Archives: Episodes

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I chat with Elena Compton at First Tuesdays, where she shares her work as the Development and Grants Manager for Read Aloud West Virginia, focusing on improving literacy by motivating kids to read for fun. Elena opens up about her own struggles with dyslexia and how discovering topics she enjoyed transformed reading from a chore into something she loves. Beyond her role at Read Aloud, she’s a tutor at the Appalachian Reading Center, helping kids with dyslexia, and also has a background in figure skating, which she’s been involved with since she was three. Elena also serves on the Win Academy Advisory Board, supporting a charter school that helps high school juniors pursue degrees in nursing and manufacturing. Her commitment to education and community shines through in everything she does.

I’m recording the Kanawha Valley Hustlers Podcast from DT Prime at First Tuesdays with Brian Aluise from the Charleston Area Alliance. Brian’s new role focuses on membership and investor development, a natural progression from his previous work with Senator Joe Manchin. We discuss the importance of networking events like First Tuesdays, especially for young professionals in the area. Brian emphasizes the value of making connections, sharing ideas, and the need to keep young talent in West Virginia. He also highlights the broader work of the Charleston Area Alliance beyond networking, including community and economic development projects. Overall, it’s clear that these events are crucial for both personal growth and community upliftment.

On this episode, I chat with Lee Ayers at the KDE office on Hale Street to discuss his hustle in cybersecurity. Lee works for KDE and the state of West Virginia, handling about 400 to 500 cyberattacks a year. He explains the importance of manual intervention and security-focused website development. Lee’s book, *Cyber Resilience*, set in Charleston, West Virginia, details real hacking groups and vulnerabilities in an accessible format. Lee aims to showcase the tech talent in West Virginia. He encourages people to read his book and learn more about cybersecurity.

Today on Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I’m at Meetup 64 with Jacob Lesher, CTO of West Virginia Integrated AI Solutions. Jacob explains how his company helps small West Virginia businesses integrate AI into their operations, highlighting AI’s evolution from niche use cases to broadly applicable tools. He clarifies that AI, which improves itself using training data, is now capable of handling tasks like data entry and professional writing. Jacob emphasizes that AI acts as a tool, following human instructions accurately without autonomy. He addresses common concerns about AI’s impact on jobs and reassures listeners that AI enhances rather than replaces human work. Jacob shares contact details for those interested in learning more. I conclude by reminding everyone to hustle hard, smart, and with a smile.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I’m at Meet-Up 64 at the Huntington Museum of Art, and

Today on the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I’m talking with Cameron Collins from Prim Law Firm. She handles PR, marketing, and intake for the firm, specializing in personal injury and asbestos exposure cases. We discuss the challenges of competing with large national firms that dominate the advertising space but lack the personal touch of local firms. Cameron explains the difficulties of marketing legal services, especially in a saturated market, and the importance of staying top of mind through social media and local campaigns. She emphasizes the value of supporting local businesses and shares her experience as a young professional constantly learning and adapting in her role. It’s a great conversation about the nuances of legal marketing and the significance of community connections.