The Positively West Virginia Podcast

Doctor Mirta Martin is the President of Fairmont State University located in Fairmont West Virginia – in Marion County. Born in Havana, Cuba, and an immigrant to the United States, Doctor Martin uses her interpersonal and cultural expertise to work diligently to promote access to affordable educational opportunities. The Board of Governors appointed Mirta M. Martin, Ph. D. the twenty-sixth preside...

Aaron Rote is the Co-Owner of Short Story Brewing located in Rivesville, West Virginia – in Marion County. Short Story Brewing is a family-owned craft brewery in Rivesville, WV. They believe that all good things are the result of a lot of hard work and a little creativity. You can taste it in their beer, you can see it in their taproom and you can feel it in their surrounding community.

Dan Davis is the Co-owner of Kin Ship Goods located in Charleston West Virginia – in Kanawha County. Kin Ship Goods is a lifestyle brand, retail shop, and print studio located on Charleston's West Side. Kin Ship Goods also serves as a community space—hosting events, music, and fundraisers for numerous social justice causes. Dan Davis has been making art for as long as he can remember and has been...

Sue Jennings is the Owner of Allegheny Treenware located in Thornton, West Virginia – in Preston County. Allegheny Treenware is a company focused on the production of wooden kitchen utensils. It has been proudly owned and operated by Stanley and Sue Jennings for more than 25 years.    All products are MADE by hand, with quality West Virginia hardwoods.    Every item is shaped by hand, and every sp...

Lonnie Fast is the President of Fast Hay Movers located in Fairmont, West Virginia – in Marion County. Lonnie is the inventor of the famous "Hay Baby" hay transporter. Their unique, patented hay machines attach to most all ATV's, side by side UTV's and 3 pt hitches on compact tractors. These are used to transport round hay bales of all sizes or large rectangle hay bales.  The concept was born out...

Melody Urbanic is the Owner of Cafe' Cimino located in Sutton, West Virginia – in Braxton County. Melody Urbanic and Chef Tim Urbanic have, over the past 20 years, lovingly created one of this state's most popular and celebrated Inns.  Cafe Cimino Country Inn, named as one of the "South's Best Inns" by Southern Living Magazine, is a full scale, full service Inn with 10 guest rooms, an award winnin...

Andrew Goldbaugh is the Owner of Goldbaugh Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation. Andrew was born and raised in Wheeling, West Virginia. He is a 2007 graduate of Wheeling Park High School. Following high school, he attended West Virginia University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology. While at WVU, he was also a four year member of the Mountaineer football team. Followi...

Thomas Gilson is the Owner of The Cheese Melt, a gourmet grilled cheese food truck based in Wheeling, West Virginia. Thomas started the business in 2014 with a small hot dog cart converted into a grilled cheese cart, then bumped up to a food trailer and 2 years after that built a full-blown food truck. Today, he currently runs both the trailer and the truck in the Ohio Valley for lunches, special...

Doyle Tenney is the Owner of DT Solar, based in French Creek, West Virginia – in Upshur County. DT Solar delivers solar power systems to meet the unique needs of residential or business customers. Doyle began DT Solar to bring solar technology to the people in French Creek, WV, and surrounding areas. He believes in the cost savings and environmental benefits that solar technology provides.

Dave Stone is the Owner of Stone Road Vineyard, based in Elizabeth, West Virginia – Wirt County! Stone Road Vineyard represents the union of quality grapes with traditional, natural venting techniques. Stone Road Vineyard offers a history-honored touch to their varietals and blended red and white wines. I invited Dave on the show today to talk about his company and share his story, and to give our...

Matt Welsch is the Owner of Vagabond Kitchen, based in Wheeling, West Virginia. In 2013 Matt Welsch, the Vagabond Chef, traversed the country by motorcycle discovering and exploring the culinary renaissance in the United States. At the end of the year, he returned home to Wheeling bringing with him a wealth of restaurant and food experience, inspiration, and excitement which became the foundation...

Robert Doeffinger is the President of ZMM Architects & Engineers, based in Charleston, West Virginia. ZMM is an integrated award-winning design firm providing professional services throughout the Mountain State. Bob is a professional engineer and a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.    He settled in Point Pleasant, West Virginia at a young age.    He graduated from West Virginia University with a...

Meghan Fisher from Fayetteville, WV took her passion for the outdoors and watersports and turned it into her career.  Meghan is a ACA Level 1 and 2 SUP Instructor and Instructor Trainer Candidate. She decided to start her own business, Mountain Surf Paddle Sports with two main goals in mind: To make Stand Up Paddleboarding more professional in the area and promote an active, outdoor lifestyle thro...

Chris Bailey is the owner of Rising Sun Construction, headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia. Rising Sun Construction is a full-service design/build construction company with a crew of full-time employees. Chris grew up in the Charleston area of West Virginia and is an experienced master woodworker, builder and renovator of fine custom homes. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture and D...

Dale Morton founded DMS MASCOT COSTUMES in 2001 in Hurricane, WV.    He crafts professional, custom-made mascot character costumes for schools and corporations nationwide.    Some of Dale's past customers have included Intelos, Procter & Gamble, Hasbro, THX Inc., Careerbuilder.com, Dunkin' Donuts, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, and the PGA to name a few. Dale also creates custom ma...

Jill Scarbro-McLaury is the Owner of Bright Futures Learning Services headquartered in Winfield, West Virginia – in Putnam County. Jill was just named Small Business Administration – Woman Owned Small Business of the Year for 2019.  Which is incredible! Bright Futures is a team of committed people who believe that every child can – and has the right to -learn…

Davey Coombs is the owner of Racer X, headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia. Racer X, which started as an underground newspaper in 1988, is now the largest and most influential magazine in the motocross and off-road industry. Every month Coombs and his cast of columnists put out the best magazine in the business, filling it   with colorful pictures, in-depth race coverage, cutting edge design...

Blake Stewart owns the company Stewart Design which is headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia. Stewart design is an award-winning graphic design and print firm.  They specialize in logo design, brand identity and the design and production of high-quality marketing materials. Since 2006, Stewart Design has collaborated with more than 1,200 businesses around the globe.  They provide their client...

National Small Business Week was recognized in West Virginia on May 5 to 11, 2019. As part of the celebration of the best that the Mountain State has to offer, the US Small Business Administration honored six of the state's top small businesses during an afternoon awardsceremony that week at Fairmont's Robert H. Mollohan Research Center. Two recent guests on The Positively West Virginia Podcast we...

Julie Zuercher is the owner of Sparkle Janitorial Supply in Morgantown, WV.  Julie grew up in Kingwood, WV.  After graduating from Preston High School she obtained a degree in sociology from Shepherd College.  Her first real job was serving as the executive assistant for Senator Jay Rockefeller in Washington D.C.  Before starting Sparkle Janitorial Julie was the owner of a residential and commerci...

Chad Koury is the owner of  Koury Geosteering, an oil and gas consultant company, located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Koury Geosteering provides geological services that support horizontal drilling. Koury is a petroleum engineer and received a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from West Virginia University (WVU) in 2010. He also completed his Masters of Science in geology from WVU in 2016. K...

Justin Dalton is the owner of ProTex, headquartered in Morgantown, WV.  ProTex specializes in providing complete turn key security solutions for both residential and commercial security and protection needs. ProTex was founded with a passion for insuring safety for people, homes and businesses. They deliver the highest quality and best customer service care in the industry. Justin Dalton has been...

Ray Glymph is the owner of Get Fit Juices & Shakes, headquartered in Morgantown, WV.  Get Fit is a health and wellness brand started in 2018, featuring fresh pressed juices, smoothies, shakes, and nutritional substances. All of their food is prepared with health in mind only using real fruit and vegetables. Their mission is to help West Virginians lead a healthy life style while on the go. Ray is...

J.P. Phillips is the Vice President of Mountain State Waste Headquartered in Weston, West Virginia.  Mountain State Waste provides residential and commercial waste management services to the mountain state and beyond. J.P. has 20 years experience in the solid waste industry.  He received his BA in Accounting from Marshall University and got his MBA in 2004. He is the current president of the Indep...

Lisa Fritsch is the owner of Agile5 Technologies, headquartered in Fairmont, WV. Agile5 Technologies specializes in information technology services of design, development, testing, integration and the operation/maintenance of enterprise software systems for government agencies. Founded in 2011, Agile5 is a certified woman owned small business. To encourage economic development, Agile5 is committed...