Who We Are
West Virginia Women Work (WVWW) is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports and advocates for education, employment, and economic equity for all women. For over 20 years the organization has strived to help women in West Virginia earn a living wage. We achieve this goal through a comprehensive program of recruitment, training, referrals, placements, networking, advocacy, retention activities, and public workshops.
The primary focus of the organization’s activities has been to help women explore, train, and secure employment in nontraditional occupations, especially the skilled trades. Our organization has served over 1,000 women in West Virginia with our career coaching service, computer literacy classes, and public career exploration workshops.
Beyond the program benefits for individual job seekers, WVWW also assists employers that struggle to meet employment goals. Our organization creates a partnership network across the state that includes WorkForce WV, Adult Learning Centers, Registered Apprenticeship Programs, and private employers.
Through these partnerships, we have direct access to feedback on the difficulties employers experience when searching for qualified tradeswomen. Our organization works to overcome unmet equal opportunity goals and advances women’s ability to increase their earning potential.
Carol Phillips
Chief Executive Officer
Hi, I’m Carol! I was born and raised by a strong single mom in rural West Virginia. I have firsthand experience of the educational & economic roadblocks that Appalachian women face on their journey to economic independence.
After college, I worked in nontraditional careers ranging from poultry processing, landscaping, environmental consulting, and as a manager at a natural gas company. In these roles, I had the opportunity to work on various land development and construction projects. After a 16-year career as an environmental scientist, I stepped forward to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of WVWW in 2021.
I am passionate about the education, economic self-sufficiency, and success of women. I am privileged to be a part of the team and an organization with a long history of empowering women. I am certified in Mental Health First Aid & Safety. I enjoy reading, spending time outdoors, and eating food I didn’t cook. The WVWW Core Value that most resonates with me is Education and my passion is providing women with the tools they need to excel in their education and careers.
Dara Britton
Chief Financial Officer
Hi, I’m Dara! I am the Chief Financial Officer at West Virginia Women Work. I grew up on the family farm in Preston County and that is still my happy place. For 20 years I have worked in various accounting roles in the non-profit, local government, and public sectors. I most enjoyed my time working at a small non-profit and decided to follow my bliss and join the WVWW Team in 2022.
I have a passion for assisting women to achieve their life goals and I am proud to be part of an organization with a history of doing just that. My goal at WVWW is to create transformational partnerships that will ensure the financial success of the organization for years to come. I am excited to assist the team with grant writing and training.
I enjoy fishing, traveling to wine country, and a perfectly done steak paired with Italian red wine. The WVWW Core Value that most resonates with me is Enrichment and I encourage women to explore education, careers, and new experiences that can make a positive difference in their lives.
Kiesha Hines
Northern Regional Coordinator
Hi, I’m Kiesha! I am the Northern Regional Coordinator at West Virginia Women Work. I am a West Virginia native and worked in healthcare prior to making the life-changing decision to enroll in the Step Up for Women Construction program in 2017.
During the program, I found a passion for empowering and educating women. I accepted the position as coordinator for the Step Up for Women Advanced Manufacturing Program and established our Bridgeport location. I hold a certification as a forklift trainer and am a LEAN On Me WV Facilitator.
I enjoy traveling, watching my three wonderful children grow into adults, and indulging in a meal of crab legs. The WVWW Core Value that most resonates with me is Equity and I work toward solutions for addressing imbalanced social systems and creating equitable access to education and employment for all women.
Nichole Stephenson
Southern Regional Coordinator
Hi, I’m Nichole! I am the Southern Regional Coordinator and First Aid/CPR Trainer at West Virginia Women Work. I am a Philadelphia transplant that fell in love with the Mountain State. I worked in healthcare prior to making the life-changing decision to enroll in the Step Up for Women Construction program in 2018.
During the program, I found a passion for empowering and educating women. I accepted the position as coordinator for the Step Up for Women Construction Program and have since taught hundreds of students. I hold a certification as an EPA Lead Supervisor and numerous FEMA certifications including Managing Volunteers & Safety.
I enjoy traveling, cooking, and folklore (especially Krampus). The WVWW Core Value that most resonates with me is Empowerment; I want all women to know their worth and explore their abilities. My goal is to empower women in nontraditional careers and education.
Kiaira Payne
Training Coordinator
Hello, I am Kiaira! I am a West Virginia Women Work Training Coordinator and a West Virginia native. For the last decade, I’ve held positions in office administration and management. While grateful for the experiences, I decided it was time to apply my skills to something remarkable.
Heather Shockney
Chief Operations Officer
Hello! I’m Heather, the Chief Operations Officer at West Virginia Women Work (WVWW). With a strong background in software development, UX mentoring, project management, and operations, I bring a well-rounded skill set to our team. My career has included a coding boot camp and roles in software development, where I also taught and mentored others, leading to my current leadership role at WVWW.
In my current role, I oversee the organization’s digital infrastructure, ensuring our website and Salesforce systems run smoothly. I also leverage my experience in writing, social media management, and photography to enhance our outreach efforts and engage with our community effectively.
I’m passionate about creating opportunities for others, particularly in nontraditional fields like construction and manufacturing. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring photography, continuously learning new skills, and indulging in my love of pickles. Holding true to the WVWW Core Value of Equity, my commitment is to ensure that women have access to the skills they need through education and opportunity. By providing the right support, I am dedicated to helping women thrive in nontraditional careers and build strong communities.
Stacie Boggess
Program Coordinator
Hi, I’m Stacie! I am the Advanced Manufacturing Program Coordinator for West Virginia Women Work and I come from a long background of helping people. I have lived in West Virginia for most of my life but have called Hampton Virginia my home at times. I am a mom to one daughter and a wonderful son-in-law. I have worked in diverse arenas including one of the top Blue Cross Blue Shield companies in the nation and nonprofits such as a local child development center. All of this has led me to this wonderful organization whose goal is to help other women succeed.
Having worked with families who fight a daily battle to make ends meet, and having been there myself at times, I understand the struggles that those in poverty face. WV Women Work helps women pull themselves out of that cycle and find careers that earn them a living wage. Breaking the cycle of poverty is a cause near and dear to my heart.
On my off time, I love to read, write, and sing. I enjoy learning new things, and some old ones, as I am fascinated by stories of the Knights Templar and the history of ancient civilizations. I love a good crime show with writers who go the extra mile, and enjoy musicals and ballet- a love I have passed on to my daughter. I am so excited to see where this journey leads me, and I hope to help as many people as possible along the way.
Marlynda Arnett
Program Innovation leader
Hi, I’m Marlynda, and I am proud to serve as the Program Innovation Leader for WV Women Work. I was born and raised in Logan County, WV, where the memory of Blair Mountain still looms large. Growing up, I often heard adults around me use terms like “the workin’ man,” “labor rights,” and “proud union member.” These conversations had a lasting impact on my perspective about the standards workers deserve—especially in the trades where safety is paramount. As a proud union member myself, I’ve made it my mission to support the fair and equitable treatment of workers, and I couldn’t be prouder to further WV Women Work’s mission of advocating for women pursuing nontraditional careers.
My nontraditional career path began when I pursued degrees in graphics technology from Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community and Technical College, where topics like drafting and construction materials were part of the curriculum. For several years, I put my degrees to use as the art director of several collector car magazine titles. During this time, I also earned my CDL—a combination that, admittedly, was unexpected!
In my current role at WV Women Work, I run the PartnerUp mentorship program, helping women develop individualized plans to achieve their goals. I also assist with community outreach and offer workforce support through our SAFE program.
The WVWW core value that resonates the most with me is Empowerment. Having followed a nontraditional career path myself, I am passionate about helping women explore and succeed in fields that aren’t typically considered for them. Through the PartnerUp program and our community outreach, I work to help women build the skills, confidence, and pathways they need to thrive. Empowering women to achieve their goals is central to everything I do at WV Women Work.
This Could be You!
Skilled Trades Instructor
Job Title: Skilled Trades Instructor
Position Reports to: Program Coordinator
Overall Function: The Skilled Trades Instructor is a part-time contract position, 12 weeks twice a year, for our construction training program in Westover, WV. The Skilled Trades Instructor is responsible for planning and implementing an appropriate instructional program in a learning environment that teaches students tool and building basics. Expertise in carpentry, electrical, and/or plumbing trades (or any combination) is required and teaching experience preferred.
Organization Description
West Virginia Women Work, a statewide 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization founded in 2000, supports and advocates for the education, employment, and economic equity for all women. Over 20 years ago WVWW began offering a tuition-free skilled trades training program, Step Up for Women, at our headquarters office in Morgantown and later expanded to include our Charleston location. Our sites are staffed by a staff with over 25 years of combined experience specializing in placing women in nontraditional occupations and we’re the only organization in the state recognized by the Dept. of Labor to offer “Quality Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs.” More information can be found at wvwomenwork.org.
Primary Responsibilities
• plan, prepare, and deliver instructional activities that facilitate active learning experiences
• establish and communicate clear objectives for all learning activities
• prepare building site and classroom for class activities
• provide a variety of learning materials and resources for use in educational activities
• identify and select different instructional resources and methods to meet students’ varying needs
• instruct and monitor students in the use of learning materials and equipment
• use relevant technology to support instruction
• observe and evaluate student’s performance and development
• assign and grade classwork, homework, tests, and assignments
• provide appropriate feedback on work
• encourage and monitor the progress of individual students
• manage student behavior in the classroom by enforcing rules and procedures outlined in the Self-Eliminating Demerit System
• counseling students with academic problems and providing student encouragement
• participate in extracurricular activities such as student orientations, student organizations, and graduation ceremonies
• participate in meetings pertaining to the maintenance and advancement of the training program
• communicate necessary information regularly to students and staff regarding student progress and student needs
• keep up to date with developments in subject area, teaching resources and methods and make relevant changes to instructional plans and activities
General Expectations
• Spend most of the class time doing hands-on learning. Spend three hours or less each week reviewing the course books. Assign reading at home and spend class time reviewing end-of-chapter and student questions.
• Class time is to take place outdoors, including book review, as much as possible. Inclement weather does not constitute holding classes indoors. Only risk of injury warrants indoor classes.
Topic Requirements
• Safety- Before beginning each portion of the program (carpentry, electrical wiring, and plumbing) teach two hours of specialized safety information pertaining to that topic prior to any hands-on coursework.
• Carpentry- Curriculum should include a practice project like building picnic tables or saw horses, building/project planning with the class, creating a materials list, standard wood sizes, Pythagorean theorem, 3 4 5 methods for squaring, residential building practices and materials, rough framing, roofing, exterior siding, hanging doors, building stairs, reading a tape measure, hand and power tools, personal protective equipment, subject math, etc.
• Electrical- basic electrical terminology and vocabulary, hand and power tools, types of wire and uses, types of receptacles, types of fixtures, one-way and two-way switches (three- and four-way switches for more advanced students), subject math, etc.
• Plumbing- basic plumbing terminology and vocabulary, hand and power tools, types of materials used and their purpose, different methods of plumbing, subject math, etc.
Application Instructions:
Resumes and cover letters may be emailed to carol@wvwomenwork.org or mailed to WV Women Work, Attn: Carol Phillips, 201 New Jersey Street, Morgantown, WV 26501.
Women and women of color are strongly encouraged to apply. WV Women Work is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Our Board
Millie Karlin, Board Chair
Adrianne Dering, Vice Chair
Larissa Kirk, Treasurer
Amanda Ray, Secretary
Lisa Diehl, West Virginia Women Work Founder
Barbara Fleishauer, Member
Eva Segert Tauger, Member
Kimberly Dobryzynski, Member
Brett Matthews, Member
Jessica Raines, Member
Lori Hostuttler, Member
Carol Phillips, Non-voting Member
