[ contributors | fall 2017 ]
Kristin Anderson
Kristin Anderson serves
as the executive director
of communications
for the West Virginia
Department of
Education, where
she is responsible
for all media and community relations. A
graduate of West Virginia University, she
began her communications experience at two
regional advertising agencies in Charleston,
WV, and Cincinnati, Ohio. It was there
Anderson learned to foster and manage client
relationships while serving as a strategic leader
in integrated marketing efforts, including
concept development, consumer research,
brand strategy, creative development and
production and event planning. She previously
worked for the West Virginia Department of
Commerce, where she oversaw coordinated
marketing efforts for 10 agencies.
Thomas Bailey
Thomas Bailey is
the executive vice
president of strategic
initiatives for KVC
Health Systems,
Inc., a Kansas-based
nonprofit organization
charged with enhancing the lives of children
and families. Prior to joining the KVC team,
Bailey worked in government relations for
Spilman Thomas and Battle, PLLC and as
a state and federal lobbyist. Bailey is also a
veteran of the armed forces with more than
20 years of service and is a major in the
Army Reserves. He also serves on the board
of directors of the West Virginia Symphony
Orchestra. He has degrees from Marshall
University and the Naval Postgraduate School.
Nikki Butler
Nikki Butler, founder
of Nikki Butler Design
LLC, is a freelance
graphic designer and
social media manager
who specializes in
marketing for small
businesses, corporate identity and magazine
and catalog layout. She is a graduate of
Marietta College with more than 15 years of
experience in the publishing, tourism and retail
industries. A seamstress and juried Tamarack
artist, Butler also designs her own fabric and
has had a line of apparel and accessories.
She lives in Williamstown, WV, with her
husband, Buddy, and their four children.
She may be reached at nikkibutler.com.
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
Samantha Cart
Samantha Cart is an
editor for Executive
Ink, LLC and its
publications. A native
of Buffalo, WV, she
holds bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in
journalism from West Virginia University.
She previously worked as an assistant editor
for Omnistream and a social media specialist
for Atkins & Ogle Law Offices. In her spare
time, she serves as a volunteer with Putnam
County 4-H, the Church of the Nazarene and
the Come and Serve Team. Cart currently lives
in Hometown, WV, with her husband, Dr.
Caleb Cart, and their dog, Wednesday. She
may be reached at [email protected].
Stacey Creely
Stacey Creely is the
director of public
relations at The
Linsly School, an
independent day
and boarding school
in Wheeling, WV,
for grades 5-12. She holds a bachelor’s
degree in communications from Bethany
College and a master’s degree in integrated
marketing communications (IMC) from
West Virginia University, where she currently
serves as an adjunct instructor in the IMC
program. Creely is an active member of
the Junior League of Wheeling and the
Wheeling Symphony Auxiliary. She resides
in Wheeling with her husband, Dennis, her
daughter, Olivia, and their dog, Jewel.
Blair Dowler
Blair Dowler is the
communications
specialist for the West
Virginia University
(WVU) College
of Business and
Economics (B&E),
where she is a lead writer, plans and manages
the college’s social media strategy across
various platforms and helps coordinate all
marketing projects. She also serves as an
adjunct instructor in the B&E’s department
of marketing. Dowler is a two-time graduate
of the WVU Reed College of Media with
a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a
master’s degree in integrated marketing
communications. In her spare time, she
enjoys reading, spending time in the outdoors
and cheering on the Mountaineers.
Kevin Duvall
Kevin Duvall, a native
of St. Albans, WV,
holds bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in
journalism from West
Virginia University
(WVU). Duvall
recently worked as a developmental education
coordinator and adjunct English instructor
for Southern West Virginia Community and
Technical College. Today, he is a freelance
writer and a student in the Master of Arts and
certification in secondary education program at
WVU. He lives in Morgantown, WV, with his
wife, Kayla. In his free time, he enjoys reading,
bowling and competing in Team Trivia.
Alicia Elkin
Alicia Elkin is a
senior manager
for the strategic
communications
team at Signal Group,
a lobbying and
communications firm
in Washington, D.C. Before joining Signal,
she held multiple positions at IQ Solutions,
Golin and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation
of America, and at each organization she
helped reposition corporations, nonprofits
and government organizations as health
and wellness thought leaders. Elkin is a
graduate of West Virginia University, where
she received her bachelor’s degree in public
relations and a minor in communications.
She is also a lifelong organization fanatic,
video gamer and science fiction nerd who
enjoys reading and writing fantasy fiction.
Kyle Franks
Kyle Franks works
closely with local
businesses to promote
their presence in the
Eastern Panhandle
and beyond. He has
gained vital experience
from a diverse client base by working to
promote positive marketing initiatives
across a variety of platforms. With extensive
experience in customer service, he uses these
skills to elevate his work in the economic
development and marketing arena to foster
meaningful relationships as a way of truly
connecting with communities. A recent
graduate of Shepherd University with a
bachelor’s degree in marketing and economics,
Franks hopes to continue to polish his skills
while championing the economic growth
and welfare of surrounding communities.