Generation Charleston: Connect with CWV’s Young Talent
Monday, May 10, 2021Generation Charleston, a program of the Charleston Area Alliance and Generation West Virginia, engages and empowers young people in the Charleston community through events, projects and programs focusing on work, live and give initiatives. GC is committed to an inclusive and welcoming space while attracting, retaining and developing folks.
GC is made up of a volunteer board of directors, as well as committee leads. The program is always looking for new participants. Reach out to the leadership team or visit GenerationCharleston.com if you’re interested in learning more!
Alex Schnulo, Executive Chair
A native of Columbus, OH, Alex Schnulo moved to West Virginia in 2018 and settled in Hurricane with his wife, Lauren, and their two dogs, Sammy & Zoey. After graduating from The Ohio State University, Alex began a career in college & career counseling and is now the Director of Recruitment with Northwestern Mutual – West Virginia. Generation Charleston was one of the first groups Alex found after relocating and helped him find his home in the Charleston Community. He’s passionate about advocating for the young leaders here in the Kanawha Valley and is honored to serve as Executive Chair for the 2021 term.
Connect with Alex at Alexander.Schnulo@nm.com
Candace Nelson, Vice Chair
Candace Nelson, a native of Wellsburg, West Virginia, is a marketing professional working in the nonprofit sector. Prior to her current role, she served as the Digital Marketing Coordinator for the West Virginia Tourism Office, the Social Media Editor for West Virginia University and as a journalist for the Charleston Daily Mail. She has earned her B.S. in journalism, B.A. in English and M.S. in journalism from West Virginia University. She has published a book, “The West Virginia Pepperoni Roll,” and spends her free time teaching at the University of Charleston, writing a food column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail, serving on local community boards and blogging at CandaceLately.com.
Connect with Candace at Candace127@gmail.com.
Samantha Nygaard, Community Engagement Chair
Samantha Nygaard is a marketing professional with a passion for planning community-focused events and meeting new people. With a strong preference for mountains over beaches, Sam moved to Charleston in 2018 from Jacksonville, Florida. Prior to her move to the Mountain State, she earned a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Media/Communication Studies from Florida State University. When she’s not on a West Virginia adventure with her dog Georgia, Sam is studying enneagrams, trying a new recipe or planning her next trip. Do you have a fun idea to engage the Charleston community? Send Sam an email with any event ideas you want to collaborate on or make happen.
Connect with Samantha at samanthanygaard@gmail.com.
Erin Susman, Membership Chair
Erin Susman is a proud West Virginia transplant, who has called Charleston home since 2018. She is currently in her final semester of her Masters in Public Administration at Marshall University, and spends her days as the Operations and VISTA Program Manager at WV Community Development Hub. Erin loves playing board games and going on adventures with her husband, Austin, riding her spin bike, crafting with her Cricut machine, and making sourdough bread.
Connect with Erin at erindaileymcgrath@gmail.com.
Kennedy Young, Operations Chair
Kennedy Young works in Charleston as a Financial Advisor Trainee. She moved here a year from the Pittsburgh area and fell in love with the place. She’s excited to work with Generation Charleston to bring together young people, like herself, and help create an inclusive and vibrant community. In her free time, she loves spending time with her dog Luke, trying new restaurants, and traveling to new places with her fiancé.
Connect with Kennedy at kryoung214@gmail.com.
Timur Dikec, LIVE Committee Captain
Timur Dikec is an attorney at Shuman McCuskey Slicer PLLC. He graduated from Washington and Lee School of Law in 2019 and passed the West Virginia Bar shortly after. Timur has been living in Charleston for almost two years and loves exploring the area with his fiancée Kennedy and their dog Luke.
Connect with Timur at timurdikec@gmail.com.
Nick Nunnery, WORK Captain
Nick Nunnery is the Business Services Representative for Region III Workforce Development Board. Currently he lives in Charleston, WV. After graduating WVU-Tech, he has worked in multiple industry fields and is now working with businesses in Kanawha County to establish employment and training grants.
Nick is excited to work with Generation Charleston to help attract new businesses and strengthen current businesses in Kanawha County.
Connect with Nick at nnunnery@region3wibkc.org.
Meagan Hoover, GIVE Committee Captain
Meagan Hoover is the Restaurant Manager for Embassy Suites in Charleston, WV. She is a West Virginia native, born and raised in Buckhannon, WV; and a graduate of Fairmont State University. After the past five years working in the hospitality industry throughout the south east, she has returned home to reside in the Metro-Valley area with her significant other and devote her passions to the state she loves. In her free time, Meagan enjoys searching for good restaurants, traveling to new destinations, baking, and spending time with the people she loves.
Connect with Meagan at hoovermeagan@gmail.com.
Generation Charleston is made possible by the support of Title Sponsor, Huntington National Bank.