[ contributors | spring 2017 ]
Katie Allie
Katie Allie, who holds de-
grees in English and ele-
mentary education, spent
years in a classroom be-
fore branching out as a
travel consultant and writ-
er. With five continents
under her belt and an af-
finity for noodle soup, it should come as no sur-
prise that she loves to write about food and talk
adventure. Read more about her adventures at www.
wvexecutive.com/category/executive-exclusives.
Samantha Cart
Samantha Cart is an edi-
tor for Executive Ink, LLC
and its publications. A na-
tive of Buffalo, WV, she
holds a bachelor’s and
master’s degree in jour-
nalism from West Virginia
University. She previously
worked as an assistant editor for Omnistream, and
in her spare time, she works as a freelance writer.
Cart currently lives in Birmingham, AL, with her
husband, Caleb, and their dog, Wednesday. She
may be reached at [email protected].
Joelle Connors
Joelle Connors is an exter-
nal affairs manager for Ap-
palachian Power, as well as
a traveler, fitness advocate
and lover of Wheeling.
Connors holds a master’s
degree in integrated mar-
keting communications
from West Virginia University’s Reed College of
Media, and she is a member of the Leadership
West Virginia Class of 2011.
Blair Dowler
Blair Dowler is the com-
munications specialist for
the West Virginia Universi-
ty (WVU) College of Busi-
ness and Economics. She is
a lead writer, manages all
social media for the col-
lege and helps coordinate
all marketing projects. Dowler is a native of West
Virginia and a two-time graduate of WVU with a
bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree
in integrated marketing communications.
14
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
Alicia Elkin
Alicia Elkin is a senior
manager for the strategic
communications team at
Signal Group in Washing-
ton, D.C. Before joining
Signal, she held multiple
roles at IQ Solutions, Go-
lin-Harris and the Asthma
and Allergy Foundation of America. A graduate of
West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree
in public relations, Elkin is a lifelong video gamer
and science fiction nerd and enjoys reading and
writing fantasy fiction.
Heather Foster
Heather Foster is the ex-
ecutive director of Vol-
unteer West Virginia and
has more than 15 years in
public and nonprofit ser-
vice. A Shepherdstown na-
tive, Foster serves on the
board of directors for the
West Virginia Center for Civic Life and the West
Virginia Nonprofit Association, where she advo-
cates for the power of human connections and the
interdependency of government, nonprofit, busi-
ness and service in creating desirable communities.
Brittany Furbee
Brittany Furbee is a pub-
lic relations specialist for
West Virginia Universi-
ty’s (WVU) Statler Col-
lege of Engineering and
Mineral Resources. A na-
tive of Harpers Ferry, WV,
Furbee is a writer for the
college’s Engineering West Virginia magazine and
assists with special events. She holds a bachelor’s
and master’s degree in journalism from WVU’s
Reed College of Media and resides in Morgan-
town. Furbee enjoys cooking, traveling and fish-
ing in her spare time.
Kensie Hamilton
Fauber
Kensie Hamilton Fauber is
the editor in chief and one
of three partners at Execu-
tive Ink, LLC, the publish-
ing company for West Vir-
ginia Executive magazine
and its sister publications.
A native of Charleston, WV, she holds bachelor’s
degrees in corporate communications and journal-
ism from Elon University. She is a 2015 graduate
of Leadership West Virginia and the FBI Citizen
Academy and a member of the 2016-2017 class
of Leadership Mon. She may be reached at kmh@
wvexecutive.com.
Jean Hardiman
Jean Hardiman moved
from northern Ohio to
West Virginia in 1998 for
her first newspaper job.
When the time came to
leave, she chose to stay
close to the people and
beauty she’d grown to love.
Hardiman worked for The Herald Dispatch for 17
years and now writes for publications, businesses
and organizations throughout the region. She lives
in Huntington with her husband and daughters.
Del. Joshua
Higginbotham
Delegate Joshua Hig-
ginbotham won his first
election at age 19 and has
since fought to ensure his
generation stays in West
Virginia by bringing new
industries, lowering taxes,
eliminating outdated regulations and expanding
infrastructure. He serves on committees for edu-
cation; energy; veterans affairs and homeland se-
curity; interstate cooperation; and small business
and economic development. Active in his com-
munity and church, he proudly represents the
people of Putnam, Mason and Jackson counties.
Alyson Hurley
Alyson Hurley is the mar-
keting and communica-
tions manager for McKin-
ley Carter Wealth Services.
Hurley has more than 25
years of professional expe-
rience in marketing, com-
munications and public
relations, including 10 years as the communica-
tions and public affairs manager for a regional
property-casualty insurer and the marketing and
communications consultant and manager of public
relations for sponsored programs at the National
Technology Transfer Center.
Jennifer Jett Prezkop
Jennifer Jett Prezkop, the
managing editor at Execu-
tive Ink, LLC, has been
with West Virginia Exec-
utive magazine for more
than 10 years. She holds a
Regents Bachelor of Arts
degree from West Virginia
State University and is a graduate of Leadership
Kanawha Valley. In her spare time, she enjoys
creative writing, reading young adult fiction, ex-
ploring West Virginia and boating on Lake Erie
with her husband. She may be reached at jlj@
wvexecutive.com.