The Positively West Virginia Podcast

By Positively West Virginia

Can anything good come out of West Virginia? Tune in weekly to the Positively West Virginia Podcast, where we feature in-depth interviews with the business leaders and entrepreneurs making a positive ... more

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FAQs about The Positively West Virginia Podcast:

How many episodes does The Positively West Virginia Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 798 episodes available.

The Positively West Virginia Podcast episodes:

August 02, 2018 Preston County Workshop: Enhancing the Community's Workforce
Preston County Workshop is a 501(c)3 non-profit, certified by the State of WV as a Community Rehabilitation Program, located in Reedsville, WV.

Their mission is to help people with disabilities secure gainful employment opportunities that align with their distinctive interests, skills, and talents. Their organization connects a pool of pre-screened, qualified, job-ready employees to opportunities within the local economy, while also providing an array of competitively priced services to businesses and government agencies, throughout the Mountain State.
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26min
August 02, 2018 Episode 29: Preston County Workshop: Enhancing the Community’s Workforce
Preston County Workshop is a 501(c)3 non-profit, certified by the State of WV as a Community Rehabilitation Program, located in Reedsville, WV. Their mission is to help people with disabilities secure gainful employment opportunities that align with their distinctive interests, skills, and talents. Their organization connects a pool of pre-screened, qualified, job-ready employees to opportunities within […]
...more
26min
August 02, 2018Preston County Workshop: Enhancing the Community’s Workforce
Preston County Workshop is a 501(c)3 non-profit, certified by the State of WV as a Community Rehabilitation Program, located in Reedsville, WV.
Their mission is to help people with disabilities secure gainful employment opportunities that align with their distinctive interests, skills, and talents.

Their organization connects a pool of pre-screened, qualified, job-ready employees to opportunities within the local economy, while also providing an array of competitively priced services to businesses and government agencies, throughout the Mountain State.

The Workshop makes sure that people who want to work hard can be successful members of the community.
Show Notes:
00:31-2:44: Jim introduces today’s guest, John Hyre and his companies, Hickory Ridge Farm and Preston County Workshop. Jim asks Hyre to give the audience some insight into his personal life and how he got started in this line of work.
2:45-7:53: Hyre talks about the journey that led him to this line of work and the need that he saw and is now filling in the community. Hyre also discusses that a large percentage of his employees have intellectual or physical disabilities.
7:54-8:01: What is your 30 second elevator pitch for Hickory Ridge Farm?
8:02-8:23: “We have a large packing facility here that needs to be utilized for farmers in the area… we have the space, we have the labor to process and package their produce, put it into our cooler and prepare it for shipment wherever it needs to go.”
8:24-8:36: What’re you most excited for Hickory Ridge Farm right now?
8:37-9:03: “Just that we’re able to grow a wide variety of products.”
9:04-9:39: What’s been your worst business moment so far with Hickory Ridge? Tell us about that…
9:40- 10:41: Hyre talks about a packaging error that took him and his partners hours to sort after the fact. Hyre says the lesson learned from that is to make sure that your prep work is done before you begin to package your produce.
10:42-12:42: What do you think is the best thing about doing business here in West Virginia?
12:43-13:24: “It’s because we are growing produce that we can also sell locally to schools, to the challenge academy, to grocery stores and to restaurants.”
13:25-13:38: What would you say has been your best business moment so far?
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26min
July 26, 2018 EscapeWorks: A Playground for Your Brain
EscapeWorks has brought the excitement of live-action "escape" games to the Ohio Valley. Located in Weirton, West Virginia, they're just 20 minutes west of Robinson Township and convenient to Steubenville and the Northern Panhandle. Perfect for team-building, group date night, or family fun!
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31min
July 26, 2018 Episode 28: A Playground for Your Brain: EscapeWorks in Weirton, WV
EscapeWorks has brought the excitement of live-action “escape” games to the Ohio Valley. Located in Weirton, West Virginia, they’re just 20 minutes west of Robinson Township and convenient to Steubenville and the Northern Panhandle. Perfect for team-building, group date night, or family fun! Show Notes: 00:31-2:58: Jim introduces today’s guest, Mike Whalen, Co-founder of […]
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31min
July 26, 2018A Playground for Your Brain: EscapeWorks in Weirton, WV
EscapeWorks has brought the excitement of live-action “escape” games to the Ohio Valley. Located in Weirton, West Virginia, they’re just 20 minutes west of Robinson Township and convenient to Steubenville and the Northern Panhandle.

Perfect for team-building, group date night, or family fun!
Mike Whalen – Cofounder of EscapeWorks

Show Notes:
00:31-2:58: Jim introduces today’s guest, Mike Whalen, Co-founder of the business EscapeWorks. Jim asks Whalen to give the audience some insight into his personal life.
2:59-3:36: Whalen talks about being born in South Florida and discusses his many ventures he helped start prior to starting Escape Works.
3:37-3:43: How did you get started in the escape room business?
3:44-4:33: Whalen talks about how fun escape rooms are and how much they appealed to him after playing for himself a couple times. Whalen says he saw the benefit in them and the entertainment in them while also spotting a need for them in his area and the rest is history.
4:34-5:03: What’s your 30 second elevator pitch for your company?
5:04-6:08: “We’re all about trying to provide fun and immersive entertainment for groups and families.”
6:09-6:51: What’s the thing you’re most excited about for your company right now?
6:52-8:29: “I feel like we’re really turning the corner… we’ve built a local following. I’m pretty excited about where we stand right now.”
8:30-9:13: Take us through that worst business moment you’ve had so far…
9:14-10:32: Whalen discusses a lot of logistics that went in to passing inspections and how that pushed back the start of the business.
10:33-10:52: Tell us that one takeaway from that experience…
10:53-11:37: “We knew this time to anticipate.” Whalen talked about the importance of being prepared when getting ready for situations like those from here on out.
11:38-12:05: What would you say is the best thing about being in business in West Virginia?
12:06-12:50: “I think the [Ohio] Valley has the p
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31min
July 19, 2018 Ascension Recovery Services: Combating Substance Use Disorder in West Virginia
When Doug Leech, founder and CEO of Ascension Recovery Services and West Virginia Sober Living, formerly known as Morgantown Sober Living, needed treatment, it was evident that quality options were limited. After traveling across the country to participate in treatment, Leech recognized multiple gaps that exist for those dealing with the disease of addiction and combating substance use disorder in West Virginia. Compounding the concern of already limited access to support and resources, addiction-related complications have been on the rise in recent years. The opioid epidemic in the U.S. is a serious public health issue. Drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of injury death in the U.S. Initially, Leech opened a sober living home, which has since been regularly recognized for transforming lives in north central West Virginia. As the sober living home expanded and ultimately added a second location, the growing team prepared to offer the additional services required to support those challenged by addiction and their families. To fulfill the expanded mission, a new company was formed to provide interventions and concierge recovery services. Ascension Recovery Services provides a full-service suite of recovery assistance. Ascension is proud of a strong track record of successful interventions and a growing list of recovering families.
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32min
July 19, 2018 Episode 27: Combating Substance Use Disorder in West Virginia | Ascension Recovery Services
Doug Leech opened the first sober living home in Morgantown in 2013. Now, in 2018, he is helping combat substance use disorder in West Virginia by offering program development services to others who want to start these types of programs.
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32min
July 19, 2018Combating Substance Use Disorder in West Virginia | Ascension Recovery Services
Doug Leech, founder and CEO of Ascension Recovery Services
When Doug Leech, founder and CEO of Ascension Recovery Services and West Virginia Sober Living, formerly known as Morgantown Sober Living, needed treatment, it was evident that quality options were limited. After traveling across the country to participate in treatment, Leech recognized multiple gaps that exist for those dealing with the disease of addiction and combating substance use disorder in West Virginia.

Compounding the concern of already limited access to support and resources, addiction-related complications have been on the rise in recent years. The opioid epidemic in the U.S. is a serious public health issue. Drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of injury death in the U.S.

Initially, Leech opened a sober living home, which has since been regularly recognized for transforming lives in north central West Virginia. As the sober living home expanded and ultimately added a second location, the growing team prepared to offer the additional services required to support those challenged by addiction and their families.

To fulfill the expanded mission, a new company was formed to provide interventions and concierge recovery services. Ascension Recovery Services provides a full-service suite of recovery assistance.

Ascension is proud of a strong track record of successful interventions and a growing list of recovering families.

Show Notes:
00:31-2:30: Jim introduces today’s guest, Doug Leech, and his company, Ascension Recovery Services. Jim asks Leech to give the audience some insight into his background and personal life.
2:31-3:01: Leech talks about his recovery from addiction and how that drives him in this business and he also mentions his family and his West Virginia roots.
3:02-3:38: How did you get started in this business?
3:29-6:13: Leech talked about his addiction problem that came about while he was in college and how that threw his life off the rails. Leech said that once he was introduced to treatment in West Virginia, he saw the need for it in our state and with his entrepreneurial mindset, the rest is history.
6:14-6:31: What’s your 30 second elevator pitch for your company?
6:32-7:38: Leech gives the ins and outs of his company and discusses their very high success rate.
7:39-7:48: What are you most excited for
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32min
July 12, 2018 WV Fruit & Berry: Fruit Preserves, Fruit Butters, and now Fruit Wines!
A collection of all-natural preserves and fruit wines with varieties of berries and fruits native to the Appalachian region. Their full selection of fresh fruit preserves, fruit butters and fruit wine come from a history of passion, dedication, and a promise to deliver to their customers the all-natural products inspired by their West Virginia heritage. Their company started nearly 25 years ago, offering a few varieties of preserves in fairs and festivals throughout the state, to now being available in over 600 retail stores in the region including major retailers like Kroger, Wal-Mart, and Sam's Club. Read more @: www.wvfruitandberry.com
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33min

FAQs about The Positively West Virginia Podcast:

How many episodes does The Positively West Virginia Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 798 episodes available.

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The Positively West Virginia Podcast

FAQs about The Positively West Virginia Podcast:

How many episodes does The Positively West Virginia Podcast have?

The Positively West Virginia Podcast episodes:

FAQs about The Positively West Virginia Podcast:

How many episodes does The Positively West Virginia Podcast have?

More shows like The Positively West Virginia Podcast

The Journal.