1995 |
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2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
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2000 Joined WVARNG at Camp Dawson
2002 Married husband , Mark
2004 Son , Gavin , was born
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2006 Daughter , Sydney , was born
2015 Earned MBA from WVU
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2016 Retired from WVARNG
2016 Named executive director of CDEC
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“ It turns out , I loved it , and I was really good at it ,” she says . “ I coordinated and scheduled all the training that occurred at Camp Dawson .”
By 2002 , Gnik was appointed to the board that oversaw the installation ’ s small hotel , now known as the CDEC .
“ I was inexplicably drawn to this work ,” she says . “ I love to problem solve , and what I was observing was an organization that was growing but had a tremendous need for leadership , processes and structure .”
The CDEC represents the people that manage certain facilities at Camp Dawson . CDEC manages a hotel , a full-service restaurant , cafeteria , a retail and convenience store and a workout facility . The facilities can only be used by military , retired military and federal and state employees . The center employs 65-75 people .
“ Retired Major General James Hoyer and I knew we could provide a much more comprehensive conference type experience for those groups utilizing Camp Dawson ,” says Gnik . “ With his support and guidance , we grew to hold huge government conference events while ensuring the soldiers who train at our facility are receiving top notch care .”
As Gnik was nearing her 20-year mark with the military and considering retirement , Hoyer asked her to continue working and lead the CDEC organization , and that was exactly what she wanted to do .
“ Six years later , I am still excited to come to work every day ,” says Gnik . “ Major General Hoyer is truly the person who trusted me and inspired me to do this job . He understood my desire to be involved in my community and supported me in every organization I joined . He really gets
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how important it is to help one another .”
Aside from her role at Camp Dawson , Gnik gives back to her community through various service organizations . She currently serves on the boards of the Preston County Chamber of Commerce , Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital Foundation , Visit Mountaineer Country Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Rotary Club of Kingwood . She formerly served as festival director for Friends of the Cheat and as a board member for Main Street Kingwood .
A self-described doer , Gnik prefers not just to come up with ideas but to make them happen . When choosing volunteer service organizations , she makes sure it ’ s something she can truly contribute to .
“ I want to work . I want to make a difference ,” she says . “ So as long as the organization has a good cause and I can truly be of help , I ’ m going to find ways to contribute my time .”
Gnik values her community and wants to make it the best it can be for everyone who lives there , including her husband , Mark , and children , Gavin and Sydney .
“ I want to set an example for my kids so when they go out into the world , they go out there wanting to make it a better place ,” she says .
Gnik lives and works in West Virginia because she loves it and wouldn ’ t have it any other way .
“ I believe we are sometimes misunderstood by the rest of the world about who and what we are , but in short , we are a hard-working , kind and service-oriented people ,” Gnik says . “ I wouldn ’ t want to live or work anywhere else .” •
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