Mar 26, 2026
The West Virginia Business Roundtable (WVBRT), which
unites influential leaders from across the Mountain State to drive growth and prosperity,
has named Bob Welty as its new Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Welty succeeds Steve Hedrick, Chairman and CEO at AVN Corporation.
Welty is the Managing Director of Industry Consultants & Advisors at FBT Gibbons and is a
member of Charleston Rotary, a board member of the Library Foundation of Kanawha
County, a member of the President’s Advisory Council at the University of Charleston and a
Trustee of First Presbyterian Church of Charleston.
Bob has held numerous board positions throughout West Virginia during his distinguished
career as a financial services industry executive. This includes WVU Chambers College of
Business & Economics and the St. Mary’s Medical Center Foundation.
“I’m honored to help lead this important work,” Welty said. “Our members, including CEOs
and C-suite executives from many of the state’s most prominent companies, are
committed to strengthening their communities and shaping a thriving future. Together, we
focus on collaboration, action and leadership that supports long-term statewide success.
“Through our business leadership events, we provide our members with valuable insights
into new economic development opportunities and business to business networking,”
Welty continued.
In September, for example, WVBRT will co-host, with City National Bank, the West Virginia
Economic Outlook presented by Dr. John Deskins at WVU. This forum provides information
from a national and statewide perspective, including a review of GDP, labor force statistics
and employment trends by sectors.
In addition, WVBRT, in conjunction with Marshall University, on May 11 will host the spring
2026 Leadership meeting, where members explore how aviation and cybersecurity will
affect the future the economy, security and job opportunities while showcasing businesses
in the region.
Welty will serve for a term of two years. Other members of the board are Steve Hedrick,
Chairman of AVN Corporation; Louis Weisberg, President of Service Wire Corporation;
Allison Ballard, Assurance Partner at Forvis Mazars; Susan Lavinski, CEO of Charles Ryan
Associates; and Jason Harshbarger, State Policy Director for West Virginia and Ohio at BHE
GT&S.