Leadership Wheeling 2008 class members include, front row from left, Kelly Bettem, Laura Doty, Brenda Mayer and Leah Stout; middle row from left, Megan Clark, Robert Kruse, Victoria Smith, Lara Holdren, Emily Fisher, Becky Carey, Jason Costello and Tina High; and back row from left, Daniel Kostrub, Jeremy West and Zachary Shutler. Photo by Shelley Hanson

WHEELING — Zachary Shutler isn’t moving away like many of his peers have over the years.


He plans to stay and be a leader — at least that’s what he and 21 others expect to learn how to do during the Leadership Wheeling program. The class of 2008 has been gathering since January to work the program held annually by the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce.


On 14 days through the end of this month, business people, educators, health care officials and nonprofit workers will learn the ins and outs of working in the Wheeling region and Mountain State.


Along with seminars on topics such as team building, government affairs, the legal system, economic development and media, the class also will tour Consol Energy Inc.’s McElroy Mine near Moundsville and DeNoon Lumber Co. in Bergholz, Ohio. A trip to Charleston also took place for a meeting with legislators and Supreme Court justices, said Terry Sterling, president of the chamber of commerce.


Shutler is an assistant principal at Triadelphia Middle School in the Ohio County Schools system.


“This is a great opportunity that I couldn’t pass up,” Shutler said. “The more I know, the more I can help.