Clayton White
“ A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity ; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty .” – Winston Churchill
While a Mountaineer at heart , there is still a bit of the American Midwest that drives Clayton White , chief operating officer * of The Thrasher Group : an architecture , engineering and field services firm headquartered in Bridgeport , WV . His early childhood was spent on his family farm in Kansas where tough work turned into tangible resources that benefited the entire community — an outcome he has chased his whole career .
“ Growing up on a farm , I enjoyed when you could see the results of hard work and dedication come to life ,” White says . “ It ’ s much the same with civil engineering and architecture .”
As a young adult , White was drawn to engineering and construction . He spent more than 10 years in the construction management business , eventually overseeing multi-million-dollar projects in the Baltimore and Washington , D . C ., areas . When he was ready to settle down with his own family , he wanted it to be in a place with a more consistent , local connection .
White , a proud West Virginia University alumnus , lived in the state previously . As he thought about places that aligned with his values , the Mountain State called him back home .
“ Moving around during the first 30 years of my life , I was exposed to many parts of the country ,” White says . “ It ’ s important to live in a place that feels right , and West Virginia feels right .”
It wasn ’ t just the physical location , though . White found it important to be part of an organization that prioritized community and had a family environment amongst its employees , which he found at Thrasher .
“ I enjoy the people ,” White says . “ They are gifted , down-to-earth
professionals who apply their knowledge and skills to challenging situations every day , and they do it because they ’ re committed to making a difference on the local level .”
When asked what he likes most about his role , White says it allows him to be in an environment where he continues to learn .
“ Since moving into this role , I ’ ve gained a better appreciation for the talents across the entire organization ,” he says . “ By getting to interact with everyone , I ’ ve learned so much about the technical and business implications of our services .”
However , White seems most excited about what ’ s still to come from planting roots in West Virginia and seeing hard work and determination result in real progress and revitalization of the state .
“ There is a bright future ahead for West Virginia and its people ,” White says . “ I ’ m proud that Thrasher is part of building that .” •
* White will transition into the role of chief executive officer of The Thrasher Group at the end of 2024 .
Clayton White
Company :
The Thrasher Group
Title :
Chief Operating Officer
Education :
Bachelor of Science , Civil Engineering , West Virginia University
The Thrasher Group , Inc .
• 2016 – Joined Construction Services Division
• 2020 – Named Energy Market Leader
• 2022 – Named Chief Operating Officer
• 2024 – Year-End Transition to Chief Executive Officer
Registrations :
• Professional Engineer – West Virginia ; Ohio
• Project Management Professional
Affiliations :
Associated Builders and Contractors Board Member
2024 Profiles DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
West Virginia Executive | Profiles | 2024 3