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SAMANTHA SMITH
Excel West Virginia
Loaned
Executive
Program
Set to
Strengthen
State
Economy
When West Virginia Secretary of
Commerce Woody Thrasher talks about
the future of West Virginia, there’s one
word that always rises to the surface: op-
portunity. Thanks to the newly created
West Virginia Executive Loan Program,
opportunities are about to increase
exponentially.
“I believe West Virginia is at the cross-
roads of a major turnaround,” says
Thrasher. “The opportunity exists to dramatically change the
economic landscape of West Virginia. A significant component
of this change is increasing the number of employment oppor-
tunities available to our residents.”
The West Virginia Development Office, a division of the West
Virginia Department of Commerce, is currently working on
more development and expansion projects this year than it has
in previous years. With several major economic development
wins announced in 2017, the efforts are paying off, but capi-
talizing on all the new and unrealized opportunities requires
resources. Faced with budget reductions over the last several
years, the development office knows West Virginia’s full poten-
tial is beyond its current reach without the additional staffing
needed to pursue more projects.
In true entrepreneurial spirit, Thrasher and the leadership
team at the development office set out to tackle this unique
challenge. The solution is an innovative program that allows
West Virginia’s brightest to help the state reach its full potential.
The West Virginia Executive Loan Program, or EXCEL WV,
is a special opportunity for top-level talent from the state’s
24
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
private sector to share their expertise and
make a meaningful impact on the future of
West Virginia. The development office will
organize and administer the program in
conjunction with a volunteer steering com-
mittee comprised of distinguished business
leaders from across the state.
Participants will confront challeng-
ing economic development issues, solve
problems, improve processes and work
with leading companies that are consider-
ing making their home in the Mountain State.
“These loaned executives will experience a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to help grow the state’s economy while further de-
veloping their skill sets as future leaders of their companies and
the state of West Virginia,” says Thrasher. “Loaned executives
will be mentored by some of West Virginia’s top business and
thought leaders and will have the opportunity to work directly
with development office clients interested in relocating or ex-
panding their business in West Virginia.”
Program partners will loan their talented leaders to the devel-
opment office for a six-month or one-year term. Loaned execu-
tives have the option of participating on a part-time or full-time
basis and can work on-site in the development office or from a
remote location. During their tenure, participants will remain
employees of their host company or organization.
The development office is seeking to fill the EXCEL WV talent
ranks with engineers, lawyers, accountants, sales profession-
als, business executives, logisticians, economists, technologists
and other professionals.
“We want to pull in talent from a variety of places—law
firms, engineering firms, architectural firms, accounting firms,
universities, utility companies—all kinds of folks,” says Thrasher.
The most important requirement for becoming a loaned ex-
ecutive is a passion for West Virginia and a full commitment
to its success.
“EXCEL WV is designed to be a very competitive, highly
selective program with the end goal of creating a top-notch
multidisciplinary team,” says Thrasher. “This is an opportuni-
ty for West Virginia businesses to influence the state in a very
forward-thinking, positive manner. I think this program has
the potential to dramatically alter how we go about generat-
ing business in the state. If we improve the economy, the rising
tide will lift all ships.”