By JOSELYN KING

WHEELING — Those from outside West Virginia often look down on the state’s attributes, forcing West Virginians to often embrace an “underdog mentality,” according to Alex Weld, executive director of Generation West Virginia.

“I think that because there are so many negative stereotypes and unfavorable stats surrounding West Virginia, it’s inherent in us to always feel like we’re the scrappy underdogs fighting for every success we’ve had over the years,” she said. “I don’t know many West Virginians who wouldn’t stand up for our state, regardless of its challenges, because we want to prove those stereotypes and attitudes wrong.

“While I may not always view myself as an extremely competitive person, I do approach things with the sense of having something to prove. I never want to feel that I’ve ‘made it’ or have arrived at a place where I’m comfortable in my career. I always want to find ways to be better. It’s a competitive mindset that I think many West Virginians have.”

Weld is the executive director of Generation West Virginia, the statewide nonprofit dedicated “to attracting, retaining, and advancing young people in West Virginia.”

Weld was born and raised in West Virginia, and she said the organization’s mission “is close to her heart.”

She has been with Generation West Virginia since 2021, and previously she served as executive director of Wheeling Heritage.

Weld also serves on the board of the Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED), the YWCA Wheeling board of directors, and as the vice chair of the Wellsburg Urban Renewal Authority. In 2023, she was appointed to the West Virginia Workforce Development Board by Gov. Jim Justice.

She is married to West Virginia Senate Majority Whip Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, and the couple lives in Wellsburg.

Weld began her career in journalism.

“Ever since I was a kid, all I wanted to be was a news reporter,” she said. “I was the anchor for Brooke High News when I was in high school. I was also the anchor for WVU (West Virginia University) News as a broadcast journalism major.

“However, not long into my first job as a reporter, I realized that it wasn’t the right fit for me. I realized that I just didn’t enjoy covering stories about the negative things happening in this area — the place I’ve always called home.”

She noted the realization meant she was now going to have to redefine what her “professional trajectory was going to be.”

“(It was) something that I never thought I would have to do,” Weld continued. “That experience made me realize that when a moment like this comes along, don’t be too afraid to make a change. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone simply because you don’t know what will be next.”

She suggests that anyone interested in working at a nonprofit “find a role that allows you to work toward a mission that’s important to you.”

“If you are looking for a profession that helps connect you to your community and fill a role that you feel is otherwise missing, working with a nonprofit could be an excellent opportunity to feel fulfilled with your work,” Weld said.

She added that while nonprofits typically have more female employees than male, a majority of nonprofit leadership positions are nevertheless filled by men.

“To women interested in a path to a leadership position at a nonprofit, my advice would be to adopt a growth mindset,” Weld continued. “Seek out and take any opportunity to learn new things, even if it’s not something immediately applicable to your current role. And, don’t shy away from celebrating your achievements.

“Sometimes I feel that women are more likely to downplay the impact of our work because we don’t want to be seen as self-applauding or unlikable — but we should all be more comfortable about celebrating successes,” she said.