contributors
Jamie Null
Jamie Null is the executive director for the Mercer County Convention & Visitors Bureau . An awardwinning journalist with the Bluefield Daily Telegraph , she joined the tourism industry in 2014 . A graduate of both Bluefield College and Concord University , she holds bachelor ’ s degrees in print journalism and English literature and enjoys running , traveling and promoting West Virginia .
Sheanna Spence
Sheanna Spence is the director of external affairs for Marshall Health and the Marshall University Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine . She is passionate about promoting health and education in the Mountain State . Spence holds a bachelor ’ s degree in print journalism from Marshall University and a master ’ s degree in journalism from Ohio University . She resides in Hurricane , WV , with her husband , Joshua , and their two children .
Tracy Toler
Tracy Toler scaled
Seneca Rocks at the age of 5 and has been reaching new heights ever since . Through his business , Tracy A . Toler Photography , he has served as creative director and feature photographer for many of the region ’ s largest magazines . Known as Mr . McGyver , he can fix anything with a bobby pin , rubber band or Swiss Army knife . Toler may be reached at tracytoler @ yahoo . com .
Kristen Uppercue
Kristen Uppercue , a Martinsburg , WV , native , is the editorial assistant at 100 Days in Appalachia , a nonprofit publication reporting on national issues as they relate to the Appalachian region . She holds a bachelor ’ s degree in journalism and is currently pursuing a master ' s degree in integrated marketing communications at West Virginia University . Uppercue enjoys traveling and photography and spends most of her free time behind a camera or a good book .
Daniel Walsh
Daniel Walsh is the recipient of the West Virginia University ( WVU ) Health Sciences Center ’ s Don Marsh Scholarship in Healthcare Writing . He is currently pursuing a master ’ s degree in journalism at WVU ’ s Reed College of Media , where he earned a bachelor ’ s degree in journalism in 2019 . Walsh was born and raised in Binghamton , NY .
Jackie Whetzel
Jackie Whetzel , a native of Fayette County , WV , is a freelance reporter who holds a bachelor ’ s degree in journalism from West Virginia University . She has worked as a reporter for The Register- Herald and the New York Daily News and as a writer and research analyst for former U . S . Congressman Nick Rahall in Washington , D . C . Today , Whetzel enjoys writing and editing for various media outlets throughout the country . She currently resides in Charlotte , NC , but travels home to West Virginia often to visit family , friends or her old stomping grounds in Morgantown when she can catch a game .
Alicia Willard
Alicia Willard is a vice president on the strategic communications team at Signal Group . Before joining Signal , she held multiple positions at IQ Solutions , Golin and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America . She is a graduate of West Virginia University , where she received her bachelor ’ s degree in public relations and a minor in communications . She lives in Denver , CO , with her husband .
MEET THE STAFF
Kensie Hamilton Fauber
Kensie Hamilton Fauber is the publisher and owner of Executive Ink , LLC , the publishing company for West Virginia Executive and its sister publications . She holds bachelor ’ s degrees in corporate communications and journalism from Elon University . She is a graduate of the Leadership West Virginia Class of 2015 , the 2015 FBI Citizens Academy and the 2016-2017 class of Leadership Mon . In 2017 , she graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program . She lives in Elkview , WV , with her husband , Adam ; her daughter , Quinn ; and her twin sons , Cavan and Kieran . She may be reached at kmh @ wvexecutive . com .
Amanda Larch
Amanda Larch is the production manager for West Virginia Executive . A Hurricane , WV , native , she is a recent Marshall University graduate and holds a bachelor ’ s degree in print journalism . She previously worked as an intern for The Herald-Dispatch and served as executive editor for Marshall ’ s student newspaper , The Parthenon . In her free time , she enjoys reading , antiquing , hiking and spending time with her cat , Annie . She may be reached at ajl @ wvexecutive . com .
Interested in pitching a story or being a contributor ? For story pitches , submit at least 100 words by email explaining the main points of the suggested story . Freelance writers should submit writing samples and a résumé . For more information , contact Samantha Cart at sdc @ wvexecutive . com .
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE