West Virginia Executive Winter 2018 | Page 25

[ community ] SAMANTHA CART TRACY TOLER Due to its small population and tight-knit communities, West Virginia is an ideal place for young, hard-working pro- fessionals to quickly work their way up through the ranks of noteworthy companies. The Mountain State is home to 115,673 small businesses and a variety of larger companies such as Toyota, Amazon and Procter & Gamble, and many of these successful ventures are run by the state’s best and bright- est—and youngest. This deep pool of talent is where West Virginia Executive (WVE) magazine finds its Young Guns—West Virginians 43 and younger who have lived and worked in the state for at least two years. These standout Mountaineers have not only excelled in their respective careers but spend a significant amount of time giving back to the communities in which they live. On November 14, 2017, WVE held a reception at the West Virginia Culture Center to honor the Young Guns Class of 2018 with the help of sponsors United Bank and the Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau. This year’s Young Guns photo shoot took place at various locations across Jefferson County, including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Bavarian Inn, Club at Cress Creek, Holly- wood Casino at Charles Town Races and Main Street Harpers Ferry, illustrating the rich history, beautiful scenery and boom- ing business climate of West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle. Nominations for the Young Guns Class of 2019 are now being accepted. To submit a nomination, visit www.wvexecu- tive.com/nominate-a-young-gun.  WWW.WVEXECUTIVE.COM WINTER 2018 23