[ contributors | winter 2018 ]
Cathy Bonnstetter
Cathy Bonnstetter has covered West Virginia’ s businesses and business leaders as a journalist for more than a decade. She is an adjunct lecturer at West Virginia University’ s Reed College of Media and for a brief time owned a small business in Fairmont. Bonnstetter holds a bachelor’ s degree in elementary education and a master’ s degree in journalism. She currently resides in Morgantown with her husband, Dennis.
Kelly Camarote Greathouse
Kelly Camarote Greathouse joined the marketing team at The Ziegenfelder Company in March 2017 with a wealth of prior experience. After graduating from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA, she moved to Southern West Virginia to start her career as a reporter and anchor. She relocated to the Ohio Valley in 2009 when she joined WTOV in Steubenville. Greathouse and her husband, Sam, reside in Weirton and are expecting their first child.
Leah Clark Payne
Leah Clark Payne is the director of public affairs for the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and the Marshall University School of Pharmacy. A native of Charleston, WV, she has worked for more than two decades in radio and television news, advertising and public relations. Payne received her bachelor’ s and master’ s degrees from Marshall University in broadcast news and public relations, respectively.
John Deskins
John Deskins serves as the assistant dean for outreach and engagement, director of the Bureau of Business & Economic Research( BBER) and as an associate professor of economics in the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics. He holds a Ph. D. in economics from the University of Tennessee, and his academic research focuses on economic development, small business economics and government tax and expenditure policy.
Blair Dowler
Blair Dowler is the communications specialist for the West Virginia University( WVU) College of Business and Economics( B & E) and serves as an adjunct instructor in the B & E’ s department of marketing. She is a two-time graduate of the WVU Reed College of Media with a bachelor’ s degree in journalism and a master’ s degree in integrated marketing communications. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, spending time outdoors and cheering on the Mountaineers.
Alicia Elkin
Alicia Elkin is a senior manager for the strategic communications team at Signal Group, a lobbying and communications firm in Washington, D. C. Before joining Signal, she held multiple positions at IQ Solutions, Golin and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, where she helped reposition organizations as health and wellness thought leaders. Elkin is a graduate of West Virginia University, where she received her bachelors’ degree in public relations and a minor in communications.
MEET THE STAFF
Melanie Boyd
Melanie Boyd, a native of Shrewsbury, WV, is the graphic designer for Executive Ink, LLC and its publications. She holds a bachelor’ s degree in graphic design from Marietta College and previously worked as the designer for the West Virginia Education Association. In her spare time, Boyd is active in CrossFit at Firebreather Fitness and has participated in several 5k runs, including the SportFest Glow Run 5k in Charleston and the Color Me Rad 5k in Morgantown. She also enjoys cross-stitching and jigsaw puzzles. Boyd resides in Scott Depot, WV. She can be reached at mjb @ wvexecutive. com.
Nikki Butler
Nikki Butler, founder of Nikki Butler Design LLC, is a freelance graphic designer and social media manager who specializes in marketing for small businesses, corporate identity and magazine and catalog layout. She is a graduate of Marietta College with more than 15 years of experience in the publishing, tourism and retail industries. A seamstress and juried Tamarack artist, Butler also designs her own fabric and has had a line of apparel and accessories. She lives in Williamstown, WV, with her husband, Buddy, and their four children. She may be reached at nikkibutler. com.
Samantha Cart
Samantha Cart is an editor for Executive Ink, LLC and its publications. A native of Buffalo, WV, she holds bachelor’ s and master’ s degrees in journalism from West Virginia University. She previously worked as an assistant editor for Omnistream and a social media specialist for Atkins & Ogle Law Offices. In her spare time, she serves as a volunteer with Putnam County 4-H, the Church of the Nazarene and the Come and Serve Team. Cart currently lives in Hometown, WV, with her husband, Dr. Caleb Cart, and their dog, Wednesday. She may be reached at sdc @ wvexecutive. com.
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE