Letter from the
Dewey Stickler and Kensie tour the Jim C . Hamer
Company sawmill .
When I was little , I used to tell my parents I wanted to be an engineer because I loved to build . Legos , KʼNEX , wooden blocks : it didn ’ t matter . I still love to build things with my kids , mostly with Magna-Tiles now . Over the course of my education , however , it became clear that math was not my strong suit . During my high school years , it also became evident that I had a knack for writing . I went to college with no idea of what kind of career I wanted to pursue . I was fortunate to have a couple of fantastic professors who opened my eyes to the world of magazine publishing , and I ’ ve been so lucky to be able to pursue that career in the state of West Virginia for 18 years .
And even though I was not around when West Virginia Exeuctive launched , I am so pleased to be here to celebrate its 25th anniversary issue .
While working on two of our 25th anniversary articles , I read every past issue of the publication . It took a really long time . Walking down memory lane while reading past issues helped plant some seeds of new ideas . One of those ideas was a focus on the timber and wood industry .
Publishing a magazine like the West Virginia Executive has given me the opportunity to learn a great deal about many of the industries that make up our great state , but this is the first time I have been involved in an issue focusing on wood products . I learned a lot along the way and even got a tour of Jim C . Hamer Company ’ s sawmill in Amma .
In a state like West Virginia , we might take things like our access to natural resources — including the timber that is the basis of the wood products industry — for granted . We are surrounded by the beauty and benefits of all that our gorgeous state has to offer . I hope that this issue will help you see past the forest to the trees within . •
Kensie Hamilton Fauber Publisher
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE