Board of Directors | Jackson County Development Authority

PAST PRESIDENT

Kokopelli Chemists, Inc - President

Dr. Kuryla attended Kent State University in 1952 and graduated from that institution in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He entered the Graduate School of the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1956 and received a Master of Science degree in 1958. On June 22, 1957, Dr. Kuryla married Arlene E. Batten of Ripley, West Virginia. In the fall of 1960, he received his Doctor of philosophy degree (in organic chemistry). While at the University of Minnesota, he held various teaching and research assistantships and a National Institutes of Health Fellowship. He and his wife presently reside in Ripley, West Virginia.In 1960, Dr. Kuryla joined the Research and Development Department of Union Carbide Corporation, Chemicals and Plastics Division, at South Charleston, West Virginia. He later became the Manager of Recruiting and University Relations for the R&D Department at the South Charleston Technical Center, then Technology Manager – Occupational Health, and Senior Group Leader of both the Industrial Hygiene Skill Center and Environmental Analytical Group. He has held various management positions in Corporate Toxicology and Information Services. He was Director of Product Safety and Risk Assessment for the CIPS Group, and was Associate Director of Product Safety for Union Carbide Corporation (Danbury, Connecticut), where he directed the TSCA compliance program. Dr. Kuryla is the author of over 30 scientific papers, is an inventor or co-inventor of 30 domestic and foreign patents and is a member of several scientific societies. He is senior editor of a book series (five volumes) entitled, “Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials,” published by Marcel Dekker, Inc. He has served his profession as Chairman of the Kanawha Valley Section of the American Chemical Society, has been a reviewer for several journals, and has served in a variety of academic roles including Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at West Virginia State College and Adjunct Professor of Toxicology at the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies. He is a past President of the West Virginia Academy of Science. He is the Chairman of SOCMA’s TSCA Committee, and Chairman of the ASC TSCA Task Group. Dr. Kuryla is very active in the Boy Scout Movement, and holds several honors including the Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope Awards, the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, and is a Wood Badge Course Director in both the Boy Scout and Club Scout Program areas. He is the recipient of the Jaycees “Distinguished Service Award” (St. Albans Chapter) and the Outstanding Service Award” (West Virginia State Chapter). The Kanawha Valley Section of the American Chemical Society honored him with their “Outstanding Service Award” and also the “Award for Scientific Achievement – “1974”. In December of 1974 West Virginia Governor A.A. Moore Jr. conferred on him the “Honorary West Virginian” award for his meritorious service to the state. The American Association for the Advancement of Science elected him a “Fellow” for his distinguished contributions to science (1991).

BLAINE HESS

BOARD MEMBER

Jackson County Schools - Superintendent

Blaine C. Hess, a native of Clendenin, West Virginia, has served as Superintendent of Jackson County Schools since July 1, 2006. Mr. Hess, a 1979 graduate of Herbert Hoover High School, earned a B.A. in Music Education from Alderson-Broaddus College. While attending Alderson-Broaddus, Mr. Hess received the Williams Music Award and was recognized as the Outstanding Student of the Education Division. Mr. Hess completed his M.A. in Educational Leadership from Marshall University Graduate College.
Prior to entering the field of educational administration, Mr. Hess was a band director for 14 years, primarily in Kanawha and Jackson Counties. Mr. Hess was the band director at Ripley High School from 1987-1990 before serving as the band director at George Washington High School. While at George Washington High School, Mr. Hess was recognized as West Virginia Bandmaster of the Year and served as the chairman of the West Virginia All State Band. Mr. Hess has conducted a number of honor band programs and actively serves as a band adjudicator for the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission (WVSSAC).

Mr. Hess served as the Assistant Principal at Ravenswood High School before being named Principal at Ripley High School in 1998. During his tenure as principal, Ripley High School was named as a Pacesetter School by the Southern Region Education Board. In 2000, Mr. Hess was named Director of High Schools and Vocational Education for Jackson County Schools where he served for six years before becoming Superintendent of Schools.

Mr. Hess serves in a number of professional capacities, such as Chairman of the Roane Jackson Technical Center Administrative Council, a member of the Jackson County Development Authority (JCDA), current Vice President of the West Virginia Association of School Administrators (WVASA) and represents West Virginia as a member of the Governing Board of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). He has previously served as Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President and President of WVASA and was selected as the 2013 West Virginia Superintendent of the Year.

KAREN FACEMEYER

BOARD MEMBER

Director - Cedar Lakes Conference Center

WV Department of Agriculture

May 1, 2017 Karen Facemyer was named Director of the Cedar Lakes Conference center after its recent acquisition from the WV Dept. of Education to the WV Department of Agriculture. Cedar Lakes is the largest recreational feature in our county. It can host over 600 guests for retreats and conference, band and 4-H camps, banquets, and specialty classes and camps. In 2018 Cedar Lakes hosted over 66,000 visitors and offered 130 Road Scholar Classes. It is home to the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair, the granddaddy of all art and craft fairs starting in 1963.

Karen Facemyer was named President of the Polymer Alliance Zone of West Virginia (PAZ) on October 15, 2006. The Polymer Alliance Zone – focusing on Wood, Mason and Jackson Counties in West Virginia – has one of the largest concentrations of high technology, specialty and engineering polymers production and manufacturing companies in the world.

In her role as president of PAZ, Ms. Facemyer has worked to retain and expand the region’s industrial base and market West Virginia as an ideal location to grow the polymer industry. During her tenure she has significantly increased the organization’s membership, successfully recruited new companies and manages the growth of a 165-acre Polymer Technology Park.

Ms. Facemyer obtained a master’s degree in education from Marshall University and her undergraduate degree from Glenville State College. She has also served four terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates and was elected in 2000 as a member of the West Virginia State Senate where she served three four-year terms. During her West Virginia legislative service, Ms. Facemyer served on the Finance, Transportation, Agriculture, Banking & Insurance, Economic Development, Energy, Industry & Mining committees.

She was chosen in 2002 as one of 40 emerging state leaders from across the nation to participate in the Henry Toll Fellowship Leadership Program sponsored by the Council of State Governments.

In 2008, the National Association of Professional and Executive Women (NAPEW) selected Ms. Facemyer into the registry for “Women in Excellence” and in 2009 the NAPEW honored her as “Woman of the Year” in Economic Development. Ms. Facemyer is married and lives with her husband in Ripley, West Virginia.