Regional Focus
COMPILED BY JENNIFER JETT PREZKOP
Dolly Sods Wilderness. Photo by Kent Mason.
WV Hive Network to Host a Series
of Business Idea Competitions
In order to showcase the entrepreneurial talent base and
ingenuity of Southern West Virginia, the WV Hive Network
is hosting a series of business idea competitions titled Pitch
Southern West Virginia.
The competitions, conducted in partnership with TechConnect
West Virginia and the West Virginia University LaunchLab-
Beckley, are being held throughout the WV Hive’s 12-county
service area. Two of the competitions in the series have
already taken place.
The first competition, held in Beckley at the Raleigh Play-
house & Theatre, was open to residents and businesses of Ra-
leigh, Mercer, McDowell and Wyoming counties. First place
was awarded to David Wills of Raleigh County with his Step
Safely invention, which is designed to enhance ladder safety
by signaling when a person is on the last step.
The second competition was held at the New River Community
and Technical College in Lewisburg and was open to residents
and businesses of Greenbrier, Pocahontas and Monroe counties.
First place was awarded to Orchard Valley Poultry, which is
run by Scott Perry of Rainelle. Perry, the youngest contestant
at 17 years old, is a student at Greenbrier East High School
who runs his own poultry business, selling and shipping chicks
across the country. He plans to use the funds to upgrade his
incubator.
Rotruck Joins
Orion Strategies
Scott Rotruck.
92
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
Scott Rotruck, the former
vice president of corporate
development and state govern-
ment relations for Chesapeake
Energy, has joined the Pitts-
burgh office of Orion Strat-
egies, where he will serve as
senior account executive for
the strategic communications
and public relations firm.
Rotruck will be utilizing his decades of experience to assist
Orion’s clients in a number of energy and health care issues.
As a federal lobbyist who has also been registered in a dozen
states, his extensive background will complement the firm’s
government affairs practice.
Swilled Dog Hard Cider Expands with New Facility
West Virginia’s Swilled Dog Hard Cider recently announced
it will be moving to a new location in order to expand its
operations after a record year of growth in 2018. The new
20,000-square-foot facility will be located in the Upper Tract
Industrial Park in Upper Tract, WV, less than 10 miles from
its original location. This move will allow the company to
increase production, plant additional apple orchards and offer
an exciting new tasting room experience while also allowing
the company’s home base to remain in Pendleton County.
In addition to needing greater production capacity, the
company has seen significant demand from customers around
the region and tourists from outside of the state for a full
Swilled Dog experience.
“Our goal has always been to provide our fans with the full
Swilled Dog experience, and we are excited to finally be able
to bring it to them,” says Brooke Glover, Swilled Dog’s sales
and marketing director and one of the company’s owners. “It’s
all about creating a fun and engaging atmosphere for our fans
and giving them a place to enjoy cider with friends and family.”
Logan Manufacturer Secures Federal HUBZone Certification
MRS Manufacturing of Holden has become the first small
business in Logan County to earn its federal HUBZone cer-
tification. The designation qualifies the company for federal
set-aside contracts and ensures a price preference when it
competes for open government contracts.
MRS manufactures metal components for a variety of busi-
nesses and provides industrial manufacturing and fabrication
services for automotive utility vehicles as well as the energy
and chemical sectors.
“Receiving our HUBZone certification will allow MRS
Manufacturing to compete on a national level,” says Owner