ZMM Architects and Engineers Joins Aeterna Group
ZMM Architects and Engineers, a cornerstone of communities across the region for decades, has joined Aeterna Group, a new national firm comprised of five architecture and engineering firms united by a shared belief that great design enriches the communities it serves.
ZMM will continue to operate under its own name with the same leadership, the same team and the same deep commitment to West Virginia, Virginia and Ohio that has defined the firm since its founding.
The introduction of Aeterna Group follows ZMM’ s March 2025 announcement of a partnership with Signal Hill Equity Partners to create a national collaborative of architecture and engineering firms. The collaborative, now comprised of five companies, has been united under the shared Aeterna Group name.
“ ZMM has been part of the region for a long time through the places we’ ve designed and the organizations we support, the careers we’ ve helped build and the relationships we have kept,” says David Ferguson, CEO of ZMM.“ Joining Aeterna Group doesn’ t change any of that, and it gives us the ability to keep doing it for years to come and to do even more for the clients and communities who trust us.”
Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College Appoints Interim President
Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Manuel as the college’ s new interim president.
Throughout her more than 25 years of experience, much of Manuel’ s work has involved fiscal oversight and management
Elizabeth Manuel.
The Woody Williams Center for Advanced Learning and Careers.
of state and federal grants supporting educational programs and student initiatives. Her expertise includes grassroots community collaboration, securing funding for impactful programs and expanding educational opportunities for students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
During her tenure with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, Manuel secured nearly $ 30 million in funding for student programs across the state, oversaw the system’ s Division of Student Affairs and served as a member of the Chancellor’ s Cabinet. Earlier in her career, she also held various leadership roles at Southern.
“ Southern has a strong tradition of impacting lives through education,” says Manuel.“ I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside our dedicated faculty, staff, students and community partners as we continue creating opportunities for the people and communities we serve.”
“ Together we will continue building on the college’ s mission of accessible, affordable and high-quality education while ensuring our students remain at the center of everything we do,” Manuel says.
The Grant County Bank Announces New Name
The Grant County Bank has officially announced its intention to transition its name and brand to Highlands Bank to better reflect the extended service area across multiple communities in the region.
“ This is a thrilling time for all of us as we prepare the transition to the Highlands Bank brand,” says George Ford, president and CEO.“ Our employees have known about the announcement since late last year, and we wanted to formally announce our new name ahead of the branding update, which will modify the look and feel.”
This change reflects an update to the bank’ s branding only. There will be no changes to ownership, customer accounts, services or day-to-day banking operations.
West Liberty University Launches Mental Health Counseling Program
West Liberty University is expanding its graduate offerings with the launch of a new Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling( MHC) program, set to begin this fall.
Developed to address the growing need for mental and behavioral health professionals, the program provides a flexible and accessible pathway for students seeking careers in counseling while continuing to work in their communities.
“ The need for qualified mental health professionals continues to grow in West Virginia and across the country,” says Susan Ridley, associate professor and chair of the Art Therapy and Counseling department.“ This program was intentionally designed to reduce barriers for students and create a clear pathway into the profession while supporting the communities that need these services most.”
“ West Liberty University is committed to preparing students for meaningful careers that meet real workforce needs,” says Cathy Monteroso, provost and vice president of academic affairs.“ The launch of the Mental Health Counseling program reflects both the growing demand for these professionals and our dedication to providing accessible, high-quality graduate education.”
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