Christopher Mullett has served as President and CEO of Burlington United Methodist Family Services since April of 2020. His passion is simple––to make a difference.

Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. was founded in October of 1913 by a dedicated physician, Dr. F.L. Baker, and his friend, Rev. Mr. F.C. Rollman, a Justice of the Peace and Postmaster. For years they worked tirelessly to procure funding for the new project.

Nicole opened Sugar Bear's Fun Shop in 2019 in her hometown of White Sulphur Springs, the first of its kind in all of Greenbrier County. After 2.5 years of steady growth, the company has expanded to a storefront in the Crossroads Mall of Beckley, West Virginia.

"We're like [Build-A-Bear] on sugar," laughed Bostic.

Lifelong West Virginian, Forest 'Jack' Bowman, is the Jackson Kelly Professor of Law Emeritus at West Virginia University. Lawyer by trade, Bowman, retired from law three years ago. Today, he spends his days authoring novels and tinkering in his workshop.

Retired Air Force Colonel, Sean Frisbee, was on a mission to help the U.S. Air Force and the economic state of West Virginia. Last year, he founded Vertx Partners, a collaborative effort alongside Parallax Advanced Research, to support the development of science and technology innovation in Appalachia.

Clay Elkins is a quintessential food and wine guy who strives to deliver world-class dining and entertainment experiences. He earned a BS in Computer Information Systems from Appalachian State University but quickly learned that the cubicle life was not for him; deciding, instead, to pursue his long-time passion for food and beverage.

Clay went on to earn a degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University. Originally from Charlotte, NC, Clay has called Greenbrier County, WV home for 15 years. In 2018, after serving for 13 years as Director of Food and Beverage at the Greenbrier Sporting Club, Clay opened The Local Café in Lewisburg. Soon thereafter, Clay partnered with David Bostic and J.W. Groseclose to form Cross Creek Hospitality. Today, Cross Creek Hospitality, located in White Sulphur Springs, WV, encompasses Cross Creek Cafe (formerly The Local Cafe), Road Hog’s BBQ, Big Draft Brewing, and Cross Creek on Main (live music and events center).

In November, Cross Creek Hospitality was awarded the WV Hospitality and Tourism Association’s 2021 Excellence in Tourism Development Award for its role in the revitalization of White Sulphur Springs. In his spare time, Clay volunteers as a coach with the Greenbrier Valley Hellbenders Youth Mountain Bike Team.

Stephanie Bender is the owner and operator of S&T’s Bees in downtown Elkins. S&T’s Bees sells all supplies needed for beekeeping, as well as honey, lip balm, lotions, soaps and other items made from honey. Wood, country, primitive, and crocheted items are among the several other items you can find at the eccentric downtown Elkins […]

Patty Showers Ryan became President of Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, Inc. (YCF) in June 2016.  Ms. Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Colorado State University and returned home to Morgantown in 2002. Her career includes corporate and nonprofit work in Colorado, Maryland and West Virginia. Prior to joining […]

Byrd’s House of Donuts was started by Issac Thomas Byrd, Sr. (Tommy) and his son, Issac Thomas Byrd, Jr (Thomas). Mr. Byrd had a longstanding career of 25 years in the woodworking industry managing dimension mills, cabinet factories, and moulding factories. His son, Thomas, had some prior experience in fast food management, however neither had […]

Married for 48 years (c. 1973), Ron and Matilda Fowler are owners of French Creek Christmas Trees. They have one son, two lovely grandchildren, and their number one farm greeter, Gus the Dog. Ron graduated from WVU with a degree in Forestry. After working for the WV Division of Forestry, and self-employment with Consulting Forester, […]

Christina Entenmann-Edwards, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Hashtag WV City Paper, has been a Lewisburg, WV resident since September of 2008. She is a first-generation American, was born and raised in Fairfield County (Connecticut) and is no stranger to hard work with an entrepreneurial spirit. In 2006, she graduated from Quinnipiac University (in Hamden, CT) Cum Laude, with […]