The West Virginia Hive teamed up with Ascend WV Greenbrier Valley to host its 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 located at 980 Jefferson Street North, in Lewisburg on Tuesday, August 6.
Judy Moore, deputy director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority and executive director of the WV Hive, interviewed entrepreneur Jorge Rodriguez-Stanley. Rodriguez-Stanley owns The RNCVRT — a gluten-free cafe in Ronceverte, W.Va. — with his partner, Chris Rodriguez-Stanley. “The goal of the RNCVRT cafe is to provide fresh, healthy options that introduce new flavors to the area,” said Rodriguez-Stanley. He said they chose to name their cafe “The RNCVRT” so when people talk about the cafe, they are saying the name of Chris’s hometown, Ronceverte. Additionally, Jorge and Chris own the Hollerwood House, a three-bedroom inn located in Ronceverte that offers guests a tranquil place to rest and hosts events that bring together both the Holler and Hollywood through the art and decor of the house.
Morgan Hodge, Vice President, Retail Regional Manager at City National Bank, 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 coworking 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
