Voice From The Field: Dave Lavender

Tell me about the professional and educational path that led you to where you are today. My name is Dave Lavender, and I am the Apprenticeship Program Coordinator with the West Virginia Department of Economic Development’s Film Office. I am a lifelong journalist as well as an entertainment journalist. My education and experience started at […]

Voice From The Field: Justin Owcar

What is your name, and what do you do? Hi, I’m Justin Owcar president of the WV Filmmakers Guild. How did you become the president of the WV Filmmakers Guild? My friend Tom Heckman, the current Secretary, and I went to our first WVFG meeting in 2012 in Charleston, and the vice president position was […]

Voices From The Field: Hannah Grace & Trinity Love Rollins

Please tell me your name and what long term career path you want to pursue now that you’re graduates of Marshall University’s filmmaking program. Hannah: I’m Hannah Grace, and my goal is working in post-production or producing and helping with logistics of production itself. Trinity: I’m Trinity Love Rollins, and I intend to go into […]

Voice From The Field: Shamma Casson

What is your name, and what is your job in the film industry? My name is Shamma Casson. I am a trained actress, and I am also a script supervisor for short films, low-budget films, and other similar projects. I am also a member of the West Virginia Screen Actors Guild. How did you get […]

Voice From The Field: Brooke Gaston

I know you have two careers. Let’s talk about your career in the entertainment industry first.  I have been in the entertainment industry for nearly twenty-five years, and I have worked my way up the ladder to become a line producer. Right now, my work is mostly in producing commercials, but I also work on […]

Voice From The Field: Heather Jarrett-Geragosian

Image features Heather and her daughter, Cassidy, a recent graduate of Step Up for Women Construction. How did you start your career in construction? I’ve been doing construction since I was thirteen years old. My grandfather taught me how to weld, and together we built a boat. I was also influenced by my mom who […]

Voice From The Field: Tara Sutton

Meet Second Lieutenant Tara Sutton, a finance officer with the Civil Air Patrol, whose passion for aviation and community service is shaping future leaders. Through hands-on training in search and rescue, leadership development, and exposure to career paths in aviation, science, and engineering, Civil Air Patrol provides participants with life-changing opportunities. Discover how this organization […]

Voice From The Field: Robin Mitchell

Life doesn’t always go as planned, and Robin Mitchell knows this well. She started with a degree in music performance but found herself working different jobs that didn’t give her the stability or career she wanted. After facing tough financial challenges and big life changes, she decided to take a chance and join the Step […]

Voice From The Field: Q’Aliyah Turner

Q’Aliyah Turner is an ambitious young welder working in the Metro Valley region of West Virginia. When she’s not bending hot metal to her will, she is focused on her faith, aspirations of entrepreneurship, and seeing the world. (Charleston, WV) How did you decide to become a welder? I wanted to do a trade and […]

Voice From The Field: Kelly Cain

What is your current job? I am a commercial truck driver, and I drive a refrigeration truck. They have refrigerated units on 53-foot-long trailers hauled by tractors, and my company has them going across the 48 continental United States delivering goods. The cargo can range from cheese and chocolate to flowers and anything else that […]