In 1989, Mike Lee and his family immigrated from Taiwan –– he was only eight years old at the time. Today, he is the Dealer Principal (Owner) of Freedom Kia in Granville, West Virginia.

Hailing from New Jersey for most of his life, Lee obtained an undergraduate degree from West Virginia University. After graduation, he worked in the automotive industry for 21 years, 18 of which were right here in Morgantown.

A sales associate at the time, Lee worked his way from the bottom to the top.

In 1989, Mike Lee and his family immigrated from Taiwan –– he was only eight years old at the time. Today, he is the Dealer Principal (Owner) of Freedom Kia in Granville, West Virginia.  Hailing from New Jersey for most of his life, Lee obtained an undergraduate degree from West Virginia University. After graduation, he […]

Facilitating a difference in the lives of many, is Eleanor Reigel, Chief Executive Officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown.

Reigel has worked with the charity for more than a decade, after previous employment with the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. For Reigel, work is more than a job––it’s a passion.

Facilitating a difference in the lives of many, is Eleanor Reigel, Chief Executive Officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown.  Reigel has worked with the charity for more than a decade, after previous employment with the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. For Reigel, work is more than a job––it’s a passion.  “The […]

An architect by trade, Brendan Fenn, has been living out his 'happy retirement' owning and operating Grindstone Coffeeology.

Fenn and his family are from a land "down under." They relocated from Australia to Huntington, West Virginia, in August of 2015. Although the move was part of his previous occupation, it didn't take Fenn long to begin pursuing his longtime dream of owning a coffee company.

Jerril Vance is a woodworker, educator, and owner of the Appalachian Heritage Woodshop.

The purpose of the Appalachian Heritage Woodshop is to educate an audience about the form and function of utilitarian Appalachian furniture through a revisitation of the era in which they were produced.

In the heart of Appalachia is everyone’s favorite brewery. Big Timber Brewing Company, located in Elkins, West Virginia, started as a dream ––but after seven years of reality, co-founder, Ashley Kwasniewski, is still as giddy as ever.

After high school, Kwasniewski, a recreationist, traveled before eventually settling in Missoula, Montana. Upon her arrival in the Montana mountains, she met her husband and eventual business partner, Matt Kwasniewski. The duo immediately got to work on their vision to operate a successful brewing company.

Cassie Smith lives in Morgantown, West Virginia, and has been an avid mountain biker for almost three decades. As the West Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League Director, her passion has become her vocation.

The West Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League is a 501(c)(3) and one of 31 other leagues across the country. Each league exists to develop youth (middle and high school) and build strong bodies, strong minds, and strong character in student-athletes.

Laura Seybold is on a mission to recover what makes West Virginia “shine.” In 2019, she founded Shine Consulting, LLC, which focuses on developing an organization’s best asset – its people.

Fascinated by Economics, Seybold obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Wright State University and an Executive MBA from West Virginia University. Equally fascinated by people, Laura spent 20 years in the talent industry working with several start-ups and Fortune 200s. She recently served as the Head of Global Talent Development at Viatris, formerly known as Mylan Pharmaceuticals.

In 2015, Kelsi Boyd searched for locally sourced and cleaner alternatives to traditional Big Box soap and skincare products. Living in Mason County (WV) at the time, she either had to commute to find them or get creative. Choosing the latter, the Silver Market Company was born.

Through a series of video watching and trial experimentation, Boyd began to manufacture and gift to friends and family sustainable and plant-based skincare products -- products that she is proud to say are "made in West Virginia."