June 30, 2025
MAXWELTON, WV – The Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation announced winners of its inaugural Greenbrier Valley Impact Awards at its Annual Dinner on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The Greenbrier Valley Impact awards recognize achievement, investment, innovation, and ongoing efforts to improve the economy of the Greenbrier Valley.
Executive Director Ruthana Beezley presented the following awards after her remarks.
Greenbrier Valley Collaborative Impact Award
Samantha Smith, WV Department of Economic Development
This award recognizes the contributions of a partner in our region that advances the organization’s mission.
“Samantha’s passion for the businesses that invest in WV and the Greenbrier Valley is evident in her daily work. She understands the importance of local and state partners being on the same page in economic development, with the same message. Calls, texts, emails, never go unanswered, even if she’s on vacation. From chasing down answers on permitting to lobbying state officials on finance packages, she’s an integral part of the Greenbrier Valley EDC team, our Business, Retention, and Expansion (BRE) program, and we are so grateful.”
Greenbrier Valley Economic Impact Award
Collins Aerospace
This award recognizes the economic contributions to the region in investment, employment, and innovation.
“Our first ever award goes to a company that in one shape or another has spent 55 years in a pasture in Monroe County. Now under the parent company of RTX, Collins Aerospace employs more than 370 people with a payroll of more than $29M a year. Having just signed a 5-year labor contract, they are continuing their consistent commitment and investment in our people and our communities. Collins not only provides a good paying job with benefits, but they also pay for the higher education of their employees, with no strings attached. This year Collins also worked with Monroe County Schools on a CTE curriculum that once approved will provide a solid pathway for our youth to find a career right here in the Greenbrier Valley. We are pleased to present this award to Site Lead Brandon McGhee, and his incredible team at Collins Aerospace.”
The dinner hosted more than 140 people at the WVSOM Student Center in Lewisburg and featured West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack as its keynote speaker. Treasurer Pack spoke passionately about the importance of local businesses in job creation for the State of WV, and his fondness for the Greenbrier Valley. Melvin Young, Monroe County Commissioner, introduced the speaker, “Treasurer Pack is a man of integrity, and you can trust that if he tells you he will do something, he absolutely will.”
Greenbrier Valley EDC’s annual dinner was supported by Platinum Sponsor The Bank of Monroe, Gold Sponsors Appalachian Power, City National Bank, E.L. Robinson Engineering, First Citizens Bank, Greenbrier Environmental Group Inc., Pendelton Community Bank, Peoples Bank, Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Thompson and Litton and West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, and Silver Sponsor CityNet. Catering for the event was provided by Cedar Hill Creations of Monroe County.
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The Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation strategically facilitates economic growth and higher wages through collaborative partnerships, while preserving the natural beauty and quality of life in the Greenbrier Valley Region.
