Kathleen A. McDermott
Director of Nonprofit Advisory Services
& Business Development Manager
McKinley Carter Wealth Services
SAMANTHA CART
Photo by The Presenters Agency.
WHILE WHEELING NATIVE Kathleen McDermott’s first job
consisted of washing laboratory equipment at her family’s
analytical testing, sampling and consulting business, it was her
hobbies that truly foreshadowed what her future would hold.
Even as a young girl, she had an appreciation for the arts—
particularly literature and cooking.
“My mother always said that instead of stuffed animals I
would take books to bed with me,” she says. “I just can’t live
without a good book.”
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
McDermott’s parents supported her pursuit of a non-
traditional career when she decided to major in art history at
Dickinson College. “My parents were firm believers in a liberal
arts education,” she says. “They recognized the importance
of inventiveness, creative thinking and experiential learning.
They instilled in me a strong work ethic so that whatever I
chose to pursue, I would be happy and successful.”
McDermott put her skills to use straight out of college as the
director of development at Oglebay Institute where she helped