We learn how Mountaineer Media's founder and co-host Cooper Simmerman worked to create a digital media storytelling agency that's changing how people see West Virginia. "We kind of realized that now we have this attention on our platform. We wanted to convert this attention into real-life events that actually drive dollars and revenue into local communities and promote the state. So, we came up with something called the Almost Heaven Classic. Now, the Almost Heaven Classic is going to be a two-day event next year, 2023, June 9-10, at Canaan Valley Resort. The first day is going to be a night of networking, guest speakers, a live podcast, and West Virginia craft beer - all with the goal of getting people together, the movers and shakers of West Virginia together in a room to celebrate one another's work. The second day is going to be an awesome golf tournament." Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State.

In this episode of Innovators and Entrepreneurs, we speak with Judy Moore. She's the Executive Director of the West Virginia Hive Network. WV Hive is the entrepreneurship program of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority and the administrator of the Country Roads Angel Network. Moore says the success of her organization comes from getting businesses in the Mountain State the resources they need to gain momentum and grow into something more. "Business advising is a premier service at West Virginia Hive, and we support businesses at any stage they might be in - ideation, incubation, or acceleration." - Judy Moore Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State.

Justin Whitman is CEO of UMuseUs, a social networking platform for musicians, as well as, those who are just fans of music. In this episode of Innovators & Entrepreneurs, Whitman, a musician, discovered the need for access to resources and collaboration. Whitman explains the application he has created is the only one of its kind. He says this app is free to the user and is a space for interaction needed in the music industry and he’s excited to be in a state like West Virginia that’s driving innovation. Whitman also provides many tips for those who are interested in being an entrepreneur. “We allow individuals to create a band from scratch,” Whitman said. “Imagine you like this drummer, singer, bass player, or guitarist – or you want to add a fiddler into it – you’re going to hit ‘okay’ and it will spit out what that band sounds like but they’ve never met. You’re going to float it across all your social platforms and vote. The top 15 or 20 bands, we’ll fly them out to West Virginia, and do the ultimate battle of the bands – televised live.” Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State.

Shawn Hutchinson is CEO of LocalCart - using his eCommerce platform to bring local food and beverage producers together. In this episode of Innovators and Entrepreneurs, we talk to Hutchinson about why he chose to move back to West Virginia and the benefits he says comes along with it. His mission is to use the platform he developed to “disrupt the internet” to introduce the public to local food and agriculture services while also making it easier for businesses to market their products to the consumer. Hutchinson also discusses his immense love for the Mountain State and details why it is he loves living here so much. And he provides advice to budding entrepreneurs on how to become successful with consumers. “I grew up in Vienna near Parkersburg and came back to [this state] with the idea for the company and I’m a little bit of a trendsetter sometimes, maybe people say I buck the trend, but I knew this was possible to do outside of some places called Silicon Valley, among others. I have a background in computer science and I have a good sense of where technology is right now and I wanted to show this is possible. I wanted to open opportunity. I wanted to bring opportunity to transition some of the economy here to a digital basis. I love the state; it feels like home. I’ve traveled around the world and I’ve never seen places like this before.” Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State.

Balancing family and a career, President and CEO of A3L Federal Works Roya Maher has made her mark in the Mountain State. Maher moved to West Virginia with her husband and not only raised her family here but also created a sustainable, profitable business in Fairmont. Maher’s background in engineering and her business savvy were the foundation for her creating meaningful employment for other West Virginians. Maher's dedication to being an innovator and entrepreneur comes with drive and heart. We believe people are better off not just working for her, but simply knowing her, too. “I started my company in Fairmont, West Virginia, which was the best decision I could have made,” Maher said. “The most important thing, at least for me, and I will suggest for all the other people planning on starting their own business, is to learn the fundamental aspects of running a business.” Maher also notes another reason she’s been so successful over the years, including being passionate about “creating jobs for other people.” Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State.

Creating real, innovative, and state-of-the-art materials while also taking advantage of West Virginia’s best and brightest is just one thing on Brian Joseph’s list of things to do. Joseph, President and CEO of Touchstone Research Laboratories, likes to “fail fast” as he invents new materials, then creates businesses to support those inventions. Joseph is an innovator and entrepreneur who maximizes efficiency in product and business by putting the right people in the right place at the right time. He even credits the way Thomas Edison handled his inventions and tries to follow a similar style. Joseph takes those with the most education and teams them up with those who have the ability to turn his team’s thoughts and ideas into usable products. “All innovation comes from, “I have an idea, and then I make something, and then I test that.” And then it gives me another idea. Most of the time is not spent on trying to solve the problem, most of the time is spent on running the experiments, building the things to know if it works. So, the trick is to do that fast. You do that fast you’re going to beat everybody and that’s what this area has. This area has people that can make anything really quick.” Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State.

What happens when you have a million-dollar idea but nothing to help make it happen? West Virginians can turn to The Robert C. Byrd Institute at Marshall University. Derek Scarbro, Business Development Lead and Deputy Director at RCBI, highlights how the Institute helps innovators transform their “back of a napkin” idea into fully functional prototypes. RCBI helps entrepreneurs and established companies move their innovative ideas from concept to market with their top-notch equipment and expertise. And once the idea is prototyped, innovators can work with RCBI to boost performance and profitability. “Innovators can interface with our design engineers and technical staff who can help produce a 3-D image file using computer aid design software. We can reverse engineer parts and components with laser scanning and use those to develop a model for a person’s product and then help them test their proof of concept by making a prototype. Everything we do is with an eye on the eventual, hopefully, mass production of that item and thinking about how they’re going to replicate this and how we can help them do so efficiently and effectively and hopefully source suppliers in the region who can possibly partner - or who can help that entrepreneur figure out how to make it themselves.” Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State.

Chef Paul Smith’s earliest memories are of standing on a milk crate to be tall enough to stir sauces for his grandfather at the Glen Ferris Inn. Now, the Kanawha County restaurateur brings a long history of passion and innovation to the state’s culinary scene. From the Pitch Sports Bar and Grill, to Barkadas, to 1010 Bridge, and even the new acquisition of Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream, Chef Paul approaches each new venture with an Appalachian twist. “The diversity of Appalachia is what makes it great. From the ingredients to the people, to the heritage - everyone that came to this region, I try to draw from for inspiration, whether it be produce or protein, and utilize what we have. I try to do as little to it as possible, and let the food speak for itself.” Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State.

For approximately four decades, the West Virginia Hardwoods Center at West Virginia University (WVU) has focused on one of the state's abundant natural resources. Dr. Joe McNeel, director of the Appalachian Hardwood Center and professor of Wood Science and Technology, leverages his experience and dedication to the state's hardwoods to help create and promote new products. Out of these efforts has grown a sustainable, innovative wood product as strong as steel and concrete and uses technology to advance this growing industry. "We have about 80 percent of the state that is forest, so we have a tremendous resource here. A lot of people like to use the growth to harvest ratio to estimate how much drain is occurring in a forest. Within the state, almost every species is well over a 2:1 growth to harvest ratio. This indicates we are growing twice as much wood as we're currently harvesting. So we have a resource that is not only sustainable but is available to harvest in great quantities without really affecting the sustainability of that forest." Dr. Joe McNeel Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State.

As he watched supply chain issues mount in West Virginia and across the nation, Sean Frisbee used his experience in the workforce to launch his first entrepreneurial venture. As a retired Air Force Colonel, he served as a former President and CEO of the WVU Alumni Association and as the Systems Program Director for the Pentagon’s F-22 Raptor program. In 2021, Frisbee set out to solve a different type of problem. He founded Vertx Partners to help resolve supply chain issues for the U.S. Air Force while bettering the economy of West Virginia. “We can look to some of the communities in West Virginia that have been hit hard in the past years regarding coal production. We look at what we can do to utilize the skill sets and the people that we have there with some of the new technologies we have in order to develop, create and manufacture these new products and make West Virginia a centerpiece in this innovation economy we’re seeing across the U.S.” - Sean Frisbee Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State.