L-R: Herridge, Graney and Preservati stand before the West Virginia State Capitol. Photo by Tracy A. Toler Photography.
Shaping West Virginia The Next Era of Development
MEGAN BEVINS
West Virginia has long been known for its natural beauty, rich history and strong communities. Now, on the verge of a significant transformation, the Mountain State is using that vibrant spirit to advance its economic landscape. Through the hard work of resilient leaders and residents, the state is becoming the blueprint for others to achieve strategic growth through collaboration and innovation and attain long-term sustainability.
Today’ s approach to development differs from years past, focusing more on aligning opportunity and workforce, preparing sites to best serve the state’ s needs and properly leveraging capital. While West Virginia is still working to achieve its development goals, the state is no longer waiting to be discovered, instead paving its own way to a prosperous future.
With experience in health care, entrepreneurship, technology, government relations and board leadership for national brands, Matt Herridge, secretary of commerce for the West Virginia Department of Commerce, has seen firsthand how success can grow from teamwork and a shared vision.
Having worked as a psychologist before transitioning into the business world, Herridge’ s training has helped him learn how to navigate this new sector, especially when conducting negotiations and understanding human emotions. His psychology training has also helped give him valuable insights
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