The Shadow
Josh Taylor, former employee of The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, has left his position with the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, N.C. to fill a new position with the Chamber.
Josh, the son of Greg and Debbie Taylor who both reside in Covington, graduated from Alleghany High School in 2008.
Greg is from Fayetteville, N.C., and Debbie grew up in Greenbrier County, W.Va.
Josh was a former standout baseball player at Alleghany High School where he played for legendary coach, Gary Rice. He still holds the school’s pitching record for the most saves as a “closer” in baseball.
He earned three varsity letters in baseball and helped the Mountaineers win the district and regional tournaments during his senior year when the team posted the best record in the school’s history at 26-2 to finish as runners-up in the Virginia 2A State Baseball Championship.
Josh attended Ferrum College where he pitched for the Panthers for two years before transferring to Radford University where in 2013 he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in tourism and special event management.
He distinguished himself as a student at Radford by graduating magna cum laude, an honor awarded to graduates with a GPA over 3.75.
After completing a postgraduate internship at the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, in Charleston, S.C., the largest of its kind on the East Coast, he returned to the Alleghany Highlands and entered a management training program at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
Josh recalled, “After I completed that program at the Greenbrier, I was promoted to marketing and sponsorship sales manager.”
“I was there till 2017 when I saw the market position become available here at the Chamber in my hometown, and I jumped at the opportunity to market my hometown as a great place to live and visit,” he added.
Prior to accepting his current positon with the Chamber, Josh had spent four years helping Executive Director Teresa Hammond and her staff promote the Alleghany Highlands as a tourist destination and attractive area to establish new businesses and industry before leaving the Chamber.
As for the position he held with the Ronald McDonald House, Josh remembered, “I took over the role of director of marketing and communications at the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill.”
Josh, who lived in nearby Raleigh, added, “My dad was from North Carolina, and I had a lot of family there.”
Looking back at the 18 months that he was employed by Ronald McDonald House, he observed, “I was excited to help a great organization that supports families experiencing childhood illnesses, and it was very rewarding work.”
Concerning his new position with the Chamber, Josh noted, “As director of marketing and special projects, I have assumed more of a leadership role with additional community development aspects to it as well.”
He continued, “I’ve only been back in the Alleghany Highlands for a short time, but I’ve definitely hit the ground running.”
Since returning to the Alleghany Highlands with his fiancé, Melanie McIntire of Greenbrier County, W.Va., Josh noted that both he and Melanie are looking forward to getting more involved in the community.
He concluded, “I’m excited to continue working with the Chamber’s staff to promote the Alleghany Highlands as a great place to live, work and play.”
With the consolidation of the Alleghany County Public Schools and Covington City Schools having taken place on July 1 to form the Alleghany Highlands Public Schools, Josh’s pitching record will more than likely remain in Alleghany High School’s Mountaineer baseball record book forever.
The spring of 2023 will be the last season for the Mountaineers’ baseball team that will become the Alleghany High School Cougars during the 2023-24 school year.
