(Weirton, WV) – The Business Development Corporation (BDC) team is growing! The BDC had been looking to fill the job of Executive Director since the opening of the position in September 2019. After interviewing about 15 candidates, the BDC Board of Directors agreed that the time it would take for a new director to get up to speed would be too long for the ongoing projects at the BDC. In February, previous Assistant Executive Director Marvin Six was named Executive Director.
Bill D’Alesio, BDC Chairman, stated, “The BDC has undergone incredible growth and we have a full pipeline of active development projects to bring to completion in the next 18-24 months. After conducting a national search to replace the former Executive Director, we interviewed some terrific candidates, both locally and regionally but it became clear that the BDC has outgrown the current management structure. In short, the BDC has become too large and critical to regional development to rely on finding the “perfect candidate” to lead us into the next decade. We have reached a point in growth that we need to expand the management team to make sure we bring the current projects to completion while ensuring there is a future team for development.”
Six has been involved with the BDC for the past 30 years. After being hired as Executive Director, his plan was to hire 2 people who are “energetic, flexible and able to comprehend the financial, environmental and administrative nuances.” The hiring process was delayed due to COVID-19.
On August 4th, the BDC announced the addition of Jacob Keeney as Assistant Executive Director. Keeney comes to the BDC with a background in environmental engineering and project management, holding a master’s in Environmental Science and Land Management from Duquesne University. He also has advanced training in environmental remediation programs at a state and federal agency level.
Six stated, “The primary goal of the BDC is to promote job creation through redevelopment. Due to the industrial history of our region, most of the properties we acquire for redevelopment have at least one environmental factor. Adding someone with the background and expertise of Jacob to our team will allow the BDC to accelerate our progress on existing projects as well as take on new challenges to create jobs throughout the region.
D’Alesio added, “The BDC Board is excited to have Jacob join our executive team. Having someone with his environmental background and expertise in redevelopment will be a big advantage for the BDC in attracting new businesses and industry to the Northern Panhandle.”
Six hired Johanna Weiler as the new Office Administrator at the beginning of August. Weiler has been involved with the BDC since her senior year at Brooke High School. In May 2020, she graduated from West Liberty University with a B.S. in Geography and Planning. She will be working towards her master’s in community and economic development from Penn State while working at the BDC.