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When you think about career development, personal growth or leadership, your mind might automatically jump to thoughts of college courses, training seminars or management books. But the truth is, inspiring leadership lessons don’t have to come from an online course complete with a downloadable certificate, or from pages that are catalogued under 303.34 (“leadership”) in

One of the driving goals behind the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative (OEDC) is to expand outdoor educational opportunities. This means helping kids step away from screens and inspiring them to get outdoors, instead. At the OEDC, we know just how much West Virginia’s great outdoors has to offer and we want

On May 11, 2021, on an NPR “All Things Considered” segment titled “Pennies From (Almost) Heaven: Get Paid To Move To West Virginia,” hosts Alisa Chang and Mary Louise Kelly discussed Brad D. Smith’s Ascend West Virginia program. The episode included some recorded quotes from Brad, as well as quotes from Danny Twilley from West

On April 9, 2021, Danny Twilley and Paris Winfrey appeared on the Positively West Virginia podcast to discuss the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative (OEDC) with co-hosts Jim Matuga and Frank Vitale. Danny is the Associate Dean for the OEDC and Paris is the Program Coordinator. Both individuals were excited to share

The Wing 2 Wing Foundation focuses on supporting accessible education to instill capabilities and skills needed to participate and compete in the digital world. Wing 2 Wing primarily operates in the Appalachian Region, where technological changes have created upheavals in the social and work lives of residents and youth.  Here are some of the most

On June 3rd, 2021, Brad D. Smith appeared on the the Mountaineer Media Podcast, a podcast that connects West Virginians by sharing stories and interviewing leaders.  Smith, a native of West Virginia, discussed his roots and Ascend West Virginia, a remote worker initiative he is spearheading. Brad also explained how West Virginia’s unique culture guided

I’m often asked what skill, experience or attribute I find most important in today’s fast-changing environment. Admittedly, my answers have evolved over the past 35 years of my professional career. Looking back, it has become clear that one skill stands the test of time, and I believe will be increasingly in-demand as we push ahead