2023 IMPACT REPORT
Letter From Leadership
ALEX WELD
Executive Director
What an extraordinary year it has been for Generation West Virginia! Our mission to attract, retain, and advance young people in the Mountain State continues to be our driving force, and I'm thrilled to share the remarkable progress we've made over the past year. This year, we committed ourselves to amplifying our impact, and as a result, we've expanded our programs and grown our team significantly. Over the following pages, you’ll witness the incredible growth and achievements we've experienced. The GWV Fellowship program has flourished, serving as a catalyst for young West Virginians to forge connections and carve out meaningful professional paths within our state. We're proud to announce that our Fellowship program has more than doubled in size, with 24 outstanding Fellows hailing from various corners of West Virginia. At NewForce, our efforts in training the next generation of software developers have yielded impressive results. We now train and empower over 40 West Virginians annually, with an impressive 92% of graduates finding employment within just six months. This year we introduced a stipend, making this training a paid opportunity at $11 per hour and effectively lowering the barrier of entry for many West Virginians. Our commitment to bridging the digital divide through our Broadband initiatives has led to significant progress. West Virginia communities have been able to secure an impressive $68 million of federal, state and local investment for broadband infrastructure development, thanks in no small part to the invaluable contributions of our first-ever Broadband Director, who joined our team this year. The launch of our Career Connector program has been a resounding success, connecting thousands of young people with quality job opportunities in West Virginia. In July alone, over 21,000 individuals explored the available jobs on our website, highlighting the demand for this essential service. The road ahead is filled with exciting opportunities and challenges. In the past year, I've had the privilege of meeting with incredible partners as I've traveled across the state, sharing our vision for the future of our workforce. If we haven't had the chance to connect yet, I hope to do so soon. As I said to our crowd of supporters at our inaugural fundraiser in August – Thank you, thank you, thank you for being here and believing in the future of West Virginia. Sincerely, Alex Weld Executive Director Generation West Virginia 1
Our mission is to attract, retain and advance young people in the Mountain State.
2023 Board
2023 Staff
Anna Adkins, Chair Candace Nelson, Vice Chair and Secretary Jay Williams, Treasurer Monika Eckard, Past Chair Kel Cecil Christina Dalton Brian Dayton Jade Irving Aneesh Sompalli Jessica Rine Valerie Piko Zach Treister Danielle Waltz
Alex Weld, Executive Director Nathalie Oates Holland, Director of Impact Candice Holcomb, Chief Financial Officer Tracy Samples, Director of Operations Olivia Sauvageot, Communications & Outreach Manager Kenny Green, Systems Administrator Annie Stroud, Broadband Program Director Melanie McIntire, Fellowship Director Evan Nelson, Career Connector Manager Aaron St. Clair, NewForce Program Director Tommy Spurlock, NewForce Lead Instructor Sarah Brooks, NewForce Junior Instructor Barry Griffith, NewForce Junior Instructor Rebecca Kamp, NewForce Career Services Manager Danielle Inscoe, Administrative Assistant 2
We bring together young West Virginians who are ready to learn and grow as professional through the GWV Fellowship. The GWV Fellowship uses a four-pronged approach to address professional development, community engagement and networking:
ADVANCEMENT Complete an advanced professional development curriculum
EXPLORATION Develop an appreciation for the rich history, beauty and culture of WV
DEVELOPMENT Learn from industry leaders during virtual and in-person sessions
CONNECTION Form lasting bonds with young professionals in the Mountain State
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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. AMNA HAQUE - CLASS OF 2023 Project Assistant WV Perinatal Partnership
100%
of the Class of 2023 reported that the GWV Fellowship increased their professional network, helped them develop skills that they'll be able to use in a professional setting, and gave them a space to build meaningful connections to each other and the state of West Virginia.
I see the GWV Fellowship as an opportunity for people on my staff who want to grow into leadership roles to strengthen their soft skills, get out of their silo and learn to work crossfunctionally with various stakeholders. This isn’t just an investment in our people, it’s an investment in a better product for a diverse audience. KEL CECIL - FELLOW’S EMPLOYER Vice President of Engineering InspectionGo
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We know that the tech industry will shape the future. We want West Virginians to have a place in that future. NewForce is a six-month, fully-remote, tuition-free coding school. Through our immersive curriculum, NewForce students build applications for a mock company, collaborate on teams, and graduate with software development skills and direct connections to open jobs.
Our goal is to build a tech economy in West Virginia that works for everyone. Software developers are in-demand throughout the state, but training programs can be costly and outof-reach for many West Virginians. In 2023, we introduced a need-based living stipend for NewForce students, effectively lowering the barrier of entry for this program. NewForce students are West Virginians from all different backgrounds – teachers, fast food workers, house painters, and accountants, just to name a few.
KATHLEEN TYNER, COHORT 7 GRADUATE:
"The app I created as my capstone project was The Project Bag. Users are able to organize their patterns by priority, progress, and project type, all while keeping an inventory of their yarn by weight and fiber. My app helped me secure my position of Implementation Analyst at Core10 after graduating NewForce!"
Many employers who hire our graduates are in WV, but even if a tech employer isn’t in a graduate’s region of the state, our graduates are often able to work remotely, giving them the opportunity to find a fulfilling career without having to leave the community they love.
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I started NewForce as a beginner to software development. Six months later I got my first job as a software engineer doing work that makes me feel like I'm contributing something meaningful to the world. NewForce enabled me to change my life and my professional trajectory, and it empowered and encouraged me every step of the way. - TABITHA SLATER, COHORT 6, SOFTWARE ENGINEER 1 AT ELSEVIER.
“NewForce has been a game-changer -- in just six months, this program opened up an exciting new career path. Shortly after graduating I began to see the positive impacts on my life. Because of this program, I have in-demand skills, new friendships and invaluable connections that’ll help propel me forward.” - JACOB JUDE, COHORT 6, WEB DEVELOPER AT BULL DOG CREATIVE
41
100%
West Virginians trained in software development in 2023
of 2023 graduates reported that they plan to stay in WV
51%
$48,000
92%
of NewForce graduates come from groups that are underrepresented in tech
is the median starting salary for NewForce graduates
of job seeking graduates work in software development within six months of graduating
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Application Deadline is January 7, 2021
Together we help communities overcome barriers to broadband access and start enacting tangible change in WV. Despite a wide range of federal, state and foundation resources to support broadband expansion, according to the latest update from the WV State Office of Broadband, West Virginia still has 140,000 households without any broadband access, and 25,000 underserved households. We’ve expanded our Broadband Program’s scope to provide no-cost services to local public and non-profit stakeholders across the state to ensure that all West Virginian communities are able to capitalize on federal and state funding.
What we offer: We strengthen the work that’s already happening in communities by filling capacity gaps and facilitating partnerships across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
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18 broadband funding applications funded with GWV’s assistance since 2022
31,006 of un and underserved households funded through our support
$46,477,754 in state and federal broadband funding secured for local communities through our grant writing and support
“ We're empowering local initiatives with technical assistance, data-driven insights, and transformative support, creating a brighter, more connected future for every corner of our state.” ANNIE STROUD Broadband Program Director 8
Our workforce development hub connects West Virginia job seekers and employers in order to increase access to opportunity in the Mountain State. As opportunities grow in the state, we regularly hear from young people that they aren’t aware of the open roles here in West Virginia. And conversely, employers tell us that they have difficulty finding applicants for their roles. Generation West Virginia’s Career Connector program aims to address that challenge. We’re working with companies across the state to get their job opportunities in front of more people, and we’re helping West Virginians with their resumes and interview skills. From a Machinist Technology Instructor at Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center in Huntington, to a Communications Manager at Wheeling Heritage in Wheeling, we feature new opportunities throughout the state every day.
" People think they
need to leave WV to find good jobs. We know that’s not the case.” EVAN NELSON Career Connector Manager
101,182 West Virginians reached so far
6,489 Job board visits in 2023
2,500+
Apply clicks on job postings this year 9
111
Jobs posted in program’s first year
72
Employers assisted in WV
USER TESTIMONIAL
SARAH WARNER MARKETING DIRECTOR DOOR SERV PRO
I started my job searching using all of the big job portals like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. I was getting tired of the same job applications, the same robotic rejection responses, and the same stale interviews. 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!
Here’s how we do it: Employers throughout the state with positions that meet our qualifications reach out to our Career Connector Manager.
The Career Connector Manager adds the job to our website and spreads the word to our audience through social media and email.
For employers that need extra support, Generation West Virginia will personally recruit quality candidates by taking over the job hunt from start to finish.
For job seekers who don’t see a position that meets their skillset, we file their resume in our Resume Bank to keep on hand for future job openings.
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.
USER TESTIMONIAL
CASSIDY RILEY DIRECTOR OF RECLAMATION & REMEDIATION COALFIELD DEVELOPMENT
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!
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Thank you to our
FUNDING PARTNERS
MAV Foundation
Generation West Virginia has also received federal grants through a competitive process from the following agencies: United States Economic Development Administration United States Department of Labor Appalachian Regional Commission 11
Our inaugural special event was an incredible success thanks to the support of our generous sponsors. See you at J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works next August! Platinum
Gold
Silver
Summer Night Soirée 2023 Awardees (L-R): Emerging Leader Award Recipient Treasure Barberich-Wyckoff Empowerment Award Recipient Sydney Wait Distinguished Leader Award Recipient Lee Farabaugh Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Tom Heywood Community Partnership Award Recipient Isaac Sinclair, representing Up Next Charlie West 12