“ Without the mentoring that I received , I wouldn ’ t be here today . As such , I ’ m charged with paying that forward to the next generation .”
While Sellards has had many mentors over his career , the two people who have most helped guide his career are his father and wife .
“ My father , Mike Sellards , has been there to pick me up when I was down , push me when I needed to be pushed , support me when I needed support and provide wise counsel during my development as a man , a father and as an attorney ,” Sellards says . “ I am better because of him . I hope I ’ ll be the father to my kids that he has been to me .”
Sellards and his wife , Valarie , have been together 20 years — most of his legal career .
“ She ’ s amazingly supportive and has taught me to reflect and be deliberate ,” he says . “ She ’ s helped me stay motivated and grounded . She is certainly my best friend and I ’ m driven every day to be better just so I can try to keep up with what a phenomenal person she is . If you know my family , you know that without them I wouldn ’ t be where I am today .”
Besides his professional work , Sellards is active on related committees and organizations . He ’ s a member of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce board of directors and West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy , an immediate past chair and executive committee member for the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce and the vice chair of the Keith Albee Performing Arts Center board .
“ I spend countless hours every year in the service of nonprofit organizations ,” he says . “ While I love the opportunity to serve , I believe everyone has an obligation to do for others what they can ’ t do for themselves . I ’ ve been blessed in both my personal and professional life and wouldn ’ t feel right if I didn ’ t use my resources to give back .”
Outside of being an attorney , Sellards is a dedicated father of two young children . He teaches as an adjunct professor of legal and regulatory environment for health care for Marshall University ’ s informatics master ’ s program , and he ’ s also a runner and cyclist .
“ The most significant challenge I ’ ve seen in this industry is work-life balance ,” he says . “ All the experiences that provide the basis for great attorneys come at a cost to your personal life . This is a constant and ever-present struggle that needs to be taken seriously . It is with great effort and discussion that my family and I have reached our version of equilibrium . It is by no means perfect but it ’ s worth the constant effort .”
One of Sellards ’ yet unfinished professional goals is to teach in a law school environment , and personally , he wants to take to the sky .
“ I want to get my pilot ’ s license so I can fly a plane ,” he says . “ I love learning and am fascinated by the process . I haven ’ t started yet , but I plan to once the schedule with our kids slows down .”
Sellards feels grateful to live and raise a family in the Mountain State . Moreover , his hometown of Huntington has given him the ability to be civically involved .
“ West Virginia is amazing and has so much to be proud of ,” Sellards says . “ The opportunity to be able to do what I do — and be recognized for doing what I do — in my home state is a gift .” •
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