contributors
Gareth Montague-Smith
Gareth Montague- Smith is a partner at Dixon Hughes Goodman , a leading professional services firm offering assurance , tax and advisory services to clients nationwide and internationally . He has almost 25 years of experience providing audit , financial and internal audit services across multiple industries , including manufacturing , distribution and retail . He is highly proficient with U . S . GAAP and PCAOB standards and experienced in Securities Exchange Commission filings , comment letters , financial reporting analyses and Sarbanes Oxley compliance .
Jamie Null
Jamie Null is the executive director for the Mercer County Convention & Visitors Bureau . An awardwinning journalist with the Bluefield Daily Telegraph , she joined the tourism industry in 2014 . A graduate of both Bluefield College and Concord University , she holds bachelor ’ s degrees in print journalism and English literature and enjoys running , traveling and promoting West Virginia .
Katlin Swisher , Ph . D .
Katlin Swisher , Ph . D ., is the assistant director of marketing and communications for the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and an instructor of journalism at West Virginia University ( WVU ). She also volunteers as a professional mentor for students and is a member of the Women ’ s Leadership Initiative . She holds a Ph . D . and master ’ s degree in higher education administration and a bachelor ’ s degree in journalism from WVU . In her spare time , she enjoys playing the clarinet and traveling the world with the WVU Alumni Band .
Tracy Toler
Tracy Toler scaled
Seneca Rocks at the age of 5 and has been reaching new heights ever since . Through his business , Tracy A . Toler Photography , he has served as creative director and feature photographer for many of the region ’ s largest magazines . Known as Mr . McGyver , he can fix anything with a bobby pin , rubber band or Swiss Army knife . Toler may be reached at tracytoler @ yahoo . com .
Kristen Uppercue
Kristen Uppercue , a Martinsburg , WV , native , is the editorial assistant at 100 Days in Appalachia , a nonprofit publication reporting on national issues as they relate to the Appalachian region . She holds a bachelor ’ s degree in journalism and is currently pursuing a master ’ s degree in integrated marketing communications at West Virginia University . Uppercue enjoys traveling and photography and spends most of her free time behind a camera or a good book .
Bill Woodrum
Bill Woodrum is the director of entrepreneurship at the Robert C . Byrd Institute . In this role , he supports a variety of economic development programs , including agricultural innovations , entrepreneurship and maker programs . In the past , he has served as the executive director of regional and statewide nonprofit agencies and worked in cooperative extension . He holds a bachelor ’ s degree from Marshall University and a master ’ s in agriculture education from Ohio State University . Woodrum resides in Winfield with his wife , Lori , and son , Alex .
MEET THE STAFF
Amanda Larch
Amanda Larch is the production manager for West Virginia Executive . A Hurricane , WV , native , she is a recent Marshall University graduate and holds a bachelor ’ s degree in print journalism . She previously worked as an intern for The Herald-Dispatch and served as executive editor for Marshall ’ s student newspaper , The Parthenon . In her free time , she enjoys reading , antiquing , hiking and spending time with her cat , Annie . She may be reached at ajl @ wvexecutive . com .
Melanie Watkins
Melanie Watkins , a native of Shrewsbury , WV , is the graphic designer for Executive Ink , LLC and its publications . She holds a bachelor ’ s degree in graphic design from Marietta College and previously worked as the designer for the West Virginia Education Association . In her spare time , Watkins is active in CrossFit at Firebreather Fitness and has participated in several 5k runs around the state . She also enjoys baking , cross-stitching and jigsaw puzzles . Watkins resides in Nitro , WV , with her husband , Brian , and her stepson , Maddox .
Interested in pitching a story or being a contributor ? For story pitches , submit at least 100 words by email explaining the main points of the suggested story . Freelance writers should submit writing samples and a résumé . For more information , contact Samantha Cart at sdc @ wvexecutive . com .
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE