Mark A. Chandler
Mark A. Chandler has been an active part of the professional community of southern WV for the past 25 years. He began his career in Huntington rising within the ranks of public accounting to become a partner in the firm Lockhart and Chandler, CPA’s. He left public accounting to join Columbia Entergy in 1989 and became the CFO of Columbia Natural Resources in1996. He later became one of the original partners in Tirana Energy where he served as VP and CFO from 2001 until the company’s sale in 2005. He continued working with that team of entrepreneurs and currently serves as CFO for a number of successful energy related enterprises including Tirana Energy, Highlands Drilling and Appalachian Geophysical Services.
Mr. Chandler was formerly President of the WV Society of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the National Governing Council and Nominating Committee for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In 2000, his peers voted him as the most outstanding CPA in business and industry in WV.
Mr. Chandler has actively served the region through a number of community organizations including serving in governing roles for the Marshall University Research Corporation and the Tri-County YMCA. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Charleston Area Medical Center, the Central WV United Way, and the Marshall University College of Business.
He is a graduate of Marshall University and currently resides in Hurricane, WV.
David Fox, III
David Fox, III began his career in the oil and gas industry in 1972 with Branchland Pipe & Supply, a family owned business established in 1921 by his grandfather David Fox, Sr. The company was later sold to Anglo Energy Corporation in 1980. In 1984, Mr. Fox, along with his family, established Appalachian Pipe and Supply. The Business was profitable every month of its existence, even in times of industry-wide downturns. Appalachian Pipe and Supply merged with the oil and gas division of MCJunkin Corporation in 1989 to form the largest oil field supply company in the Eastern United States. He served as Senior Vice President where he managed overall operations of the business until the business was sold to Goldman Sachs in 2007. Mr. Fox currently serves on the Board of Directors of McJunkin Red Man Supply Company as well as Vice President of Business Development.
Mr. Fox Actively serves on the boards of First Sentry Bank, Cabell Huntington Hospital, Hospice of Huntington, and is a member of the Big Green Board of Directors. Mr. Fox established the David Fox, Jr. Endowed Scholarship in honor of his later father, and the Brian David Foxx Endowed Scholarship in honor of his later son. He is an active member of the first Presbyterian Church located in Huntington and serves as a church leader. Through his church, Mr. Fox leads Stephen’s Ministry, a bible study for elementary students, and International House, an outreach that houses university international students over the holidays.
Mr. Fox is a 1971 graduate of Marshall University and a former member of the Marshall University gold team. He and his wife Laura have four children: Brian, Sally, Michael and adopted son Lucas Boselli and they reside in Huntington.
James C. Justice, II
James C. Justice, II a West Virginia businessman established Bluestone Farms in 1977. The corn, wheat and soybean operation grew to over 50,000 acres in four different states and is now the largest grain producer on the east coast. During this same period, Mr. Justice developed Stoney Brook Plantation, a 15,000-acre hunting and fishing preserve in Monroe County, WV.
In 1993, after his father’s death, Mr. Justice became president and CEO of Bluestone industries, Inc. and Bluestone Coal Corporation. Over the next 15 years, expansion of multiple businesses occurred which included significant coal reserve expansion, Christmas tree farms, cotton gins, turf grass operations, gold courses, timber enhancement and land projects just to mention a few. Mr. Justice is the President and CEO of 47 different companies.
During late 2008 and early 2009, Mr. Justice negotiated the sale of Bluestone Industries, Inc. and affiliated companies to Mechel OAO a major global company in mining and metals. The Justice’s Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia coal operations and the WV, Virginia and North and South Carolina agricultural operations continue today under the parent James C. justice companies, Inc. Mr., Justice announced to purchase of the Resort at Glade Springs, WV.
Mr. Justice is a major supporter of youth programs. He has coached basketball teams of all ages for the past 30 years amassing a coaching record of 761 wins – 156 losses. He is currently the head girls’ basketball coach at Greenbrier East High School in Lewisburg, WV. He has been director of the Mountain State Coal Classic since 1995. The Basketball classics has enjoyed tremendous success awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and support to participating schools.
Mr. Justice received his BS and MMBA degrees from Marshall University, He is a former member of the Marshall gold team and served as captain his junior and senior years. He and his wife Cathy have two adult children, James C., III (Jay) and Jill.
John D. Leslie
John D. Leslie began working for his father at the family business when he was just a boy. He went to Marshall University after high school and graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Mr. Leslie came back to his hometown of Cowen, WV, and bought his uncle’s half of Leslie Brothers Equipment Co., a John Deere equipment franchise. Mr. Leslie ran the business with his father until 1985 when he purchased his father’s half of the company to become the sole owner.
The business was small at the time and created mainly to supplement the family’s local saw mill. John Leslie Knew that the company could be more and have a bigger impact on local industry. He shortened the name to Leslie Equipment Co. and expanded the business in Cowen. Then, he purchased the franchise of another dealer and built a new location in Beaver, WV. In 1996, Leslie Equipment acquired Reckhart Equipment and built a new facility in Norton, WV.
Along the way, John Deere recognized Leslie’s at achievements and abilities with numerous awards for outstanding sales which gave John Leslie the confidence to continue with the growth of the company. His biggest expansion came in 2001 when the company purchased the assets of Gress Equipment Co. which included several dealerships throughout the tristate area.
Now Leslie Equipment employs more than 250 people at 10 locations throughout West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. In 2000, a new facility was constructed in Cross Lanes, WV to replace the Nitro facility. The new facility hosts training sessions for Leslie’s employees.
The company carries several lines of equipment to fit the needs of its ever-growing customer base. Those involved in forestry, construction, coal, oil and gas have come to know Leslie Equipment as the place they turn to for their equipment needs. John Leslie goes to work early and stays late every day, His employees and customers are his friends. Work is his passion, his hobby, and his legacy.
John Leslie lives in Cowen with his wife Lynette. He has four daughters seven grandsons and one granddaughter. John Leslie is known to give back to his community through schools and local organizations. Mr. Leslie was chosen as one of West Virginia’s Who’s Who in Business in 2007.
