FINAL STEPS — Members of the Leadership Ohio Valley Class of 2023 celebrated the completion of their program, Sunday, with a graduation luncheon. Among the graduates of this year’s program were, seated in front, Aimee Williams, Julie Gale, Kelly Coffin and Rachel Keeney, and standing, Anthony Clements, Jeff Dopp, Adam DePuglia, Dylan Trevor and Ethan Rowing. Also graduating was Emily Byers. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — Ten local business representatives have completed the final steps of a program aimed at helping them learn more about their community and themselves.

The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce, with a luncheon on Sunday at Garden Gill Steakhouse, celebrated the accomplishments of the Leadership Ohio Valley Class of 2023.

“I’m thrilled that you all made it,” said chamber President Brenda Mull in congratulating this year’s participants.

Graduating members of the Class of 2023 were Emily Byers of Apollo Pro Cleaning and Restoration; Anthony Clements of the Business Development Corp.; Kelly Coffin, of Mountain State Educational Services Cooperative; Adam DePuglia, of Adam DePuglia State Farm; Jeffrey Dopp, of Steel and Wolfe Funeral Homes and Cremation Services; Julie Gale, of Miss Tiffany’s Early Childhood Education House; Rachel Keeney, of the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau; Ethan Rowing, of Rowing’s Italian Ice; Dylan Trevor, of Hancock County Savings Bank; and Aimee Williams, of Weirton Geriatric Center.

Mull noted there were challenges for the class as it made the way through the program, including in their efforts to organize a community service project which is part of the graduation requirements. The class debated several ideas of various scales before deciding on a cleanup effort at the Weirton Baseball Association’s field complex on Kings Creek Road.

“Sometimes, you find it’s the smaller gestures that really work and mean the most,” Mull said of the project.

Other aspects of this year’s program included a visit to Charleston during the state Legislature’s regular session, a tour of the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center, a trip to the Brooke County Museum which included a scavenger hunt, activities at Weirton Geriatric Center; and a tour of the Fiestaware factory to see the creation of the locally produced pottery.

Mull encouraged the class to take what they learned from the program and apply it to their lives, their work and their efforts in the community as they move forward.

Graduates also received encouragement from Weirton City Manager Mike Adams, who, through the use of some sports analogies and his own life lessons, offered words of wisdom.

“If you take one thing from this of value, then it will be a success,” he said.

Adams encouraged the class to always be authentic and to never consider themselves above a task, and told them that difficult situations will show their character.

He also told them to be true to their word and accept their responsibility, don’t over promise, and not to take things personally or hold grudges. They should never assume anything, and always put the work in while doing their best and showing their reliability.

“Leader or not, trust it huge,” Adams said, noting it is the basis of every healthy relationship.

In closing, Adams told the class to pay attention to those with whom they surround themselves and to find a good mentor, while being respectful of the time available to themselves and others.

Leadership Ohio Valley is organized through the Weirton Chamber’s Education Committee, with volunteer coordinators assisting each class. This year’s coordinators were Melinda Howell, Tiffany Gale and Melissa Veltri.

Advisors for this year’s sessions were Carole Scheerbaum, Stephanie O’Brien, Brandon Palmeri, Paul Cowey, Clayton Henderson, the late Pam Makricosta, Crystal Harbert, and Marvin Six.