Generation West Virginia

“The fellows in this program are the future leaders of West Virginia, and I have no doubt they’ll play a pivotal role in shaping its future. To my beloved home state—one that faces challenges in maintaining and growing its population, securing stable jobs, providing livable wages, and expanding broadband access—know that these bright, talented young professionals are here, ready and eager to help build a stronger future.”

“My time in the Generation West Virginia Fellowship program has been transformative, both personally and professionally. Being surrounded by a diverse group of passionate individuals from across the state has broadened my perspective and deepened my commitment to making a positive impact in West Virginia.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in the fellowship. Working in such a niche space, I often find myself surrounded by people with similar backgrounds, so it’s been refreshing to connect with other young professionals in different sectors. It’s a great way to expand my perspective… The biggest takeaway so far has been the networking opportunities. I’ve had the chance to see different parts of the state and meet people from various industries, and that’s been really exciting!”

“The time so far has felt meaningful. By that, I mean it isn’t just another cocktail hour meet and greet, rather the fellowship has helped me start connections with people across the state who are passionate about improving their communities… My biggest takeaway so far is realizing there are folks out there who are willing to help you no matter what stage of a project/business/life you are in.”

“One of the most fulfilling aspects of the fellowship has been expanding my network within our cohort. Connecting with other young professionals with similar goals and aspirations has been inspiring and rewarding. It's helped melt away any sense of isolation I previously felt as a young person working to make an impact in West Virginia.”

“This year I’ve seen many of my class be promoted, grow in their careers, and start new journeys. We’ve learned so much, and I look forward to witnessing more growth and success from each of us. I am so thankful to GWV for bringing us all together — the opportunity to create friendships on the foundation of building each other up and self-improvement is priceless.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity that my employer gave me when recommending and sponsoring this fellowship program. Not only has it encouraged me to expand my career by helping enhance my leadership and communication skills, it also helped me to explore the state of WV and all that it has to offer.”

“I am thankful to my firm, Dinsmore & Shohl, for recognizing the value of the Fellowship and investing in my professional development by sponsoring my participation in the program. The GWV Fellowship provided me the opportunity to form lasting connections with fellow West Virginians from across the state and across industries, and has led me to recognize the power of collective collaboration in driving positive change within our communities.”

“The GWV Fellowship has helped me develop skills and build personal and professional connections as I begin my career in West Virginia. The fellowship has deepened my love for our state and has shown me ways in which I can promote prosperity and be an asset to my workplace and community, all while building my life here.”

“The GWV Fellowship has been a crucial tool for retention at my company. Team members who have participated benefit from rich community building experiences and develop a vibrant network of peers from across the state, as well as bring skills back to work that strengthen our ability to serve our clients. This fellowship is our secret ingredient when it comes to workforce retention.”

“The benefit of having the team of experts from Generation West Virginia as a driving force in laying the foundation for broadband connectivity implementation by utilizing their planning, coordination and funding prowess has been immeasurable. We believe success breeds success, and we're excited to continue our collaborative efforts with GWV and tackle the task of mimicking the accomplishments in our initial 19 counties throughout the entire state of West Virginia.”

“Partnering with Generation West Virginia has been transformative. We've hired talented NewForce alumni, benefited from the Fellowship's mentorship, and found top-tier candidates through the Career Connector, ultimately driving our innovation and growth at InspectionGo.”

“I was a travel agent when COVID-19 hit, which changed everything. I needed to find a new career quickly, and after completing a few online coding courses I decided software development was the way to go! NewForce is the real job experience. The program does a great job of replicating how we work on the job, while also teaching us to code. It's truly an immersive experience. I'm now graduating from NewForce and starting as a Data Engineer at Rev.io!”

“NewForce was an amazing opportunity to learn a new skill set in a relatively short amount of time. The fact that it was free was icing on the cake! My favorite part was realizing just how much I could learn in 6 months, and gaining life-long friends and connections.”

“Generation West Virginia provided me with the resources necessary to find employment here at home. I am lucky to say that I work in developing coal impacted communities, and it wouldn’t have been without the Career Connector!”

“The benefit of having the team of experts from Generation West Virginia as a driving force in laying the foundation for broadband connectivity implementation by utilizing their planning, coordination and funding prowess has been immeasurable. The Regional Optical Communication (ROC) believe success breeds success, and we're excited to continue our collaborative efforts with GWV and tackle the task of mimicking the accomplishments in our initial 19 counties throughout the entire state of West Virginia.”

“When I was sent an Instagram post from GWV that showed a list of open positions in West Virginia, with a job title that perfectly aligned with my experience, in the city where I’m located I was so excited. It was just what I’d been looking for! That next Monday I gave them a call and scheduled an interview, and I got the job! Now I get to do what I love in West Virginia, working for a company that offers a great service to our community.”