WEST VIRGINIA WONDER WOMEN
DIANA BARNETTE Extreme Optimist
Diana Barnette was born with what family members call “extreme optimism.” She always finds a way to make things happen and, if she hits a wall in the process, she finds another route. It’s a model she’s applied to her business life with great success. “I’m human, so I get down sometimes and I feel defeated some days,” Barnette says. “On those days I call it a day, and then the next day I get up and try again.” She’s a serial entrepreneur who fills a void wherever she sees a need. She is the owner of multiple businesses in the southern part of the state and just unveiled her newest venture: Appalachian Outpost and Rockfort Cabins, which turned an old strip mall in the heart of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system into productive space supporting the local ATV tourism industry. Barnette attributes her success in life to the way she was raised by a hard-working single mother of three. “I always saw her working hard. She cleaned houses. She took in laundry. She did whatever it took. There weren’t a lot of men around, and I grew up thinking that the most important things were working hard and always doing the right thing no matter what.” HLT
ANNA JEAN CARPENTER Mrs. Commissioner
Anna Jean Carpenter credits her daughter, Angie Cowger, as her biggest influence and support. Upon Cowger’s encouragement, Carpenter began her post-secondary education and earned her first college degree at the age of 40. By the time Carpenter was 50, she had earned her master’s degree in adult and technical education fromMarshall University. She retired from teaching after 20 years in the Webster County school system, where she was recognized as a West Virginia ProStart Teacher of the Year and earned her National Board Certification. Carpenter first ran for Webster County Commissioner in 2010. Her reason is simple: “Because I care.” In 2013, she was appointed county commissioner when the existing commissioner retired, and she ran again in 2016 and was elected. Her main priority as commissioner is the economic growth and sustainability of Webster County. She enjoys attending County Commissioners’ Association conferences, where she can discuss problems and their potential solutions with other county commissioners. A master gardener and certified National Garden Club Accredited Flower Show Judge, Carpenter serves on the West Virginia Resource Advisory Committee, which was recently awarded $90,000 in grants that will benefit tourism and economic stability in Webster County. “The thing that really gives me gratification is having an impact on the community,” she says. JC
AMELIA COURTS Faith, Family, West Virginia
Amelia Courts is the president and CEO of The Education Alliance, a nonprofit organization that advocates for improving public education in West Virginia. Courts, a first-generation college student, earned her doctorate in education administration from West Virginia University before moving to Asia, where she taught English as a second language for seven years. “West Virginia has a way of drawing us back,” she says. “But we have to have things that are attractive, like jobs, strong communities, and excellent schools.” Now, Courts works on building these assets, such as the West Virginia Ready Summer Internship Program, in order to incentivize students to stay in the state. The four-week paid summer internship opportunity has been transformational for high school juniors and seniors, Courts says, allowing them to find their passion and opening up career opportunities in some of the state’s leading industries: healthcare, energy, and manufacturing. This year’s internships are all virtual experiences. Courts has seen the impact of education on her own life and its ability to open doors. Her drive to be an education advocate comes from her faith, family, and love for West Virginia and its students. JC
70 wvl • fall 2020
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