BECKLEY, W.Va. — The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority has selected Kelly Vickers as its next Executive Director following a special board meeting held September 25.
The hiring committee — chaired by Summers County Commissioner Ted Kula and including Raleigh County’s Heather Ouimette, Nicholas County Commissioner Craig Chapman, Summers County’s Larry Meador, and Fayette County’s Heather Johnson — recommended Vickers after a competitive statewide search. NRGRDA Board Chair and Fayette County Commissioner Allison Rae Taylor served as an ex officio member and brought the final recommendation to the full board for approval.
Kula said Vickers distinguished herself throughout the process.
“She has outstanding qualifications and an inspiring leadership style. We are very excited to welcome her to NRGRDA.”
Vickers currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Compliance Manager for the West Virginia Solid Waste Management Board, where she provides executive‑level financial and operational leadership and works closely with public authorities, county commissions, state agencies, and community stakeholders.
A Lincoln County native, Vickers brings nearly two decades of public‑sector executive experience in West Virginia, including strategic planning, financial management, grants, compliance, board governance, and stakeholder engagement. She also chairs the Nicholas County Solid Waste Authority Board.
Vickers holds a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Marshall University, a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance from West Virginia University, and is currently pursuing an MBA at Marshall.
Taylor said Vickers is uniquely positioned to lead the organization forward.
“She is optimally and uniquely qualified to lead NRGRDA in its mission to support economic development in the New River Gorge region. I have complete confidence in her ability to grow our programs and partnerships, and predict her positive impact on our four‑county region will be lasting and unprecedented.”
More information on NRGRDA’s current projects and its 2025 regional impact report is available at nrgrda.org.
