Photo from Inter-Mountain File Robbie Morris has served as executive director of the Randolph County Development Authority and West Virginia Wood Technology Center for 11 years.
Editor’s Note: This is the third in an ongoing series of articles that will focus on our locally elected and appointed government leaders, the roles they perform and the services provided by their respective offices.
ELKINS – Robbie Morris goes to work every day with the goal of making Randolph County a better place to live.
For the past 11 years, Morris, who serves as executive director of the Randolph County Development Authority and West Virginia Wood Technology Center, has dedicated his life to helping the county grow and prosper.
“On the development agency side, we are responsible for recruiting, retaining, expanding the business in Randolph County and ensuring the overall economic health,” Morris told The Inter-Mountain. “And from the Wood Technology Center, we’re tasked with developing people across a variety of different industries, including hardwood, construction, and machine operations.”
Though Morris has been on the job for over a decade, he admits he’s always learning.
“Every project is different, every recruitment is different and every expansion is different”, he said. “But I’ve learned a lot and I’m constantly educating myself and my entire workforce about trends and economic developments.”
Morris listed some of the highlights that occurred during his tenure as director, including the expansion at AHF Products in Beverly, the completion of the Rail Trail Connector, and several projects at the Elkins Railyard.
He said the most difficult time was not knowing what would happen when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the area.
“We saw the momentum that Elkins and Randolph County are experiencing right now in the fall of 2019.” he said. “It continued through January and February and then everything just ground to a halt. It was very stressful from my seat wondering if the companies would make it and how COVID would affect our community.”
Morris said no one really knows how to react or what to expect if the pandemic hits. However, he said he couldn’t be prouder of how the community came together and fought its way through these trying times.
“There was a lot of fear around and it was a worrying time for everyone, especially businesses.” said Morris. “But Randolph County’s economy is quite diverse, especially compared to many other counties in West Virginia, and thankfully we haven’t had the business disruption that a once-in-a-generation global pandemic could have brought . We really didn’t see that, fortunately. We have a very strong business community, we have a great workforce and people just kept going.”
Morris served as the director of the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce before assuming his current position. Before moving to the chamber, he managed his father’s personnel consultancy.
He is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College and holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Morris graduated from Elkins High School in 2001. He is married to his wife, Whitney Phillips Morris, and they have two daughters, Elin, who is 11, and Tinley, who is seven.
“The great thing about this job is that there are never two days that are the same and there is always something going on,” said Morris. “I take great pride in growing our community and our economy.
“Randolph County just has so many different things to offer. It’s a wonderful, wonderful community with great people. I feel honored and privileged to be able to contribute to the growth and preservation of the county.”
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