Sarah Smith
President, SLS Land & Energy Development
GROWING UP outside of Glenville, WV, Sarah Smith cultivated
a passion for politics at an early age. While serving as a page
for the West Virginia Legislature in the early 1990s, she was
bitten by the political bug and dreamed of becoming the first
female governor of West Virginia.
“The legislative process was and still is fascinating to me,”
she says. “My first professional job was working for Governor
Joe Manchin as part of the legislative affairs team. It was an
incredible experience and one that made me a better employee
and professional. Plus, the political junkie in me was in heaven.”
It was from those early experiences that she learned one
person often has to wear many hats, no task is too small,
teamwork and hard work are essential and soft skills like
being easy to work with and being a team player matter. These
lessons served Smith well when she made the biggest decision
of her professional life in 2015 and joined her father at his
business, SLS Land & Energy Development, where she now
serves as president. This transition has been Smith’s toughest
obstacle to date.
“I underestimated the challenge of finding a way to put my
touch on the company and moving it into the future while
still being respectful of what my father built all those years
ago,” she says. “Some days I feel like I’m doing a good job,
and others I feel like I need a lot of help. It has been a very
humbling process.”
Smith’s personal and professional life are rooted in family,
and her relatives continue to be her main source of support
and encouragement.
Smith admires the
Huntington Middle
School auditorium.
“I grew up with strong, loving parents and an extended
family that continually offers support,” she says. “I know there
is a group of people who have my back no matter what, and
that type of security breeds confidence.”
While she didn’t end up in politics, Smith’s role spearheading
a major land and energy development company requires knowl-
edge of the rules and regulations regarding drilling, surveying,
environmental law, inspections and site assessments. She attri-
butes her ability to adapt to change to her strong work ethic
and dedication to making SLS the best it can be.
“It makes me proud to know SLS provides jobs, contributes
to the economy and plays a part in various development projects
with the services we provide,” she says. “Knowing you are
making changes for the better is exciting and motivating.”
Smith’s West Virginia roots not only inspire her professional
life but her personal life as well.
“I was born and raised in West Virginia, my family and
friends are here, and I have had career opportunities that living
in West Virginia has afforded me,” she says. “West Virginia
often does not get the respect and love it deserves. Our state
needs ambassadors who contribute to what makes us great and
who are willing to try to overcome our challenges.”
Smith is one of those ambassadors determined to move
the Mountain State forward, which is made obvious by her
commitment to serving her community. She currently serves
on the board of directors for the West Virginia Chamber of
Commerce, West Virginia Independent Oil and Gas Association
and Leadership West Virginia, where she is also on the selec-
tion committee. She is a member of the leadership council for
the West Virginia University Cancer Institute and a member
and volunteer with the golf tournament committee for the Boy
Scouts of America Buckskin Council.
“I feel it is our responsibility to help others—both individuals
and organizations—that do good work in the community,” she
says. “Giving back improves the lives of those who live and
work in our great state. When I am choosing which groups to
serve, I look to those that share my core values—a love of West
Virginia, advancing women’s issues, helping the underserved
and promoting leadership and lasting life skills that will help
leave things better than we found them.”
SAMANTHA CART
TRACY A. TOLER PHOTOGRAPHY
W W W. W V E X E C U T I V E . C O M
FALL 2019
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