2020 West Virginia Wonder Woman Lisa Messinger Wood

The mothers, the millennials, and the mavens. Changing our communities.

This is our seventh annual unveiling of 50 amazing women who are raising the bar in their communities, serving as beacons of light in their industries, and forcing change for the greater good. Meet this West Virginia Wonder Woman, Lisa Messinger Wood, and many more that are creating a better West Virginia with their can-do attitudes and Mountain State spirit.

Giving Back in Gratitude

Lisa Messinger Wood is not your typical nonprofit director. A native of Huntington, the first 25 years of her career were as a teacher. Her husband’s career path took them out of West Virginia and brought them back when he became president of Davis & Elkins College.

“Not only did we fall in love with the college, but we also fell back in love with Elkins, Randolph County, and Central West Virginia.” Wood truly wants West Virginians to have a vibrant life and expresses this in her many volunteer positions and through her work as executive director of the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. What drives her is the motivation to give everyone opportunities in West Virginia, especially the youth.

“West Virginia has always been home. The opportunity to come back here and finish our careers has been a blessing for sure. The people of this area have welcomed us and made us feel like we are a part of the community. Giving back is my way of saying thank you to them.”

Click here to read about our other 2020 West Virginia Wonder Women