Jenelle H. Armstrong
Utility Division Manager, The Thrasher Group
GROWING UP in Santa Monica, CA, Jenelle Arm-
strong lined the walls of her bedroom with posters
of military fighter jets like the F-4 Phantom and
F-15 Eagle. As a young girl, she dreamed of being
a pilot for the U.S. Navy.
Years later, she was on the cusp of making her
dreams come true as a senior in the U.S. Naval
Academy when an eye exam made her ineligible
for flight school, and her dreams of becoming a
fighter jet pilot came crashing down. While devas-
tating, that event taught her a valuable life lesson.
“Life is not a destination—it is truly a journey,”
she says. “Stop waiting until you get there to
enjoy life. Embrace the chaos, and enjoy the ride.
Tomorrow is not a promise.”
After her plans unraveled, she sought a new
path, trading flight for engineering. Earning a bach-
elor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s
degree in environmental engineering at the Uni-
versity of Texas at El Paso, she launched a pro-
fessional career with Exxon Production Research
Company, designing compliant deep-water struc-
tures. In 2011, she left Texas for Charleston, WV,
and joined The Thrasher Group as a senior project
manager, working her way up to the role of utility
division manager, where she excels today.
With more than 20 years of experience, she
currently leads a team of engineers and techni-
cians in seven offices across five states. Through
collaboration with clients and communities, she
strives to develop the best solutions for her clients’
challenges with water and wastewater treatment
processes.
“I am so blessed to have a career that allows
for human and economic development while pro-
tecting our fragile environment,” she says. “Most
jobs either allow for growth and development or
protecting the environment. Environmental engi-
neers build the bridge between these two critical
components of public health and well-being.”
Armstrong’s drive and leadership skills spill over
from her job into her community. She supports
the planning and execution of the YWCA’s annual
Girls Night Out event and the Twice Blessed Kids’
Consignment Sale at Christ Church United Meth-
odist. She helped establish a grassroots effort to
save the accelerated reader program at Ruthlawn
Elementary School, and she volunteers with the
Mountaineer Little League and advocates for organ
donation. She also participates in Discover En-
gineering Day at the Clay Center and the annual
Charleston CANstruction competition. Recently,
she was appointed by Governor Jim Justice to the
Capitol Building Commission.
One volunteer effort, however, stands out above
all the others. A little over 10 years ago, Arm-
strong’s best friend passed away after a coura-
geous battle with cancer. Honoring her memory,
Armstrong helped establish the Robyn Libitsky
Memorial Scholarship Fund, an annual $1,000
scholarship for students from their high school,
Royal High School, in Simi Valley, CA.
“We receive dozens of applications and select
someone that represents Robyn’s spirt,” she says
of the selection process. “We look for someone
with a strong work ethic, involvement in school
activities and a desire to make the world a better
place.”
Armstrong’s greatest success to date is raising
her children and being a role model to them by
striving to overcome adversity, doing her best and
caring for others. “I have been so blessed with
opportunities in my life,” she says. “I would like
to provide that type of blessing to others. Right
now, my time is very limited, but I have found
opportunities that allow me to spend time with
my children while giving back.”
Armstrong and her
husband, who is originally
from Williamstown, WV,
chose to relocate to the
Mountain State after the
birth of their second child.
She has since made this place
her home.
“We both understood the
benefits of growing up in a
small town where everyone
is family and people look out
for one another,” she says of
their reason for relocating to
West Virginia. “It was impor-
tant to us that our children
have a similar experience.
We have been blessed to live
in West Virginia. There are
many mornings as I drive
around our state for various
projects that I am awestruck
by its natural beauty.”
BLAIR DOWLER
TRACY TOLER
WWW.WVEXECUTIVE.COM
What is your
favorite…?
Super Hero
Wonder Woman
Season
Football
WV Location
New River
Gorge Bridge
What You Can’t Live
Without: Sunshine
The Most
Adventurous Thing
You’ve Done: Spending
the summer training with
the Naval Weapons Test
Squadron, where I flew
an F-14, F/A-18 and F-4
Armstrong outside of the
distinguished Hunter House
in Charles Town, WV.
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