Charleston Area Alliance Welcomes Ellen Cappellanti as New Chair of the Board of Directors

Charleston WV (June 24, 2025) – The Charleston Area Alliance is proud to announce that Ellen Cappellanti, Member and former Managing Member at Jackson Kelly PLLC, has been named Chair of the Board of Directors. Cappellanti brings extensive leadership experience and a deep commitment to the economic and community development of the Kanawha Valley.

She succeeds Adam Krason, Principal at ZMM Architects & Engineers, who served as Chair for the past two years. Under Krason’s leadership, the Alliance navigated significant transitions, expanded its initiatives, and deepened its impact across the region.

“We are incredibly grateful to Adam for his steady leadership, vision and dedication,” said Mara Boggs, President and CEO of the Charleston Area Alliance. “He helped guide our organization through transformative change, and his legacy will continue to shape our work for years to come. We are equally excited to welcome Ellen into this role—her experience, passion for our community and dedication as a highly respected business leader throughout our state, make her an ideal leader as we look to the future.”

The Alliance also welcomes new members to its Board of Directors, who bring diverse perspectives and expertise from across the business and civic landscape.

· Bryan Brown, Brown Communications LLC

· Bethany Kinder, Dow, Inc.

· Dan Owen, Goodwill Industries of the Summit

· Andrew Robey, Hissam Donovan Ritchie, PLLC

· Mark Slotnick, Bailey & Slotnick, PLLC

· Paul Smith, 1010 Bridge Restaurant

· Tim Whittaker, City National Bank

· Jen Wood, ZMM Architects & Engineers

· Scott Wyman, West Virginia American Water

Cappellanti’s appointment reflects the Alliance’s ongoing commitment to collaborative leadership and economic growth for the Charleston region. As Chair, she will help steer the

organization’s strategic priorities and foster deeper engagement with public and private sector partners.