Manchin meets with young professionals

Gov. Joe Manchin waited a long time to meet with a large group of West Virginia's young professionals.

He had an opportunity Wednesday, when he spoke at a meeting of the Young Professionals Committee, a subcommittee of the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce.

During a luncheon at Guyan Golf & Country Club, he took the opportunity to tell them how important it was for them to take ownership of their state. He said that's the hardest part of his job, saying that some West Virginia citizens are like renters who want to call somebody when the faucet is leaking, rather than fix it themselves.

Manchin talked about some of the progress the state has made in recent years, based on some advice he got from Standard & Poor's, Fitch and Moody's Wall Street Analytics, who he visited in New York.

"I said lay it out to me -- tell me what you think of the state of West Virginia," Manchin said. They mentioned that changes needed to be made with workers compensation, the tax structure and the workforce, which needed to be more diversified.

"I went to all three and got the same answers," he said. "They laid it out like a road map."

Work has been done, and the state is heading in the right direction, he pointed out. Workers compensation is much improved. It's allotting money to Marshall and West Virginia universities for research development that will lead to commercial enterprises. It's also separating four-year institutions from community and technical colleges to strike a balance between graduates with four-year degrees and graduates who are well-trained for good, blue-collar jobs in the state.

Manchin added that the state is in the black without raising taxes, unlike all its surrounding states. But "I can only do so much," he said. "I understand that, but how do we motivate you all?"

He looked at the young professionals in the room and said, "If you don't step to the plate, we're dead."

The Young Professionals Committee in Huntington formed in the fall of 2005, and since has amassed 150 members, YPC founder Chris Slaughter said. It's the largest dues-paying group of young professionals in the state. Its goals have been to educate young professionals to be successful in business and life, and to make the community better so as to attract more young professionals.

YPC works in the community on several fronts. It's raised money for decorative concrete art for the Huntington floodwall, it has members involved in the development of fitness trails throughout the area and -- on the recreational side -- had soccer team that recently had a great season.

When you're involved in your community and making efforts toward improvements, it's nice to know that the governor would come and acknowledge that, said YPC President Joe Randolph, branch manager for A.G. Edwards. Manchin even suggested setting up an advisory council of young professionals from throughout the state, whom he would get ideas and give some insights into how the state runs.

He came up with the idea at the luncheon and just threw it out there, said Randolph, who is running for Huntington City Council.

"That's the nice thing about this governor," he said. "He has ideas (and he sets them into action.)"

Manchin also tackled issues that other politicians might try to avoid, like how too many citizens of the state have an "entitlement mentality," said Nate Randolph, vice president of the committee and also running for council. These residents expect help to come from outside sources instead of fixing things themselves, Manchin had said.

"Instead of stepping around these topics, he's trying to tackle them head-on," said Nate Randolph, who works with Edward Tucker Architects. "I appreciate that."

Jennifer Wheeler, a YPC member and annual fund coordinator for Marshall University, said it makes her want to get right to work.

"He's so motivational," she said. "After an opportunity to listen to him, you feel compelled to get out and try to change the community."