PRESERVATION ALLIANCE WELCOMES
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF

Charleston—Preservation Alliance of West Virginia announces appointment of a new executive director to lead the statewide historic preservation organization.

Karen Carper of Elkins accepted the position with PAWV in October. Carper brings valuable skills and experience to the organization, according to board President Phyllis Baxter, also of Elkins.

“Preservation Alliance is very excited to have Karen on board to move forward with supporting preservation and building heritage tourism in West Virginia,” Baxter said. “She has demonstrated her leadership abilities in local community development efforts and worked for a number of years in the tourism industry.”

Carper said she is happy to be working toward historic preservation in West Virginia. “The special places and stories of yesterday help us to know who we are today,” she said. “It is so important to preserve this cultural identity, and I am honored to work toward such a worthwhile goal.” Carper said it is also a great source of community pride to share this heritage with visitors. Heritage tourism is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry, she noted.

Carper operated her own tourism-based business, Elkins Bikeworks, from 1992 to 2000. When the bike shop closed, she continued working in the tourism industry as sales director and staff writer for a marketing agency devoted to West Virginia tourism. Then, after working two years as staff writer for The Inter-Mountain, she served as marketing coordinator for the MountainMade Foundation in Thomas.

As president of Highlands Trail Foundation, Carper has worked since 1995 to develop the Allegheny Highlands Trail from Elkins to Thomas. Since 2002 she has been the West Virginia chair of the Allegheny Highlands Trail Partners, a bi-state group dedicated to connecting trails of West Virginia and Maryland. She has served on the board of directors for Mountain Partners in Community Development and recently participated in the Vision 2010 project of the City of Elkins as a member of the Quality of Life committee.

PAWV also welcomes a new program associate for the organization’s Cultural Heritage Tourism Development program. Martha Ballman of South Charleston joined the PAWV staff in early November.

Ballman recently served as president of the West Virginia Trails Coalition and continues to serve as the secretary for the West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council and the Kanawha Valley FOOTMAD (Friends of Old Time Music and Dance). She also works with her husband in their business, Aztech Information Services of South Charleston.

The CHTD program works to stimulate economic opportunities by preserving cultural heritage resources and developing sustainable heritage tourism programs in communities statewide. In partnership with Main Street West Virginia, PAWV is seeking state support to establish and staff the program and assist in the development of cultural heritage tourism products in West Virginia.

Ballman and Carper will work together with communities throughout the state. “They both bring great skills and experience to their positions, and will make a great team,” Baxter said.