SUCCESStrategies:
‘Producing and directing our own blockbuster’
Wednesday, April 25
Noon – 1:15 p.m.
DigiSo
1506 Kanawha Blvd. West

If you’re curious what a green screen, “The Colbert Report” and Vision 2030 all have in common, the next SUCCESStrategies event is right up your alley.

Economic development and Vision 2030 updates are on tap for this multimedia-themed SUCCESStrategies luncheon, which will be held Wednesday, April 25.

The luncheon will take place at DigiSo, a new digital arts production studio located on Charleston’s West Side. The studio was recently featured in a Charleston Gazette story, which you can read HERE.

Playing on the digital theme of the location, guests will learn how Vision 2030 intersects with digital media, past and present.

The event’s speakers will be some of the key senior business executives and community leaders who are leading the Vision 2030 task force working groups.

Speakers for the SUCCESStrategies session include:

• Steve Dexter (CEO, Thomas Health Systems)
• Steve Hedrick (Site Leader, Bayer CropScience)
• Tania Hotmer (External Affairs, AEP)
• Kevin DiGregorio (Executive Director, Chemical Alliance Zone)
• Patrick Crane (Policy Specialist, Higher Education Policy Commission)
• Matt Ballard, Drew Dunlap and Cullen Naumoff (Charleston Area Alliance)

Individual registrations are $25 Alliance members/$35 future members. Prices go up $10 each after April 20 at 5 p.m..

To register for the event, click HERE.

SUCCESStrategies is a professional development initiative of the Alliance and Dixon Hughes Goodman.

The Alliance will be able to invoice only for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.

The Alliance cannot issue cancelation refunds within 48 hours of the event. Thank you.

Downtown ArtWalk
Thursday, April 19
5-8 p.m.

In 2012, the Downtown Charleston ArtWalk will be celebrating 10 years as the Capitol City’s premiere art event. This season promises to be even bigger, better and more exciting than before.

The April 19th edition ArtWalk will add two new venues: Delfine’s Jewelry and the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.

Check out what’s in store for Thursday’s ArtWalk.

The Purple Moon 9
06 Quarrier Street

The Purple Moon is pleased to host members of the West Virginia Allied Artists for a group show. In addition to the Allied Artists, also featured will be works by other national, regional and local artists and, of course, a plethora of mid-20th Century design.

Art Emporium
823 Quarrier Street

Art Emporium will be featuring “Friends Among the Hills,” a showing of paintings by Emily Roles and wire jewelry by Sue Chase. Sue and Emily are long time friends and always West Virginians.

Emily’s acrylic paintings on paper feature a variety of colorful West Virginia landscapes, and Sue combines beads with wire in her designs to make one of a kind rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

Chet Lowther Studio
223 Hale Street

Chet Lowther will be showing new works in encaustic, oil, and acrylic for the April ArtWalk.

Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
900 Lee Street, Suite 1600 (A new addition to ArtWalk)

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation features 29 limited edition pieces of Deborah Herndon’s work ranging from photographs of French and Spanish architectural details and urban landscape (including “French Kiss Knocker,” finalist in the 67th Allied Artists Juried Competition) to one of Herndon’s more recent pieces, “Orchestra Hall, Violin Blue,” a metallic photography print/raised paint tracing on cardboard overlay.

Michelle Krompecher of White Oak Photography will showcase an exhibition of select images from her most recent travels, observations, and experiences. The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation is a new venue for ArtWalk beginning in April. It’s located at the Huntington Bank Building.

Gallery Eleven
1033 Quarrier Street

Gallery Eleven is pleased to feature artist Kathy Boland with her exhibit “Grand Dames of Charleston, WV” for the April ArtWalk. The exhibit will be open through April 30. Gallery Eleven is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Good News Mountaineer Garage
221 1/2 Hale Street

Good News Mountaineer Garage Gallery will feature art from students at Mountaineer Montessori School for this month’s ArtWalk. The fourth, fifth and six grade art students at the school have spent the last two months creating woodblock prints, drawings, mosaics, paintings and sculpture depicting the tragic deaths of miners at the historic Hawks Nest Tunnel.

The student’s work will be for sale and the proceeds will go to an educational component of the Hawks Nest Tunnel Project.

Taylor Books
226 Capitol Street

Featured for the April ArtWalk at Taylor Books’ Annex Gallery are an assortment of assemblage and mixed media work from Robert Villamagna. Villamagna works in assemblage, lithographed tin, paper collage, and mixed-media.His work has been exhibited at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Andy Warhol Museum, the Mattress Factory, ARC Gallery (Chicago), Erie Art Museum, among others.  Three of Villamagna’s works are in the State of West Virginia permanent collection.

Blacksmith artist Jeff Fetty will be appearing in the gallery with a collection of his work and celebrating the publication of a new book featuring his metal designs. Metal Design International 2012 gathers eight metal designers from around the world each year to participate in its publication. Fetty is only the second American to receive this great recognition.

Jon Salo of Charleston will have some new mixed media sculptures on display.

House of Luxe
817 Quarrier Street

House of Luxe will feature brightly colored resin and crystal rings and earrings by “Angelique de Paris.” Also featured is crystal jewelry by Deborah Grivas and Balinese jewelry designs by Anna Beck.

Romano and Associates
230 Capitol Street, Suite 200

Romano and Associates will feature a solo exhibition from Ian Bode. “The Passenger,” the simple figure you will see in nearly every piece of Ian Bode’s work, is a resident of the town of Chuckburgh, which is a nod to Charleston, WV, the town that Ian grew up in and currently resides.

Inspired by artists such as Charles Schultz, Sergio Aragones (Mad Magazine), Gary Larson, Keith Haring and Rene Magritte, Ian uses a “less is more” style for “The Passenger,” which allows the surroundings of each panel to convey the intended thoughts or feelings.

In his work, Ian examines the song lyrics, movies, and books that are part of our culture, along with overheard conversations and his own thoughts. More recently Ian has begun picking up the paint brush again, something he had not done outside of art class since the late 1990’s. Some of these paintings are collaborations with his friend and fellow “Chuckburgh” artist, Dave Thomas.

The Charleston Ballet
100 Capitol Street

Visit the Charleston Ballet Downtown Dance Studios during the April. Register for a free drawing for our SURPRISE GRAB BAG filled with various gift items valued at $175+. Watch dancers as they prepare for upcoming performances. Meet photographer KD Lett and view his new series of dancer portraits and videos.

Stray Dog Antiques
219 Hale Street

Kept. – an exhibition of portraits of people and their pets, curated by Stray Dog Antiques, will be featured during the April Artwalk.This exhibition features portraits of people and pets, by untrained and folk artists. Ranging from charming to cheesy, this collection will be on display through May. Join us for Artwalk and stroll through our three floors of unique treasures.

RGIS Inventory Specialists are looking for inventory takers in the Charleston area.  Must have reliable transportation.  This is a part-time employment; scheduled hours may vary from week to week.

The starting wage is $8.00 an hour.  RGIS employees have the potential to increase their hourly wage as they increase their accuracy and productivity.

Applications are being taken on line at RGIS.com. The path is: RGIS careers>find a job>available hourly positions>requisition ID INV00186 or West Virginia.

The phone number is 304-757-0101 to find out more information.

Holiday Inn & Suites
Business After Hours
Tuesday, Feb. 28
5-7 p.m.
400 Second Avenue
South Charleston

Join the Leap Year festivities and see the newly remodeled Holiday Inn and Suites!

Formerly the Ramada Charleston, the hotel has transformed itself into a full Conference Center with newly remodeled meeting space, contemporary and comfortable public areas and an indoor pool complex.

Business After Hours events are fantastic opportunities to network and meet the region’s leaders in a relaxed setting, all while enjoying food, drinks and entertainment.

Click here to register for the event.

The cost for BAH is $15 for Alliance members and $25 for future members who register early online.

Prices at the door are $25 for Alliance members and $35 for future members.

The Alliance will be able to invoice only for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.

The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours of the event. Thank you.

Showcase your business to hundreds of area business and community leaders and young professionals at the Alliance’s annual Charleston Small Business Showcase.

The showcase, held in conjunction with the popular Business After Hours hosted by the Charleston Marriott Town Center, is a premier venue for raising your company’s visibility, making new connections and forging relationships with clients and community leaders.

The showcase sells out quickly, so secure your place in the business spotlight and register today! The showcase will be held March 29 from 5-8 p.m. at the Marriott.  Fees are $200 Alliance members/$275 future members; starting Feb. 29, rates go to $250 Alliance members/$325 future members.

For more information, e-mail Matthew Thompson at mthompson@charlestonareaalliance.org or call him at (304) 340-4253.

Click here for an expo registration form.  Please complete this form with payment.

To register as an individual for Business After Hours, click HERE.

The Alliance cannot invoice for groups of fewer than 10 and is unable to issue refunds for cancellations received less than 48 prior to an event.

Marcellus Shale Continues to Grow in West Virginia

Listen to the MP3 of Matthew Ballard, President of the Charleston Area Alliance discussing the Marcellus Shale and the WV Legislature’s role in regulation of the industry.  Radio recording took place in Sept 2011.

 Ballard Addresses Marcellus Regulations MP3

The Charleston Area Alliance is one of several key organization working to bring an ethane cracking facility to West Virginia to keep the value of the Marcellus Shale in the state through the downstream developments that are derived from the ethane content of the Marcellus Shale.

Business After Hours
Thursday, Nov. 17
5 – 7 p.m.
Mardi Gras Casino & Resort

Sign up today for the Mardi Gras Casino & Resort Business After Hours, which will be held Thursday, Nov. 17.

The event will take place at the Big Easy Lounge, which is located near the poker area.

The event will feature plenty of food, drinks and light music. Guests will also get a small gift from the casino in appreciation for their attendance.

Business After Hours offer fantastic opportunities to meet the region’s leaders in a relaxed setting, all while enjoying food, drinks and entertainment.

Register here

It’s a great opportunity to network and meet new people in the community.
The cost is $15 for Alliance members and $25 for future members.

Online advance registration ends Nov. 17 at noon. Prices at the door are $25 for Alliance members and $35 for future members.

The Alliance will be able to invoice only for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.

The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours of the event. Thank you.

Note: When signing up and paying for an event on our website, you do not have to re-enter your credit card information every time. Just sign in with your PayPal account. It’s a time-saver and a way to avoid registration errors due to typing incorrect credit card information. Thanks!

Your assistance is needed to help the Kanawha Valley seize the unparalleled opportunities presented by development of the Marcellus Shale.

Development of this massive natural gas reserve has the potential to transform West Virginia and our region. Among the most exciting prospects is the possibility of locating an ethane “cracking” facility (cracker) in the Kanawha Valley.

The cracker would process the ethane extracted from the Marcellus Shale into ethylene, the building block for many of the world’s chemical products. The cracker would bring billions in capital investments, create hundreds of direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs, and spark a renaissance of the area’s pre-eminence in the chemical industry.

The Charleston Area Alliance, along with strategic partners including the Chemical Alliance Zone, Bayer, the WV Oil and Natural Gas Association, the Kanawha County Commission and other governmental partners, has spearheaded a strong effort to showcase our region’s exceptional assets and capabilities to businesses considering locations for construction of a cracker.

Our outreach has been underway for more than a year. As interested companies continue their decision making  and due diligence processes, they weigh the level of community support for a cracker project.

If you would like to help send a message loud and clear that the Kanawha Valley is open for business and welcomes the possibility of a cracker, please add your name to an open letter in support of a cracker by clicking here.   

After signing the open letter, you will have the option of allowing the Alliance to use your name, title and company name in communication efforts supporting recruitment of a cracker (such as advertisements, news releases, social media messages, e-blasts, etc.).

We will only use your name and/or title, company name, attached to this content related to attracting a cracking facility. Thank you for helping us take a “crack” at bright new future and for your support of the Charleston Area Alliance!