Community

Wheeling Heritage Names Jay Frey Interim Executive Director

Wheeling Heritage's board of directors tapped into its own roster to appoint an interim executive director.

Jay Frey will assume the role, effective Sept. 17, while the organization works with an executive search firm to find a permanent executive director. He has been a Wheeling Heritage board member for five years in numerous leadership positions. He will resign from the board of directors to assume the interim executive director position on a part-time basis until the search is completed.

Frey takes over for Alex Weld, who is resigning to assume the position of executive director at Generation West Virginia.

Wheeling Heritage's board of directors has partnered with The Pace Group, an executive search firm based in Dallas, Texas, to conduct a nationwide search for the organization's permanent executive director.

The decision to appoint Frey to this role was made by a unanimous vote of Wheeling Heritage's executive committee. He has more than 40 years of experience in development, strategic planning and nonprofit leadership.

Frey is involved with a number of boards and community organizations. In addition to his involvement with Wheeling Heritage, he is also an active member of the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, Fort Henry Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Friends of Wheeling, West Virginia Semiquincentennial Commission and the Wheeling Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

He's been recognized for his commitment to the community with the Community Spirit Citation from U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and the City of Wheeling's Community Spirit Award for his role as chairman of Wheeling 250.

"We are fortunate to have Jay step in as interim director while we continue the search process," said Walker Holloway, chair of the Wheeling Heritage Board of Directors. "His expertise in nonprofit leadership and strategic planning will help ensure a seamless transition for both the Wheeling Heritage team and the next executive director."

"I am honored to help Wheeling Heritage maintain the momentum that Alex Weld and her talented team have created. The city is at a tipping point and Wheeling Heritage has been and will continue to be in the vanguard of the city's revitalization efforts."

Wheeling Heritage's board of directors expects to announce its next executive director in the next 60 to 90 days.