CHARLESTON, W.Va.–Governor Patrick Morrisey continues to round off his cabinet, as he reappoints secretary of Tourism and newly appoints someone as the Secretary of Transportation.
Morrisey announced on Thursday that he has decided to reappoint Chelsea Ruby as Tourism Secretary. She has led the department for eight years, four of those as Tourism Commissioner, overseeing the state’s branding and marketing program to help it attract and expand West Virginia’s tourism business.
Morrisey says that he believes that she will continue the momentum for department moving forward.
“Many people have said so many incredible things about her, the work she’s done to put West Virginia tourism on the map,” Morrisey said. “I think she’s done an outstanding job and that warrants her a reappointment.”
Since being named by former Governor Jim Justice in 2021, she has helped the tourism industry grow, by raising the annual traveler spending by a 14.8% preceding the pandemic. She also helped launch the Almost Heaven brand campaign in April of 2018.
Before she was the secretary for the Department of Tourism, she was Director of Marketing and Communications for the state Department of Commerce.
And Morrisey has appointed Stephen Todd Rumbaugh for Secretary of Transportation and Commissioner of Highways.
Prior to his appointment, Rumbaugh served with the West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways, for over 30 years.
Morrisey said that he thinks that Rumbaugh will do good in his new role.
“I have great faith that Todd is going to be a terrific Secretary for Transportation,” he said.
During his career Rumbaugh has been in an array of positions, including Construction Inspector, Designer, Area Supervisor, Staff Engineer, Regional Construction Engineer, Director of Contract Administration, and Chief Engineer of Construction with the Department of Transportation.
Rumbaugh replaces former secretary Jimmy Wriston who served in the position for the past few years.
While at his press conference, Morrisey acknowledged that there are problems within the Department of Transportation. He says that they need to pay attention to spending while also making sure that the highways and roads in the state are fixed if they have a problem. He also pointed out that there were a lack of engineers within the department.
Despite these problems that they face, he said he is confident that the team they have will rise up and meet these challenges head on.
“There are issues that need to get addressed within the Department of Transportation, that’s why I’m really pleased with the team we have,” Morrisey said. “See, I look at this and I’m very optimistic because while there are big challenges were making the decisions and getting personnel, I think can meet the challenges and the demands we have.”