1990
1992 Graduated with a
bachelor’s degree in public
relations journalism from
Marshall University
1995
1994 Graduated with a master’s
degree in political science
from Marshall University
1998 Hired as a senior
account executive for Charles
Ryan Associates
2000
2000 Named vice president
at Charles Ryan Associates
2002 Named senior vice
president at Charles Ryan
Associates
2005
2010 2010 Named a member of
WVE’s Young Guns Class of
2011
2015 2015 Became the CEO and
an owner of Charles Ryan
Associates
2017 Inducted into the
Marshall University School
of Journalism & Mass
Communications Hall of Fame
2018 Opened CRA’s third
location in Columbus, Ohio
“We believe every business has
a responsibility to give back to its
respective community. If we want
our community to thrive and be a
great place to work, live and raise
our kids, we have an obligation to
help with that effort.”
for myself to one day work at CRA,” she
says. Her dream came to fruition in the
fall of 1998 when she accepted the posi-
tion of senior account executive with the
communications firm, and she has been
there for the last 20 years. During that
time, she has held many roles, including
vice president, senior vice president, man-
aging partner and now CEO and owner.
Lavenski has found fulfillment by
embracing her true passion of public
relations, and she encourages others
to embrace what they love as well. “I
encourage young women to find their
passion,” she says. “Find a career path
that excites you and makes you want
to get up in the morning. Also, always
remember there will be people along your
path who will help you, guide you and
provide resources to you.”
Today, Lavenski and Caryn Durham are
the majority owners of CRA. They work
alongside three partners—Matt Fidler,
Matt Isner and Alisha Maddox—to carry
out the mission of the award-winning
communications firm. CRA is the larg-
est communications firm headquartered
in West Virginia and one of the largest
women-owned firms in the Mid-Atlantic
region. The firm has 40 employees and
office locations in Charleston, WV; Rich-
mond, VA; and Columbus, Ohio.
CRA’s top priority is taking care of
its employees, so it is very important
to the management team that staff has
time to give back to their communities.
Employees are offered paid time off to
volunteer with organizations of their
choosing. “At CRA, we believe every
business has a responsibility to give
back to its respective community,” says
Lavenski. “If we want our community to
thrive and be a great place to work, live
and raise our kids, we have an obligation
to help with that effort.”
Lavenski practices what she preaches
and has personally served in a variety of
community service roles. She is a board
member for Thomas Health System, the
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
and West Virginia Roundtable; member
of the West Virginia Business & Industry
Council, Independent Oil and Gas As-
sociation of West Virginia, Chemical
Industry Council, National Association
of Women Business Owners and the West
Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s edu-
cation policy working group; and chair-
woman of the Energy Speaks Education
Initiative. She also volunteers as the mar-
keting and communications chairwoman
for the West Virginia Manufacturers As-
sociation; a member of the Charleston
Area Alliance’s innovation, research and
development committee; a committee
member for the Marcellus and Manu-
facturing Development Conference; and
an advisory council member for Mar-
shall University’s W. Page Pitt School of
Journalism & Mass Communications.
Lavenski’s career and volunteerism
have provided her the opportunity to
travel from coast to coast, but she has
been honored to be able to live and raise
her children in West Virginia. “My work
has taken me all over the country, but I
am always happy when that plane lands
in Charleston or Huntington or when I
see the West Virginia welcome sign,” she
says. “I am proud to be born and raised
in the Mountain State—this will always
be my home.”
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