Zac Campbell
Vice President of Projects, Pickering Associates, Inc.
ZAC CAMPBELL , vice president of projects for Pickering
Associates, Inc. in Parkersburg, WV, applies the same pride
and determination to his work today that he applied on the
baseball field as a student athlete for Fairmont State University.
“When training for baseball, always in the back of my head
was the image of being on that mound with my parents in the
stands,” he says. “I could not let them down because of all the
sacrifices they made for me when I was growing up. I had to put
every ounce I had into being the best I could be.”
Growing up in Moundsville, WV, baseball was life for
Campbell, who dreamed of being a professional athlete. He
and his two brothers were active in sports, and their parents—
their mother, a school secretary, and their father, a coal miner
who worked the midnight shift for 30 years—always made sure
the boys made it to the ball fields on time. Campbell’s favorite
childhood memory is that of his father, who, despite not getting
home until 10 a.m. every day, never said no when Campbell
asked him to toss the ball with him.
“No matter how tired he was, he never told me no,” says
Campbell. “Now that I have two daughters, I can only hope to
live up to what my dad inspired in me.”
After high school, Campbell enrolled at Fairmont State
University, where he studied electrical engineering and technology
while pitching and serving as team captain for the Fighting
Falcons’ baseball team. At the urging of his father, he spent the
summer of his sophomore year doing manual labor at a coal
preparation facility, an experience that inspired him to continue
his studies. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 2008 and
went on to earn his master’s degree in engineering management
from Marshall University. His first job was as a junior engineer
in Accident, MD, and he joined Pickering Associates as an
electrical engineer in 2008.
While many people have played a hand in helping Campbell
build a successful career, the impact of two mentors in particular
stands out: John Zoller and Chip Pickering.
“John was my mentor when I started at Pickering,” says
Campbell. “I have always struggled with patience and attention
to detail, but he brought the best out in me in that aspect. Chip
has taught me what it means to be a true leader—not by achieve-
ment or accolade but rather by the impact you have on people.”
Following Pickering’s example of community service, Campbell
volunteers his time and talent in many capacities. He is active
with his church, Stout Memorial United Methodist Church,
where he serves as the director of Sunday school, a Vacation Bible
School volunteer and worship leader, and he is a Parkersburg
Area Jaycee member, where he serves on the scholarship
committee. Campbell is also involved with the Chamber of
Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley, where he is a team member
for the annual Taste of Parkersburg event, and he is a volun-
teer speaker for Fairmont State University’s recruitment tour,
a classroom volunteer at Williamstown Elementary School, a
youth baseball camp volunteer and a volunteer with the Park-
ersburg Area Men’s Clothing Closet.
His passion for giving back didn’t start with his mentor,
though. It started with his and his wife’s personal experience
with Children’s Home Society of West Virginia (CHSWV),
through which they adopted their two daughters.
“The people associated with that organization are so caring,
and they did so much for my family that I could never truly
repay them,” he says. “My wife and I want to do as much as
we possibly can for them.”
As a result, the Campbells started an annual food drive for
which they plan, facilitate and gather donations for CHSWV’s
Parkersburg Food Pantry. They involve their daughters, Taylor
and Parker, ages 6 and 2, as much as possible in an effort to
instill in them the importance of caring for their community.
Campbell points to his family as both his biggest motivation
and his proudest accomplishment. “At the end of the day,
getting the hugs and kisses and the ‘I love you, Daddy’ means
more to me than anything,” he says.
JEAN HARDIMAN
Campbell explores
the halls of Kenna
Elementary School.
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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