we can continue to contribute to education with our incredibly skilled team and strong partners . I look forward to bringing my expertise and passion for innovation and entrepreneurship to the role of director of innovation to propel this growth .”
CPA Firm Announces Merger
Suttle & Stalnaker , West Virginia ’ s largest locally owned CPA firm , announced it has merged with Huntington-based Somerville & Company , PLLC , effective August 1 .
The combination of the strength of both firms will enhance the support of and service offerings to local businesses and organizations . The merger reflects Suttle & Stalnaker ’ s unwavering commitment to fostering West Virginia ’ s economic growth .
Somerville & Company , PLLC remains steadfast in its commitment to the greater Huntington community , just as it has been for over nine decades . With this integration into the largest locally owned CPA firm , clients will benefit from wider access to a more diverse pool of experts .
Suttle & Stalnaker will welcome Barry Burgess , Mendy Aluise , Wade Newell and Alex Gawthrop as partners in the Huntington office , as well as the rest of Somerville & Company ’ s staff .
“ We are confident that our partners and staff will only help strengthen and further our collective goal in helping West Virginia prosper ,” says Burgess .
WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities to Expand Biking Opportunities
West Virginia University ( WVU ) will offer adapted mountain and trail bike access to guests at no charge with new grant funding from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation National Paralysis Resource Center .
The West Virginia Assistive Technology System ( WVATS ) at the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities created the Adventure is for Everyone project . The project will increase ways for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other mobility impairments to participate in outdoor sports by hand cycling .
“ While standard cycles can be expensive , adapted cycles often cost more ,
making them too expensive for people to buy and likely not covered by insurance ,” says Doug Cumpston , WVATS principal investigator and program manager . “ WVATS is partnering with Wamsley Cycles in Morgantown and the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Snowshoe , WV , to house the new accessible bikes and make them available for people to borrow .”
By housing the bikes with places that offer traditional and adapted bikes in one location , friends and families can have an inclusive recreation experience . The equipment provided by the grant will increase opportunities for individuals to experience outdoor adventures without barriers , which also increases opportunities for inclusive activities for families and friends .
“ The WVATS program , with funding from the Reeve Foundation , provides the unique opportunity to enhance recreational assistive technology that can be offered at the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities ,” says Lesley Cottrell , director of the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities . “ The focus on recreational assistive technology is crucial to a state such as West Virginia where families enjoy the outside and get involved in their communities . We are thankful for this opportunity to enhance the lives of West Virginians .”
West Virginia Buys All-Electric School Buses
GreenPower ’ s Type D BEAST electric school bus .
GreenPower Motor Company Inc ., a leading manufacturer and distributor of purpose-built , all-electric , zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles serving the cargo and delivery market , shuttle and transit space and school bus sector , announced in the spring that the company received an order for 41 GreenPower all-electric , purpose-built Type D BEAST and Type A Nano BEAST school buses totaling $ 15 million from the State of West Virginia . As part of the order , GreenPower received a $ 3 million deposit from the state per the agreement with the company to manufacture zero-emission , all-electric school buses in West Virginia .
“ Since we first announced our intent to manufacture in West Virginia , we ’ ve made tremendous progress on our mission to be the leading manufacturer of purpose-built , all-electric school buses ,” says Brendan Riley , president and director at GreenPower . “ This marks another milestone on that journey through our partnership with the State of West Virginia . We have been able to reach this point because of the strong commitment to GreenPower and an allof-the-above energy policy by Governor Jim Justice , his cabinet and the leadership of the state legislature . We look forward to continuing to provide a positive impact on West Virginia ’ s economy with clean energy jobs .”
Since taking possession of the West Virginia manufacturing facility
130
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE