Editor ’ s
I love when a plan comes together .
While planning for the Spring 2021 issue of West Virginia Executive , the Executive Ink staff decided to pay homage to Southern West Virginia with a story about its recent tourism boom ( page 21 ) and a special advertising section ( page 82 ) for its business community .
Soon , the editorial puzzle that begins every issue started to form a complete picture . It included a piece commemorating the 10th anniversary of Coalfield Development ( page 38 ), a preview of the upcoming ArenaMend Classic to be held at The Greenbrier in October ( page 112 ) and a profile on The Vault Downtown , a unique restaurant in Mercer County ( page 114 )— a true celebration of West Virginia ’ s southern counties and the amazing people who live and work there .
While Cabell County isn ’ t technically part of what we classify as Southern West Virginia , the Marshall University family and community extend deep into this part of the state . In March , Kensie Hamilton Fauber — the magazine ’ s publisher — and I had the opportunity to meet Charles Huff , Marshall University ’ s new head football coach , for an interview ( page 25 ).
We met in the press box overlooking an empty Joan C . Edwards Stadium , imagining it filled with cheering fans as the Herd takes the field at home for the first time under Huff ’ s leadership this September .
Huff was kind and welcoming , and his excitement about moving to and embracing the Huntington community left me with the feeling I always get after meeting someone who is starting to understand what it means to be a West Virginian .
It was clear that Huff has caught the Mountain State spirit . Even as a two-time West Virginia University alumna and tried and true fan , meeting Huff was the absolute highlight of this issue for me .
We hope you enjoy this issue ’ s celebration of Southern West Virginia . We encourage all our readers to plan an escape to this wild and wonderful piece of Almost Heaven . Take a ride on 900 miles of ATV trails ; find ample places to hike , bike , kayak and fish ; eat at locally owned restaurants ; or visit a luxury resort . The sky is the limit . •
Samantha Cart Editor in Chief
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