Registration is underway for Generation West Virginia’s Young Leaders Conference May 12 at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, W.Va.

In its fourth year, the annual conference will focus on the persistence, opportunity and progress of young leaders in the Mountain State. Sessions will focus on professional development, entrepreneurship, leadership, economic development. The conference will include panel discussions on how companies select their next set of leaders and how best to achieve a work-life balance.

“For young professionals, the benefit of attending the Young Leaders Conference is two-fold: extraordinary professional development and networking opportunities,” said Conference Co-Chair Brooke Pauley, a member of Generation Charleston. “Conference attendees are expected from all dozen regional groups – from Bluefield to Wheeling and Martinsburg to Huntington.”

Last year’s conference drew more than 200 young professionals from a plethora of careers and industries.

Confirmed speakers include Nikki Bowman, editor of WV LIVING magazine; Emily Bennington, co-author of Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up in Your First Real Job; R.B. Seem, vice-president of commercial lending at MVB Bank Inc.; Russ Lorince, director of economic development at West Virginia University; Steve Roberts, president of West Virginia Chamber of Commerce; Jack Thompson, public relations coordinator at Chesapeake Energy; Maria Mancini, director for West Virginia University Hospitals Center for Education and Organizational Development; Rick Adams Jr., president of United Bank; and Keith Pauley, president of Matric Research.  

Those looking to gain valuable leadership skills and meet fellow young professionals who have a passion for West Virginia are encouraged to register for the Young Leaders Conference. Whether a member of local young talent organization or just want to learn more, individuals are urged to register today for the conference at www.generationwestvirginia.com. 

Registration is $115. New this year for companies is a corporate discount. Companies sending more than five employees to the conference receive a discount on registration. Scholarships are also offered to those who exhibit financial need. Additional details on the corporate discount and scholarships can be found on Generation West Virginia’s website.

Generation West Virginia is partnering once again with The State Journal to host the Generation Next: 40 Under 40 reception the evening of May 12 following the conference, highlighting the 40 young leaders chosen as emerging leaders.

Generation West Virginia is comprised with young talent organizations statewide including Generation Beckley, Generation Charleston; Generation Morgantown; Young Professionals of the Eastern Panhandle; Young Emerging Leaders of the Mid-Ohio Valley; OVConnect, based in Wheeling; Huntington Young Professionals; Pendleton County YPC; Generation GAP, based in Mercer County; Generation Greenbrier Valley; North Central Young Leaders; and Generation Putnam.

Members of Generation West Virginia and Generation Charleston will take to the State Capitol on Thursday for a day of leadership training, legislative education and networking.

In its second year, Generation West Virginia Day at the Legislature is designed to showcase West Virginia’s young talent and engage Generation West Virginia members in policymaking.

“Generation West Virginia members want to learn more about and connect with West Virginia’s lawmakers,” said Juliet  A. Terry, Generation West Virginia Day at the Legislature co-chairman and president of Vision Shared, a statewide community and economic development organization. “These young leaders are working to advance the interest of young people in communities across the state, and getting an up-close view of the legislative process is critical. This event also gives our state elected officials the opportunity to network with West Virginia’s emerging leaders and learn about the issues and needs of this generation.”

To register for this annual event, members of Generation West Virginia’s regional groups are encouraged to visit www.generationwestvirginia.com.

At Generation West Virginia Day at the Legislature, members of Generation West Virginia’s 12 regional groups will have a unique opportunity to get an up-close view on how policies are made and tell decision makers about some of the innovative ways their respective organizations are working to cultivate and engage young talent.

Agenda items include a presentation to the Generation Legislature Caucus, a special group of lawmakers that was announced during last year’s inaugural GenWV legislative visit. Caucus members are highlighting policy areas of interest to the 21-45-year-old age group. The Jan. 20 agenda also will include a seminar on how to be an effective board member; floor session recognition in the Senate and House of Delegates; and a lunch program with legislators in the Generation West Virginia demographic. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and legislative leaders are invited and encouraged to meet with attendees and take part in the day’s events.

Generation West Virginia is comprised with young talent organizations statewide including Generation Beckley, Generation Charleston; Generation Morgantown; Young Professionals of the Eastern Panhandle; Young Emerging Leaders of the Mid-Ohio Valley; OVConnect, based in Wheeling; Huntington Young Professionals; Pendleton County YPC; Generation GAP, based in Mercer County; Generation Greenbrier Valley; North Central Young Leaders; and Generation Putnam.  

Vision Shared Inc., a statewide community and economic development nonprofit which is a strategic partner with Generation West Virginia, is helping the group with its arrangements for the day at the Legislature.

Members of Generation West Virginia and Generation Charleston will take to the State Capitol Jan. 20 for a day of leadership training, legislative education and networking.

In its second year, Generation West Virginia Day at the Legislature is designed to showcase West Virginia’s young talent and engage Generation West Virginia members in policymaking.

“Generation West Virginia members want to learn more about and connect with West Virginia’s lawmakers,” said Juliet  A. Terry, Generation West Virginia Day at the Legislature co-chairman and president of Vision Shared, a statewide community and economic development organization. “These young leaders are working to advance the interest of young people in communities across the state, and getting an up-close view of the legislative process is critical. This event also gives our state elected officials the opportunity to network with West Virginia’s emerging leaders and learn about the issues and needs of this generation.”

To register for this annual event, members of Generation West Virginia’s regional groups are encouraged to visit www.generationwestvirginia.com.

At Generation West Virginia Day at the Legislature, members of Generation West Virginia’s 12 regional groups will have a unique opportunity to get an up-close view on how policies are made and tell decision makers about some of the innovative ways their respective organizations are working to cultivate and engage young talent.

Agenda items include a presentation to the Generation Legislature Caucus, a special group of lawmakers that was announced during last year’s inaugural GenWV legislative visit. Caucus members are highlighting policy areas of interest to the 21-45-year-old age group. The Jan. 20 agenda also will include a seminar on how to be an effective board member; floor session recognition in the Senate and House of Delegates; and a lunch program with legislators in the Generation West Virginia demographic. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and legislative leaders are invited and encouraged to meet with attendees and take part in the day’s events. (more…)

We need your help to make Healthy Kids, Healthy West Virginia Day a success this Saturday.

Volunteers are needed for two shifts – 9:30 a.m. to noon and noon to 2:30 p.m.

Contact Julie Cyphers to volunteer.

Generation Charleston, in conjunction with Generation Putnam, is hosting the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences. The event will feature healthy cooking demonstrations by Embassy Suites Hotel- Charleston, physical education activities by the YMCA of the Kanawha Valley and a variety of other children’s activities hosted by our community partners. The event is part of Generation West Virginia’s Healthy Kids, Healthy West Virginia week of service. 

Throughout the week of Oct. 2, hundreds of young professionals from across the state will work together promoting physical activity and healthy eating as part of the statewide campaign. From elementary school recipe contests to healthy lifestyle fairs, events have been planned to inspire West Virginians to eat right, get fit and live well.

“As an effort to ultimately fight childhood obesity, our goal is to motivate West Virginia families to make changes in their daily routines by creating an environment that encourages healthy living,” said Rob Rosano, Healthy Kids, Healthy West Virginia team leader and Generation Charleston co-chair. “Childhood obesity prevention is a movement taking place on a national level, and West Virginia’s young leaders are excited to do our part here locally.”

Governor Joe Manchin III officially launched Generation West Virginia’s inaugural week-long statewide service project on Sept. 28 by signing the group’s pledge to combat childhood obesity.

According to a recent report by the Trust for America’s Health, more than 18 percent of West Virginia children are considered obese, ranking the Mountain State tenth in the nation for obese and overweight children between the ages of 10 and 17. Obese children are at risk for health problems not only in their youth, but as adults. During adolescence obese children are more likely than other youth to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.

Generation Charleston’s Healthy Kids, Healthy West Virginia Day activities are free; however the cost to enter the Clay Center’s Avampato Discovery Museum is $5.50 per child, $7 per adult. For more information or to receive a museum discount flyer for $3 off regular museum admission, please visit www.GenerationCharleston.com or contact Rob Rosano at (304) 561-3564.

Join young, rising, and established leaders from different career fields and across the state to network, enhance your leadership skills, and learn how to become part of the young talent movement sweeping West Virginia!

The event features keynote speaker Dan Schawbel.

Dan Schawbel is the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He is the bestselling author of Me 2.0, as well as publisher of the award-winning Personal Branding Blog and Personal Branding Magazine. At 26 years old, Dan is the youngest columnist for BusinessWeek magazine and his articles have appeared in Mashable, MediaPost, BrandWeek and Advertising Age.

Admission is $88 for full-day conference (includes a copy of Dan Schawbel’s bestselling book Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success).

Please note there are a limited number of scholarships available to attend the Young Leaders Conference. For more information, please email Emily Bennington, conference co-chair, at ebennington@dixon-hughes.com.

For complete agenda and to register, visit www.GenerationWestVirginia.com.