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Judy has been the director of the WV Hive since November 2017. As the Hive director, Judy focuses on establishing partnerships and alliances that provide increased access to resources for businesses and entrepreneurs. She works with her team of business advisors, support network, and funders to bring about more effective and efficient means through which regional entrepreneurs can operate successful establishments.
Prior to her present position, Judy served as a WV Hive Regional Business Advisor. Before joining the WV Hive she was employed as an Assistant Director at West Virginia University’s National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium. There, Judy’s main roles and responsibilities included providing leadership in areas of creative direction, media relations, and management of the communications, marketing, and education and outreach efforts of the organization. Judy has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from American Intercontinental University and a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University.
Judy has also served as the Principal Investigator/Project Coordinator of numerous projects and grants and assisted in the development of numerous training and workshop materials, authored and co-authored many articles for industry newsletters and publications, and spoken at numerous conferences and workshops.
As a lifelong resident of West Virginia, Peni Adams brings a vast array of business and life experiences to the West Virginia Hive Network as a Business Advisor. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree, with a concentration in Accounting from Concord College, Peni worked as a Certified Public Accountant for over a decade. But the desire to stay home with her two children was strong, so she was able to be a full-time stay-at-home mom for six years.
Upon returning to the workforce, Peni chose to diversify her experiences. Some include two positions in McDowell County as Executive Director of the Wastewater Treatment Coalition of McDowell County and the McDowell County Economic Development Authority. The love of Economic Development was nurtured while serving in those positions. She worked as a field representative for the State of West Virginia Secretary of State and Attorney General offices for several years. As Peni traveled all over southern WV to help County and City government officials and WV consumers solve problems, many great relationships were developed and are still in place.
With strong people skills and the diversified career, Peni brings a skill set that is a perfect fit for the WV Hive Network.
As a passionate West Virginia native, Mary brings a strong mix of caring and small business experience to the WV Hive Network. A recent Board Member and volunteer for the New River Humane Society, Mary has worked hard to develop standard operating procedures and innovative fundraising and outreach efforts, contributing to the rescue of over 1,800 disadvantaged animals per year. A tireless community advocate, Mary also used her role as Receiving Manager at Tractor Supply in Oak Hill to support local farmers and youth programs such as 4H and FFA.
With a background as a Rural Business Services Coordinator with the WVSU Extension Service and a Marketing Facilitator for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, Mary is an enthusiastic problem solver, dedicated to promoting local small business development and improving the professional skills of local entrepreneurs. Her outgoing and energetic nature and deep ties to local employees, entrepreneurs, and volunteer networks in the areas of artisans, agriculture, specialty foods, tourism, and renewable energy make her an ideal advocate for the West Virginia Hive Network.
Beth is a lifelong Oak Hill/Fayette County resident and rejoins the NRGRDA as the Contracts and Procurement Specialist for the WV Hive. She brings many years of experience as an Executive Assistant to the founding partners of Class VI River Runners, the Executive Director of 4-C Economic Development Authority, which later became the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority and most recently, the Group Director/General Manager of the Summit Bechtel Reserve, the fourth high adventure base and permanent home of the Boy Scouts of America’s National Scout Jamboree.
She is involved in the community as a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and the Oak Hill High/Collins High Alumni Association. Beth also serves her church, Calvary Baptist Church in Oak Hill, as Clerk.
Beth graduated from Oak Hill High School and West Virginia Institute of Technology with an Associate of Science degree in Medical Secretarial Studies.
She is looking forward to assisting in helping the aspiring and existing business owners of the WV Hive service area to thrive throughout southern West Virginia.
The newest member of our team, Stephanie, serves as a regional business advisor, assisting entrepreneurs and business leaders in our 12-county region.
A Beckley native, Stephanie has worked in business and workforce development, higher education, and at a southern West Virginia hospice. Her background and experience will translate into providing in‐depth business consultations to entrepreneurs, recently formed companies, and established small businesses seeking to expand, diversify, or attract new capital investment.
Sanders completed her Associate degree in Business Administration in 2003 at Valley College in Martinsburg. After many years in the workforce, she knew that she needed more education to take her career to the next level. That led her to an online program that would give her the flexibility that she needed while working. In 2020, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Valley College.
Before coming to the Hive, Stephanie worked in a similar role at the Region One Workforce Investment Board as the Small Business Development Center Coordinator. Prior to holding that position, she was the Business Services Coordinator for Region One. Her most recent role was Career Services Advisor for Valley College Online Division, where she provided student guidance on career choices, determining skills, strengthening recruitment potential, and furthering educational opportunities.
As a West Virginia native, Olivia Morris is driven by a passion to help West Virginians in the region reach their goals and achieve their personal success. In her role as Program Coordinator for the WV Hive, Morris takes pride in helping the team provide the best care and support possible for entrepreneurs who use our services. She has an extraordinary commitment to strengthening local entrepreneurship networks. In addition to her primary job functions, Morris enjoys creating media content to inform entrepreneurs and share good news about what the Hive has to offer.
Prior to working at the WV Hive, Morris earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education K-6 from Marshall University and taught in Kanawha County for five years. She then served as a Network Engagement Coordinator for Generation West Virginia where she supported a network of young people across the state serving in and developing their communities. During her career, Morris has developed and honed her skills in strategic planning, problem solving, place making, organization, relationship building, and facilitation. She has also had the honor to take part in the WV Hub’s Advance Leadership Fellowship.
Morris resides in Oak Hill, WV. In her personal time, you can find her on adventures with her dog, rock climbing and boating around the New River Gorge, and serving on NRAC’s JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee.
Joining the WV Hive team in early 2019, Sandy seeks and works to secure funding for the WV Hive from various funding streams including grants and foundations. As part of the Hive, Sandy works closely with the team to understand internal needs for the Hive and external client needs and works to address these needs by securing the adequate funding. In addition to writing proposals, Sandy is also responsible for developing and managing budgets, budget adjustments and modifications, reimbursement requests, reporting for multiple funding streams, works with and produces reports from the data management systems that tracks client data, accounting, and grant and project management.
A California native, Sandy relocated to West Virginia in late 2018. Prior to moving to WV, she worked for the Emergency Management Department for her residential county. As an Analyst for the Emergency Management Department, Sandy was responsible for tracking all budgets and projects and developing procedures for internal procurement processes and tracking multiple grant budgets for the Preparedness Division exceeding over $8.5 million. Sandy has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California, Riverside and a Master of Business Administration from University of Phoenix.
Diana Woods is the director of the Beckley Launch Lab at West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) in collaboration with the WV HIve. She is responsible for connecting and utilizing services with WVU, WVU Tech, and WV Hive to provide entrepreneurship support to the WVU Tech campus and community and throughout southern West Virginia.
Woods, a Marshall University business administration graduate with concentrations in accounting and management, has held managerial, tax and accounting positions with the State of West Virginia, as well as private and non-profit organizations. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.
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