About Highlights:
Highlights is a 30 minute weekly TV show featuring organizations, events, grass-roots efforts and people who move our state and community forward in a positive way.
The show is a collaboration with Kanawha County Schools, Optimum Communications and Jim Strawn & Company.
The show airs daily at 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Optimum’s channel 17.
Charleston Area Alliance
The show airing February 3, 2025 – February 10, 2025 features the Charleston Area Alliance.
We interviewed Mara Boggs, President & CEO of CAA along with Brian Aluise, Director of Membership and Erin Noon, Marketing, Communiciations & Events Coordinator.
The Charleston Area Alliance is a unique organization, bringing Kanawha County’s community and economic development and traditional chamber of commerce offerings under one roof.
They are built on the legacy of three organizations that came together in 2004 to bolster economic opportunity and community enhancement. They include Business & Industrial Development Corporation (BIDCO), Kanawha County’s economic development organization, Charleston Renaissance Corporation, the downtown and neighborhood development organization, and the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce, West Virginia’s largest regional chamber of commerce.
Outlook for 2025
After we learned about Mara’s background, which includes her new position as President since January of 2025, she discussed the operations and new initiatives with the Alliance.
Namely the Lift Program. This program is a transformative manufacturing & jobs project that is repurposing an 8+ acre 110,000 square foot plant on Charleston, WV’s east end district. Once completed, it will be home of a 55,000 square feet of state of the art facility with room to expand.
Partners on this project include: US Senator Capito, US Congresswoman Miller, State of WV, City of Charleston, Kanawha County Commission, Marshall University, Advantage Valley, US EDA, WV IJDC, and Kanawha Manufacturing.
She also talked about a new initiative, the Burke & Herbert Internship Program. Students of HS, Vocational or Higher Ed, are eligible for this program.
Mara also talked with deep passion the expertise of the staff at the Alliance.
Feel free to contact them at 304-340-4253 or on their website.
Membership at the Alliance
We talked with Brian Aluise, Director of Membership at the Alliance.
He discussed the varied benefits of being a member of the Alliance. To name a few, Advocacy, Networking opportunities, Belonging to and having a sense of community, Promotional and Marketing opportunities, and Professional development.
You can find the membership fee structure here.
Events and Networking
An important aspect of membership to the Alliance is the networking and events. We talked with Erin Noon, Communications & Events Coordinator.
She enlightened us on their big event that launches the WV Legisilative Session, Issues & Eggs.
The event is set for Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at the Charleston Marriott with registration at 7:30 a.m. and program beginning at 8:00 a.m.
For more than 50 years, this event has served as an enriching kickoff for the legislative session and shines a spotlight on policies that promote Kanawha County business and advance economic development and growth throughout the state. With keynote remarks by West Virginia’s legislative leaders and a preview of the Chamber’s legislative agenda, Issues & Eggs supports the Chamber’s efforts to champion economic prosperity and quality of life for the Kanawha Valley.
Thank you to the title sponsor Wesbanco.
Erin also discussed their ever-popular Business After Hours with the next one set for February 13, 2025 at the WV Music Hall of Fame & Museum on the 2nd level of the Charleston Town Center Mall from 5-7:00 p.m. Music, food, and fellowship abound.
For any additional information needed about the Charleston Area Alliance, contact them at 304-340-4253.
