1995
1996 Hired as architectural
intern at WYK Associates, Inc.
2000
2004 Earned WV Board
of Architects license
2005
2005 Joined WYK Associates,
Inc. as project architect
2007 Elected to AIA-WV
board of directors
2008 Became partner and
vice president at WYK
Associates, Inc.
2010
2012 Acquired WYK
Associates, Inc. as owner
2015
2020
2014 Selected to lead the
restoration of the Robinson
Grand Performing Arts Center
2014 Named to the Young
Guns Class of 2015 by WVE
2019 Recognized with
the Merit Award for
Craftsmanship and Honor
Award for Achievement
in Historic Preservation
for the Robinson Grand
Performing Arts Center
“The potential greatness found
in the unknown is a great
motivator that keeps me going
even on the most difficult days.”
his dreams. Since then, he has worked
his way up from project architect to vice
president to president and owner.
As Swiger looks back at his other pro-
fessional achievements over the years,
his proudest moment was WYK being
selected from a pool of 12 firms to be
the architect for the Robinson Grand
Performing Arts Center renovation proj-
ect. “I had very fond memories of this
venue as a child, so I was honored to be
a part of the renovation,” he says. “It was
a dream project and definitely a highlight
of my career to work on it.”
Swiger has encountered a vast number
of great minds while in the industry, but
he says one person stands out from the
rest: Bill Yoke Jr., the past president of
WYK. “Bill had just taken over as the sole
owner of WYK in 1996 when I started as
an intern, and it was then I noticed how
well respected he was by colleagues, con-
tractors and community members,” says
Swiger. “He was also very involved in the
community.”
Inspired by his mentor, Swiger contin-
ues to follow Yoke’s example and strives
to have an impact in his community. “I
have learned that if you give your time,
talent and treasure to an individual or a
cause—no matter how big or small—it
has a huge impact, especially when com-
bined with the efforts of other like-minded
individuals,” he says. “I think we owe a
lot to organizations that provide positive
mentoring for our youth, as well as ser-
vices for our seniors and our veterans.”
Swiger is dedicated to making West
Virginia a better place to live and work,
and today he carries out his love for his
community through a variety of roles,
including member of the board of direc-
tors for the Bi-County Nutrition Pro-
gram; Health Access, Inc.; Kiwanis Club
of Clarksburg; and Clarksburg Uptown,
Inc. and member of the advisory com-
mittee for the Salem University School
of Business. In the past, he served as a
member of the education committee for
the Harrison County Chamber of Com-
merce and on the board of directors for
the United Way of Harrison County, Inc.
He is also well-known for philanthropic
giving for causes near and dear to him,
including in-kind architectural services
for the First Responders Memorial Park
in Clarksburg, the Robinson Grand Per-
forming Arts Center and the new parish
center at Immaculate Conception Catholic
Church, as well as funding for Clarksburg
Uptown, Inc.’s annual jazz stroll and the
diversity statue at the Clarksburg-Harrison
Public Library, among others.
“I give back to my community because
it is the right thing to do,” he says. “We
all live and work in a community, so why
wouldn’t you assist the people who are
out there working day in and day out to
make the place you live a better place? It
makes me feel good to know I have made
a difference.”
While running a successful architec-
tural firm and small architectural sal-
vage business and being a good steward
in the community is hard work, Swiger is
motivated every day by the endless pos-
sibilities that lie ahead. “Every day is a
new opportunity to help someone, meet
a new friend or land a new job,” he says.
“The potential greatness found in the un-
known is a great motivator that keeps me
going even on the most difficult days.”
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