[ entrepreneurship ]
Young Guns
“ Winston Churchill once said , ‘ History will be kind to me for I intend to write it .’ Through the partnerships within Forge Business Solutions , I intend to do all I can to make West Virginia the best it can be , and history will be our judge .”
Frank Vitale
Frank Vitale is a business professional with a diverse career background who continues to embrace opportunities for growth and new success . With experience in the financial and health care industries , as well as the armed services , he has proven he can thrive no matter the challenge , including a recent adventure in entrepreneurialism .
A member of the Young Guns Class of 2015 , today Vitale is honing in on his true passion of helping businesses succeed through the creation of Forge Business Solutions . A West Virginia veteran-owned company , Vitale is using this new venture as a platform to assist other businesses with finding success through strategy and relationships .
Forge Business Solutions offers advanced expertise in the areas of strategic planning , government and community relations , human resources management and veteran programs . With Vitale ’ s experience in these areas , the company is able to hold a variety of client portfolios from all different industries . As the president and CEO , he is responsible for providing professional consulting services to clients , as well as developing and growing the company into a high-quality solutions provider .
“ Winston Churchill once said , ‘ History will be kind to me for I intend to write it ,’” says Vitale . “ Through the partnerships within Forge Business Solutions , I intend to do all I can to make West Virginia the best it can be , and history will be our judge .”
To add to his list of accomplishments , Vitale was recently named financial officer of the West Virginia Board of Education ( WVBOE ) by Governor Jim Justice , where he is serving in a newly formed board officer position to represent the financial implications of board decisions .
“ Leveraging a 15-year background in banking , I plan to help the board of education consider the economic impact of its decisions as well as opportunities to create economic development within our state for our graduates ,” he says . “ While the state board of education is mostly made up of newly appointed members , the combined experience of our members is extensive and invaluable , only outdone by its passion to make West Virginia education first-class .”
While running his own business and serving the WVBOE , Vitale still makes time to give back to a special group of individuals : U . S . veterans . Vitale co-founded Vet Connection , a West Virginia-based 501 ( c )( 3 ) organization , in 2010 to help veterans and their family members as they assimilate to civilian life and strive to make a better life for themselves . Through his role with the WVBOE , he sees job opportunities for veterans and their families in education .
Because West Virginia boasts the largest veteran population per capita in the U . S ., Vitale also sees an opportunity to address the other issues veterans face . Recently , Dr . Clay Marsh , vice president and executive dean of health sciences at West Virginia University ( WVU ), and Dr . Bill Ramsey , chief collaboration officer and director of coordination and logistics for WVU Health Sciences , contacted Vitale to discuss West Virginia ’ s veteran health and well-being .
“ We have identified an opportunity to work together and develop initiatives to support the veteran community ,” says Vitale . “ As a veteran and former officer of the West Virginia Army National Guard , I see this as nothing more than my duty to those who have already sacrificed so much .”
A resident of Morgantown , Vitale is aware of the issues currently facing the state , but he is optimistic about the future of West Virginia and the role education will play as a solution .
“ Education is the cornerstone of the foundation for a better West Virginia ,” he says . “ While education alone cannot fix the state ’ s problems , it does impact the future narrative by giving our students the tools and skills necessary for a brighter tomorrow . As parents of three young children , nothing is more important to my wife , Ashley , and me , than a bright future for our children .” •
MAGGIE MATSKO CHELSI BAKER
30
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE