Matt Wender recently retired from West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust where he served as Investment Manager since 1998. WV JIT manages the state’s Venture Capital Fund with a portfolio of investments and funds in excess of $26 million. WVJIT has a statewide presence where they currently have a portfolio of 21 companies in a wide range of industries including manufacturing, software development, bio-medical and insurance. He represented WV JIT on several Boards of Directors. Before joining WVJIT, he was employed by a privately held venture capital firm for two years.

Prior to his involvement with venture capital investing, his earlier years include 21 years as a self employed businessman in retailing in Oak Hill, Beckley and other southern West Virginia locations. He holds a BS in Finance and an MBA from West Virginia University as well as being a CPA.

He is a current Vice President and a founding board member (1988) of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (formerly 4-C EDA) which serves Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh and Summers Counties.

His other civic involvement include; serving on the Board of West Virginia Red Cross; Central Appalachian Empowerment Zone; Fayette County Urban Renewal Authority; and the Region 1 Workforce Investment’s LEO Board.