Susan Lavenski

Susan Lavenski is the CEO and owner of Charles Ryan Associates (CRA), one of the region’s oldest and largest communications firms, headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia, with an additional office in Richmond, Virginia. CRA is also recognized as one of the largest women-owned communications firms in the area.

An expert in issues management, Lavenski has led communications efforts for transportation campaigns, utility and energy projects, controversial elections and health care certificates of need, establishing herself as a consummate problem solver. She has developed strategies for Fortune 500 companies and collaborated with local, regional and national public figures, media representatives and business executives, achieving results that have garnered state, regional and national coverage for her clients.

With 24 years of experience at CRA, Lavenski holds a B.A. degree in Public Relations Journalism and an M.A. degree in Political Science, focusing on Public Administration, from Marshall University.

In addition to her role at CRA, Lavenski is the CEO of Onva Company, a real estate property firm owned by her family. She actively participates on several boards and committees, including Vice Chair and Executive Committee/Board member of the WV Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chair and Executive Committee Member of the WV Roundtable, Board member of Thomas Health Systems, Board member of Buckskin Council (Boy Scouts of America), Marketing/Communications Chairwoman of the WV Manufacturers Association, Committee Member/Sub-Committee Chairwoman of the Charleston Area Alliance’s Vision 2030 Innovation/R&D Committee, Member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Member of the WV Business and Industry Council, Member of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of WV, Member of the Chemical Industry Council, Committee Member of the Marcellus & Manufacturing Development Conference, Council Member of the Advisory Council for Marshall University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Member of the Education Working Group for the WV Chamber of Commerce and Chairwoman of the Energy Speaks Education Initiative.

Lavenski has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including being featured in “America’s Who’s Who 2020,” recognized as one of the “50 Smartest Companies of 2019” by Silicon Review, honored as one of the “10 Best Entrepreneurs of 2019” by Industry Era Magazine, recipient of the WV Executive 2018 Sharp Shooters Award, recognized in the State Journal’s 2017 Who’s Who in WV Business, inducted into the 2017 Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications Hall of Fame, featured in “Innerviews” by Sandy Wells for the Gazette Mail in March 2016, awarded WV PRSA Public Relations Professional of the Year in 2015, featured as a WV Executive “Young Guns Reloaded” Professional in 2015, a recipient of the WV Executive’s 2011 Young Guns Award and a recipient of the State Journal’s 2010 40 Under 40 Award.

She was the 2019 CEO Spotlight Featured Speaker at the WV Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business Summit, the 2019 Featured Speaker at the Women’s Leadership Summit, Commencement Speaker at Marshall University’s 2019 Graduation Ceremony and featured in WV Focus Magazine’s “Wonder Women” issue, highlighting WV’s most powerful women breaking the status quo and proving that leadership has no gender.