CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – State Treasurer Riley Moore took over as West Virginia’s 25th Treasurer Monday and has already started implementing his vision to more efficiently and effectively manage the $18 billion of taxpayer and public funds overseen by his office.
Treasurer Moore is also preparing an aggressive legislative agenda designed to help people prepare for new jobs and improve how the State Treasurer’s Office operates.
“I’m tremendously honored and humbled by the faith the people of West Virginia have placed in me, and am ready to hit the ground running to deliver results,” Treasurer Moore said. “I want to thank Treasurer John Perdue for his decades of service to our state and all his courtesy and assistance to ensure this transition has been as seamless as possible.
“My team and I are ready to get to work to serve the citizens of our great state, and look forward to working with the Legislature and our colleagues across government to build a brighter future for all West Virginians.”
One of Treasurer Moore’s first priorities is working with the Legislature to pass his Jumpstart Savings Plan, which would build off of the framework of the state’s current SMART529 College Savings Plan by expanding it to cover the startup costs of equipment, certifications and licenses for individuals entering vocational trades.
“Our current 529 plan allows people to buy books and pay for the cost of vocational tuition, but it doesn’t allow you to buy some of the other things you need to get started in the workforce,” Treasurer Moore said. “One of my first jobs was as a welder, and the biggest obstacle I faced was paying for the cost of the equipment. If we’re going to build a diversified, blue-collar workforce in this state, and attract more job creators to West Virginia, we need to do everything we can to help people transition into these quality, good-paying trades.”
Treasurer Moore is also working on proposed legislation that will make the office more efficient, transparent, and modern, all while reducing the overall operating costs and saving taxpayer dollars. The Treasurer’s will also target broadband expansion improvements by recommending legislative measures to ensure transparent and responsible handling of the large sums of loan money the Board of Treasury Investments makes available for broadband expansion across the state.
Treasurer Moore today announced the following appointments to his senior staff:
- Steve Bohman has been named Assistant State Treasurer and Chief of Staff. A graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Bohman formerly worked as Vice President of Commercial Banking at Fifth Third Bank. He is also a Logistics Officer and Battalion Commander in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he has nearly 26 years of distinguished service and expertise in leadership, planning, logistics and ordnance.
Bohman will oversee daily operations of the office and supervise staff, while assisting Treasurer Moore in implementing his vision and agenda. - Sarah Canterbury has been named General Counsel. A graduate of Denison University and the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Canterbury has served as an attorney for the West Virginia Legislature for the past seven years. Most recently, Canterbury served as Counsel to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, where she drafted and presented many of the Legislature’s most impactful bills and resolutions. Prior to joining the Legislature, Canterbury practiced public interest law.
As General Counsel, Canterbury will manage the Legal Division of the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office and directly advise the Treasurer on all legal matters. - Jared Hunt has been named Deputy Treasurer-Director of Communications. A 2005 graduate of the West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism, Jared has served the past five years as Communications Director for the state House of Delegates. A Ravenswood native, he also worked at the Charleston Daily Mail from 2010 to 2015, first as a Capitol Reporter then Business Editor.
As Communications Director, he will oversee external and internal communications for the office, serve as its official spokesman and media contact, and advise on public relations strategies. - James Fuerhoff has been named Legislative Director. Fuerhoff most recently worked as Director of the Legislature’s Rule-Making Review Division, managing the legislative oversight of administrative rules submitted by state agencies to ensure they were consistent with the intent of laws passed by the Legislature. Prior to that, he worked as a policy analyst and Assistant to the Majority Whip in the West Virginia House of Delegates.
As Legislative Director, Fuerhoff will work with members of the Legislature to pass Treasurer Moore’s proposals and provide a legal framework to help the office better serve West Virginia residents. - Jordan Burgess has been named a Senior Advisor to Treasurer Moore. For the past two years, Burgess has traveled the state with Treasurer Moore as campaign manager, hearing the ideas West Virginians had for improving government.
A 2012 graduate of West Virginia University, Burgess will work with all departments within the office to ensure they’re carrying out Treasurer Moore’s vision to serve the citizens of West Virginia and aid in efforts to enact his policy proposals.
“I’m excited to get to work with this team to implement a new vision for the State Treasurer’s Office,” Treasurer Moore said. “We’re preparing an aggressive legislative agenda for lawmakers to consider when they return to Charleston next month, and I truly believe West Virginians will be proud of the work we’re going to be doing on their behalf.”
