Alumni Profiles

As a district manager for Southern States Cooperative, Inc., Bill is responsible for the daily operations and sales of 13 local Coops and Service stores in West Virginia and Western Maryland. Southern States, based in Richmond, Virginia, is one of the nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives. Today the company encompasses some 1,200 retail locations in 23 states. Owned by more than 300,000 farmers, the cooperative purchases, manufactures or processes feed, seed, fertilizer, farm supplies and fuel.

In addition to his responsibilities with Southern States, Bill is a director with the WV Propane Gas Association. He also serves as a board member of the WV Retailers Association.

Bill graduated in 1985 from West Virginia University with a B.S. degree in Agriculture and a major in Agricultural Education. He taught vocational agriculture for 5 years in Harrison County, WV at Lincoln and South Harrison High Schools.

His career with Southern States began in June 1990 as a manager trainee at Clarksburg, WV. In January 1991, Bill was transferred to Buckhannon where he served as assistant manager. He was promoted to manager in July 1994 and served in that capacity until February 2001 when he accepted his current position as district manger.

Bill graduated from Grafton High School in Grafton, WV. He currently resides in French Creek, WV.