Charleston, WV – May 7, 2025 – Advantage Valley, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of ten new members to its Board of Directors, each bringing a wealth of expertise and commitment to the region’s continued growth. The new board members include:
- Kristin Margolin Anderson, Vice President of Marketing, WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals
- Tamara Fuller, Chief Strategy Officer, Vandalia Health
- David Gilmore, Principal, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
- Alicha Hunt, Plant Manager, Arclin Amines
- Jim Linsenmyer, Director of the Innovation Center, University of Charleston
- Chad Riley, Vice President, The Thrasher Group
- Andy Skidmore, Putnam County Commissioner
- Darian Smith, Market Business Director, Optimum
- Charles Walker, Special Projects Manager, Cabell County Commission
- Scott Wyman, President, WV American Water
Advantage Valley, Inc. recently elected Toney Stroud (Chief Legal Officer and Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Corporate Relations, Marshall University) as Chairman of the Board of Directors; Adam Krason (Principal, ZMM Architects & Engineers) as the new Vice-Chairmain; Wayne Morgan (Executive Director, West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council) as Treasurer; and John Stump (Lawyer, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC) as Secretary.
In addition to expanding its board of directors, Advantage Valley has hired Sasha Strader as a new FASTER WV Business Coach, bringing the total number of coaches to three on staff. Sasha’s focus will be business development in the entire Elk River Trail region, including all of Braxton and Clay County, with a special focus on the trail towns of Clendenin, Sutton, Gassaway, and Clay.
Sasha brings a wealth of hands-on small business experience as the former owner and founder of Appalachian Tea in Charleston, WV. Sasha earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from West Virginia State University and is passionate about helping local entrepreneurs succeed.
The FASTER WV program offers a variety of technical services, counseling and financing assistance to individuals starting or growing small businesses. Services are free of charge. Since its inception, the FASTER WV program has contributed to the creation of 177 new businesses and 267 jobs and provided one-on-one coaching for hundreds of start-up businesses.
Major funding for Advantage Valley’s FASTER WV program is provided by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the Claude Worhtington Benedum Foundation.
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Advantage Valley, Inc. is a regional economic development organization with a mission to grow economic opportunity in the Charleston-Huntington Metro Area by increasing investment in the region, leveraging resources, and building collaboration among community stakeholders.