West Virginia Executive Spring/Summer 2020 | Page 8

Editor’s
The year 2020 has been rough.
After stepping into the role of editor in chief in January, the
Spring 2020 Energy & Manufacturing issue of West Virginia
Executive was supposed to be my first at the helm, and I was
both excited and nervous. I was feeling confident in March
when we were right on track to meet our print deadline. Then
West Virginia announced its first confirmed case of coronavirus.
Executive Ink, LLC, like many small businesses across the
state and the country, entered a temporary shutdown in April.
After a few weeks, our team resumed operations while working
from home and started assessing the situation and creating a
new game plan. We knew the timing of the spring issue would
be problematic for our clients. Rather than skipping it entirely,
we switched gears and revised our print schedule for the year
by blending the spring and summer publications into a hybrid
that explores energy, manufacturing and development in the
Mountain State. I’m proud of the way our team handled this
unprecedented situation and grateful to our readers, freelance
writers, colleagues and advertisers for their understanding and
support.
The purpose of this letter is not to complain. It breaks my
heart when I consider the weddings, graduations, summer
camps, baby showers, vacations and even funerals that were
missed due to social distancing recommendations. Our hearts
go out to small business owners who were forced to permanently
close their doors and fellow Mountaineers who lost their jobs,
homes and even family members.
The year 2020 has been rough.
But it has also been illuminating.
While it doesn’t dispel the heartache of lives lost, I can already
see the silver lining. As story pitches and press releases roll into my
email inbox, I see possibility and innovation. I’m reading story
after story about how companies adapted to remote work practices
and employees obtained new skills. As we approach a new issue
focusing on aerospace and technology, I’m excited about the
technologies West Virginians are creating and employing.
I’ve also cried at the outpouring of love. I’ve read articles
and Facebook posts about the various ways Mountain State
companies have cared for their employees. I’ve been touched by
people and businesses finding ways to make charitable donations
despite lost wages and income. I’ve been inspired by companies
and organizations across the state that have found new ways
to make things like hand sanitizer, face masks, ventilators and
hospital gowns.
COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the way we operate,
but, as always, West Virginians continue to show me—and the
rest of the world—that they adapt and thrive under pressure and
that they always have and always will take care of one another.
During times of crisis, I’m always proud to be a Mountaineer. •
Samantha Cart
Editor in Chief
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Charleston, WV 25302
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