The West Virginia Hive teamed up with Ascend WV to host a Coffee Talks networking session. The free event was sponsored by City National Bank and was held at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine’s Clingman Center for Community Engagement earlier this month.
Judy Moore, deputy director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority and executive director of the WV Hive, interviewed entrepreneur Jorge Rodriguez-Stanley, who owns and operates the Hollerwood House in Ronceverte together with his partner, Chris Rodriguez-Stanley. They also own The RNCVRT, a gluten-free café, which they will be closing at the end of this month into order to focus exclusively on The Hollerwood House. They state that their three-bedroom inn offers guests a tranquil place to rest and host events that bring together both Holler and Hollywood through the art and decor of the house.
Other presenters included Morgan Hodge, Vice President, Retail Regional Manager at City National Bank, who discussed City National Bank’s financial services for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Callie Isenberg, Greenbrier Valley Experience Coordinator for Ascend WV, said, “Entrepreneurship is strong in Ascend Greenbrier Valley, where 16 percent of our program members are already small business owners, and even more have entrepreneurial goals. Our co-working space provides a base camp for program members and others in the local community to co-work, network, and build connections that can help new businesses come alive. We value the opportunity to gain experience from entrepreneurs and resource providers, while providing a beautiful and functional space to facilitate meaningful connections. Ascend WV is a program of the Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative, whose mission is to empower WV’s communities and partners to advance the state’s economy and enhance quality of life through outdoor recreation. It’s extremely positive to see all entrepreneurs, especially those in the outdoor economy, tap into the resources available through the WV Hive and other community partners.”
Marsha Hicks, Advancement and Recruitment Specialist at New River Community and Technical College, also shared information on their Entrepreneurship Advanced Skill Set Certificate and Mobile Food Service Operation class.
The WV Hive is the entrepreneurship program of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority. More information about the WV Hive can be found at wvhive.com.
Information from WV Hive and Asher Agency.
