduate and professional studies for graduates will be asked to step forward implement it. in-career professionals in the tri-state to fill important change leadership roles Philadelphia metro region; Penn State at numerous points in their careers, Dr. Larry Cote is professor and director of Great Valley. Cote also co-founded and in their lives as productive citizens, West Virginia University’s new Leadership a successful technology and business- family members and active participants Studies program. oriented incubator, located on the Penn in voluntary associations. An organized State/corporate park campus and is the program of study – such as the He is an active scholar, teacher and coach co-founder of a new regional Chamber of leadership studies minor – can provide of leadership, as well as having served Commerce in that area. In 1993 he was the framework for learning about and successfully in significant leadership roles named Businessman of the Year by that acquiring the crucial skills needed to throughout his life. Prior to assuming Chamber. succeed in life and career. full-time responsibility as founding director for Leadership Studies in summer Cote received the Ed.D. from Temple Through the new 18-credit Leadership of 2007, Dr. Cote served for ten years on University and a master’s degree in Studies academic minor and co- former WVU President David Hardesty’s education from Lehigh University. He curricular activities at WVU, we are cabinet and Provost Jerry Lang’s staff as earned a bachelor’s degree from Penn State providing the knowledge, coaching and Associate Provost, leading the institution’s in speech-communications. practice sessions and networking with extension, public service and outreach in-career and other emerging leaders. mission. He led a strategic modernization The program is housed in the Division in a number of specific policy areas of the

46 Winter 2008 Leadership West Virginia Successes and Plans for the Future (continued from p. 29) are a first-time experience. For others, it may be a way to show off their own home towns.

With the November graduation of the 2007 class, there is now an active network of more than 700 Leadership West Virginia graduates who interact to further their knowledge and foster the friendships and professional ties formed during their Leadership experiences. They also are taking active roles in finding solutions that will enhance West Virginia’s future growth and prosperity.

2007 was a milestone year in several ways for Leadership West Virginia. The Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing committed to become our very first Title Partner. Charlotte Weber, RCBI Director and CEO, said, “Leadership West Virginia has shown itself to be an enormous force in helping forge a better West Virginia. It’s like getting a Team building was a big part of the Tourism session. PhD in what it means to be a leader in West Virginia.” RCBI will continue their support again this year and will be joined monthly sessions. Seven of our eight wealth of contacts, not to mention friends. by Chesapeake Energy Corporation to training and development sessions carry There is no better way to experience West host the 2008 program as Title Partners. the name of those committed sponsors. Virginia and to be part of the solution. With the contribution of the sponsors’ Leadership West Virginia will have added financial support, as well as their business For more information about Leadership funds to provide scholarships, thanks expertise, the program was brought to a West Virginia, please visit our website at to a major donation from Chesapeake new level. www.leadershipwv.org. Energy Corporation made during their groundbreaking celebration in Where do we go from here? We will August 2007. The company’s $50,000 continue our efforts in 2008 to provide donation to our program will be used as a thought provoking and challenging an endowment to provide scholarships experience for participants, offering an that help underwrite tuition costs. opportunity to explore the state. New for “Chesapeake Energy is a big believer in 2008 is a special fund-raising reception in the need to develop our state’s leadership Charleston in conjunction with the State- capacity, and applauds Leadership West of-the-State Address. This event will be Virginia for its successful track record,” an added way to generate donations to the said Scott Rotruck, Director of Corporate scholarship fund, but the event also will be Development at Chesapeake Energy and a way to showcase our mission to elected a board member of the West Virginia leaders, legislators and other officials. Chamber. An alumnus noted that Leadership West Also in 2007, several corporate sponsors Virginia was a pivotal experience in his stepped forward to underwrite the leadership development. Meeting people from throughout West Virginia gave him a

Winter 2008 47 OUR VISION Bowles Rice is a professional service organization, contributing to the success of our clients and vitality of our communities through advocacy, counsel, leadership and service.

OUR MISSION We will strive for our clients’ success as our own and improve lives and opportunities in the communities we serve.

PROFILES IN LEADERSHIIP

At Bowles Rice we encourage every member of our firm to be a leader in all that they do. Featured below are just a few of the many leaders in our firm, and some of their leadership activities.

Billy Atkins Bo Fugazzi Development Committee; Board Member of Morgantown, WV Lexington, KY the Clay Foundation, Herscher Foundation, President of the President of Rotary Club Thomas Hospital Foundation and many other Greater Morgantown of Lexington; President of local and statewide organizations. Community Trust; Fayette County Legal Aid, board member for the Inc.; member of Board of Paul Hicks Monongalia Health Governors of Kentucky Parkersburg, WV System; immediate past Bar Association President of Mid-Ohio president and current board member Valley Estate Planning of the Cheat Lake Rotary Tom Graff Council; Trustee of Charleston, WV Episcopal Diocese of West Aaron Boone Chairman/President, Virginia Parkersburg, WV Chemical Alliance Zone President of the Rick Hudson Parkersburg Parkersburg, WV Firemen’s Civil Service President and Chair of Commission the Board of Directors Ashley Hardesty of the Parkersburg Area Morgantown, WV Community Foundation; Julie Chincheck Founder and Chair of Board member of Charleston, WV Generation Morgantown; Parkersburg YMCA and Worthington Center Board member, Children’s 2007 President, Management Co., Inc.; President of West Therapy Clinic; Adjunct Monongalia County Bar Virginia Tax Institute professor at WVU Association College of Law Courtney Kirtley Ronda Harvey Charleston, WV Charleston, WV President, Young Lawyers David DeJarnett President, West Virginia Division of the West Martinsburg, WV Bar Association Virginia Bar Association; Past President, West Board member, Ohio- Virginia Tax Institute; West Virginia YMCA Board of Directors, City Hospital Foundation Bob Kiss Tom Heywood Charleston, WV Charleston, WV West Virginia House Paul Frampton Vice President, Discover of Delegates, 18 years; Charleston, WV the Real West Virginia Speaker of the House, 10 Co-founder and President Foundation; Executive years of God’s Golden Hands, Committee, Imagine LLC, a non-profit mission West Virginia; Chairman, to the poor in Haiti Kanawha County Library Foundation; Co-Chair, Early Childhood

48 Winter 2008 Stan Lee Kin Sayre Melody Simpson Lexington, KY Martinsburg, WV Charleston, WV House Minority Whip, Board Member, West Chair, Local School Kentucky House Virginia Municipal Improvement Council, of Delegates; State Home Rule George Washington High Representative School, Charleston

Charlie Love Howard Seufer Sally Smith Charleston, WV Charleston, WV Charleston, WV Board of Advisors, WVU Vice President and Research WVU Board of Eberly College of Arts Chair of West Virginia’s Governors; Chairman, and Sciences; former statewide education fund, Board of Directors, President of the WV State The Education Alliance; Community and Bar and WV State Bar Chair of West Virginia Technical College at West Association; former Chairman and CEO of the University’s Social Justice Virginia University Institute of Technology; WV Housing Development Fund Visiting Committee Chairman, Economic and Business Development Committee, Charleston Area Sandy Murphy Fazal Shere Alliance Charleston, WV Charleston, WV Chair, PIECES Advisory Vice President of the John Teare Council; Member, Board, Kanawha Pastoral Charleston, WV Greater Kanawha Valley Counseling Center; District Chairman, Foundation Development Charleston; Chair of Mountain Rifle District, Committee; Member, Charleston Diversity Buckskin Council, Covenant House Finance Committee Professionals Network Boy Scouts of America; former Chairman of Corey Palumbo Cam Siegrist Employment Law group of the West Virginia Charleston, WV Charleston, WV Defense Trial Counsel West Virginia House of Board member and Vice Delegates President of Edgewood Beth Walker Summit, Inc. and The Charleston, WV Arthur B. Hodges Center, First Vice Chair, Board Inc.; Staff Judge Advocate of Directors of Girls for the West Virginia Army Scouts of Black Diamond Tracey Rohrbaugh National Guard Council; Member of Martinsburg, WV Board of Directors, Leadership West Virginia Board of Directors of the WV Bar Foundation, Inc.; VP of the Berkeley County Bar Association

Winter 2008 49 NEW PARTNERS AT BOWLES RICE

Heather G. Harlan J. Breckenridge Martin Todd C. Myers Charleston Parkersburg Lexington

Heather, a licensed CPA, Breck concentrates his practice Todd focuses his practice focuses her law practice in the in the areas of real estate law, in the areas of labor and areas of bankruptcy, commercial tax issues, commercial and employment law and and corporate law, estate financial services, creditors’ civil defense and planning and administration rights, bankruptcy and commercial litigation. and state and local taxation. health care.

Paul E. Parker, III Floyd McKinley “Kin” Sayre C. Seth Wilson Morgantown Martinsburg Morgantown

Eddie practices in the areas Kin, also a CPA, focuses his Seth concentrates his practice of commercial and financial law practice in the areas of in the areas of real estate, energy, services, domestic relations, commercial and financial tax law, estate planning economic development, services, government relations, and administration, government relations real estate, small business general business and and litigation. development and tax issues. commercial law. NEW FACES AT BOWLES RICE

Erin C. V. Bailey Patrick E. Clark Robert L. Hogan Charleston Charleston Charleston

Erin, formerly of Atlanta, Pat was a senior attorney With more than 10 years Georgia, has joined the firm’s with NASD/FINRA in of litigation experience, tax group to practice in the Baltimore before joining Bob’s practice focuses on areas of employee benefits, Bowles Rice. He represents professional liability, complex ERISA and estate planning. companies in the financial litigation, products liability and health care industries. and insurance litigation.

Stephanie V. Larkin David J. Levy Lexington Charleston

A member of our tax group, David is a Registered Patent Stephanie’s practice areas Attorney whose primary areas include charitable planning, of practice are intellectual trusts and estates. property (IP) and patent law. Leadership in Times of Change Winter 2008 A publication of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love l l p

Charleston, WV Lexington, KY 600 Quarrier Street 333 West Vine Street, Suite 1700 Charleston, West Virginia 25301 Lexington, Kentucky 40507-1639 (304) 347-1100 (859) 252-2202

Parkersburg, WV Morgantown, WV 501 Avery Street, Fifth Floor 7000 Hampton Center, Suite K Parkersburg, West Virginia 26101 Morgantown, West Virginia 26505 (304) 485-8500 (304) 285-2500

Martinsburg, WV Winchester, VA 101 South Queen Street 480 West Jubal Early Drive, Suite 130 Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401 Winchester, Virginia 22601 (304) 263-0836 (540) 723-8877

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Parkersburg, WV Permit No. 8

P. O. Box 1386 Charleston, WV 25325

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