Real West Virginian of the Week: Ashley Alford Glance helps shape the future of Putnam County

By Hannah Yost, RealWV

PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. — Ashley Alford Glance has never wanted to simply work in West Virginia. She has wanted to help shape its future.

A proud Putnam County native, Glance has built both her career and her family in the community she calls home. She joined the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce in 2010 and has served as president since 2017. A graduate of West Virginia University, she earned degrees in public relations and business administration and later completed the Institute for Organization Management through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Throughout her career, Glance has focused on helping businesses succeed because she believes strong businesses help create strong communities.

Growing up in Putnam County, Glance experienced firsthand what makes the area special. It was a place where people knew one another, supported local businesses, and genuinely cared about their neighbors.

Those experiences gave her a deep appreciation for community involvement and taught her that real progress happens when people work together.

“Today, I still see Putnam County as a place full of opportunity, but what excites me most is the willingness of people here to collaborate and invest in one another,” Glance said.

That spirit of collaboration is part of what first drew her to chamber work. For Glance, the role brings together many of the things she enjoys most: economic development, relationship building, marketing, community leadership, and helping others succeed.

Every day brings a new opportunity to solve problems, celebrate successes, and help businesses grow.

“That’s incredibly rewarding,” Glance said.

As president of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, no two days look exactly the same. One day, Glance might be meeting with a new entrepreneur, hosting a ribbon-cutting, planning a major community event, or working with elected officials on initiatives that better the community. Another day may involve developing workforce programs like the Comeback Club, advocating for chamber members, or helping a business connect with needed resources.

One of the things Glance enjoys most is seeing the milestones that come with local business growth.

“I love being able to celebrate people’s dreams becoming reality,” Glance said.

Whether someone is opening a first storefront, expanding a business, or creating new jobs, Glance gets to witness moments that mean something not only to the business owner, but to the larger community.

She also sees the chamber’s work as a way of connecting people. Often, she said, the chamber’s greatest value is not something it does on its own, but the way it introduces the right people who can help each other succeed.

Since Glance first joined the chamber, Putnam County’s business community has become more entrepreneurial and collaborative. The county has seen growth in small businesses while continuing to support its strong manufacturing and industrial base. Businesses today, she said, are looking for partnerships, networking opportunities, workforce solutions, and innovative ways to collaborate.

For Glance, Putnam County’s strength as a place to start, grow, or support a business begins with its people.

“Location certainly helps, but our greatest asset is our people,” Glance said.

Businesses in Putnam County find supportive local leaders, engaged customers, excellent schools, a skilled workforce, and a community that genuinely wants them to succeed. Glance said the chamber works to remove barriers and connect businesses with resources, whether they are just starting out or expanding.

When she talks about Putnam County to people outside the area, Glance wants them to understand that the county is more than a convenient place between Charleston and Huntington.

“It’s a thriving community with exceptional schools, incredible entrepreneurs, innovative employers, and a culture of collaboration,” Glance said. “The people here care deeply about making this community better, and that’s something you feel almost immediately.”

One example of that collaborative spirit is Area 34, a shared workspace and business resource center that has become a hub for entrepreneurs, remote workers, small businesses, and community organizations.

Glance said Area 34 began with a group of community leaders who shared a vision of creating something Putnam County had never had before — a place dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses.

The goal was to build more than a shared workspace. They wanted a business incubator and centralized hub where entrepreneurs could access workspace, mentoring, educational programs, networking opportunities, and the resources needed to grow.

Today, Area 34 brings those resources together under one roof, making it easier for startups, remote workers, small businesses, and large businesses to connect, collaborate, and succeed.

“The biggest impact has been the connections people make,” Glance said.

Through Area 34, businesses have found clients, partnerships, mentors, and even lifelong friendships. Entrepreneurs have launched companies, nonprofits have collaborated, and organizations have hosted meetings and events that may not have happened otherwise.

“It’s become much more than a workspace,” Glance said.

Glance’s commitment to community extends beyond her role with the chamber. She has been involved with organizations including Generation West Virginia, Generation Putnam/Putnam CREW, Leadership West Virginia, the Putnam County Farmer’s Market, and Dress for Success River Cities.

For Glance, giving back is part of strengthening the place she loves.

“I’ve always believed that if you want your community to improve, you have to be willing to be part of that effort,” Glance said.

Each organization she has served has focused on strengthening the community in a different way, from leadership development and supporting women to helping local farmers and creating opportunities for young professionals.

That work with young professionals is especially meaningful to Glance because she believes it helps people see a future for themselves in West Virginia.

“They show people that they don’t have to leave to have meaningful careers and make an impact,” Glance said.

When young professionals build relationships, develop leadership skills, and become involved in their communities, she said, they begin to see opportunities they may not have recognized before.

“Those connections often become the reason they stay,” Glance said.

For Glance, realizing Putnam County was where she wanted to build her own life and career was not one single defining moment. It was a gradual understanding that everything she valued was already there: family, community, meaningful work, and the opportunity to make a real difference.

She and her husband are raising their “wild and wonderful” son in Putnam County because they believe in the community and want him to experience the same sense of belonging she had growing up.

That sense of belonging, Glance said, has come from relationships.

Whether through lifelong friendships, work, or volunteer organizations, she has been surrounded by people who care about one another and about the community.

“When you align yourself with people working toward a shared goal, you realize how much can be accomplished together,” Glance said.

Through her work, Glance hopes others see that there is a place for everyone to get involved. Whether someone attends networking events, volunteers, joins a leadership program, or starts a business, she wants people to know they can make a difference in Putnam County.

“The stronger our connections become, the stronger our community becomes,” Glance said.

She believes people choose to stay in Putnam County, return to it, or make it home because of the combination of opportunity and quality of life. The county offers excellent schools, strong neighborhoods, thriving businesses, outdoor recreation, and a supportive community.

“People want to live somewhere they feel connected, and Putnam County offers that,” Glance said. “I always say Putnam County has everything you need right here, with easy access to everything else you could want.”

When she thinks about the future of Putnam County’s business community, Glance sees momentum. New businesses continue to open, entrepreneurs are investing, manufacturers continue to grow, and public and private partners are working together.

“When everyone is pulling in the same direction, the possibilities are exciting,” Glance said.

Of all she has been part of during her time with the chamber, Glance said she is most proud of the culture that has been built.

“I’m proud that the Chamber has become an organization known for innovation, collaboration, and finding creative ways to serve our members and community,” Glance said. “I am proud of our team.”

Her advice to young West Virginians interested in business, public relations, nonprofit leadership, or community development is to get involved early.

“Volunteer. Join organizations. Find mentors. Build relationships,” Glance said. “Don’t be afraid to raise your hand and take on leadership opportunities.”

Some of the best opportunities in her own career came because she was willing to show up, work hard, and invest in her community.

For Glance, her story is proof that West Virginians do not have to leave their hometowns to build meaningful careers or make lasting impacts.

“West Virginia and Putnam County are full of opportunities,” Glance said. “If you’re willing to invest in your community and work alongside others, you really can help shape the future of the place you call home.”

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