Wood County: Strategic Employer Partnership
Generation West Virginia is proud to highlight its ongoing partnership with Pickering Associates, a collaboration that demonstrates how strategic workforce connections can create meaningful outcomes for both employers and professionals across the state.
Through Generation WV’s Career Connector and Generational Talent Search programs, Pickering Associates successfully filled a hard-to-fill position by hiring Robert Shaeffer as the Sector Director of Educational Design. This placement reflects the value of pairing intentional recruitment with strong employer relationships. By leveraging Generation WV’s recruitment expertise and statewide talent network, Pickering Associates was able to connect with a qualified candidate who aligned with both the technical requirements of the role and the organization’s culture.
Evan Nelson, Career Connector Program Manager at Generation WV, shared: “The Generational Talent Search was especially exciting to work on with Pickering Associates. It’s always rewarding to help an employer fill a role that has been difficult to hire for, and even more meaningful when we can connect them with a candidate who is the right fit both professionally and culturally. Partnerships like this show what’s possible when employers are willing to think intentionally about talent.”
Beyond recruitment, the partnership between Generation WV and Pickering Associates has also grown through participation in the Fellowship Program, which supports emerging and established professionals as they deepen their roots in West Virginia. Over the past several years, multiple Pickering Associates employees have participated in the Fellowship, including Sean Cottril (2023), Chris Mancuso (2024), Jon Smearman (2024), and Andrea Newlon (2025).
Featured Leader: Andrea Newlon
2025 GWV Fellow | Pickering Associates
“During my time with GWV, I was able to find a sense of self by learning about my own personal strengths while also getting the chance to see the State of West Virginia from new perspectives. My supervisors encouraged my application to the fellowship, supported me through every session, and even joined us at graduation to help celebrate the group’s achievements!”
Scotty Stone, Fellowship Program Manager, emphasized the importance of this continued investment in people: “Hiring great talent is just the first step. Programs like the Fellowship are critical because they show employees that their growth, leadership development, and sense of belonging matter. When organizations invest in their people, it strengthens retention, builds stronger teams, and ultimately benefits the entire state.”
This multi-faceted partnership highlights the strength of Generation WV’s holistic approach to workforce development. By supporting employers not only in hiring but also in retaining and investing in their employees, Generation WV helps create long-term stability for both businesses and professionals in West Virginia.
For Pickering Associates, the partnership has provided access to qualified talent, enhanced employee engagement, and meaningful professional development opportunities. As Generation WV and Pickering Associates continue to work together, this partnership serves as a model for how collaboration, intentional recruitment, and employee investment can drive shared success and strengthen West Virginia’s workforce for the future.