Rebecca McPhail - Engaged, Focused, Committed to Forging New Paths!

Rebecca McPhail’s interest in community engagement and politics began when she was young. She was, and continues to be, inspired by her grandmother’s commitment to civic service and community advocacy. Her grandmother worked in state government but was also an outspoken advocate for clean water in the upper Kanawha Valley, where she served in the Chelyan Public Service District for many years.

In her own life, Rebecca has remained committed to both professional achievement and community engagement. She has championed the work of many non-profit and community organizations while successfully advancing her career. 

Rebecca is a native West Virginian and a graduate of WVU Tech with degrees in History and Political Science. She spent her early career working in fundraising and advancement for non-profit organizations, including the YMCA of Greater Cleveland. She credits her experience there with helping her to see a path forward for women in leadership roles. 

“My first female boss was the director at behavioral health provider Hill House,” she said. “She was a seasoned professional who was very direct and helped me to see that there was a path to leadership for women in the nonprofit sector.”

Rebecca returned to West Virginia to be closer to family after the birth of her oldest son. She continued her career in fundraising through leadership roles in development at the University of Charleston and Marshall University. 

After her time at Marshall, Rebecca became the president of Vision Shared, a private/public partnership to support economic prosperity in West Virginia. Vision Shared brought together West Virginia business, government, labor, and community leaders to support programs and policies related to improving educational outcomes, supporting entrepreneurship, and building a strong workforce pipeline.

In 2013, she continued her career in public advocacy when she joined the West Virginia Manufacturers’ Association (WVMA) as its president. “The WVMA offered an opportunity to increase my focus on state policy for an industry that is essential to the state's economy,” she said. 

Rebecca took on a new challenge when she started in her current role as the Vice President of State Affairs and Political Mobilization for the American Chemistry Council (ACC), a national trade association representing the chemical manufacturing sector. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to represent an industry that produces the building blocks for our modern world. Chemical manufacturing is essential to our economy and national security, and I'm proud of the work I do,” she said. 

Her early career in the non-profit sector emphasized the importance of community involvement for Rebecca. When she returned to West Virginia, she became involved in Generation Huntington and has since continued to engage in her community by serving on the board of directors of several local organizations. 

“When you work in a non-profit, you see firsthand the importance of volunteers and supporters,” she said. She is the current chair of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of the Kanawha Valley and has also served on the boards of the University of Charleston and the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. She has been a supporter of the YWCA as a sponsor for the Race to End Racism and a supporter of the Racial Justice Program. 

Rebecca encourages young women to stay involved in their communities while growing their careers. “Don't let self-doubt keep you from engaging in important and sometimes hard conversations about the challenges in our community. It is also important to not let life get in the way of supporting the organizations and issues that matter to you.”

While she has been successful in her professional life, Rebecca counts her family as her greatest achievement. “I have two wonderful sons who are hard-working, kind, and respectful. They make me proud every day as I watch them grow into young men. My oldest son graduated college and remains in West Virginia, working in procurement, while my youngest son is a freshman at Marshall University. I'm also grateful to my husband, who is my best friend, biggest cheerleader, and an incredible father and stepfather.

Together, we've accomplished some great things in West Virginia on the policy front, and he continues to influence policy in his work with various trade groups and clients in the state. He also has given me the opportunity to be part of an expanded family with three stepsons, three wonderful daughters-in-law, and five - soon to be seven - grandchildren,” she said.

She and her husband are splitting their time between West Virginia and Northern Virginia, the location of her current job. “We like to get out, bike, and explore,” Rebecca said. “We’re getting to know the Northern Virginia and DC area, but at the end of the day, there’s no place like our home in the Mountain State.”

Rebecca’s friends and other female leaders have greatly influenced her life. “Prioritizing relationships that build you up rather than pull you back is important. I've been fortunate to have strong women in my life and family, and a great circle of friends. We all come from different backgrounds and professions, and that provides a great balance to support one another.”

The honor of being named a YWCA Woman of Achievement is another opportunity for Rebecca to support an important organization serving the community.

"The programs and support offered by the YWCA meet critical community needs in Charleston. I'm honored to be selected as a Woman of Achievement and to have a platform to further amplify the mission of the YWCA.”