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Beth “ Buffy ” Hammers
CEO , Marshall Health
KRISTEN UPPERCUE
Photo by Marshall Health .
BETH HAMMERS , chief executive officer at Marshall Health and chief administrative officer for the Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University , learned her strong work ethic from her parents . Her father was a foreman for Charleston Construction Company and built roads and bridges throughout West Virginia . Her mother worked in the laboratory at King ’ s Daughters Medical Center in Kentucky .
Her first official job was in high school at Roush ’ s Studio , where she taught acrobatics , baton and dance . Hammers was a majorette and drum major for the Ironton High School
Million Dollar Marching Band , where she graduated in 1987 , and a Marshall majorette for the Marching Thunder .
“ At a young age , I quickly learned that you must be accountable for your actions , and those early jobs and leadership roles reinforced characteristics like professionalism , integrity , reliability and cooperation ,” says Hammers .
In 1991 , Hammers graduated with a bachelor ’ s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and management from Marshall University . Soon after , she met Dr . Charles McKown Jr ., who , at the time , was the dean and
104 WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE