Joshua Nease named first Executive Director of MonForest Towns Partnership

The Mon Forest Towns Board of Directors recently selected Josh Nease to lead the initiative as its executive director.
“Josh has experience in building coalitions and strategic planning, in addition to managing non-profits, which is critical to moving the Mon Forest Towns organization forward,” said Board president Sam Felton. “We are fortunate to have him on our team and look forward to the continued growth of this partnership.”
Josh most recently worked as the sustainability manager for Radford University, the Catawba Sustainability Center Manager for Virginia Tech, and the Youth Education Coordinator for the Potomac Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He also has extensive experience in outdoor science education.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to support Mon Forest Towns in advancing their goals and priorities and to support the development of the outdoor recreation industry in West Virginia,” said Josh. “There is endless potential here and the Mon Forest Towns Partnership is capitalizing on the best parts of the Mon Forest area – the people and the places.”
Josh is originally from Bridgeport and is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a master’s degree in natural resources from Virginia Tech. He resides in Canaan Valley with his wife, daughter, and son. He enjoys time with family and skiing, mountain biking, fishing, hiking, camping, kayaking, rafting, canoeing, and rock climbing. Josh can be reached at jnease@woodlandswv.org.
About Mon Forest Towns
The Mon Forest Towns Partnership was first conceived in 2017, formalized in April 2020, and now includes twelve communities in eight counties. The organization’s mission is to collaboratively grow a strong, sustainable recreation economy that enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors by providing the best outdoor experience. By working together, the towns have already seen amazing results and widespread support.
The partnership includes West Virginia University, USDA Rural Development, Monongahela National Forest, Woodlands Development Group and twelve gateway communities: Thomas, Davis, Parsons, Seneca Rocks, Elkins, Durbin, Petersburg, Franklin, Cowen, Richwood, Marlinton, and White Sulphur Springs.
Learn all about the Mon Forest towns partnership and recreational opportunities at https://monforesttowns.com/. Be sure to check out the most recent newsletter for all the latest happenings and follow along on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/monforesttowns.