[ business ]
SAMANTHA CART
KENSIE HAMILTON FAUBER
Celebrate
the Mid-Ohio Valley
The Winter 2021 issue of West Virginia Executive ( WVE ) included a special advertising section featuring businesses and organizations from the state ’ s Mid-Ohio Valley region .
While the accompanying reception had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic , it was worth the wait . On May 20 , 2021 , the reception was held at DaVinci ’ s Italian Restaurant in Williamstown , WV , and included a diverse crowd of business professionals who enjoyed authentic Italian food and connective networking in the intimate restaurant atmosphere .
“ The Celebrate Mid-Ohio Valley reception was not only an evening of great food and company but a long-awaited opportunity to reconnect in person ,” says Christopher Burk , client services manager at Pickering Associates . “ We have all continued to work together over the past year through emails , phone calls and virtual meetings , but none of those can replace being together . The past year has demonstrated we can pretty much do business anywhere there is internet . The reception was less about what business we do and more about why we do business in the Mid-Ohio Valley , why we live here and what the area means to us .”
While receptions like this were once commonplace , this return to normalcy reminded many of what makes West Virginia an amazing place to live and work .
“ One of my favorite things about living and working in West Virginia is discovering new connections with people you already know and making contacts and friends with people you ’ ve never met . The recent Mid-Ohio Valley reception sponsored by WVE was a terrific event that allowed me to do just that ,” says Mark Lewis , president and CEO of the Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau .
WVE continues to host these receptions across the state in an effort to bring people together and forge connections that will move West Virginia forward , a part of its core mission .
“ The recent Mid-Ohio Valley reception was a great opportunity to network ,” says Jennifer Casey , PE , structural engineer at J . Casey Consulting . “ Oftentimes , we become complacent in our networking , staying within a safe radius . This opportunity drove me out of that rut and gave me some new contacts that I wouldn ’ t have crossed paths with otherwise .” •
SPONSORED BY
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE