CHARLESTON — The next executive director has been named for the West Virginia Press Association.

Betsy Miles has been assistant executive director and advertising director at the press association since 2018 after serving as the association’s accountant since 2012. She will succeed Don Smith, who is leaving the association at the end of September for a position at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine at Lewisburg.

“I am honored to have been named the new executive director of the West Virginia Press Association and look forward to building upon all the things that Don Smith, the staff and the board have accomplished over the past several years,” Miles said.

The association was established shortly after the Civil War and serves as the newspaper industry representative for the state’s 69 newspapers.

The board of directors and foundation trustees met with Miles in August to formalize the transition. The board created the assistant executive director position in 2018 to assist Miles with preparation for the leadership role.

In addition to the assistant executive director role, Miles has headed WV Press Services, the association’s advertising agency, served as the representative for the national Newspaper Association Managers and assisted with association lobbying, news sharing, video product and membership events.

“The WVPA board knew it had a responsibility to develop a leadership tract that would recognize and prepare potential leaders for our organization. We wanted to ensure a smooth transition and the continuity of our programs and efforts,” association president President Hannah Heishman said. “Betsy has been outstanding in her dual roles as assistant executive director and advertising director over the last five years. She works personally with every newspaper on a regular basis. She is a key part of our ongoing success, is well-prepared to direct the association and will head our staff development into the future.”

The board will soon begin its search for an additional staff member.

Smith applauded the decision, noting the board’s vision in developing a leadership plan and in recognizing the value of Miles, who will oversee the operation of the WV Press, its ad agency, and its education foundation, the WV Press Association Foundation.

“Betsy has been a leader in the success and growth of WV Press over the last decade,” Smith said. “Her initiatives, advertising program development, grant work, and efforts in all phases of the operation have benefitted this organization and its member newspapers. She will do an excellent job as executive director.”

Prior to joining the WV Press team, Miles was an accountant with Smith, Cochran & Hicks PLLC of Charleston. She was outreach coordinator for the Mountaineer Energy Forum of the American Petroleum Institute and served as a consultant for the West Virginia Department of Commerce on its EXCEL effort.

“I have a passion for community, and I believe that is what this industry represents. Newspapers aren’t just good business, they’re the glue our communities need to bring everyone together,” Miles said. “I am eager to get started in my new role and even more so to be a part in moving this industry forward.”

Miles has an MSA in Accountancy, an MBA in business administration and a bachelor’s in biology. She is a certified Workers Compensation Professional, accredited fraud investigator and QuickBooks Pro adviser.

In addition to her national role with the Newspapers Association Managers, at the state level, Miles is treasurer and a member of the board of directors for the West Virginia Society of Association Executives and a member of Leadership West Virginia Class of 2019.

Miles lives in St. Albans with her husband, Wayne Miles, a captain in the South Charleston Fire Department, and son, Aidan, a student at Marshall University.