Latest news with #MichelleRotellini
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2nd Saturdays to launch this weekend in Downtown Beckley
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) – A local effort to revitalize Downtown Beckley has made way for the inaugural 2nd Saturdays event, set to take place this through the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce's Downtown Pulse initiative, the monthly event will highlight local brick and mortar business locations and will feature vendors and live music. Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Michelle Rotellini told 59News the chamber hopes to show off the potential of the Downtown Beckley area through the event.'It's like a secret little hidden treasure right now. There's a lot of vacant spaces with a lot of character and a lot of potential,' she said. 'The [Beckley-Raleigh County] Chamber [of Commerce] has really come in to say, 'hey, let's start to create some synergy so that there's a reason to be downtown; so that there's foot traffic.'' 2nd Saturdays will take place on Main Street in Downtown Beckley on the second Saturday of every month, as the name suggests. Each event will feature a new lineup of entertainment and vendors. This weekend's event will also feature the soft opening of the Tiffany's boutique in the downtown area. Entrepreneurs and vendors interested in getting involved with 2nd Saturdays have been encouraged to reach out to the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Future Forward Summit and Expo offers community networking opportunities
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) – The Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce presented day two of its 2025 Future Forward event on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Businesses and organizations from throughout Raleigh County come together each year for the Future Forward Summit and Expo, which is held at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. The two-day event puts a spotlight on local businesses and offers a variety of educational and networking opportunities. Workshops on economic development, workforce resources, tourism impact, and city planning and zoning were just some of the resources made available at this year's event. The Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce President, Michelle Rotellini says this provides an opportunity for community members to collaborate on solutions for intricate issues.'Economic development is very complex,' Rotellini tells 59News. 'There are a lot of different issues, and so today some of those issues are being unpacked and we're learning how we can come together as a community and move forward.' Another important opportunity presented by Future Forward each year is that of networking, with community members being given a platform to express their ideas in a collaborative setting.'Future Forward I think is just a wonderful thing to where we can all come together and kind of brainstorm our ideas of what to do for the community,' says Michelle Wilson, president of small business, Suddenly Spotless – one of many organizations to be showcased for the event. Local business celebrates anniversary with BRCCC ribbon cutting City of Beckley Parks and Recreation Director, Leslie Baker notes the significance of the sessions in keeping the community up to date on current happenings. 'It's so important for the networking opportunities that are available, the sessions that they have to find out what's new and trending in our world,' she says. The Chamber of Commerce concluded the 2025 Future Forward session one Wednesday evening with the hope of attendees leaving more strongly informed, inspired, and connected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Future Forward Summit and Expo will arrive next week
Final preparations are being made for the Future Forward 2025 Summit and Expo, a major business and economic development networking platform scheduled next week in Beckley. The summit, titled 'Future Forward: Growing Our Economy, Strengthening Our Community,' will be Tuesday and Wednesday, April 22-23, at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. It is coordinated by the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority and West Virginia Hive, and The Cabins at Pine Haven is the event's platinum sponsor. According to organizers, the event will offer 'a premier business and economic summit and expo bringing together business leaders, entrepreneurs and community change makers to explore the future of economic growth and innovation in southern West Virginia.' 'Collaboration is key to driving meaningful economic growth,' said Michelle Rotellini, BRCCC president/CEO. 'By partnering with the NRGRDA and WV Hive, we're expanding the reach of Future Forward, ensuring a more regional impact and bringing together a broader network of business leaders and entrepreneurs. 'Combining our resources allows us to offer even greater value to businesses, fostering innovation and opportunity across southern West Virginia.' Rotellini said Thursday that ticket sales are going well for the event. There are still spots available, though, and the public can register/pay at the door. To obtain tickets, visit Future Forward will focus on four critical pillars of success — housing, downtown development, small business growth and the economic outlook. Sessions and presentation leaders on the agenda include: • New and existing housing modernization needs — Patrick Bowen, president, Bowen National Research; • Southern West Virginia economic outlook — Dr. John Deskins, director, Bureau of Business and Economic Research at West Virginia University; • Downtown development and revitalization — Moderated by Jina Belcher, NRGRDA; and • Small business development — Judy Moore of NRGRDA and the WV Hive. The event will kick off Tuesday with setup for exhibitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A developers forum sponsored by Paramount Development Corporation will run from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., and that will be followed by a legislative reception/business after hours sponsored by Truist from 5 to 7 p.m. 'We encourage everyone to come to the legislative reception,' said Rotellini. Pre-registration is preferred but attendees can also pay at the door. For ticket information, visit Sen. Brian Helton (R-Fayette) will guide the legislative reception. According to Helton, many of the topics to be covered are statewide economic development issues, while others feature more of a local concentration. 'All of these were legislation that were passed during this last session and will play a key role in our future growth in the Mountain State,' he said. The topics will include: • STIF (economic development district); • Microgrid data centers; • Universal Licensing Act; • Local economic development initiatives; • Substance use disorder initiatives; and • Coal Renaissance Act. There will also be time set aside for a question-and-answer session. Also on Tuesday, a ribbon-cutting will be staged at 6 p.m. for new BRCCC member Suddenly Spotless, which offers house cleaning services in Beckley, Charleston, Oak Hill and Fayetteville. On Wednesday, April 23, a full day of forums, educational sessions and networking opportunities will all focus on steering local communities toward the future. That will include presentations and/or discussions on the four pillars to success stressed by organizers. There will also be breakout groups featuring areas of concentration including downtown planning and zoning, tourism and workforce resources. In addition, a diverse range of exhibitors is expected to showcase products, services and initiatives from throughout the region. For more on the agenda for both days, visit The Exhibitor Hall will be open Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be open to the general public for free from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. that day.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Business owner helps promote small businesses
Beckley has always been home for Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Michelle Rotellini. Growing up on South Kanawha Street, Rotellini attended Stratton Junior High and Woodrow Wilson High School. She now runs two successful restaurants in Raleigh County alongside her aunts and daughter, who have partnered with her in the endeavor. Like many who were raised in West Virginia, Rotellini initially pursued an education and a career out of state, but also, like many West Virginians, she eventually found her way back to the mountain state where she has since grown roots. Rotellini said her time learning and working in Charleston, South Carolina, influenced the food she enjoys and cooks and was part of the reason she was inspired to open a restaurant in Raleigh County. Rotellini opened The Dish Café in Daniels in 2013 and recently opened Uptown Dish on Main Street in Beckley. Both restaurants focus on offering quality, homemade food that's made with fresh and healthy ingredients. Rotellini also owns Homecare West Virginia, which she started in 2008 and provides in-home care, elder care and senior home care services. 'Small businesses are really what make communities unique because they're not duplicated,' Rotellini said. 'You're not going to go to another town and find another Dish Café or another favorite boutique, and so those are really what the community becomes known for.' As a business owner as well as the CEO and president of the local chamber of commerce, Rotellini said small businesses are the backbone of small communities because they are tailor-made to fit the community's needs. 'Every community is unique in what services they need, and in small towns, there are a lot of missing services,' Rotellini said. '. . . So the small businesses really have to step up and fill those needs. It's very important because without small businesses, people in rural communities would have to spend a lot of time on the road getting what they need.' Rotellini took over at the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce in 2016 and she enjoys being able to promote and aid small businesses. 'People have an assumption that everybody opens a business because they have deep pockets and they can afford to open a business,' she said. 'But people open businesses because they have great ideas and they want to share them, and it's hard. There's sweat equity, there's late at night and early mornings, and a lot of times they're putting in their personal money to make their payrolls . . . so through the chamber of commerce, we're really able to help promote our businesses.' What is one of the most important things you've learned as CEO and president of the chamber? Collaboration is important. Everything that happens takes partnerships. What is your favorite dish from your restaurants? Anything with our shrimp. We cook our shrimp to perfection. A lot of people are hesitant to order seafood in a landlocked state, but once they've tasted it, they're like me, it's perfect. Do you have a favorite baked good from your restaurant? My favorite is our gluten-free butterscotch blondie. To me, when you get it with a scoop of ice cream, it tastes like a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats. What's your favorite meal to cook at home? I have a couple of specialties that my family always craves, just from my time in Charleston, South Carolina. They love when I make low-country cheese grits. When my kids were little, I used to make quiche a lot because it was just something that was easy to heat up for them in the mornings and it wasnutritious.
