Born and raised in Welch, WV, Jina was instilled with an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age. After starting her own business at 16 years old, Jina was the first student to receive the McKelvey Foundation Entrepreneurial Scholarship during their junior year of high school.
After graduating from Concord University in 2009 with a B.S. in Recreation and Tourism Management with an emphasis in Event Planning & Promotions, Jina returned home to assist her family in expanding the only non-profit food pantry in McDowell County. While there, Jina served as Trust Systems Administrator for 7 years at MCNB Bank and Trust Company.
In 2016, Jina followed the urge to leave the finance industry to fulfill her gut and help her community develop to its fullest potential. Working as Chief Business Officer with Coalfield Development, Jina worked closely with WV leaders and entrepreneurs to strengthen the substantiality of social enterprises across Appalachia. While there, Jina’s work in capital access and small business development organically crossed paths with NRGRDA and their great work being done in Southern WV.
In February 2019, Jina officially joined the NRGRDA as Director of Business Development. Combining her previous community development skills with her background in finance and social enterprise will allow her to provide the New River Gorge region with resources and expertise needed to grow the thriving economy of Southern WV. In December 2020, Jina assumed the role of Executive Director and continues to focus on implementing the organization’s strategic vision to grow the organization’s capacity and work across the New River Gorge region.
A West Virginia native raised in Hurricane, Zack Statler has an entrepreneurial mindset in everything he does. Upon graduating from West Virginia University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in business, he launched his banking and finance career in 2015 at United Bank in Dunbar, West Virginia, serving as a commercial loans operations specialist.
He has advanced quickly in the company with a track record of tremendous success, rising to be the firm’s top lender by 2021. He has had successful stints in Morgantown and Charleston, and is now based in Beckley as United Bank’s South Market president, a position he achieved at the young age of 31.
His client-first focus is a trademark of his remarkable record, as he communicates well and nurtures relationships to build a trusting environment among his United team and their client base.
He challenges his new market team to do their best and strives to give his best in return, demonstrating how to handle even the toughest situations. He’ll often say, “Returning a call to give a bad answer is better than giving no answer at all. We have to always be there for the customer and our community — whether it’s great news or difficult news.”
As a West Virginia native who has built his life and career here, the love he has for the Mountain State can be seen throughout each aspect of his life. With a natural inclination to learn and pursue new things, he is motivated by trials and his ability to solve problems. He knows his position and talents put him in the position to work with many people, helping them to achieve their dreams and goals. He works tirelessly to do just that and in strengthening the state and the lives of West Virginians.
Michelle Rotellini, a Beckley, WV native and Woodrow Wilson High School alum, earned her B.S. in Business Administration from the College of Charleston’s School of Business and Economics. She began her career at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, spending twelve years in sales and marketing, ultimately serving as Director of Sales. After a move back to Beckley with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in sales, Michelle soon embraced her entrepreneurial spirit.
In 2008, Michelle opened a Visiting Angels homecare franchise (now Homecare WV), serving the aging population in five southern West Virginia counties.
Michelle’s next venture grew from her upbringing in a family dedicated to healthy living. Partnering with two aunts, she launched The Dish Café in April 2013 to bring fresh, nutritious food to the community. Their menu emphasizes non-GMO, scratch-made recipes, and locally sourced ingredients, promoting a sustainable, health-focused dining experience. The Dish Café remains the area’s top-rated restaurant on Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor, with Yelp awarding it a “2023 Top 100 in the Country” designation. This October, Michelle and her family expanded by opening a second location, Uptown Dish, in Beckley.
Dedicated to community service, Michelle joined the United Way of Southern West Virginia’s board and served as VP of Finance before becoming Executive Director in 2017. Under her leadership, United Way raised over $900,000 annually, supporting more than 45 nonprofit programs across seven counties.
In December 2019, Michelle became President/CEO of the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, one of West Virginia’s largest chambers. Michelle’s work is centered around issues that impact business and the local economy. Key areas in which she works include workforce participation, education and training, business regulation and community enhancement.
Michelle’s board experience includes roles with a private school, the United Way, and the FEMA board. She currently serves on boards for Active Southern West Virginia, Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center, Visit Southern West Virginia, and WVU Hospitals. In 2021, she was appointed by the Governor to a six-year term on the United Health System Board.
An avid runner, Michelle enjoys 5K and 10K races. She lives in Daniels, WV, with her three children, Isabella, Dominic, and Marco, and together they enjoy skiing, biking, swimming, and tennis.