Editor’s
As the editor in chief at West Virginia
Executive magazine, I don’t often get the
opportunity to do one-on-one interviews
like I once did as a staff writer. These
days, my time is spent organizing edi-
torial ideas, setting deadlines and gath-
ering materials. For this issue, though,
one interview opportunity in particular
presented itself, and there was no way I
could say no.
In June, Kensie Hamilton Fauber and I
traveled to Mountaineer Field in Morgan-
town to meet Neal Brown, West Virginia
University’s (WVU) new head football
coach. Brown, who was gracious enough
to fit us into his busy schedule, sat down
with us to discuss his own Appalachian
roots, his goals for the Mountaineers and
his newly developed appreciation for all
things West Virginia. He explained to us
that the deep pride West Virginians carry
is similar to that which he experienced in
his hometown of Bardstown, KY, and it’s
just as important to him as it is to anyone
else in the athletics department that
WVU’s players understand they are not
just playing a game—they are represent-
ing the passionate, proud, hard-working
people of the Mountain State. You can
learn more about Brown and his path
to Morgantown in “Talent Transplant”
on page 23.
The team’s motto this year is the
climb, a reference to their strategy to
work hard every day in order to reach
new heights. Much like Brown is now
reinventing the Mountaineer football
program, West Virginia’s economy is in
a period of reinvention, and the Moun-
taineers’ focus on the climb is a good re-
minder that West Virginia can’t change
overnight, but it can change.
It is only with continual steps for-
ward, perseverance through challenges
and a positive outlook that our state will
reach the peak of prosperity it is climb-
ing toward every day. Personally, I think
West Virginia is on its way to greatness.
On the football field, I think the Moun-
taineers are in good hands too.
Let’s go!
Jennifer Jett Prezkop
Editor in Chief
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