WVACO

Staff

Jonathan Adler

Executive Director

jonathan@wvaco.org

Jonathan Adler was selected by the WVACO Board of Directors as their new Executive Director beginning July 1, 2017. A graduate from WVU with a BA degree in Political Science in 1989 - followed by an Executive MBA degree in 2001.

Jonathan began his professional career as a newspaper reporter and photographer at his hometown newspaper, the Weston Democrat. His career in public service started 1991, when he served as an aide to Governor Gaston Caperton, traveling West Virginia and promoting the Governor's policies, doing outreach work with public officials and citizens. He also briefly served in the Office of Treasurer John Perdue as an assistant, performing many of those same duties.

From 2001 until 2008, Jonathan was State Government Relations Manager for Columbia Gas Transmission, followed by a brief stint in a similar role for CONSOL Energy. For three years he worked as a development officer for WV State University, as Assistant Vice President for Advancement. Most recently Jonathan was Executive Director for the West Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Born and raised in Weston, WV - Lewis County! -

Jonathan and his wife, Allison, help raise their two teenage sons. They reside in South Charleston.

Crystal Young Pic

Crystal Young

Operations Manager

crystal@wvaco.org

Crystal Young began working with the WV Association of Counties in November 2011. She was raised in Roane County, WV and attended Spencer High School and she currently resides in Elkview, WV. Crystal has two children, she considers her son Coty, and her daughter Ava to be her greatest accomplishments. Crystal is a proud "Gammy" to a beautiful granddaughter, Emalynn and three young grandsons, Oliver, Lincoln and Ledger. Melissa Caldwell

Executive Assistant

Melissa@wvaco.org

Melissa began working at WVACo on September 2022. She grew up in Elkview, West Virginia, and graduated from Herbert Hoover High School. She and her husband, J.R., have been happily married for 29 years and reside in Charleston. They have four exceptional children: EJ, who is married (Kimberly) and lives in Pinch, Cambria, a student at WVU, Badriah and Zeb, who still live at home. They also share their home with three cats and four dogs.

Maddie Alqutub

Communication Specialist

maddie@wvaco.org

Maddie joined the WVACo Staff in July 2022, as the Communications Specialist. She was born and raised in Charleston and graduated from Capital High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Journalism from West Virginia University before returning to her hometown. She is a proud aunt and moved back so she can be closer to her nieces and nephews. She resides in Kanawha City with her rambunctious one-year-old cat, Birdie.